Taurine restores Axl/Gas6 expression in vascular smooth muscle cell calcification model

Amino Acids. 2010 Jul;39(2):375-83. doi: 10.1007/s00726-009-0448-z. Epub 2009 Dec 24.

Abstract

Our previous studies demonstrated that taurine inhibits osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscular cells (VSMCs) via the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway, but the underlying mechanism is not elucidated. The tyrosine kinase receptor Axl and its ligand growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) are expressed in VSMCs. Axl/Gas6 signaling system is known to inhibit VSMCs calcification. We herein showed that taurine partially restored Axl and Gas6 expression in beta-glycerophosphate (beta-GP)-induced VSMC calcification model. Taurine also induced activation of ERK, but not other two MAPKs including c-jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) and p38 in VSMCs. Either knockdown of the taurine transporter (TAUT) or treatment with the ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 blocked the activation of ERK by taurine and abolished taurine-induced Axl/Gas6 expression and calcium deposition reduction in beta-GP-induced VSMC calcification model. These results demonstrate for the first time that taurine stimulates expression of Axl and Gas6 via TAUT/ERK signaling pathway in beta-GP-induced VSMC calcification model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
  • Calcification, Physiologic / physiology*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Glycerophosphates / pharmacology
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • RNA Interference
  • Rats
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Taurine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Glycerophosphates
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • growth arrest-specific protein 6
  • taurine transporter
  • Taurine
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • beta-glycerophosphoric acid
  • Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase