The Nox1 NADPH oxidase signals through EGFR to activate MMP-9 and promote the shedding of N-cadherin, thereby contributing to SMC migration.

Objective-We have shown that the chloride-proton antiporter chloride channel-3 (ClC-3) is required for endosome-dependent signaling by the Nox1 NADPH oxidase in SMCs.In this study, we tested the hypothesis that ClC-3 is necessary for proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and contributes to neointimal hyperplasia following vascular injury. Methods and Results-Studies were performed in SMCs isolated from the aorta of ClC-3-null and littermate control (wild-type [WT]) mice. Thrombin and tumor necrosis factor-␣ (TNF-␣) each caused activation of both mitogen activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 and the matrix-degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-9 and cell proliferation of WT SMCs. Whereas responses to thrombin were preserved in ClC-3-null SMCs, the responses to TNF-␣ were markedly impaired. These defects normalized following gene transfer of ClC-3. Carotid injury increased vascular ClC-3 expression, and compared with WT mice, ClC-3-null mice exhibited a reduction in neointimal area of the carotid artery 28 days after injury. Conclusion-ClC-3 is necessary for the activation of SMCs by TNF-␣ but not thrombin. Deficiency of ClC-3 markedly reduces neointimal hyperplasia following vascular injury. In view of our previous findings, this observation is consistent with a role for ClC-3 in endosomal Nox1-dependent signaling. These findings identify ClC-3 as a novel target for the prevention of inflammatory and proliferative vascular diseases.

Inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation by drug eluting stents has markedly reduced intimal hyperplasia and subsequent in-stent restenosis. However, the effects of antiproliferative drugs on endothelial cells (EC) contribute to delayed re-endothelialization and late stent thrombosis. Cell-targeted therapies to inhibit VSMC remodeling while maintaining EC health are necessary to allow vascular healing while preventing restenosis. We describe an RNA aptamer (Apt 14) that functions as a smart drug by preferentially targeting VSMCs as compared to ECs and other myocytes. Furthermore, Apt 14 inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase-B (PI3K/Akt) and VSMC migration in response to multiple agonists by a mechanism that involves inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-β phosphorylation. In a murine model of carotid injury, treatment of vessels with Apt 14 reduces neointimal formation to levels similar to those observed with paclitaxel. Importantly, we confirm that Apt 14 cross-reacts with rodent and human VSMCs, exhibits a half-life of ~300 hours in human serum, and does not elicit immune activation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We describe a VSMC-targeted RNA aptamer that blocks cell migration and inhibits intimal formation. These findings provide the foundation for the translation of cell-targeted RNA therapeutics to vascular disease.

Redox-dependent migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are central events in the development of vascular proliferative diseases; however, the underlying intracellular signaling mechanisms are not fully understood. We tested the hypothesis that activation of Nox1 NADPH oxidase modulates intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i). Using cultured SMCs from wild type (WT) and Nox1 null (Nox1−/y) mice, we confirmed that thrombin-dependent generation of ROS requires Nox1. Thrombin rapidly increased [Ca2+]i, as measured by fura-2 fluorescence ratio imaging, in WT but not Nox1 null SMCs. The increase in [Ca2+]i in WT SMCs was inhibited by antisense to Nox1 and restored by expression of Nox1 in Nox1 null SMCs. Investigation into potential mechanisms by which Nox1 modulates [Ca2+]i showed that thrombin-induced inositol triphosphate generation and thapsigargin-induced intracellular calcium mobilization were similar in WT and Nox1 null SMCs. To examine the effects of Nox1 on Ca2+ entry, cells were either bathed in Ca2+-free media or exposed to dihydropyridines to block L-type Ca2+ channel activity. Treatment with nifedipine or removal of extracellular Ca2+ reduced the thrombin-mediated increase of [Ca2+]i in WT SMCs, whereas the response in Nox1 null SMCs was unchanged. Sodium vanadate, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, restored the thrombin-induced increase of [Ca2+]i in Nox1 null SMCs. Migration of SMCs was impaired with deficiency of Nox1 and restored with expression of Nox1 or addition of sodium vanadate. In summary, we conclude that Nox1 NADPH oxidase modulates Ca2+ mobilization in SMCs, in part through regulation of Ca2+ influx, to thereby promote cell migration.

