Mindin/spondin 2, an extracellular matrix (ECM) component that belongs to the
thrombospondin type 1 (TSR) class of molecules, plays prominent roles in the regulation of inflammatory responses, angiogenesis and metabolic disorders. Our most recent studies indicated that
mindin is largely involved in the initiation and development of cardiac and
cerebrovascular diseases [Zhu et al. (2014) J. Hepatol. 60, 1046-1054; Bian et al. (2012) J. Mol. Med. 90, 895-910; Wang et al. (2013) Exp. Neurol. 247, 506-516; Yan et al. (2011) Cardiovasc. Res. 92, 85-94]. However, the regulatory functions of
mindin in
neointima formation remain unclear. In the present study,
mindin expression was significantly down-regulated in
platelet-derived growth factor-BB (
PDGF-BB)-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and wire injury-stimulated vascular tissue. Using a gain-of-function approach, overexpression of
mindin in VSMCs exhibited strong anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects on VSMCs, whereas significant suppression of intimal
hyperplasia was observed in transgenic (TG) mice expressing
mindin specifically in smooth muscle cells (SMCs). These mice exhibited blunted VSMC proliferation, migration and phenotypic switching. Conversely, deletion of
mindin dramatically exacerbated
neointima formation in a wire-injury mouse model, which was further confirmed in a balloon injury-induced vascular lesion model using a novel
mindin-KO (knockout) rat strain. From a mechanistic standpoint, the AKT (
Protein Kinase B)-GSK3β (
glycogen synthase kinase 3β)/mTOR (
mammalian target of rapamycin)-FOXO3A (forkhead box O)-FOXO1 signalling axis is responsible for the regulation of
mindin during intimal thickening. Interestingly, an AKT inhibitor largely reversed
mindin-KO-induced aggravated
hyperplasia, suggesting that
mindin-mediated
neointima formation is AKT-dependent. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that
mindin protects against vascular
hyperplasia by suppression of abnormal VSMC proliferation, migration and phenotypic switching in an AKT-dependent manner. Up-regulation of
mindin might represent an effective
therapy for vascular-remodelling-related diseases.