Perivascular gene transfer of dominant-negative N19RhoA attenuates neointimal formation via inhibition of TGF-beta1-Smad2 signaling in rats after carotid artery balloon injury

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Nov 13;389(2):217-23. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.08.104. Epub 2009 Aug 23.

Abstract

Phenotypic differentiation of adventitial fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is an essential feature of vascular remodeling. Here, we carried out perivascular gene transfer of dominant-negative N19RhoA to investigate whether antagonism of RhoA signaling attenuates neointimal formation following rat carotid artery balloon injury and alters TGF-beta1-Smad2-induced differentiation of adventitial fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Perivascular delivery of an adenovirus coexpressing dominant-negative N19RhoA and humanized Renilla green fluorescent protein (hrGFP) (Ad-N19RhoA-hrGFP), as demonstrated by hrGFP staining, suppressed neointimal formation at 7 and 14days post-injury. Ad-N19RhoA-hrGFP administration inhibited neointimal alpha-smooth muscle-actin and Calponin expression, as markers of myofibroblast differentiation and perivascular collagen deposition, at 14days after balloon injury. Ad-N19RhoA-hrGFP administration also inhibited adventitial Smad2 phosphorylation, but did not alter local TGF-beta1 and total-Smad2 expression after injury. Our results provide evidence that perivascular gene transfer of dominant-negative N19RhoA blocks TGF-beta1-Smad2-induced differentiation of adventitial fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, which contributes to intimal hyperplasia after balloon injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / biosynthesis
  • Adenoviridae
  • Angioplasty, Balloon / adverse effects
  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Calponins
  • Carotid Arteries / surgery
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / pathology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Fibroblasts / pathology*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Male
  • Microfilament Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Smad2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Smad2 Protein
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • smooth muscle actin, rat
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein