Taurine restores Axl/Gas6 expression in vascular smooth muscle cell calcification model.
Our previous studies demonstrated that taurine inhibits osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscular cells (VSMCs) via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway, but the underlying mechanism is not elucidated. The tyrosine kinase receptor Axl and its ligand growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) are expressed in VSMCs. Axl/Gas6 signaling system is known to inhibit VSMCs calcification. We herein showed that taurine partially restored Axl and Gas6 expression in beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP)-induced VSMC calcification model. Taurine also induced activation of ERK, but not other two MAPKs including c-jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) and p38 in VSMCs. Either knockdown of the taurine transporter (TAUT) or treatment with the ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 blocked the activation of ERK by taurine and abolished taurine-induced Axl/Gas6 expression and calcium deposition reduction in beta-GP-induced VSMC calcification model. These results demonstrate for the first time that taurine stimulates expression of Axl and Gas6 via TAUT/ERK signaling pathway in beta-GP-induced VSMC calcification model.
Liao
Xiao-Bo
XB
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, 410011, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Peng
Yi-Qun
YQ
Zhou
Xin-Min
XM
Yang
Bing
B
Zheng
Zhe
Z
Liu
Li-Ming
LM
Song
Feng-Lin
FL
Li
Jian-Ming
JM
Zhou
Kang
K
Meng
Ji-Cai
JC
Yuan
Ling-Qing
LQ
Xie
Hui
H
D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D005994:Glycerophosphates / Q000494:pharmacology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D034622:RNA Interference; D051381:Rats; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; D000099247:Taurine Transporters; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D005994:Glycerophosphates; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D013654:Taurine; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; D000099247:Taurine Transporters; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6; C031463:beta-glycerophosphoric acid