Intimal Smooth Muscle Cells of Porcine and Human Coronary Artery Express S100A4, a Marker of the Rhomboid Phenotype In Vitro

• Published in: Circulation research Vol. 100; no. 7; pp. 1055 - 1062
• Main Authors: Brisset, Anne C, Hao, Hiroyuki, Camenzind, Edoardo, Bacchetta, Marc, Geinoz, Antoine, Sanchez, Jean-Charles, Chaponnier, Christine, Gabbiani, Giulio, Bochaton-Piallat, Marie-Luce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD American Heart Association, Inc 13.04.2007; Lippincott
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Movement - physiology; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Child; Coculture Techniques; Coronary Restenosis - metabolism; Coronary Restenosis - pathology; Coronary Vessels - metabolism; Coronary Vessels - pathology; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - pharmacology; Muscle Proteins - metabolism; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - metabolism; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - cytology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - physiology; Phenotype; S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; S100 Proteins - metabolism; Stents - adverse effects; Swine; Tissue Distribution; Tunica Intima - metabolism; Tunica Intima - pathology; Vertebrates: cardiovascular system; Human; Endothelial cell; endothelial cells; α-smooth muscle actin; Coronary artery; smoothelin; Smooth muscle; 2D-PAGE; Marker; In vitro; Stent; Pig; Vertebrata; Phenotype; Mammalia; Actin; mts1; Artiodactyla; Circulatory system; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0009-7330; 1524-4571
• DOI: 10.1161/01.RES.0000262654.84810.6c

We reported that smooth muscle cell (SMC) populations isolated from normal porcine coronary artery media exhibit distinct phenotypesspindle-shaped (S) and rhomboid (R). R-SMCs are recovered in higher proportion from stent-induced intimal thickening compared with media suggesting that they participate in intimal thickening formation. Our aim was to identify a marker of R-SMCs in vitro and to explore its possible expression in vivo. S- and R-SMC protein extracts were compared by means of 2-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by tandem mass spectrometry. S100A4 was found to be predominantly expressed in R-SMC extracts. Using a monoclonal S100A4 antibody we confirmed that S100A4 is highly expressed by R-SMCs and hardly detectable in S-SMCs. S100A4 was colocalized with α-smooth muscle actin in stress fibers of several quiescent cells and upregulated during migration. PDGF-BB, FGF-2 or coculture with endothelial cells, which modulate S-SMCs to a R-phenotype, increased S100A4 expression in both S- and R-SMCs. Silencing of S100A4 mRNA in R-SMCs decreased cell proliferation, suggesting a functional role for this protein. In vivo S100A4 was absent in normal porcine coronary artery media, but highly expressed by SMCs of stent-induced intimal thickening. In humans, S100A4 was barely detectable in coronary artery media and markedly expressed in SMCs of atheromatous and restenotic coronary artery lesions. Our results indicate that S100A4 is a marker of porcine R-SMCs in vitro and of intimal SMCs during intimal thickening development. It is also a marker of a large population of human atheromatous and restenotic SMCs. Clarifying S100A4 function might be useful to understand the evolution of atherosclerotic and restenotic processes.