title: Nitric oxide mediates LC-3-dependent regulation of fibronectin in ductus arteriosus intimal cushion formation.
abstract: Ductus arteriosus intimal cushion formation is characterized by fibronectin-dependent smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration. Enhanced fibronectin synthesis in ductus SMC is regulated by the interaction of LC-3, a microtubule-associated protein, with an AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3'-untranslated region of fibronectin mRNA, facilitating its recruitment to polyribosomes for translation. Since nitric oxide (NO) is implicated in posttranscriptional gene regulation and is produced in the ductus, we investigated its mechanistic role in LC-3-mediated fibronectin synthesis. NO production was sevenfold higher in ductus vs. aortic SMC (P<0.005) associated with increased neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) expression. The NOS inhibitor L-NMMA decreased fibronectin synthesis by approximately 45-50% (P<0.05), whereas the NO donor, SNAP, increased ductus fibronectin synthesis approximately onefold (P<0.05); neither agent altered fibronectin mRNA levels. Immunoblotting revealed that SNAP increased and L-NMMA reduced a membrane-associated phosphorylated form of LC-3. RNA gel mobility shift assays confirmed that NO enhanced LC-3 binding to the fibronectin mRNA ARE. Our studies indicate a tissue-specific program in the ductus arteriosus whereby elevated nNOS expression and NO production regulate the posttranscriptional increase in fibronectin synthesis required for SMC motility.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Research, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fallery
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabinovitch
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008868:Microtubule Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005353:Fibronectins; C120761:LC-3 protein, Ovis aries; D008868:Microtubule Proteins; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I