Expression of the nuclear factor-kappaB and proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun are induced by low extracellular Mg2+ in aortic and cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells: possible links to hypertension, atherogenesis, and stroke

Am J Hypertens. 2003 Sep;16(9 Pt 1):701-7. doi: 10.1016/s0895-7061(03)00987-7.

Abstract

Proto-oncogene (c-fos, c-jun) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) expression, as well as DNA synthesis, in aortic and cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were upregulated by a decrease in extracellular magnesium ions ([Mg2+]o). Upregulation of these transcriptional factors was inversely proportional to the [Mg2+]o and occurred over the pathophysiologic range of serum Mg2+ found in patients presenting with hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o), use of nifedipine or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors prevented the upregulation of the proto-oncogenes and DNA synthesis in VSMCs. These data show that [Mg2+]o may be an important, heretofore, overlooked natural modulator of proto-oncogene and NF-kappaB expression in VSMCs and that Ca2+ and PKC may play critical roles in induction of c-fos and c-jun in VSMCs induced by a decrease in [Mg2+]o. These results point to a role for low serum Mg2+ in potential development of hypertension, atherogenesis, vascular disease, and stroke.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta, Thoracic / drug effects*
  • Aorta, Thoracic / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • DNA / biosynthesis
  • DNA / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dogs
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism*
  • Genes, fos / drug effects*
  • Genes, fos / physiology*
  • Genes, jun / drug effects*
  • Genes, jun / physiology*
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Magnesium / metabolism*
  • Magnesium / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Myocardial Ischemia / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / biosynthesis*
  • NF-kappa B / drug effects*
  • Nifedipine / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase C / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Stroke / metabolism
  • Telencephalon / cytology*
  • Telencephalon / drug effects*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger
  • DNA
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Magnesium
  • Nifedipine
  • Calcium