Effects of high mobility group protein box 1 on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in vitro

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of high mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) on the proliferation,migration and apoptosis of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs) in vitro.Methods The hPASMCs were seeded in 96-well plates in DMEM liquid culture medium (100 μl/well) with the density of 2 × 105/ml,in 6-well plate (1 ml/well) with the density of 2 × 106/ml or in modified 24-well Boyden chamber (100 μl/well) with the density of 5 × 103/ml and randomly divided into 5 groups (n =26 each):control group (group C) and 4 different concentrations of HMGB1 groups (groups H1-H4).The cells were cultured in DMEM liquid culture medium in group C.The cells were cultured in DMEM liquid culture medium containing HMGB1 1,10,100 and 1000 ng/ml in groups H1-H4,respectively.At 24 and 48 h of incubation,the proliferation,migration and apoptosis of hPASMCs were detected by MTT,modified Boyden chamber assay,and TUNEL,respectively.Results Compared with group C,the proliferation and migration of hPASMCs were significantly increased in groups H1-H4 (P ＜ 0.05).The proliferation of hPASMCs was significantly higher in groups H2-H4,and the migration of hPASMCs was higher in groups H3 and H4 than in group H1,and in groups H3 and H4 than in group H2 (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between groups H3 and H4 (P ＞ 0.05).The proliferation of hPASMCs was significantly higher at 48 h of incubation than at 24 h of incubation (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the apoptotic rate between the five groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion HMGB1 can induce the proliferation and migration of hPASMCs in vitro,which may be involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling during acute lung injury. Key words: High mobility group protein box 1 ; Muscle cells, smooth muscle; Cell proliferation; Cell movement; Apoptosis