Background/Aims Reduced activity of the antioxidant glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1) correlates with increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. However, it remains unclear whether this imbalance in antioxidant capacity directly contributes to activation of vascular cells. In response to oxidative stress, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) secrete the pro-inflammatory immunomodulator cyclophilin A (CyPA). We hypothesized that reduction in vascular cell GPx1 activity causes secretion of CyPA and paracrine-mediated activation of NF-κB and proliferation of SMCs. Methods/Results Using a murine model of GPx1 deficiency (GPx1+/−), we found elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide levels and increased secretion of CyPA in both arterial segments and cultured SMCs as compared to wild type (WT). Conditioned media from GPx1+/− SMCs caused increased NF-κB activation of quiescent WT SMCs, and this was inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine or by cyclosporine A (CsA). In co-culture experiments, SMCs derived from GPx1+/− aorta caused increased proliferation of WT SMCs, which was also inhibited by CsA. Conclusions Reduction in vascular cell GPx1 activity and the associated increase in oxidative stress cause CyPA-mediated paracrine activation of SMCs. These findings identify a novel mechanism by which an imbalance in antioxidant capacity may contribute to vascular disease.

We demonstrated that this IRES is active in patients expressing the N-truncated dystrophin, raising the possibility of the therapeutic use of this isoform. To explore this we developed a novel out-of-frame exonskipping approach that uses AAV-mediated U7snRNA to efficiently skip exon 2. By injecting this AAV vector into a DMD mouse model carrying a duplication of exon 2 (Dup2), this generates a truncated reading frame, leading to activation of the IRES and synthesis of the N-truncated isoform. We now demonstrate that despite lacking the first half of the canonical actin binding domain 1, this N-truncated protein is highly functional. Intramuscular injection of the AAV1.U7snRNA vector into Dup2 mice results in high levels of expression of the N-truncated isoform by 4 to 6 weeks post-injection, along with complete correction of the physiologic and pathologic features as measured by Evans blue dye uptake, hindlimb grip strength, tibialis anterior specific force, and force correction after eccentric contraction. Preliminary results supports that systemic delivery of AAV9.U7snRNA vector into Dup2 mice induce expression of this functional isoform into all muscle including heart and diaphragm, thereby improving muscle histopathology. Following treatment, a genome-wide normalized RPF-Seq data analysis (Ribosome Protected Fragment) was performed to check if the treatment restored the Haslett gene lists (gene altered in DMD) to a 'non-dystrophic' pattern. Our data clearly indicates that the treatment restored the global expression pattern to a more normal pattern. This level of correction to that of control mice supports the idea that this novel therapeutic approach should be beneficial for the 6% of patients with mutations within the first five exons of DMD.

NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the pathobiology of vascular disease. However, studies investigating NADPH oxidases in atherosclerosis have been limited in their ability to distinguish between the role of vascular cell and inflammatory cell -derived ROS. In this study, we examined the contribution of Nox1-derived ROS in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. Nox1 is a primary catalytic subunit of vascular cell, but not inflammatory cell, NADPH oxidase. At weaning, male apolipoprotein E deficient mice (AS, n=12) and male mice deficient in both apolipoprotein E and Nox1 (AS/Nox, n=16) received an atherogenic diet for 18 weeks. Mean blood pressures (116±3 vs. 110 ±3 mmHg; AS vs. AS/Nox, n=6), weights, and serum cholesterol levels (1578±150 vs. 1631±80 mg/dl; AS vs. AS/Nox) were similar between the AS and AS/Nox mice. As measured by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence, superoxide levels were increased in segments of thoracic aorta from AS mice as compared to aorta from control mice (22±2 vs. 14±2 RLU/sec/mm 2 ; AS vs. C57BL/6; p<0.05, n=6). In contrast, superoxide levels in segments of thoracic aorta from AS/Nox mice were significantly lower (9±1 RLU/sec/mm 2 , n=6) than both AS and C57BL/6 mice. Dihydroethidium staining confirmed decreased superoxide levels in aorta of AS/Nox mice. Atherosclerotic lesion area was measured by staining the aorta en face with Oil Red O. Although atherosclerotic lesion area was reduced over the entire length of aorta in AS/Nox mice as compared to AS mice (10±1% vs. 14±1%, p<0.01), the reduction in lesion was primarily limited to the aortic arch (28±3% vs. 43±2%, p<0.001). In summary, Nox1 contributes to generation of ROS and lesion formation in atherosclerosis. These data confirm a role for vascular cell NADPH oxidases, and in particular Nox1, in vascular disease.

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