ROCK1 and the relative signal molecules participate in proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by cyclic strain / 医用生物力学

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the role of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) and the relative signal molecules in sensing the mechanical stimulation from tensile strain and regulating the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).Methods Physiological cyclic strain with magnitude of 10％ and at frequency of 1.25 Hz was applied to VSMCs in vitro by using the strain loading system.The proliferation level of VSMCs was analyzed by BrdU ELISA;the expression level of ROCK1,phosphorylations of protein kinase C (PKC) α/β Ⅱ,protein kinase D (PKD) and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) in VSMCs modulated by cyclic strain were detected with Western blotting;the expression of ROCK1 was specifically repressed by using RNA interference (RNAi).Results Compared with the static control,10％ cyclic strain significantly decreased the expression of ROCK1 and phosphorylations of PKD and ERK.The phosphorylation of PKCα/βⅡ decreased significantly under 10％ cyclic strain for 12 h,but returned to normal level after loading for 24 h.Repressed expression of ROCK1 with RNAi significantly down-regulated VSMC proliferation,suppressed phosphorylations of PKCα/βⅡ and PKD,but no obvious changes were found in phosphorylation of ERK.Conclusions Physiological cyclic strain with magnitude of 10％ may repress the phosphorylation of PKCα/βⅡ and PKD via inhibiting the expression of ROCK1,and subsequently affects VSMC proliferation and maintains vascular hemostasis.The investigation on intracellular mechanotransduction network of VSMCs under mechanical stimulation of cyclic strain may contribute to studying the physiological and pathological mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases.