Angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody-AT1R-Bmal1 axis promotes phenotypic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular fibrosis
10.16016/j.2097-0927.202412142
- VernacularTitle:血管紧张素Ⅱ-1型受体自身抗体-AT1R-Bmal1轴促进血管平滑肌细胞表型转换和血管纤维化
- Author:
Lingxia XUE
1
;
Yaolin LONG
;
Jiayan FENG
;
Tian MAO
;
Jiao GUO
;
Zhuoxi WANG
;
Yang LI
;
Xiaohui WANG
;
Li WANG
Author Information
1. 山西医科大学基础医学院
- Keywords:
angiotensin Ⅱ-1 type 1 receptor autoantibody;
Bmal1;
angiotensin Ⅱ-1 type 1 receptor;
vascular smooth muscle cells;
phenotypic transition;
vascular fibrosis
- From:
Journal of Army Medical University
2025;47(11):1155-1164
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the mechanism by which angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody(AT1-AA)promotes phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)and vascular fibrosis through abnormal expression of circadian clock protein BMAL1.Methods Twelve male SD rats(6～8 weeks old,weighing 180～220 g)were randomly divided into(n=6)a control group and an AT1-AA-positive group[established by active immunization of SD rats with AT1R extracellular loop Ⅱ peptide(AT1R-ECLⅡ)].HE and Masson stainings were used to observe structural changes and fibrosis in the thoracic aorta(n=3).Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of Collagen I,phenotypic switch-related proteins(SM22,α-SMA,OPN and MMP2)in vascular tissues and primary VSMCs(n=4),as well as the expression of BMAL1 at CT0,CT4,CT8,CT12,CT16,and CT20.Transwell and scratch assays were used to assess the proliferation and migration of VSMCs(n=3).si-RNA was employed to knock down Bmal1,followed by detection of BMAL1,Collagen I,and phenotypic conversion-related protein expression(n=3).Additionally,AT1-AA-positive AT1R-knockout(AT1R-KO)rats were constructed to measure BMAL1 expression in thoracic aortic tissues(n=4).Results The AT1-AA-positive rats had significantly thickened thoracic aortic vessel wall[(140±9)%vs(120±5)%,P<0.05],badly arranged VSMCs,obvious blue Masson staining,and up-regulated Collagen I expression(P<0.05).In the thoracic aorta of AT1-AA-positive rats and AT1-AA-treated VSMCs,the expression of contractile phenotype-related proteins(α-SMA,SM22)was decreased(P<0.05),while the expression of synthetic phenotype-related proteins(OPN,MMP2)was increased(P<0.05).AT1-AA enhanced the scratch healing ability and migration ability of VSMCs.Furthermore,both mRNA and protein levels of Bmal1 were significantly up-regulated at CT12(P<0.05),and the rhythmicity of Bmal1 was lost.Knockdown of Bmal1 partially ameliorated AT1-AA-induced phenotypic switch of VSMCs.Compared with AT1-AA-positive WT rats,AT1-AA-positive AT1R-KO rats showed significantly reduced BMAL1 expression in the thoracic aorta(1.35±0.06 vs 0.86±0.07,P<0.001).At the cellular level,AT1-AA-induced phenotypic switch and high Collagen I expression in VSMCs were partially improved in AT1R-KO VSMCs.Conclusion AT1-AA promotes VSMCs phenotypic conversion and vascular fibrosis through the AT1R-Bmal1 axis.
