The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) family of growth factors control the development and homeostasis of most tissues in metazoan organisms. Work over the past few years has led to the elucidation of a TGF-beta signal transduction network. This network involves receptor serine/threonine kinases at the cell surface and their substrates, the SMAD proteins, which move into the nucleus, where they activate target gene transcription in association with DNA-binding partners. Distinct repertoires of receptors, SMAD proteins, and DNA-binding partners seemingly underlie, in a cell-specific manner, the multifunctional nature of TGF-beta and related factors. Mutations in these pathways are the cause of various forms of human cancer and developmental disorders.

TGF-beta signal transduction.

Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death in the developed world and
nearly the leading cause in the developing world, is associated with systemic
risk factors including hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes
mellitus, among others. Nonetheless, atherosclerosis remains a geometrically
focal disease, preferentially affecting the outer edges of vessel bifurcations.
In these predisposed areas, hemodynamic shear stress, the frictional force
acting on the endothelial cell surface as a result of blood flow, is weaker
than in protected regions. Studies have identified hemodynamic shear stress
as an important determinant of endothelial function and phenotype. Arterial-level
shear stress (>15 dyne/cm2) induces endothelial quiescence and
an atheroprotective gene expression profile, while low shear stress (<4
dyne/cm2), which is prevalent at atherosclerosis-prone sites, stimulates
an atherogenic phenotype. The functional regulation of the endothelium by
local hemodynamic shear stress provides a model for understanding the focal
propensity of atherosclerosis in the setting of systemic factors and may help
guide future therapeutic strategies.

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Hemodynamic shear stress and its role in atherosclerosis.

Mechanical forces associated with blood flow play important roles in the acute control of vascular tone, the regulation of arterial structure and remodeling, and the localization of atherosclerotic lesions. Major regulation of the blood vessel responses occurs by the action of hemodynamic shear stresses on the endothelium. The transmission of hemodynamic forces throughout the endothelium and the mechanotransduction mechanisms that lead to biophysical, biochemical, and gene regulatory responses of endothelial cells to hemodynamic shear stresses are reviewed.

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Flow-mediated endothelial mechanotransduction

Endothelial Cells in Physiology and in the Pathophysiology of Vascular Disorders

Close relation of endothelial function in the human coronary and peripheral circulations

The endothelium has the capacity to modulate vascular structure in response to hemodynamic stimuli. We tested the hypothesis that exposure of the endothelium to increased laminar shear stress induces the expression of TGF beta 1 via a signal transduction pathway modulated by K+ channel currents. Although TGF beta 1 is normally secreted in a latent, inactive form, exposure of cultured endothelial cells to steady laminar shear stress (20 dynes/cm2) induced increased generation of biologically active TGF beta 1. This increase in active TGF beta 1 was associated with a sustained increase in TGF beta 1 mRNA expression within 2 h of stimulation. TGF beta 1 mRNA levels increased in direct proportion to the intensity of the shear stress within the physiologic range. The effect of shear stress on TGF beta 1 mRNA expression was regulated at the transcriptional level as defined by nuclear run-off studies and transient transfection of a TGF beta 1 promoter-reporter gene construct. Blockade of endothelial K+ channels with tetraethylammonium significantly inhibited: activation of TGF beta 1 gene transcription; increase in steady state mRNA levels; and generation of active TGF beta 1 in response to shear stress. These data suggest that endothelial K+ channels and autocrine-paracrine TGF beta 1 may be involved in the mechanotransduction mechanisms mediating flow-induced vascular remodeling.

/pdf/fluid-shear-stress-induces-endothelial-transforming-growth-54ypzc3jaq.pdf

Fluid shear stress induces endothelial transforming growth factor beta-1 transcription and production. Modulation by potassium channel blockade.

BACKGROUNDThe endothelium acts as the sensor of shear stress and as the mediator of flow-induced changes in vessel tone and structure. The purpose of this study was to delineate the signal transduction pathway of flow-induced release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF).METHODS AND RESULTSWe used a shear stress apparatus (a modified cone-plate viscometer) to expose cultured endothelial cells to a well-defined laminar fluid flow. Confluent bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were subjected to varying levels of shear stress, and intracellular cyclic GMP (cGMP) in the BAECs was measured by radioimmunoassay. After 60 seconds of laminar fluid flow, BAEC cGMP increased by 300% from basal levels (from 0.54 to 1.70 pmol/mg protein, P < 0.05). The elevation in intracellular cGMP was proportional to the intensity of shear stress within a physiological range up to 40 dynes/cm2. This increase in cGMP was abrogated by L-N-methyl-arginine (the competitive antagonist of nitric oxide [NO] synthase), indicati...

Shear stress elevates endothelial cGMP. Role of a potassium channel and G protein coupling.

The migration and proliferation of endothelial cells play a pivotal role in various vascular diseases. We have previously reported that atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) exerts an antigrowth effect on vascular smooth muscle cells via the guanylate cyclase-coupled mechanism. Because the endothelial cells are known to possess a large number of guanylate cyclase-coupled ANP receptors, we examined the action of ANP on the growth of endothelial cells. ANP (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) significantly attenuated serum-stimulated DNA synthesis of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells with concomitant reduction of the increase in cell number. A ring-deleted analogue of ANP exerted less prominent antiproliferative action, and 8-bromo cyclic GMP (cGMP) mimicked the action of ANP, suggesting the involvement of cGMP cascade in the endothelial growth. Moreover, the proliferative action of exogenously administered basic fibroblast growth factor on endothelial cells was significantly attenuated by the simultaneously administered 8-bromo cGMP. Taken together, the present results demonstrate a potential novel role of ANP in the regulation of endothelial cell growth, which is implicated in angiogenesis or reendothelialization.

Minoru Ohno

Papers

Fluid shear stress induces endothelial transforming growth factor beta-1 transcription and production. Modulation by potassium channel blockade.

Shear stress elevates endothelial cGMP. Role of a potassium channel and G protein coupling.

Atrial natriuretic polypeptide as a novel antigrowth factor of endothelial cells.