Copyright © 2005, European Society of Cardiology
Biphasic effect of p21Cip1 on smooth muscle cell proliferation: Role of PI 3-kinase and Skp2-mediated degradation
Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, U.K.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 117 9283586; fax: +44 117 9283581. Email address: mark.bond{at}bris.ac.uk
Objective: Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is an important event in atherogenesis, in-stent restenosis and late vein-graft failure. Cell-cycle progression is positively regulated by cyclin:cdk complexes and negatively regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, including p21Cip1. Here we investigate the mechanisms regulating p21Cip1 levels in VSMCs and its role in controlling VSMC proliferation.
Methods and results: We studied the S-phase-associated kinase protein-2 (Skp2), an F-box protein implicated in the ubiquitination of p21Cip1. Overexpression of wild-type Skp2 or dominant-negative Skp2 decreased or increased p21Cip1 levels, respectively. Interestingly, levels of endogenous p21Cip1 and Skp2 were both increased in a phosphoinositide PI 3-kinase-dependent manner in late G1 phase. Increased expression of p21Cip1 occurred despite significantly increased Skp2-mediated proteasomal degradation. To determine the role of p21Cip1 in regulating VSMC proliferation, we used adenovirus-mediated overexpression and small-interfering RNA to elevate or silence p21Cip1 expression, respectively. Overexpression of p21Cip1 significantly inhibited VSCM proliferation. p21Cip1 silencing also inhibited proliferation and increased apoptotic cell death.
Conclusions: Taken together, this data demonstrates that a balance between PI 3-kinase-driven upregulation and Skp2-mediated degradation controls the level of p21Cip1, which regulates VSMC proliferation in a biphasic manner. Low levels of p21Cip1 are also essential to counter apoptosis during cell-cycle progression.
KEYWORDS Smooth muscle cell; Proliferation; p21Cip1; Skp2; PI 3-kinase