Modulators of induction of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in HepG2 cells by transforming growth factor-β

Nakayama, Naomi^a; Nakamura, Tomomi^a; Okada, Hiromi^a; Iwaki, Soichiro^a; Sobel, Burton E.^b; Fujii, Satoshi^a

^aDepartments of Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology and Therapeutics, Nagoya City University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan

^bCardiovascular Research Institute, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA

Correspondence to Satoshi Fujii, MD, PhD, Departments of Molecular and Cellular Pathobiology and Therapeutics, Nagoya City University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tanabe-Dori 3-1, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan Tel: +81 52 836 3451; fax +81 52 836 3454; e-mail:[email protected]

Received March 8, 2011

Accepted May 31, 2011

Coronary Artery Disease22(7):p 468-478, November 2011. |DOI:10.1097/MCA.0b013e32834a3817

Abstract

Objective

An increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) has been implicated in accelerating atherogenesis and coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β increases its expression. An increased PAI-1 appears to predispose also to augmented fibrosis potentially contributing to negative left ventricular remodeling and heart failure after myocardial infarction. Diabetes is well known to induce oxidative stress. To elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying an increased PAI-1 production, the effects of TGF-β and oxidative stress implicated as agonists of PAI-1 synthesis were characterized with the use of human liver-derived HepG2 cells.

Methods

PAI-1 mRNA was assayed by real-time PCR, and PAI-1 protein was assayed by western blotting. PAI-1 promoter (−825 –+42 bp) activity was assessed with the luciferase assay. The role of the 3′-untranslated region was delineated with the use of luciferase constructs containing the 3′-untranslated region. Oxidative stress was measured after loading carboxy-2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein into cells.

Results

TGF-β increased oxidative stress, which was accompanied by increases in NADPH oxidase 3 mRNA and membrane translocation of Rac proteins. TGF-β-inducible increases in the PAI-1 promoter activity involved Smad-binding elements and a nuclear factor-κB-binding site. TGF-β did not increase the activity of the PAI-1 mRNA 3′-untranslated region. TGF-β-inducible PAI-1 expression was attenuated by simvastatin and curcumin, a natural polyphenol.

Conclusion

TGF-β can increase the expression of PAI-1 through multiple mechanisms involving Smad and nuclear factor-κB pathways and oxidative stress. As both oxidative stress and PAI-1 production were reduced by simvastatin and curcumin, modulation of oxidative stress and PAI-1 production are attractive targets for pharmacotherapy of cardiovascular disorders associated with an increased PAI-1 including type 2 diabetes and its associated consequences including accelerated coronary artery disease and an increased fibrosis that may exacerbate adverse left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction.