Gremlin promotes vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration.
Recent reports highlight the importance of BMP in the vasculature. We investigated the expression pattern and role of the BMP antagonist gremlin in VSMC. We detected gremlin mRNA constitutive expression in adult and embryonic rat aortic VSMC, and in rat carotids. In vitro analysis demonstrated that angiotensin II, TGF-beta1 and PDGF induced significant changes in gremlin mRNA expression. Gremlin stable overexpression in A7r5 cells blocked BMP signaling. BMP-induced reduction in VSMC DNA synthesis was markedly inhibited by gremlin overexpression. In fact, gremlin overexpression increased DNA synthesis and cell counts, and accelerated cell cycle progression of VSMC, through mechanisms that include p27(kip1) down-regulation. Gremlin also led to marked increments in VSMC migration. In addition, gremlin gene silencing promoted a significant blockade on cell proliferation and migration. In vivo studies disclosed increased gremlin protein expression in the neointima of balloon-injured carotid arteries. In summary, the BMP antagonist gremlin is constitutively expressed in the normal vasculature. Gremlin induces VSMC proliferation and migration and is significantly regulated by growth factors and injury. We postulate that gremlin plays a part in the development of pathological phenotypic changes of adult VSMC.
Maciel
Thiago T
TT
Nephrology Division, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Melo
Rosilene S
RS
Schor
Nestor
N
Campos
Alexandre H
AH
D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; C107276:Grem1 protein, rat; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D004247:DNA