Platelet-derived growth factor-BB-mediated activation of Akt suppresses smooth muscle-specific gene expression through inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase and redistribution of serum response factor

J Biol Chem. 2003 Oct 10;278(41):39830-8. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M305991200. Epub 2003 Jul 25.

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) inhibits expression of smooth muscle (SM) genes in vascular smooth muscle cells and blocks induction by arginine vasopressin (AVP). We have previously demonstrated that suppression of SM-alpha-actin by PDGF-BB is mediated in part through a Ras-dependent pathway. This study examined the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)y and its downstream effector, Akt, in regulating SM gene expression. PDGF caused a rapid sustained activation of Akt, whereas AVP caused only a small transient increase. PDGF selectively caused a sustained stimulation of p85/p110 alpha PI3K. In contrast, p85/110 beta PI3K activity was not altered by either PDGF or AVP, whereas both agents caused a delayed activation of Class IB p101/110 gamma PI3K. Expression of a gain-of-function PI3K or myristoylated Akt (myr-Akt) mimicked the inhibitory effect of PDGF on SM-alpha-actin and SM22 alpha expression. Pretreatment with LY 294002 reversed the inhibitory effect of PDGF. Expression of myr-Akt selectively inhibited AVP-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, which we have shown are critical for induction of these genes. Nuclear extracts from PDGF-stimulated or myr-Akt expressing cells showed reduced serum response factor binding to SM-specific CArG elements. This was associated with appearance of serum response factor in the cytoplasm. These data indicate that activation of p85/p110 alpha/Akt mediates suppression of SM gene expression by PDGF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Arginine Vasopressin / pharmacology
  • Becaplermin
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Muscle, Smooth / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / pharmacology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • Rats
  • Serum Response Factor / metabolism
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Substances

  • Actins
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • Serum Response Factor
  • Arginine Vasopressin
  • Becaplermin
  • DNA
  • Akt1 protein, rat
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases