Abstract 32: EBP50 and NF-κB: A Feed-Forward Regulation of Vascular Inflammation

Abstract

Inflammation plays a fundamental role in the development of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. The vascular response to inflammation in these diseases requires communication between multiple cell types such as vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and macrophages. We have identified a scaffolding protein, Ezrin Binding Protein 50 (EBP50, also known as NHERF-1), which is expressed at very low levels in normal vessels but is up-regulated following vascular injury. EBP50 promotes VSMC proliferation and neointima formation after wire injury in mouse femoral arteries. In the current study, we hypothesized that EBP50 functions as a central mediator linking macrophage activation and the response of vessels to inflammation. Similar to the observations in vessels, treatment of primary VSMC and macrophages with LPS or TNFα increased EBP50 expression. This increase was dependent on NF-κB signaling because pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB and expression of a dominant negative IκBα abolished the induction of EBP50. Interestingly, LPS-induced activation of NF-κB (determined by phosphorylation of IKKα/β, degradation of IκBα, and p65 phosphorylation) was impaired in EBP50 null VSMC and macrophages. Moreover, nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB was also reduced in EBP50 -/- VSMC. Consistent with the role of EBP50 on NF-κB, LPS- and TNFα-induced macrophage activation (determined by the expression of the inflammatory markers iNOS, TNFα, and IL-1β) was reduced in EBP50 -/- macrophages and mice. Similarly, the expression of iNOS, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in VSMC was decreased in EBP50 -/- VSMC and mice. Collectively, these observations indicate that EBP50 and NF-κB participate in a positive feedback loop leading to increased macrophage activation and enhanced response of VSMC to inflammation, suggesting its involvement in vascular remodeling.