Effects of Caveolin-1-ERK1/2 pathway on endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells under shear stress

Abstract

Hemodynamic forces have an important role in venous intimal hyperplasia, which is the main cause of arteriovenous fistula dysfunction. Endothelial cells (ECs) constantly exposed to the shear stress of blood flow, converted the mechanical stimuli into intracellular signals, and interacted with the underlying vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Caveolin-1 is one of the important mechanoreceptors on cytomembrane, which is related to vascular abnormalities. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway is involved in the process of VSMCs proliferation and migration. In the present study, we explore the effects of Caveolin-1-ERK1/2 pathway and uremia toxins on the endothelial cells and VSMCs following shear stress application. Different shear stress was simulated with a ECs/VSMCs cocultured parallel-plate flow chamber system. Low shear stress and oscillating shear stress up-regulated the expression of fibroblast growth factor-4, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, ERK1/2 phosphorylation in endothelial cells, and proliferation and migration of VSMCs but down-regulated the Caveolin-1 expression in endothelial cells. Uremia toxin induces the proliferation and migration of VSMCs but not in a Caveolin-1-dependent manner in the static environment. Low shear stress-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs is inhibited by Caveolin-1 overexpression and ERK1/2 suppression. Shear stress-regulated VSMC proliferation and migration is an endothelial cells-dependent process. Low shear stress and oscillating shear stress exert atherosclerotic influences on endothelial cells and VSMCs. Low shear stress modulated proliferation and migration of VSMCs through Caveolin-1-ERK1/2 pathway, which suggested that Caveolin-1 and ERK1/2 can be used as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of arteriovenous fistula dysfunction.

Impact statement

Venous intimal hyperplasia is the leading cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction. This article reports that shear stress-regulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and migration is an endothelial cell (EC)-dependent process. Low shear stress (LSS) and oscillating shear stress (OSS) exert atherosclerotic influences on the ECs and VSMCs. LSS-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs is inhibited by Caveolin-1 overexpression and extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) suppression, which suggested that Caveolin-1 and ERK1/2 can be used as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of AVF dysfunction.