title: alpha-Thrombin induces transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA and protein in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells via a proteolytically activated receptor.
abstract: The potent growth factors and chemoattractants alpha-thrombin and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) have both been identified at sites of arterial injury, however the interaction between these two factors has not been defined. By Northern hybridization analyses, accumulation of both a 1.9- and a 2.4-kb transcript of TGF-beta1 were detected and occurred in a time- and dose-dependent fashion following alpha-thrombin stimulation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). This induction of TGF-beta1 mRNA required the proteolytic activity of thrombin and was mimicked by a thrombin-receptor-(TR)-activating peptide or TRAP (SFFLRNP). Increases in alpha-thrombin-induced TGF-beta1 message expression were insensitive to cycloheximide, but sensitive to actinomycin D. Furthermore, the induction of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression correlated with the production of latent TGF-beta1 protein in alpha-thrombin-conditioned media. In summary, alpha-thrombin stimulation of VSMC induces transcriptional activation of the TGF-beta1 gene through proteolytic activation of the cloned seven-transmembrane TR resulting in the formation of latent TGF-beta1 protein. These results demonstrate a potential mechanism whereby alpha-thrombin may modulate the vascular response to injury through TGF-beta1-dependent mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville 22906-0011, USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bachhuber
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Sarembock
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Gimple
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013917:Thrombin