Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) has been reported to induce the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1), which undergoes ubiquitination degradation. Therefore, we predict that in vascular smooth muscle (VSMCs), MCPIP1 may be induced by MCP-1 and undergo degradation, which can be inhibited by the proteasome inhibitor, MG132. Our results showed that treatment of human VSMCs with MCP-1 did not increase the expression of MCPIP1. Treatment with MG132, however, elevated MCPIP1 protein levels through stimulation of the gene transcription, but not through increasing protein stability. MCPIP1 expression induced by MG132 was inhibited by α-amanitin inhibition of gene transcription or cycloheximide inhibition of protein synthesis. Our further studies showed that MCPIP1 expression induced by MG132 was inhibited by the inhibitors of AKT and p38 kinase, suggesting a role of the AKT-p38 pathway in MG132 effects. We also found that treatment with MG132 induces apoptosis, but overexpression of MCPIP1 inhibited bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation of human VSMCs without induction of significant apoptosis. In summary, MCPIP1 expression is induced by MG132 likely through activation of the AKT-p38 pathway. MCPIP1 inhibits SMC proliferation without induction of apoptosis. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 122-128, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.