PDGFRβ signalling regulates local inflammation and synergizes with hypercholesterolaemia to promote atherosclerosis.

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a mitogen and chemoattractant for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the direct effects of PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) activation on VSMCs have not been studied in the context of atherosclerosis. Here we present a new mouse model of atherosclerosis with an activating mutation in PDGFRβ. Increased PDGFRβ signalling induces chemokine secretion and leads to leukocyte accumulation in the adventitia and media of the aorta. Furthermore, PDGFRβ(D849V) amplifies and accelerates atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic ApoE(-/-) or Ldlr(-/-) mice. Intriguingly, increased PDGFRβ signalling promotes advanced plaque formation at novel sites in the thoracic aorta and coronary arteries. However, deletion of the PDGFRβ-activated transcription factor STAT1 in VSMCs alleviates inflammation of the arterial wall and reduces plaque burden. These results demonstrate that PDGFRβ pathway activation has a profound effect on vascular disease and support the conclusion that inflammation in the outer arterial layers is a driving process for atherosclerosis.

• Authors: Chaoyong He, Shayna C Medley, Taishan Hu, Myron E Hinsdale, Florea Lupu, Renu Virmani, Lorin E Olson
• Journal: Nature communications (Nat Commun) Vol. 6 Pg. 7770 (Jul 17 2015) ISSN: 2041-1723 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26183159 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoproteins E
• Chemokines
• Receptors, LDL
• STAT1 Transcription Factor
• Stat1 protein, mouse
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta

Topics

• Animals
• Apolipoproteins E (genetics)
• Atherosclerosis (genetics, metabolism)
• Blotting, Western
• Chemokines (metabolism)
• Cholesterol (metabolism)
• Flow Cytometry
• Gene Knock-In Techniques
• Hypercholesterolemia (genetics, metabolism)
• Immunoprecipitation
• Inflammation (metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
• Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
• Myocytes, Smooth Muscle
• Plaque, Atherosclerotic (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta (genetics)
• Receptors, LDL (genetics)
• STAT1 Transcription Factor (genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Triglycerides (metabolism)