Background: Besides its well-known functions in hemostasis, thrombin plays a role in various non-hemostatic biological and pathophysiologic processes. We examined the potential of thrombin to promote premature atrial endothelial cells (ECs) senescence.
Methods and results: Primary ECs were isolated from porcine atrial tissue. Endothelial senescence was assessed by measuring beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity using flow cytometry, oxidative stress using the redox-sensitive probe dihydroethidium, protein level by Western blot, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity using zymography. Atrial endothelial senescence was induced by thrombin at clinically relevant concentrations. Thrombin induced the up-regulation of p53, a key regulator in cellular senescence and of p21 and p16, two cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate NADPH oxidase, cyclooxygenases and the mitochondrial respiration complex contributed to oxidative stress and senescence. Enhanced expression levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, tissue factor, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and MMP-2 and 9 characterized the senescence-associated secretory phenotype of atrial ECs. In addition, the pro-senescence endothelial response to thrombin was associated with an overexpression of both angiotensin converting enzyme and AT1 receptors and was inhibited by perindoprilat and losartan.
Conclusions: Thrombin promotes premature ageing and senescence of atrial ECs and may pave the way to deleterious remodeling of atrial tissue by a local up-regulation of the angiotensin system and by promoting pro-inflammatory, pro-thrombotic, pro-fibrotic and pro-remodeling responses. Hence, targeting thrombin and/or angiotensin systems may efficiently prevent atrial endothelial senescence.
Keywords: angiotensin II; atrial fibrillation; endothelium; remodeling; senescence; thrombin.