Publication

Serum starvation and growth factor receptor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells

Journal Paper/Review - Jan 1, 2006

PubMed
Doi

Citation
Zimmermann O, Zwaka T, Marx N, Torzewski M, Bucher A, Guilliard P, Hannekum A, Hombach V. Serum starvation and growth factor receptor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Vasc Res 2006; 43:157-65.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
J Vasc Res 2006; 43
Publication Date
Jan 1, 2006
Issn Print
1018-1172
Pages
157-65
Brief description/objective

BACKGROUND: Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in atherosclerosis is regulated through the interaction of growth factors like platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and their receptors (R). We hypothesized that serum starvation of SMCs may affect PDGFbeta-R and IGF-1-R expression and, consequently, the effect of their cognate ligands on SMC survival/proliferation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum starvation significantly increases PDGFbeta-R but not IGF-1-R mRNA and protein expression in SMCs. PDGF-BB stimulates cell survival but not proliferation in serum-starved SMCs of the synthetic phenotype, whereas SMCs of the contractile phenotype respond to PDGF-BB by a significant increase in proliferation. Immunohistochemical analysis of coronary atherosclerotic lesions reveals PDGFbeta-R expression in SMCs in the lamina fibromuscularis, but not in the media and in healthy parts of the arterial wall. No such differential expression was observed for IGF-1-R. CONCLUSIONS: Differential regulation of PDGFbeta-R and IGF-1-R expression by serum starvation might represent a mechanism for the control of SMC survival/proliferation in atherogenesis and restenosis. The distribution of PDGFbeta-Rs and IGF-1-Rs in atherosclerotic lesions may indicate an effect of serum starvation on SMCs in the arterial wall.