title: Overexpression of mimecan in human aortic smooth muscle cells inhibits cell proliferation and enhances apoptosis and migration.
abstract: The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is multifactorial. The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are significant in the genesis and development of atherosclerosis plaques, and the degradation of VSMCs plays a crucial role in the process. Mimecan is a member of the Keratan sulfate family of proteoglycans, which are leucine-rich proteoglycans. It has been demonstrated that mimecan is associated with arteriogenesis and atherosclerosis. In the present study, the effect of mimecan on the characteristics of cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) was investigated.In vitro, human mimecan was stably overexpressed in HASMCs using a lentiviral system. It was observed that the proliferation rate of HASMCs transduced with mimecan was lower compared with that of control cells; overexpression of mimecan induced HASMC apoptosis. To determine the effect of mimecan on HASMC migration, a Transwell cell culture chamber and sterile cloning cylinder assays were used, and it was noted that mimecan enhanced the migration of HASMCs horizontally and vertically. These data indicated that mimecan may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by regulating the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of VSMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Third People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Third People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Third People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institution of Endocrinology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Na
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institution of Endocrinology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Third People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201900, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Feng-Ling
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: apoptosis; human aortic smooth muscle cells; migration; mimecan; proliferation