Project description:In order to determine a mechanism through which TGF-b/Smad3 promote these effects, Affymetrix gene expression arrays were performed on primary rat SMCs infected with Smad3 and stimulated with TGF-b or infected with GFP alone. More than 200 genes were differentially expressed (>2.0 fold change, p<0.05) in TGF-b/Smad3 stimulated SMCs. We then performed GO term enrichment analysis using the DAVID bioinformatics database and found that TGF-b/Smad3 activated the expression of multiple genes related to either development or cell differentiation, several of which have been shown to be associated with multipotent stem or progenitor cells. Vascular smooth muscle cells from 3 rats were infected with adenovirus expressing Smad3 and treated with TGF-B for 24 h (TGF-B/Smad3 group). Adenovirus expressing GFP (GFP group) was control. TGF-B/Smad3 treated or control cells were used for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays (n=3).
Project description:Analysis of primary bovine aortic endothelial cells treated for 24 hours with TGF-beta 1 5 ng/ml. TGF-beta 1 has been shown to induce endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) and to be implicated in differentiation of endothelial cells into smooth muscle-like cells as occurred in vascular neointimal formation. Primary aortic endothelial cells seeded on 10 mm diameter plates were incubated with TGF-beta 1 (5 ng/ml) for 24 hours or left under basal conditions. Triplicates from three different cultures.
Project description:Analysis of primary bovine aortic endothelial cells treated for 24 hours with TGF-beta 1 5 ng/ml. TGF-beta 1 has been shown to induce endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) and to be implicated in differentiation of endothelial cells into smooth muscle-like cells as occurred in vascular neointimal formation.
Project description:We report the application of small RNA sequencing for high-throughput profiling of small RNA under 75 bp in vascular smooth muscle cell. By a reading depth of 30M and single stranded sequencing, we generated the small RNA signature on differentiated and de-differentiated vascular smooth muscle cell induced by PDGF-BB and H3K4me2 editing. We found that PDGF-BB and H3K4me2 editing induced de-differentiation modulated miRNA profile significantly, which was demonstrated at least in part responsible for modulated vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype.
Project description:To analyze both early and late events associated with Smad3-inactivation, and to identify how specific smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypes may confer increased susceptibility to disease in the aortic root, we performed single-cell transcriptomic analysis on aortic cells from control (Smad3+/+; Myh11-CreER; + or – EGFP-L10a mice are refered to as Smad3+/+) and Smad3-deficient (Smad3lox/lox; Myh11-CreER; + or - EGFP-L10a are referred to as Smad3SmKO) mice at 10- and 18-weeks post-deletion, when aortic dilation is undetectable and moderate, respectively. Analysis of SMC-specific transcriptional changes show that, in addition to the expected decrease in TGF-β -induced expression of extracellular matrix components, Smad3-inactivation resulted in a broad reduction in the expression of components and modulators of focal adhesions, including that of several integrins, anchoring proteins, adaptors and modulators.
Project description:Imbalances in glucose and energy homeostasis are at the core of the worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Here, we illustrate an important role of the TGF-beta/Smad3 signaling pathway in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis. Smad3 deficient mice are protected from diet-induced obesity and diabetes. Interestingly, the metabolic protection is accompanied by Smad3-/- white adipose tissue acquiring the bioenergetic and gene expression profile of brown fat/skeletal muscle. Smad3-/- adipocytes demonstrate a marked increase in mitochondrial biogenesis, with a corresponding increase in basal respiration, and Smad3 acts as a repressor of PGC-alpha1 expression. We observe significant correlation between TGF-beta1 levels and adiposity in rodents and humans. Further, systemic blockade of TGF-beta1 signaling protects mice from obesity, diabetes and hepatic steatosis. Together, these results demonstrate that TGF-beta signaling regulates glucose tolerance and energy homeostasis and suggest that modulation of TGF-beta1 activity might be an effective treatment strategy for obesity and diabetes. Smad3-/- and WT mice were fed with regular diet (RD) and high fat diet (HFD), and diet induced obese (DIO) mice were treated with IgG and anti-TGF-b1 antibody
Project description:TGF-βs regulate macrophage responses, by activating Smad2/3. We have previously demonstrated that macrophage-specific Smad3 stimulates phagocytosis and mediates anti-inflammatory macrophage transition in the infarcted heart. However, the role of macrophage Smad2 signaling in myocardial infarction remains unknown. We studied the role of macrophage-specific Smad2 signaling in the healing infarct, and we explored the basis for the distinct effects of Smad2 and Smad3. Infarct macrophages exhibited both Smad2 and Smad3 activation. In contrast to the effects of Smad3 loss, myeloid cell-specific Smad2 disruption had no effects on mortality, ventricular dysfunction and adverse remodeling, after myocardial infarction. Phagocytic removal of dead cells, macrophage and myofibroblast infiltration, collagen deposition, angiogenesis and scar remodeling were not affected by macrophage Smad2 loss. In isolated macrophages, TGF-β1, -β2 and -β3, activated both Smad2 and Smad3, whereas BMP6 triggered only Smad3 activation. Smad2 and Smad3 had similar patterns of nuclear translocation in response to TGF-β1. Smad3, and not Smad2, was the main mediator of transcriptional effects of TGF-β on macrophages and Smad3 loss resulted in enrichment of genes associated with RAR/RXR signaling, cholesterol biosynthesis and lipid metabolism. In conclusion, the in vivo and in vitro effects of TGF-β on macrophage function involve Smad3, and not Smad2.
Project description:Investigation of transcript level modulation in unstimulated and TGF-beta treated (with or without superimposed T-cell receptor and CD28 stimulation) naive CD4 T cells from wild type or Smad3-deficient littermate mice. Smad3 is a critical signaling molecule and transcription factor downstream of TGF-beta and mediates several of the TGF-beta dependent tolerogenic effects in T cells. This study was undertaken to unveil the transcriptionnal program controled by the TGF-b/Smad3 axis. Microarray study using RNA recovered after 6 hours of culture in either serum free media, serum-free media + TGF-beta (2.5ng/ml) or serum-free media + TGF-beta and anti-CD3e and anti-CD28 stimulation (3 conditions). Naive CD4 T cells (TCRb+, CD4+, CD62L+ and CD44-) were sorted from either wild type or Smad3 deficient littermates and submitted to the 3 culture conditions. Three biological replicates were obtained (each from at least 2 different mice). Thus a total of 18 Nimblegen 365K chip were used.
Project description:Atherosclerosis is a persistent inflammatory state accompanied by lipid overload. Vascular fibrosis is one of the primary causes of atherosclerosis development. Although ligustilide (Lig) was shown to exert obvious antiatherogenic effects in previous studies, its precise mechanism has not been comprehensively discussed. In this paper, pharmacologic studies were performed to explore the pharmacodynamic effects of Lig on protecting aorta vascular wall structures and modulating serum inflammatory factors in ApoE-/- mice. Chemical proteomics based on a Lig-derived photoaffinity labelling (Lig-PAL) probe were applied to identify potential therapeutic targets. Mothers against decapentaplegic homologue 3 (SMAD3), which is closely related to the development of vascular fibrosis and atherosclerosis, was identified as a potential target of Lig. Lig suppressed the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of SMAD3 by blocking the interaction between SMAD3 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptor 1, thereby inhibiting the collagen synthesis process, preventing vascular fibrosis and improving atherosclerosis. The quantitative proteomics results from Lig-treated atherosclerotic ApoE-/- mice also indicated that Lig inhibits the expression of collagens I and III, interferes with collagen fibril organization processes and protects the aorta from vascular fibrosis. Hence, developing a novel SMAD3 inhibitor may present another therapeutic option for preventing atherosclerosis.
Project description:Schisandra chinensis fruit extract (SCE) and its active ingredient Schisandrin B (SchB), which are effective in the treatment of vascular diseases, have been known to suppress transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-mediated Smad activation and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, it is still largely unknown about the pharmacologic effects and mechanisms of SCE and SchB on TGF-β1-induced intracellular signaling pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).