The functional role of autophagy in smooth muscle cell.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24790782
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Circulatory organs internal medicine
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: MITA Tomoya 順天堂大学, 医学部, 准教授 (90532557)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: オートファジー / 血管平滑筋細胞 / 動脈硬化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the role of autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) on atherosclerosis. The apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, Atg7f/f and SM22α-Cre mice bred with each other to generate mice with SMCs specific Atg7 deficiency (ATG7-SMCs KO) and littermate control (control). For atherosclerosis study, 10-week-old male mice were placed on a Western diet containing 1.25% cholesterol for 14 weeks. Plaque sizes in abdominal aortic areas of ATG7-SMCs KO apolipoprotein E-deficient mice exceptionally expanded compared to control apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis related signals were significantly enhanced in primary culture SMC isolated from ATG7-SMCs KO apolipoprotein E-deficient mice compared to those from control apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Our data suggest that SMC autophagy play a protective role on atherosclerosis through inhibiting SMC cell death.

Free Research Field

糖尿病、動脈硬化