Biomedical subjects

M J Karnovsky

Publications and source records attributed to M J Karnovsky.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Intracellular singlet oxygen generation by phagocytosing neutrophils in response to particles coated with a chemical trap.

To determine if singlet oxygen (O2(1 delta g)) is produced by neutrophils (PMNs) during the process of phagocytosis, glass beads were coated with a specific chemical trap for O2(1 delta g), 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA). Singlet oxygen, but not other reactive oxygen species, reacts rapidly with DPA at a rate of kr = 1.3 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 to form a stable product, DPA-endoperoxide (Corey, E. J., and Taylor, W. C. (1964) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 86, 3881-3882; Wasserman, H. H., Scheffer, J. R., and Cooper, J. L. (1972) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 94, 4991-4996; Turro, N. J., Chow, M.-F., and Rigaudy, J. (1981) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 103, 7218-7224). The production of DPA-endoperoxide was determined by ultraviolet spectroscopy as a decrease in DPA absorbance at 355 nm. The absorbance of DPA was normalized to the absorbance of perylene, which was included in the coating on the beads as a nonreactive, internal standard. In the present study, DPA- and perylene-coated beads were initially allowed to adhere to fibronectin-coated coverslips. PMNs were then added to the bead-coated coverslips and allowed to adhere and phagocytose the beads for 1 h at 37 degrees C. In some experiments, 4B-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) (1 ng/2.5 x 10(7) cells/ml), a known activator of the PMN NADPH-oxidase, was added as a co-stimulant. The amount of O2(1 delta g) produced by phagocytically stimulated PMNs was calculated to be 11.3 +/- 4.9 nmol of O2(1 delta g)/1.25 x 10(6) cells. Low dose PMA co-stimulation increased the production of O2(1 delta g) to 14.1 +/- 4.1 nmol/1.25 x 10(6) cells. Averaged together these amounts represent approximately 19 +/- 5.0% of the total oxygen consumed by PMNs in response to DPA- and perylene-coated beads. The specificity of the DPA reaction with O2(1 delta g) was confirmed by warming to 120 degrees C, which releases O2(1 delta g) from the DPA-endoperoxide, regenerating the parent DPA compound (Wasserman et al., 1972; Turro et al., 1981) and the absorbance at 355 nm. In addition, beta-carotene, an avid quencher of O2(1 delta g), was included in the coating of some bead preparations; assays in which these beads were used showed no change in the absorbance at 355 nm. Singlet oxygen production by myeloperoxidase was also measured using the coated bead assay and the results suggest that this is a major pathway by which singlet oxygen is generated in phagocytically stimulated PMNs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Heparin suppresses specific second messenger pathways for protooncogene expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

We investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of heparin to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth. Previous experiments have shown that heparin inhibits induction of c-fos and c-myc protooncogene mRNA in rat VSMC stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) but not when stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) (Pukac, L. A., Castellot, J. J., Wright, T. C., Caleb, B. L., and Karnovsky, M. J. (1990) Cell Regul. 1, 435-443). The present experiments show that these mitogens activate distinct second messenger pathways in VSMC, because PMA but not EGF induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA was suppressed in protein kinase C (PKC) down-regulated VSMC; this suggests that EGF does not act through a PKC-dependent pathway for induction of these genes. Heparin inhibited serum stimulation of c-fos mRNA in control VSMC, but heparin did not inhibit the smaller but significant serum stimulation of c-fos mRNA in PKC down-regulated VSMC, indicating that heparin may selectively inhibit PKC-dependent, but not PKC-independent, stimulation of gene expression. To further determine if heparin inhibits non-PKC pathways, VSMC were treated with dibutyryl cAMP, 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine, and Ca2+ ionophore A23187; stimulation of c-fos mRNA by this treatment was not inhibited by heparin. DNA synthesis and cell proliferation were inhibited in rat VSMC exposed briefly to heparin during the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. These experiments indicate heparin can act early in the cell cycle and suggest PKC-dependent but not PKC-independent signaling pathways for gene expression are selectively sensitive to heparin inhibition.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

PubMed1992

Heparin inhibits the attachment and growth of Balb/c-3T3 fibroblasts on collagen substrata.

In investigating the role of cell-extracellular matrix interactions in cell adhesion and growth control, the effects of heparin on cell-collagen interactions were examined. Exponentially growing Balb/c-3T3 fibroblasts were radiolabelled with 3H-thymidine and detached from tissue culture surfaces using EDTA, and cell attachment to various types of collagen substrata was assayed in the presence or absence of heparin or other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or dextran sulfate (40 K). Cells attached readily (70-90%) to films of types I and V, but not to type III collagen. The number of cells bound to types I and V collagen films was inhibited by 10-50% when heparin was present from 0.1-100 micrograms/ml. Cell-collagen attachment was also inhibited by dextran sulfate, and to a lesser extent by dermatan sulfate, but chondroitin sulfates A and C and hyaluronic acid showed no effect. Heparin was active even at early time points in the adhesion assay, suggesting it may disrupt cell-collagen attachment. To study the effects of heparin in modulating cell growth on collagen, growth arrested cells cultured on type I collagen films were serum stimulated in the presence of heparin or other GAGs for 3 days. Growth was inhibited (greater than 40%) only by heparin and dextran sulfate. Interaction of heparin fragments (Mr less than or equal to 6KD) with type I collagen was analyzed by affinity co-electrophoresis (Lee and Lander, 1991) and showed higher affinity heparin binding to native as compared with denatured collagen. These data suggest that sites within native collagen may mediate Balb cell-collagen and heparin-collagen interactions, and such interactions may be relevant towards understanding heparin's antiproliferative activity in vivo and in vitro.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

A putative role of hypercholesterolemia in progressive glomerular injury.

Recently, much experimental evidence has accumulated contending that hypercholesterolemia is an aggravating factor in the progression of initial glomerular injury to glomerulosclerosis. Many of the features of progressive glomerular disease share biological properties with those of atherosclerosis, and data suggesting a noxious role for oxidized low-density lipoprotein in the glomerulosclerosis process are emerging. This review discusses these issues and examines the pathobiology of cholesterol-induced glomerular injury.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Basic fibroblast growth factor enhances the coupling of intimal hyperplasia and proliferation of vasa vasorum in injured rat arteries.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is mitogenic for smooth muscle cells (SMC) and angiogenic. We examined the in vivo effects of bFGF in balloon denuded carotid arteries of laboratory rats. bFGF was administered continuously from polymer-based devices at 34 ng/d into the periadventitial space of rat carotid arteries for 2 wk. Intimal hyperplasia was not observed in the absence of injury or with lipopolysaccharide induced endothelial dysfunction. Different degrees of vascular injury produced proportionally more intimal hyperplasia. bFGF increased the intimal hyperplastic response 1.3-fold with severe vascular injury, and 2.4-fold with more mild injury. Increased cell proliferation, not extracellular matrix production, accounted for these effects. Cell density was unchanged for the control and bFGF-treated groups, and the number of proliferating intimal cells at 2 wk rose to an amount equivalent to the increase in mass; 1.9- and 4.0-fold for severe and lesser injury, respectively. The relative ability of heparin to reduce SMC proliferation was not altered by the presence of bFGF.bFGF also induced profound angiogenesis within and surrounding the polymeric releasing device, and in the vasa vasorum immediately around the injured arteries. bFGF's effect on vasa was linearly related to the amount of SMC proliferation within the blood vessel. Thus, the in vivo mitogenic and angiogenic potential of bFGF are coupled, and may be similarly modulated by the products of local injury and/or factors in the vessel wall.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Experimental graft arteriosclerosis. I. The Lewis-to-F-344 allograft model.

Progressive graft arteriosclerosis is responsible for the majority of late deaths occurring in cardiac transplant recipients. In order to define a model of this disease in the rat, we exchanged heterotopic cardiac allografts between MHC-compatible inbred strains. Lewis rats served as donors and F-344 rats as recipients. Twenty allografts were followed by daily palpation and removed at the time of terminal rejection or on the 120th postoperative day for pathologic study. Sixteen allografts (80%) survived at least three weeks, and five allografts (25%) survived indefinitely. The majority of arteries (greater than 90%) examined demonstrated significant intimal disease; histologic findings in lesions in allografts rejecting at early time points included intense mononuclear cell infiltration of the intima, while lesions in long-term-surviving allografts demonstrated fibrous intimal thickening, which is characteristic of graft arteriosclerosis seen clinically. A limited course of cyclosporine therapy in F-344 recipients increased the incidence of indefinite allograft survival from 25% to 86%, and was associated with a modest reduction in the amount of intimal disease observed. These results suggest that this model should be useful in future studies regarding the pathogenesis and therapy of cardiac graft arteriosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Arachidonate activation of the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase. Synergistic effects of protein phosphatase inhibitors compared with protein kinase activators.

Arachidonate activation of the NADPH-oxidase in intact neutrophils and in a cell-free O2- generation system was compared to synergistic activation in response to arachidonate and agents that effect protein phosphorylation. In intact neutrophils, suboptimal doses of retinal which increase protein phosphorylation, or 4B-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) an activator of protein kinase C, induced minimal O2- release, but primed neutrophils to release enhanced amounts of O2- in response to 2.5 microM arachidonate. In contrast to retinal or PMA, okadaic acid, a specific inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatases, did not induce any release of O2-, but significantly increased the maximal rate and duration of O2- release in response to arachidonate. In the cell-free system, only arachidonate induced O2- generation. Consistent with previous findings, activation of the cell-free system was dependent of the presence of light membranes, cytosol, NADPH, Mg2+, and 82 microM arachidonate. Pretreatment of neutrophils with suboptimal doses of PMA or retinal had little effect on the arachidonate-stimulated release of O2- in cell-free preparations of these cells. However, cytosol (but not light membranes) from PMA or retinal-primed neutrophils was more effective in completing resting membrane NADPH-oxidase activity when compared to cytosol from resting cells. The addition of protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine and 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine decreased the effectiveness of PMA-primed cytosol to complete the cell-free system, but had little effect on cytosol obtained from cells primed with retinal. The addition of protein phosphatase inhibitors, p-nitrophenyl phosphate or okadaic acid to neutrophil cavitates increased 3-fold the release of O2- in cell-free preparations of these cells. Okadaic acid and p-nitrophenyl phosphate also increased the effectiveness of both cytosol and light membranes to complete the cell-free system when combined with cytosol or light membranes from resting neutrophils, respectively, indicating that both fractions are affected by the inhibition of protein phosphatase activity. These data indicate that increases in protein phosphorylation alone do not lead to the activation of the NADPH-oxidase, but in addition to the requirement of an anionic amphiphile, the release of O2- from intact neutrophils or in the cell-free system is increased by stimulus activation of protein kinase C or more impressively by inhibition of protein phosphatase activity.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1991

Activation of the neutrophil NADPH-oxidase by free fatty acids requires the ionized carboxyl group and partitioning into membrane lipid.

To investigate NADPH-oxidase activation, we studied the effects of free fatty acid (FFA), their uncharged derivatives, and calcium on membrane lipid structure and superoxide anion (O2-) release from intact neutrophils and in cell-free O2(-)-generating systems. This study determined that in calcium-free phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), cis-unsaturated FFA (cis FFA), trans-unsaturated FFA (trans FFA), and to a limited extent saturated FFA decreased the polarization of the membrane lipid structure probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), and these decreases correlated with partitioning of the FFA into the plasmalemma and the release of O2- from intact neutrophils and in cell-free preparations. Although a decrease in DPH polarization was always observed under conditions that resulted in the release of O2-, there was not a direct correlation between the amount of decrease in DPH polarization and the release of O2-. Trans FFA did not induce a dose-dependent decrease or as dramatic a decrease in DPH polarization compared with cis FFA, yet the trans FFA stimulated a greater release of O2- at 2.5, 5, and 10 microM concentrations. In addition, responses of the neutrophil to trans FFA, but not cis FFA, were differentially affected by the presence of calcium. When 0.1 mM calcium was added to the PBS decreases in DPH polarization in response to trans FFA were reduced by greater than 60%, whereas O2- was reduced by only 25-36%. The addition of 0.1 mM calcium 3 min after the trans FFA had partitioned into the membrane also reversed by 50-65% decreases in DPH polarization but did not affect the release of O2-. In the presence of 0.9 mM calcium, only the cis FFA decreased DPH polarization or stimulated the release of O2-. Calcium is known to interact more readily with the ionized carboxyl group of trans FFA, neutralizing the anionic charge through an electrostatic interaction. In support of the requirement for the ionized carboxyl group, structurally similar uncharged cis, trans, and saturated fatty alcohols; methyl esters; and aldehydes decreased DPH polarization in the absence and presence of 0.9 mM calcium; however, none of these compounds stimulated the release of O2-. These results indicate that, in addition to the partitioning of FFA into the plasmalemma, which results in calcium-modulatable decreases in DPH polarization, activation or assembly of the NADPH-oxidase requires the ionized carboxyl group.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Rapid-freezing cytochemistry: preservation of tubular lysosomes and enzyme activity.

We show that tubular structures present in phorbol ester-stimulated macrophages are sensitive to commonly used chemical fixatives (i.e., they usually become fragmented during fixation). These structures are well preserved in macrophages that are physically fixed by rapid-freezing and subsequent freeze-substitution in osmium-acetone. We have developed methods that combine rapid-freezing, freeze-substitution, and enzyme cytochemistry for preservation of these tubular structures and for detection of endocytosed material (i.e., horseradish peroxidase). This method of rapid-freeze cytochemistry may be useful in other situations where chemical fixation does not adequately preserve cell structures, particularly of membrane compartments.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Antiproliferative effects of novel, nonanticoagulant heparin derivatives on vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro and in vivo.

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is strongly inhibited by whole heparin both in vitro and in vivo. To identify and characterize antiproliferative, but nonanticoagulant heparin derivatives, heparin fragments made by periodate treatment were produced and acylated with 2-, 4-, or 6-carbon chain lengths. In culture, the 4- and 6-carbon acylated compounds were more effective than whole heparin in inhibiting serum stimulated VSMC growth at equal mass or approximately equal mean molar concentrations. Further testing was performed in the rat carotid balloon injury model. Myointimal VSMC proliferation produced by balloon catheterization of rat carotid arteries was inhibited by the 4-carbon acylated compound as effectively as heparin at the same mass dose. Importantly, unlike heparin, the 4-carbon acylated compound had no anticoagulant effect in vivo. These experiments suggest nonanticoagulant, acylated heparin derivatives may have a pharmacologic role in preventing myointimal proliferative lesions that are responsible for failures of vascular surgeries and angioplasties.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Inhibition of vein graft intimal proliferative lesions in the rat by heparin.

The authors investigated the effect of heparin on the development of myointimal proliferative lesions in a rat vein graft model. Intimal thickening in this model was most pronounced in the anastomotic regions, and was composed principally of vascular smooth muscle cells, as identified by immunocytochemistry with anti-muscle actin antibody, HHF-35. Medial thickening was less cellular, and evenly distributed throughout the grafts. Continuous, intravenous infusion of whole heparin at 0.3 mg/kg/hr effectively inhibited the development of myointimal proliferative lesions, although with no effect on medial thickening. The authors suggest that heparin, through its antiproliferative activity for vascular smooth muscle cells, may have a potentially important pharmacologic role in preventing vein graft failure, which most commonly results from the development of myointimal proliferative lesions.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Effect of controlled adventitial heparin delivery on smooth muscle cell proliferation following endothelial injury.

Continuous intravenous infusion of heparin suppresses smooth muscle cell proliferation in rats after endothelial injury but may lead to hemorrhage and other complications. The anticoagulant property has been removed from chemically modified heparin without loss of antiproliferative effect but use of such compounds is still limited. In this study ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer matrices containing standard and modified heparin were placed adjacent to rat carotid arteries at the time of balloon dendothelialization. After 14 days arterial occlusion by smooth muscle cell proliferation was defined. Matrix delivery of both heparin compounds effectively diminished this proliferation in comparison to controls without producing systemic anticoagulation or side effects. In addition, this mode of therapy appeared more effective than the administration of the same agents by either intravenous pumps or heparin/polymer matrices placed in a subcutaneous site distant from the injured carotid artery. Thus, heparin's inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation after vascular injury might be most effective within the microenvironment of the injured vessel wall, and the accelerated atherosclerosis or restenosis that often follows angioplasty and other vascular interventions might best be treated with site-specific therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Heparin inhibits c-fos and c-myc mRNA expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Heparin is a potent inhibitor of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth. In this paper we show that heparin suppressed the induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA in rat and calf VSMC. This effect of heparin is closely associated with its growth-inhibitory activity, as shown by isolating and characterizing a strain of rat VSMC that was resistant to heparin's antiproliferative effect; heparin did not suppress c-fos mRNA induction in these cells. Moreover, neither a nonantiproliferative heparin fragment or other glycosaminoglycans that lack growth-inhibitory activity repressed c-fos or c-myc mRNA levels. The effect of heparin on c-fos mRNA induction was selective for specific mitogens, as heparin inhibited c-fos mRNA induction in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) stimulated but not epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated VSMC. The effect of heparin on gene expression is independent of ongoing protein synthesis, and inhibition of c-fos mRNA is at the transcriptional level. These results suggest that heparin may selectively inhibit a protein kinase C-dependent pathway for protooncogene induction and that this may be one mechanism used by heparin to inhibit cell proliferation.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Cholestyramine resin ameliorates chronic aminonucleoside nephrosis.

We chose to assess the role of cholesterol reduction in chronic aminonucleoside nephrosis by pharmacologically lowering serum cholesterol with cholestyramine. Two groups of rats were made nephrotic with a single intravenous dose of puromycin aminonucleoside (PA): one group (PA/resin) received 5% (w:w in diet) cholestyramine resin and the dietary control group (PA/cell) received 5% cellulose. Cholestyramine-treated rats demonstrated significant functional and histological protection. Recurrent proteinuria was significantly lower in PA/resin animals. Whole-kidney glomerular filtration rate in the PA/resin group was preserved at a level equivalent to normal age-matched control rats whereas the PA/cell group had a significantly lower value than did the normal animals. The extent of segmental glomerulosclerosis 24 wk after PA delivery was significantly lower in the PA/resin group. These results suggest a role for hyperlipidemia as one of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of progressive glomerular disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Non-fibrillar collagenous proteins synthesized by rat mesangial cells.

Recent studies have shown that nonrenal extracellular matrices are composed of collagenous proteins with properties that are different from those of fibrillar collagens and type IV collagen. The structures of these newly described collagens suggest that they may provide connections between specific matrix molecules and, in so doing, partially determine the three-dimensional structure of the matrix. The molecular composition and organization of normal and diseased mesangial matrix are incompletely understood. As a means to further understand the structure of the mesangial matrix, we have further defined the collagenous proteins synthesized by rat mesangial cells. By using monospecific antibodies, we have shown that these cells secrete types III and IV collagen. Metabolic labeling and electrophoretic analysis of proteins isolated from the culture medium revealed that mesangial cells also synthesize and secrete short-chain collagenous proteins of 80, 75, and 69 kDa which differ in their binding to concanavalin A. Cell-free translation of mesangial mRNA demonstrated the presence of two additional collagenase sensitive proteins, 40 and 35 kDa in size, which were not detected in the culture medium. These results demonstrate that mesangial cells synthesize several short-chain collagenous proteins which may be similar to short-chain collagens isolated from nonrenal tissues. Further definition of these proteins will lead to a greater understanding of the extracellular matrix elaborated by mesangial cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Structural determinants of heparin's growth inhibitory activity. Interdependence of oligosaccharide size and charge.

The glycosaminoglycan heparin inhibits the growth of several cell types in vitro including smooth muscle cells and rat cervical epithelial cells. The commercially available heparin which has antiproliferative activity is a structurally heterogeneous polymer that undergoes extensive modifications during maturation. In this report we have performed structure-function studies on heparin's antiproliferative activity using three different cell types: both rat and calf vascular aortic smooth muscle cells and rat cervical epithelial cells. The minimal oligosaccharide size requirements for antiproliferative activity were determined for the three cell types by using oligosaccharide fragments of defined length prepared by nitrous acid cleavage and gel filtration and a synthetic pentasaccharide. The size requirements are similar but not identical for the different cell types. Hexasaccharide fragments are antiproliferative for all three cell types but the synthetic pentasaccharide inhibits the growth of only the rat and calf vascular aortic smooth muscle cells. The interdependence between size and charge for antiproliferative activity was investigated using chemically modified oligosaccharides as well as oligosaccharides prepared from heparin and separated into fractions of differing charge by ion-exchange chromatography. There is a strong interdependence between size and charge for antiproliferative activity. For example, increasing the charge of inactive tetrasaccharide fragments by O-oversulfation makes them antiproliferative whereas reducing the charge of active larger fragments causes them to loose their antiproliferative activity. Finally the importance of 2-O-sulfate glucuronic acid moieties for antiproliferative activity was investigated using heparin preparations that lack 2-O-sulfate glucuronic acid. These compounds possess antiproliferative activity indicating that 2-O-sulfate glucuronic acid is not required for antiproliferative activity.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Heparin suppresses the induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA in murine fibroblasts by selective inhibition of a protein kinase C-dependent pathway.

Heparin is a complex glycosaminoglycan that inhibits the proliferation of several cell types in culture and in vivo. To begin to define the mechanism(s) by which heparin exerts its antiproliferative effects, we asked whether heparin interferes with the expression of the growth factor-inducible protooncogenes c-fos and c-myc. We show that heparin suppressed the induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA by serum in murine (BALB/c) 3T3 fibroblasts. Using purified mitogens, we further show that suppression was most marked when protooncogene expression was induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C. By contrast, there was little or no suppression when the cells were stimulated by epidermal growth factor, which, in these cells, utilizes a protein kinase C-independent pathway for the induction of gene expression. Heparin also inhibited the change in cell morphology induced by the phorbol ester but had no effect on the morphological change induced by epidermal growth factor and agents that raise intracellular cAMP. Heparin did not inhibit intracellular protein kinase C activity, phorbol ester-induced down-regulation of protein kinase C, or phosphorylation of the 80-kDa intracellular protein kinase C substrate. These results suggest that heparin inhibits a protein kinase C-dependent pathway for cell proliferation and suppresses the induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA at a site distal to activation of the kinase.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Heparin selectively inhibits a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism of cell cycle progression in calf aortic smooth muscle cells.

The proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Previous studies have indicated that the glycosaminoglycan heparin specifically inhibited the growth of vascular SMCs in vivo and in culture, although the precise mechanism(s) of action have not been elucidated. In this study, we have examined the ability of specific mitogens (PDGF, EGF, heparin-binding growth factors, phorbol esters, and insulin) to stimulate SMC proliferation. Our results indicate that SMCs derived from different species and vascular sources respond differently to these growth factors. We next examined the ability of heparin to inhibit the proliferative responses to these mitogens. In calf aortic SMCs, heparin inhibits a protein kinase C-dependent pathway for mitogenesis. Detailed cell cycle analysis revealed several new features of the effects of heparin on SMCs. For example, heparin has two effects on the Go----S transition: it delays entry into S phase and also reduces the number of cells entering the cycle from Go. Using two separate experimental approaches, we found that heparin must be present during the last 4 h before S phase, suggesting a mid-to-late G1 heparin block. In addition, our data indicate that heparin-treated SMCs, while initially blocked in mid-to-late G1, slowly move back into a quiescent growth state in the continued presence of heparin. These results suggest that heparin may have multiple targets for its antiproliferative effect.

Animals↗