Notch activation mediates angiotensin II-induced vascular remodeling by promoting the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells

Hypertens Res. 2013 Oct;36(10):859-65. doi: 10.1038/hr.2013.52. Epub 2013 May 30.

Abstract

Notch signaling is involved in an intercellular communication mechanism that is essential for coordinated cell fate determination and tissue morphogenesis. The biological effects of Notch signaling are context-dependent. We investigated the functional and hierarchical relationship between angiotensin (Ang) II receptor signaling and Notch signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). A fluorogenic substrate assay revealed directly that the enzymatic activity of γ-secretase was enhanced after 10 min of Ang II stimulation in HEK293 cells expressing Ang II type 1 receptor. Notch cleavage by γ-secretase was consistently induced and peaked at 10 min after Ang II stimulation, and the Ang II-stimulated increase in Notch intracellular domain production was significantly suppressed by treatment with the γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT. Treatment with DAPT also significantly reduced the Ang II-stimulated proliferation and migration of human aortic VSMCs, as revealed by BrdU incorporation and the Boyden chamber assay, respectively. Systemic administration of the γ-secretase inhibitor dibenzazepine reduced Ang II-induced medial thickening and perivascular fibrosis in the aortas of wild-type mice. These findings suggest that the hierarchical Ang II receptor-Notch signaling pathway promotes the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and thereby contributes to the progression of vascular remodeling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / drug effects
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism
  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Aorta / cytology
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Communication / physiology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dibenzazepines / pharmacology
  • Dipeptides / pharmacology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Models, Animal
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / drug effects
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Notch / drug effects
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Dibenzazepines
  • Dipeptides
  • N-(N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)alanyl)phenylglycine tert-butyl ester
  • Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Angiotensin II
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • dibenzazepine