MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ESTROGEN INDUCED APOPTOSIS OF SYNTHETIC VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS: p38 PATHWAY-DEPENDENT UP-REGULATION OF MYOCYTE ENHANCER FACTOR 2
- VernacularTitle:雌激素诱导的合成型血管平滑肌细胞凋亡与p38通路激活及肌细胞增强因子-2的表达
- Author:
Bei CHENG
;
Qiao WANG
;
Yueshan LEI
;
Jian SONG
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Estrogen;
Smooth muscle cells;
p38 pathway;
Myocyte enhancer factor-2;
Immunohistochemistry;
Western blotting;
Rat
- From:
Acta Anatomica Sinica
2002;0(06):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of estrogen induced apoptosis of synthetic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods Cultured VSMCs on passage 3 were divided into three groups: 17?-estradiol (E-2) group, p38 inhibitor group (SB+E-2) and control group. With treatment for 72 hours,the apoptosis of cells was quantified by measuring the intracellular nucleosomes with ELISA; expressions of total p38, phospho-p38 and myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) were analyzed by Western blotting, with a confirmative immunohistochemical staining for MEF2. Results Compared with that of control cells, the rate of apoptosis in VSMCs grown in E-2 was significantly increased, with up-regulations of total p38, phospho-p38 and MEF2. These effects of E-2 were blocked in SB+E-2 group in which the rate of cell apoptosis and expression of p38 had no obvious change compared with that of control group, while the expression of p-p38 and MEF2 was decreased. Immunohistochemical staining showed that MEF2 was mainly located in cellular nucleus, and its expression was increased in E-2 group but decreased in SB+E-2 group. Conclusion Estrogen may induce apoptosis of synthetic VSMCs through p38 pathway-dependent up-regulation of MEF2.
