Smad pathway participates the process of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To investigate whether Smad pathway participates the process of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) induced the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS: Human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (hUASMCs) were divided into four groups control group, PDGF (platelet derived growth factor) group, ERK blocking agent group and PDGF+ERK blocking agent group. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of hUASMCs (A value). Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of PCNA, phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) protein in hUASMCs. The expression of Smad2/3 mRNA in hUASMCs was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The proliferation of hUASMCs and the expression of PCNA, p-ERK and p-Smad2/3 proteins in hUASMCs in PDGF group were increased obviously than those in other groups (P