Heparin increases mRNA levels of thrombospondin but not fibronectin in human vascular smooth muscle cells.
The effects of heparin (180 micrograms/ml) on steady state mRNA levels for fibronectin, thrombospondin, actin and collagen types I and III were investigated in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells. Heparin caused a 120% increase in thrombospondin mRNA levels and a 60% and 180% increase in the mRNA levels of procollagen chains alpha 2(I) and alpha 1(III), respectively. No change in fibronectin or actin mRNA levels resulted from heparin treatment. We reported earlier (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 148:1264, 1987) that heparin increases smooth muscle cell synthesis of both fibronectin and thrombospondin. These data show that heparin coordinately regulates thrombospondin mRNA and protein levels. The heparin induced increase in fibronectin biosynthesis apparently reflects control at the translational or post-translational level.
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
B
B
Lyons-Giordano
J M
JM
Brinker
N A
NA
Kefalides
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011347:Procollagen / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D019699:Thrombospondins
D000199:Actins; D005353:Fibronectins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019699:Thrombospondins; D006493:Heparin