Abstract 47: Caveolin-1 is Critical for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Induced by Angiotensin II

Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a significant cause of mortality for adults aged >60 years. Accumulating evidence suggests a role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. However, the Ang II-sensitive proximal signaling events primarily responsible for AAA formation remain unclear. We recently reported that caveolin-1 (Cav1) enriched membrane microdomains in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) mediate a metalloprotease ADAM17-dependent EGF receptor (EGFR) transactivation, which is linked to vascular remodeling induced by Ang II. Given that ADAM17 expression is one of the key features in AAA, we have tested our hypothesis that Cav1, a major structural protein of caveolae, plays a critical role for development of AAA by Ang II via regulation of ADAM17. 8 week old male Cav1-/- and the control C57Bl/6 wild-type mice (WT) were co-infused with Ang II (1 μg/kg/min) and β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN: 150mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks to induce AAA. In WT with the co-infusion, 58% (14/24) were dead due to aortic rupture/dissection. All surviving WT with co-infusion had AAA with max diameter (mm) of 2.6±0.18 vs 0.93±0.09 with saline infusion (p<0.01). In contrast, we found that Cav1-/- with co-infusion did not die or develop AAA. The max diameter (mm) of AAA in Cav1-/- with co-infusion was 1.0±0.04 vs 1.1±0.06 with saline infusion (n=7). In contrast, both WT and Cav1-/- with the co-infusion developed hypertension assessed by telemetry (MAP mmHg: 151±5 vs 161±7). We found an increased expression of ADAM17 by IHC and qPCR, and enhanced phosphorylation of EGFR by IHC in WT abdominal aortae with aneurysms. These events were markedly attenuated in Cav1-/- aorta with co-infusion (ADAM17/18S mRNAx10,000 = 3.08±0.71 vs 0.97±0.42 p<0.05, n=4). Furthermore, Cav1-/- aortae showed less ER and oxidative stress compared to WT aortae assessed by IHC. In addition, Cav1 silencing induced by adenovirus encoding Cav1 targeting siRNA embedded miRNA in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells prevented Ang II-induced ADAM17 induction and activation. In conclusion, Cav1 and presumably vascular caveolae microdomains appear to play a critical role in the formation of AAA by Ang II via regulation of the ADAM17/EGFR signaling and subsequent ER/oxidative stress.