Induction of hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2) in human vascular smooth muscle cells by vasodilatory prostaglandins

Circ Res. 2004 Mar 19;94(5):592-600. doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000119169.87429.A0. Epub 2004 Jan 29.

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a prominent constituent of the extracellular matrix of atherosclerotic vascular lesions in humans known to modulate vascular smooth muscle phenotype. The regulation of HA synthesis by vasodilatory prostaglandins was analyzed in human arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The prostacyclin analogue, iloprost (100 nmol/L), markedly increased pericellular formation of HA coats and HA secretion into the cell culture medium in human arterial SMCs (8.7+/-1.6-fold). Expression of HA synthase 2 (HAS2) was determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR and found to be strongly upregulated at concentrations of iloprost between 1 and 100 nmol/L after 3 hours. Furthermore, endogenous cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) activity was required for basal expression of HAS2 mRNA in SMCs in vitro. Total HA secretion in response to iloprost was markedly decreased by RNA interference (RNAi), specific for HAS2. In addition, siRNA targeting HAS2 strongly increased the spreading of human SMCs compared with mock-transfected cells. HAS2 mRNA levels were also stimulated by a selective prostacyclin receptor (IP) agonist, cicaprost (10 nmol/L), prostaglandin E(2) (10 nmol/L), and the EP(2) receptor agonist, butaprost (1 micromol/L). Induction of HAS2 mRNA and HA synthesis by prostaglandins was mimicked by stable cAMP analogues and forskolin. In human atherectomy specimens from the internal carotid artery, HA deposits and COX2 expression colocalized frequently. In addition, strong EP(2) receptor expression was detected in SMCs in HA-rich areas. Therefore, upregulation of HAS2 expression via EP(2) and IP receptors might contribute to the accumulation of HA during human atherosclerosis, thereby mediating proatherosclerotic functions of COX2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / biosynthesis
  • Acetophenones / pharmacology
  • Alprostadil / analogs & derivatives*
  • Alprostadil / pharmacology
  • Arteriosclerosis / metabolism*
  • Arteriosclerosis / pathology
  • Becaplermin
  • Benzopyrans / pharmacology
  • Bucladesine / pharmacology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / pathology
  • Carotid Artery, Internal / pathology
  • Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Cyclic AMP / physiology
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Epoprostenol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Epoprostenol / pharmacology
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
  • Glucuronosyltransferase / biosynthesis*
  • Glucuronosyltransferase / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Synthases
  • Hyaluronic Acid / biosynthesis
  • Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism
  • Iloprost / pharmacology*
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Isoenzymes / physiology
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Maleimides / pharmacology
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Muscle Cells / drug effects
  • Muscle Cells / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • Pertussis Toxin / pharmacology
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype
  • Sulfonamides*
  • Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Acetophenones
  • Benzopyrans
  • Indoles
  • Isoenzymes
  • Isoquinolines
  • Maleimides
  • Membrane Proteins
  • PTGER2 protein, human
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E
  • Receptors, Prostaglandin E, EP2 Subtype
  • Sulfonamides
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Becaplermin
  • Colforsin
  • 6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha
  • Bucladesine
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Epoprostenol
  • Cyclic AMP
  • rottlerin
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Glucuronosyltransferase
  • HAS2 protein, human
  • Hyaluronan Synthases
  • Pertussis Toxin
  • Alprostadil
  • butaprost
  • Iloprost
  • bisindolylmaleimide I
  • N-(2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide
  • cicaprost