Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor VIII signaling in arterial wall remodeling

Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2013 Sep;11(5):768-76. doi: 10.2174/1570161111311050014.

Abstract

Arterial inflammation and remodeling, important sequellae of advancing age, are linked to the pathogenesis of age-associated arterial diseases e.g. hypertension, atherosclerosis, and metabolic disorders. Recently, high-throughput proteomic screening has identified milk fat globule epidermal growth factor VIII (MFG-E8) as a novel local biomarker for aging arterial walls. Additional studies have shown that MFG-E8 is also an element of the arterial inflammatory signaling network. The transcription, translation, and signaling levels of MFG-E8 are increased in aged, atherosclerotic, hypertensive, and diabetic arterial walls in vivo as well as activated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and a subset of macrophages in vitro. In VSMC, MFG-E8 increases proliferation and invasion as well as the secretion of inflammatory molecules. In endothelial cells (EC), MFG-E8 facilitates apoptosis. In addition, MFG-E8 has been found to be an essential component of the endothelial-derived microparticles that relay biosignals and modulate arterial wall phenotypes. This review mainly focuses upon the landscape of MFG-E8 expression and signaling in adverse arterial remodeling. Recent discoveries have suggested that MFG-E8 associated interventions are novel approaches for the retardation of the enhanced rates of VSMC proliferation and EC apoptosis that accompany arterial wall inflammation and remodeling during aging and age-associated arterial disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Arteries / metabolism
  • Arteries / physiopathology*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / genetics
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Glycolipids / genetics
  • Glycolipids / metabolism*
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Lipid Droplets
  • Milk Proteins / genetics
  • Milk Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Glycolipids
  • Glycoproteins
  • Milk Proteins
  • milk fat globule
  • Epidermal Growth Factor