Jin-Hee Park

PPARδ agonist L-165041 inhibits rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration via inhibition of cell cycle

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family of nuclear hormone receptors consists of three subtypes (alpha, beta/delta, and gamma). PPAR delta is ubiquitously expressed and involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. However, the effect of PPAR delta on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration has not been fully elucidated yet. Here, we investigated the effect of L-165041, a selective ligand for PPAR delta, on PDGF-induced rat VSMC proliferation. Our data show that L-165041 inhibited rat VSMC proliferation in a dose dependent manner by blocking G(1) to S phase progression and repressing the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb). Furthermore, L-165041 inhibited PDGF-induced expression of cyclin D1 and CDK4. These effects less likely involve PPAR gamma pathway because PPAR gamma antagonist GW9662 pretreatment failed to reverse the inhibitory effect of L-165041 on rVSMC proliferation and migration. For in vivo studies, L-165041 was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats using osmotic pumps before and after the carotid balloon injury, and L-165041 decreased neointima formation after the carotid injury. In conclusion, our results suggest that PPAR delta ligand L-165041 can be a therapeutic agent to control pathologic cardiovascular conditions such as restenosis and atherosclerosis.

The cardioprotective effects of zileuton, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, are mediated by COX-2 via activation of PKCδ

Zileuton has been demonstrated to act as an anti-inflammatory agent by virtue of its well-known ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). However, the effects of zileuton on cardiovascular disease and cardiomyocyte apoptosis are unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of zileuton on apoptosis of cardiac myogenic H9c2 cells and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs), and examined the possible role of PKC delta-mediated induction of COX-2 in these effects. Treatment of H9c2 cells with zileuton efficiently induced COX-2 expression and PGE(2) biosynthesis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Zileuton also exerted a profound protective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress, a mimic of reperfusion damage in vitro, and this protective effect was abolished by COX-2-selective inhibitor. When we investigated the signalling pathways involved in zileuton-induced COX-2 expression, we found that zileuton acts as a PKC delta activator, causing it to translocate from the cytosol to nucleus. Inhibition of PKC delta activation with rottlerlin, a PKC delta-specific inhibitor, abolished the zileuton-induced protection against H(2)O(2)-induced cell death and inhibited zileuton-induced COX-2 expression and PGE(2) production. The protective effect of zileuton was dramatically diminished by treatment with LY294002 or PD98059. Furthermore, zileuton-stimulated ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation was attenuated by rottlerin, indicating that PKC delta might act upstream of ERK1/2 and Akt. Moreover, inhibition of either ERK1/2 or Akt activation abolished zileuton-induced COX-2 expression. Knockdown of PKC delta with siRNA also reversed the protective effect of zileuton and blocked the induction of COX-2. These results suggest that zileuton-induced COX-2 expression is sequentially mediated through PKC delta-dependent activation of ERK1/2 and Akt. Based on these findings, we propose that zileuton might provide a new therapeutic strategy for ischemia/reperfusion injury of the heart.

PPARδ activation inhibits angiotensin II induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by suppressing intracellular Ca2+ signaling pathway

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors δ (PPARδ) is known to be expressed ubiquitously, and the predominant PPAR subtype of cardiac cells. However, relatively less is known regarding the role of PPARδ in cardiac cells except that PPARδ ligand treatment protects cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting NF‐κB activation. Thus, in the present study, we examined the effect of selective PPARδ ligand L‐165041 on angiotensin II (AngII) induced cardiac hypertrophy and its underlying mechanism using cardiomyocyte. According to our data, L‐165041 (10 µM) inhibited AngII‐induced [3H] leucine incorporation, induction of the fetal gene atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and increase of cardiomyocyte size. Previous studies have implicated the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the progress of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. L‐165041 pretreatment significantly inhibited AngII‐induced intracellular Ca2+ increase and subsequent phosphorylation of FAK. Further experiment using Ca2+ ionophore A23187 confirmed that Ca2+ induced FAK phosphorylation, and this was also blocked by L‐165041 pretreatment. In addition, overexpression of PPARδ using adenovirus significantly inhibited AngII‐induced intracellular Ca2+ increase and FAK expression, while PPARδ siRNA treatment abolished the effect of L‐165041. These data indicate that PPARδ ligand L‐165041 inhibits AngII induced cardiac hypertrophy by suppressing intracellular Ca2+/FAK/ERK signaling pathway in a PPARδ dependent mechanism. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 823–834, 2009.

HB-EGF induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via an ERK5-MEF2A-COX2 signaling pathway.

