Authors : Changan Pei, Shiyong Qin, Minghai Wang and Shuguang Zhang
Abstract: To observe the effects of Nelin gene expression on phenotypic switch of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMC). VSMC were induced from synthetic phenotype to contractile phenotype by serum starvation and Nelin mRNA expression levels of different phenotypes of VSMC were checked by using RT-PCR. siRNA was then used to silence Nelin, coomassie blue staining and Acetylcholine (Ach) stimulation were used to observe the changes of VSMC cytoskeleton and contractile functions. Nelin mRNA expression in serum stimulation and serum starvation at 24, 48 and 72 h group was 0.1940+0.0971, 0.7114+0.1265, 0.7270+0.1026 and 0.7841+0.1240. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). In serum starvation process, VSMC cytoskeleton was reconstructed into uniform, dense bundles from sparse fuzzy networks and regained contractile function. Serum starvation-induced cytoskeletal remodeling was blocked and Ach-induced cell contraction disappeared when Nelin expression was suppressed.
Changan Pei, Shiyong Qin, Minghai Wang and Shuguang Zhang, 2014. Effects of Nelin Gene Expression on Phenotypic Switch of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 13: 706-710.