Abstract
The current study revealed that increased synthesis and secretion of collagen types I and III play major roles in arterial wall remodeling, aneurysm formation, and atherosclerotic cap stability. The aim is to investigate the age-related changes of the procollagen alpha polypeptide gene mRNA and protein expression in the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in rats, as well as the possible underlying mechanisms. We tested in vitro culture of VSMC from the thoracoabdominal aorta in neonate and 9-month-old healthy male Wistar rats; procollagen alpha polypeptide mRNA and procollagen alpha polypeptide protein expression were detected, using RT-PCR, VG staining, Western blot and ELISA methods. Semi-quantitative analysis displayed that, in the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the type I collagen α polypeptide chain mRNA increased in the adult group, but not significantly (P = 0.05). Further, there was no significant difference between the two groups of type III collagen α polypeptide chain mRNA (P > 0.05). Both the type I and type III procollagen alpha polypeptide protein expression were increased significantly in the older group as compared with the young group (P < 0.05). This phenomenon mainly lies in the fact that the regulatory pathway on age-related changes of procollagen alpha polypeptides may be one of the molecular mechanisms in vascular remodeling during aging.
Highlights
Vascular remodeling is related to various vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, in-stent restenosis, vein graft disease, and transplantation-associated vasculopathy [1] [2]
The current study revealed that the phenotypic modulation and abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play an important role in the development of age-related vascular remodeling [10] [11] [12]
This study was designed to observe the changes of procollagen gene transcription and protein expression in vitro, in order to investigate age-related effect on the procollagen alpha polypeptide gene mRNA and protein expression in VSMCs and the molecular mechanism may lead to this phenomenon
Summary
Vascular remodeling is related to various vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, in-stent restenosis, vein graft disease, and transplantation-associated vasculopathy [1] [2]. The molecular mechanisms underlying the process of aging affecting vascular remodeling are far from clear. The current study revealed that the phenotypic modulation and abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play an important role in the development of age-related vascular remodeling [10] [11] [12]. VSMCs can synthesize and secrete extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans. VSMCs are responsible for the structural characteristics of the vessel wall, including growth, development, remodeling, and repair [13]. VSMCs can synthesize and secrete collagen, which is the most abundant component of the extracellular matrix in arteries. This study was designed to observe the changes of procollagen gene transcription and protein expression in vitro, in order to investigate age-related effect on the procollagen alpha polypeptide gene mRNA and protein expression in VSMCs and the molecular mechanism may lead to this phenomenon
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