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family that binds to and activates the EGF receptor. Transactivated by angiotensin II, ET-1, and various growth factors in cardiomyocytes, HB-EGF is known to induce cardiac hypertrophy via the PI3K-Akt, MAP kinase, and JAK-STAT pathways. However, little is known about the potential involvement of the ERK5 pathway in HB-EGF-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In the present report, we identify and characterize a novel MEK5-ERK5 pathway that is involved in HB-EGF-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. HB-EGF (10ng/ml) significantly increased [(3)H]-leucine incorporation and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) mRNA expression in H9c2 cells. In addition, HB-EGF activated a MEK5-ERK5 pathway. Pretreatment with the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 attenuated the activation of ERK5. Blockade of MEK5-ERK5 signaling using MEK5 siRNA reduced the ability of HB-EGF to increase cell size and the expression of ANF mRNA, suggesting the involvement of an EGFR-ERK5 pathway in HB-EGF-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. We further analyzed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). HB-EGF enhanced the expression of COX-2, a response mediated by MEK5-ERK5 signaling, while the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib attenuated HB-EGF-induced ANF mRNA expression, suggesting that COX-2 is also associated with HB-EGF-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. It has been known that ERK5 activates the myocyte enhancer factor (MEF) 2 family of transcription factor, we next tested whether activation of MEF2A contributes to HB-EGF-induced COX-2 expression. Inhibition of MEF2A using siRNA attenuated HB-EGF-induced COX-2, ANF expression and cell size. In conclusion, HB-EGF induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through an EGFR-ERK5-MEF2A-COX-2 pathway. Our findings will help us to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind HB-EGF-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

PPARδ ligand L-165041 ameliorates Western diet-induced hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation in LDLR−/− mice

Although peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARdelta) has been implicated in energy metabolism and lipid oxidation process, detailed roles of PPARdelta in lipid homeostasis under pathologic conditions still remain controversial. Thus, we investigated the effect of PPARdelta ligand L-165041 on Western diet-induced fatty liver using low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLR(-/-)) mice. LDLR(-/-) mice received either L-165041 (5mg/kg/day) or vehicle (0.1N NaOH) with Western diet for 16 weeks. According to our data, L-165041 drastically reduced lipid accumulation in the liver, decreasing total hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride content compared to the vehicle group. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that L-165041 lowered hepatic expression of PPARgamma, apolipoprotein B, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1beta), and interleukin-6. In contrast, L-165041 increased hepatic expressions of PPARdelta, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1). Our data suggest that L-165041 might be effective in preventing Western diet-induced hepatic steatosis by regulating genes involved in lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response.

The PPARδ ligand L‐165041 inhibits vegf‐induced angiogenesis, but the antiangiogenic effect is not related to PPARδ

Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)δ is known to be expressed ubiquitously and involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. Recent studies have demonstrated that PPARδ is expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and plays a potential role in endothelial survival and proliferation. Although PPARα and PPARγ are well recognized to play anti‐inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic roles in ECs, the general effect of PPARδ on angiogenesis in ECs remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the effect of the PPARδ ligand L‐165041 on vascular EC proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro as well as in vivo. Our data show that L‐165041 inhibited VEGF‐induced cell proliferation and migration in human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs). L‐165041 also inhibited angiogenesis in the Matrigel plug assay and aortic ring assay. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that L‐165041 reduced the number of ECs in the S phase and the expression levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins such as cyclin A, cyclin E, CDK2, and CDK4; phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein was suppressed by pretreatment with L‐165041. We confirmed whether these antiangiogenic effects of L‐165041 were PPARδ‐dependent using GW501516 and PPARδ siRNA. GW501516 treatment did not inhibit VEGF‐induced angiogenesis, and transfection of PPARδ siRNA did not reverse this antiangiogenic effect of L‐165041, suggesting that the antiangiogenic effect of L‐165041 on ECs is PPARδ‐independent. Together, these data indicate that the PPARδ ligand L‐165041 inhibits VEGF‐stimulated angiogenesis by suppressing the cell cycle progression independently of PPARδ. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of L‐165041 in the treatment of many disorders related to pathological angiogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1947–1954, 2012.

Coronin 1B serine 2 phosphorylation by p38α is critical for vascular endothelial growth factor-induced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Coronin 1B is an actin-binding protein that regulates various cellular processes including cell motility. However, the role of coronin 1B in vascular cell migration remains controversial. Here, we examined the function of coronin 1B in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and investigated the mechanism by which coronin 1B regulates this cellular process. We found that depletion of coronin 1B increased the VEGF-induced migration of HUVECs. VEGF phosphorylated coronin 1B at Ser2 and stimulated its translocation to the leading edge of stimulated cells. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of wild-type coronin 1B or a phosphodeficient coronin 1B S2A mutant decreased VEGF-induced transwell migration of HUVECs. Treatment with the p38 inhibitor SB203580 or depletion of p38α by small interfering RNA transfection decreased VEGF-induced coronin 1B phosphorylation. In vitro binding and kinase assays revealed that active p38α directly binds to and phosphorylates coronin 1B at Ser2. In addition, VEGF induced active p38α binding to coronin 1B in HUVECs. VEGF disrupted the interaction between coronin 1B and the actin-related protein (Arp)2/3 complex and p38α depletion prevented this VEGF-induced dissociation. These findings suggest that coronin 1B plays an inhibitory role in VEGF-induced migration of HUVECs and that VEGF-activated p38α phosphorylates coronin 1B at Ser2 and activates the Arp2/3 complex by liberating it from coronin 1B.