title: Stretch-induced activation of the transcription factor activator protein-1 controls monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression during arteriogenesis.
abstract: Cerebral, coronary, and peripheral artery diseases combined represent the most frequent cause of death in developed nations. The underlying progressive occlusion of large conductance arteries can partially be compensated for by transformation of preexisting collateral arterioles to small artery bypasses, a process referred to as arteriogenesis. Because biomechanical forces have been implicated in the initiation of arteriogenesis, we have investigated the mechanosensitive expression of a pivotal proarteriogenic molecule, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, which governs the recruitment of circulating monocytes to the wall of the remodeling collateral arterioles. Using a new ear artery ligation model and the classic hindlimb ischemia model in mice, we noted that MCP-1 expression is significantly increased in collateral arterioles undergoing arteriogenesis already 24 hours after its onset. By mimicking proarteriogenic perfusion conditions in small mouse arteries, we observed that MCP-1 expression is predominantly upregulated in the smooth muscle cells, which solely sense changes in circumferential wall tension or stretch. Subsequent analyses of cultured endothelial and smooth muscle cells confirmed that cyclic stretch but not shear stress upregulates MCP-1 expression in these cells. Blockade of the mechanosensitive transcription factor activator protein-1 by using a specific decoy oligodeoxynucleotide abolished this stretch-induced MCP-1 expression. Likewise, topical administration of the decoy oligodeoxynucleotide to the mouse ear abrogated arteriogenesis through downregulation of MCP-1 expression and monocyte recruitment. Collectively, these findings point toward a stretch-induced activator protein-1-mediated rise in MCP-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells as a critical determinant for the initiation of arteriogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Division of Cardiovascular Physiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demicheva
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Korff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001160:Arterioles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003097:Collateral Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004423:Ear / Q000098:blood supply; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D023421:Models, Animal; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C491768:Ccl2 protein, mouse; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1