title: Taurine restores Axl/Gas6 expression in vascular smooth muscle cell calcification model.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, 410011, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yi-Qun
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xin-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng-Lin
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ji-Cai
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Ling-Qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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