Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics (LIGHT), University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2013 Aug;45(8):1776-83. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2013.05.021. Epub 2013 May 31.
Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) motility and plasticity, functions that are influenced by environmental cues, are vital to adaptation and remodelling in vascular physiology and pathophysiology. Lp(a) is reportedly damaging to SMC function via unknown molecular mechanisms. Apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)), a unique glycoprotein moiety of Lp(a), has been demonstrated as its active component. The aims of this study were to determine functional effects of recombinant apo(a) on human vascular SMC motility and explore the underlying mechanism(s). Exposure of SMC to apo(a) in migration assays induced a potent, concentration-dependent chemorepulsion that was RhoA and integrin αVβ3-dependent, but transforming growth factor β-independent. SMC manipulation through RhoA gene silencing, Rho kinase inhibition, statin pre-treatment, αVβ3 neutralising antibody and tyrosine kinase inhibition all markedly inhibited apo(a)-mediated SMC migration. Our data reveal unique and potent activities of apo(a) that may negatively influence SMC remodelling in cardiovascular disease. Circulating levels of Lp(a) are resistant to lipid-lowering strategies and hence a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying its functional effects on SMC may provide alternative therapeutic targets.
脂蛋白(a)(Lp(a))是心血管疾病发展的独立危险因素。血管平滑肌细胞(SMC)的运动和可塑性是受环境线索影响的功能,对血管生理学和病理生理学的适应和重塑至关重要。据报道,Lp(a) 通过未知的分子机制对 SMC 功能造成损害。载脂蛋白(a)(apo(a))是 Lp(a) 的独特糖蛋白部分,已被证明是其活性成分。本研究旨在确定重组 apo(a) 对人血管 SMC 运动的功能影响,并探讨潜在的机制。在迁移实验中,SMC 暴露于 apo(a) 中会诱导一种强大的、浓度依赖性的趋化排斥作用,该作用依赖于 RhoA 和整合素 αVβ3,但不依赖于转化生长因子β。通过 RhoA 基因沉默、Rho 激酶抑制、他汀类药物预处理、αVβ3 中和抗体和酪氨酸激酶抑制对 SMC 进行操作,均可显著抑制 apo(a)介导的 SMC 迁移。我们的数据揭示了 apo(a) 的独特而强大的活性,可能会对心血管疾病中的 SMC 重塑产生负面影响。循环中的 Lp(a) 水平不受降脂策略的影响,因此,深入了解其对 SMC 功能的作用机制可能为提供替代治疗靶点。