Native and activated forms of alpha 2-macroglobulin increase expression of platelet-derived growth factor alpha-receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells. Evidence for autocrine transforming growth factor-beta activity.
Cellular response to platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA) is mediated exclusively by the PDGF alpha-receptor. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in culture typically express very low levels of alpha-receptor. In this study, we demonstrate that the proteinase inhibitor and cytokine carrier alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) increases rat VSMC PDGF alpha-receptor expression. PDGF alpha-receptor mRNA levels increased 3-fold by 6 h and were sustained at that level through 24 h in VSMCs treated with 280 nM methylamine-modified alpha 2M (alpha 2M-MA), a form of activated alpha 2M. PDGF beta-receptor mRNA levels were unchanged in the same time period. In 125I-PDGF-AA binding experiments, treatment of VSMCs with alpha 2M-MA increased the maximum binding capacity (Bmax) from 1.9 to 9.2 fmol/mg of cell protein without affecting binding affinity (KD approximately 80 pM). alpha 2M-MA also increased the VSMC response to PDGF-AA as determined by tyrosine phosphorylation of a 170-kDa band, corresponding in mass to the PDGF alpha-receptor. The native form of alpha 2M was comparable to alpha 2M-MA in its ability to increase PDGF-AA binding to VSMCs and tyrosine phosphorylation of the 170-kDa band. Recombinant and proteolytic alpha 2M derivatives were used to demonstrate that alpha 2M increases PDGF alpha-receptor expression by binding VSMC-secreted cytokine(s) and interrupting an autocrine loop that ordinarily suppresses alpha-receptor expression in these cells. Transforming growth factor-beta-neutralizing antibody mimicked the activity of alpha 2M, increasing the binding capacity of VSMCs for PDGF-AA. This study demonstrates that VSMC PDGF alpha-receptor expression and responsiveness to PDGF-AA are regulated by autocrine transforming growth factor-beta activity, potentially other autocrine growth factors, and alpha 2M.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
A M
AM
Weaver
G K
GK
Owens
S L
SL
Gonias
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004247:DNA; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor