视黄醇X受体激动剂通过调控Smad2通路抑制TGF-β1诱导的心肌成纤维细胞胶原合成

目的:探讨视黄醇X受体(RXR)激动剂9-顺式视黄酸(9-cis-RA)干预对缺氧条件下转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)诱导的大鼠心肌成纤维细胞(CFs)胶原合成的影响和分子机制。方法:心肌组织块干涸法培养大鼠CFs,持续通氮气法建立细胞缺氧环境,评价9-cis-RA和TGF-β1对CFs胶原合成的影响;ELISA法测CFs上清液Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原水平,Western blot法检测胞浆、胞核和细胞的Smad2及p-Smad2水平,细胞免疫化学法观察p-Smad2的亚细胞定位。结果:TGF-β1(0.01~10μg/L)在缺氧条件下呈浓度依赖性地诱导CFs合成Ⅰ型和Ⅲ胶原,当浓度达到5μg/L时,Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原的合成水平显著增高(P0.01)。9-cis-RA(10-9~10-6mol/L)则呈浓度依赖性抑制TGF-β1在缺氧条件下诱导的CFs胶原合成,当浓度为10-7mol/L时,Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原的合成水平显著降低(P0.01)。Smad2抑制剂(20 nmol/L)亦可显著抑制TGF-β1在缺氧条件下诱导的CFs Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原的合成。免疫杂交和细胞免疫化学结果显示,与TGF-β1干预相比,TGF-β1和9-cis-RA联合干预组的CFs其胞浆内p-Smad2的水平显著增加,但胞核内p-Smad2的水平明显降低(P0.05)。结论:RXR激动剂9-cis-RA显著下调TGF-β1在缺氧条件下诱导的CFs Ⅰ型和Ⅲ型胶原的合成,其机制与其抑制TGF-β1诱导的p-Smad2细胞核转位有关。

Retinoid X receptor agonist inhibits TGF-β1-induced collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts by repressing Smad2 activation

AIM: To investigate the effect of activation of retinoid X receptor (RXR) on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) induced collagen synthesis under hypoxic environment in rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: CFs were cultured using myocardial tissue with dry method. Hypoxic environment was established for CFs by continuous nitrogen supplement. Type I and type III collagens in supernatants were detected by ELISA. Nuclear and cytoplasmic extractions were prepared using NE-PER nuclear and cytoplasmic extraction reagents. The protein levels of Smad2 and p-Smad2 were determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical staining. RESULTS: Under hypoxic condition, TGF-β1 (0.01~10 μg/L) increased the synthesis of type I and type III collagens in a dose-dependent manner in the CFs. At the concentration of 5 μg/L, the synthesis of collagen I and III was significantly increased as compared with control group (P<0.01). RXR agonist 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA; 10^-9~10^-6mol/L) decreased TGF-β1 (5 μg/L)-induced synthesis of type I and III collagens in a dose-dependent manner in the CFs under hypoxic condition. The synthesis of type I and type III collagens was significantly inhibited by 9-cis-RA (P<0.01). Smad2 inhibitor (20 nmol/L) showed similar inhibitory effect on the synthesis of type I and III collagens induced by TGF-β1 under hypoxic condition. Compared with TGF-β1 intervention group, the cytoplasmic level of p-Smad2 in the CFs was significantly increased in TGF-β1+9-cis-RA group, but the nuclear p-Smad2 level was significantly decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Retinoid X receptor agonist 9-cis-RA inhibits TGF-β1-induced synthesis of type I and type III collagens in the CFs by repressing p-Smad2 nuclear translocation under hypoxic condition.