A paradoxical pro-apoptotic effect of thrombin on smooth muscle cells

Exp Cell Res. 2004 Oct 1;299(2):279-85. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2004.05.034.

Abstract

Whereas thrombin (below 10 nM) is a potent mitogen, recent studies report that exposure to higher doses of thrombin could lead to apoptosis of neurons and tumor cells. Our results show that prolonged exposure (> or = 24 h) to thrombin (50-100 nM) exerts a pro-apoptotic effect on cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This phenomenon depends on thrombin serine-protease activity but is independent of PAR-1 and -4 activation and subsequent signaling. The parallel occurrence of cell retraction and cleavage of fibronectin suggests that thrombin-induced apoptosis is consecutive to pericellular proteolysis. These data point to a new potential action of thrombin in the cardiovascular system.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Extracellular Matrix
  • Fibronectins / metabolism*
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Receptor, PAR-1 / metabolism
  • Thrombin / pharmacology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Fibronectins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptor, PAR-1
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • prostate apoptosis response-4 protein
  • Thrombin
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Calcium