Expression of Endoglin mRNA and Protein in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

doi:10.1006/bbrc.1998.8734

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Volume 247, Issue 1, 9 June 1998, Pages 33-37

https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.1998.8734 Get rights and content

Abstract

Endoglin, the gene linked to the autosomal dominant vascular disorder hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1), encodes a 95-kDa membrane-bound proteoglycan which binds TGFβ1 and regulates signaling via the type I and II TGFβ receptors on the surface of vascular endothelial cells. Using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis we have shown that endoglin mRNA is expressed in both cultured human VSMCs and VSMCs freshly isolated from human aortas. Northern blot analysis was also used to demonstrate that endoglin expression decreased in serum-stimulated cultured human VSMCs but could be maintained by exogenous TGFβ1. Endoglin protein expression in human VSMCs was shown by immunocytochemistry. These data, the first describing the existence of endoglin in VSMCs, suggest that through regulating TGFβ1 signaling endoglin may mediate the effects of TGFβ1 on VSMC behaviorin vitroandin vivo.

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^☆: Abbreviations used: VSMCs, vascular smooth muscle cells; TGFβ, transforming growth factor beta; RT-PCR, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; HHT, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

¹: To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 10011, 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22908. Fax: 001 (804) 982 0055. E-mail:[email protected].

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Regular ArticleExpression of Endoglin mRNA and Protein in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells☆

Abstract

J. Biol. Chem.

J. Biol. Chem.

N. Engl. J. Med.

J. Clin. Invest.

J. Clin. Invest.

J. Clin. Invest.

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA

Nature

Nature Med.

Regular Article
Expression of Endoglin mRNA and Protein in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells☆