Matrix-dependent gene expression of Egr-1 and PDGF A regulate angiotensin II-induced proliferation in human vascular smooth muscle cells

We have previously shown, in a neonatal rat cell line, that angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells is extracellular matrix (ECM) dependent. We hypothesized that such an effect might be mediated via differences in Ang II-induced increases in the transcriptional factor early growth response-1 (Egr-1) gene and, consequently, in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Cultured human newborn aortic smooth muscle cells were studied on 4 different surfaces: (1) plastic, (2) laminin, (3) collagen, and (4) fibronectin. Ang II-induced increases in DNA synthesis were significantly greater on collagen (2.0±0.3- fold) and fibronectin (1.9±0.3-fold) than on laminin (1.0±0.2-fold) or plastic (1.4±0.2-fold). As with DNA synthesis, at 48 and 72 hours, Ang II- induced increases in cell numbers occurred only in cells grown on collagen and fibronectin culture plates and were blocked by an antagonist to the angiotensin type 1 (losartan, 10 μmol/L) but not the angiotensin type 2 (PD 123319, 10 μmol/L) receptor. Anti-PDGF AA antibody (6 μg/mL) blocked the increase in DNA synthesis by 60% to 64% in cells on collagen or fibronectin cultures but not on plastic cultures. When PDGF-AA (10 ng/mL) and Ang II were added together, DNA synthesis increased 2-fold and did not differ on the various ECM proteins. Increases in PDGF A-chain mRNA were observed only in cells grown on collagen (3.21±0.65-fold) and fibronectin (2.86±0.49-fold) plates 2 to 8 hours after the addition of Ang II and were blocked by losartan but not PD 123319. Expression of Egr-1, an early growth response gene, increased at 15 minutes, peaked at 30 minutes, and returned to normal after 2 hours with Ang II treatment. Ang II-induced increases in Egr-1 mRNA were greater on collagen (4.82±0.66-fold at maximum) and fibronectin (4.01±0.56- fold) than on laminin (2.74±0.45-fold) or plastic (2.53±0.40-fold) and were blocked by losartan but not PD 123319. Thus, in human vascular smooth muscle cells in culture, Ang II-induced proliferation is mediated via the angiotensin type 1 receptor, dependent on ECM proteins, and regulated by differential gene expression of Egr-1 and PDGF-1.