Calcitonin Inhibits Phenotypic Switching of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells and Neointimal Hyperplasia through the AMP-Activated Protein Kinase/Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Pathway

Mingyu Liu; Fei Xiang; Tao Yang; Yujia Sun; Jiemei Yang; Tengyu Wang; Sixuan Chen; Yingjie Xu; Gaojun Shan; Yuanqi Shi; Zengxiang Dong; Yuanyuan Guo

doi:10.1021/acsptsci.3c00288

Calcitonin Inhibits Phenotypic Switching of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells and Neointimal Hyperplasia through the AMP-Activated Protein Kinase/Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Pathway

ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2024 Feb 23;7(3):733-742. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00288. eCollection 2024 Mar 8.

Authors

Mingyu Liu^{1

2}, Fei Xiang¹, Tao Yang¹, Yujia Sun¹, Jiemei Yang¹, Tengyu Wang¹, Sixuan Chen¹, Yingjie Xu¹, Gaojun Shan¹, Yuanqi Shi^{1

2}, Zengxiang Dong^{1

2

3}, Yuanyuan Guo^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, 23 Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin 150001, China.
² The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease Acousto-Optic Electromagnetic Diagnosis and Treatment in Heilongjiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150088, China.
³ NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 23 Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin 150001, China.
⁴ Department of Geriatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.

PMID: 38481691
PMCID: PMC10928884 (available on 2025-02-23)
DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00288

Abstract

Calcitonin (CT) is a peptide hormone secreted by the parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland, salmon calcitonin was originally extracted from the hind cheek of salmon. Neointimal hyperplasia refers to the excessive proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In this study, a rat model of restenosis was employed to explore the impact of calcitonin on neointima proliferation. Calcitonin was administered via continuous injections for a duration of 14 days postsurgery, and the expression of proteins associated with proliferation, migration, and phenotypic switching was assessed using the vascular smooth muscle cells. Additionally, metabolomic analyses were conducted to shed light on the mechanisms that underlie the role of calcitonin in the development of cardiovascular disease. In our study, we found that calcitonin possesses the capability to dispute the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and 15% fetal bovine serum in vitro. Calcitonin has demonstrated a favorable impact on smooth muscle cells, both in vitro and in vivo. More specifically, it has been observed to mitigate phenotypic switching, proliferation, and migration of these cells. Moreover, calcitonin has been identified as a protective factor against phenotypic switching and the formation of neointima, operating through the AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.