Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS AND RESULTS: Significant decreases in IRF7 expression were observed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) following carotid artery injury in vivo and platelet-derived growth factor-BB ( PDGF-BB) stimulation in vitro. Compared with non-transgenic (NTG) controls, SMC-specific IRF7 transgenic (IRF7-TG) mice displayed reduced neointima formation and VSMC proliferation in response to carotid injury, whereas a global knockout of IRF7 (IRF7-KO) resulted in the opposite effect. Notably, a novel IRF7-KO rat strain was successfully generated and used to further confirm the effects of IRF7 deletion on the acceleration of intimal hyperplasia based on a balloon injury-induced vascular lesion model. Mechanistically, IRF7's inhibition of carotid thickening and the expression of VSMC proliferation markers was dependent on the interaction of IRF7 with activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) and its downstream target, proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA). The evidence that IRF7/ATF3-double-TG (DTG) and IRF7/ATF3-double-KO (DKO) mice abolished the regulatory effects exhibited by the IRF7-TG and IRF7-KO mice, respectively, validated the underlying molecular events of IRF7-ATF3 interaction. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that IRF7 modulated VSMC proliferation and neointima formation by interacting with ATF3, thereby inhibiting the ATF3-mediated induction of PCNA transcription. The results of this study indicate that IRF7 is a novel modulator of neointima formation and VSMC proliferation and may represent a promising target for vascular disease therapy.
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Authors | Ling Huang, Shu-Min Zhang, Peng Zhang, Xiao-Jing Zhang, Li-Hua Zhu, Ke Chen, Lu Gao, Yan Zhang, Xiang-Jie Kong, Song Tian, Xiao-Dong Zhang, Hongliang Li |
Journal | Journal of the American Heart Association
(J Am Heart Assoc)
Vol. 3
Issue 5
Pg. e001309
(Oct 10 2014)
ISSN: 2047-9980 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 25304854
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2014 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell. |
Chemical References |
- Activating Transcription Factor 3
- Atf3 protein, rat
- Interferon Regulatory Factor-7
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Topics |
- Activating Transcription Factor 3
(genetics)
- Animals
- Blotting, Western
- Carotid Artery Injuries
(pathology, physiopathology)
- Cell Proliferation
(genetics)
- Cells, Cultured
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Interferon Regulatory Factor-7
(genetics)
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
(cytology)
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle
(metabolism)
- Neointima
(pathology, physiopathology)
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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