title: ANG II induces apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle via extrinsic pathway involving inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and increased FasL expression.
abstract: In addition to well-documented vascular growth-promoting effects, ANG II exerts proapoptotic effects that are poorly understood. IGF-1 is a potent survival factor for human vascular smooth muscle cells (hVSMC), and its antiapoptotic effects are mediated via the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) through a signaling pathway involving phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt. We hypothesized that there would be cross talk between ANG II proapoptotic effects and IGF-1 survival effects in hVSMC. To investigate ANG II-induced apoptosis and the potential involvement of IGF-1, we exposed quiescent and nonquiescent hVSMC to ANG II. ANG II induced apoptosis only in nonquiescent cells but stimulated hypertrophy in quiescent cells. ANG II-induced apoptosis was characterized by marked inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and stimulation of membrane Fas ligand (FasL) expression, caspase-8 activation, and a reduction in soluble FasL expression. Adenovirally mediated overexpression of Akt rescued hVSMC from ANG II-induced apoptosis. IGF-1R activation increased Akt phosphorylation and soluble FasL expression, and these effects were completely blocked by coincubating hVSMC with ANG II. In conclusion, ANG II-induced apoptosis of hVSMC is characterized by marked inhibition of Akt phosphorylation and stimulation of an extrinsic cell death signaling pathway via upregulation of membrane FasL expression, caspase-8 activation, and a reduction in soluble FasL expression. Furthermore, ANG II antagonizes the antiapoptotic effect of IGF-1 by blocking its ability to increase Akt phosphorylation and soluble FasL. These findings provide novel insights into ANG II-induced apoptotic signaling and have significant implication for understanding ANG II-induced remodeling in hypertension and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, USA.
authors.forename: Yangxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yao-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohler
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delafontaine
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D000804:Angiotensin II; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt