CREG inhibits proliferation of VSMCs by modulating internalization of IGF2R/IGFII

AIM: To study the molecular mechanisms of cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) on the proliferation of human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro.METHODS: The pLNCX₂-CREG plasmid and the pSM₂-siCREG plasmid were transfected into VSMCs to produce the cell clones of over-expression and down-expression of CREG, respectively.BrdU assay and FACS cell cycle analysis were performed to detect the proliferation of the cells.The expression and localization of insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ receptor(IGF2R) in the hVSMCs were detected by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry.The expression and secretion of insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ(IGFII) were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA.Alexa 488-labeled rhIGFII was used to investigate the endocysis of the cells.The blockade of IGFII internalization was conducted by treating the cells with both neutralized antibody of IGF2R and recombinant IGF2R peptide to detect the effect of IGFII on HVSMCs growth.Furthermore, Western blotting and signal pathway inhibitor were used to analysis the activation of PI3K/Akt and ERK on VSMCs proliferation.RESULTS: Compared with the control cells, Western blotting identified that the expression of CREG was increased in VSMCs-CREG cells and was decreased in VSMCs-siCREG cells.Meanwhile, the over-expression of CREG in the cells inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs and enhanced the distribution of IGF2R in cellular membrane.Furthermore, over-expression of CREG also accelerated the endocytosis of IGFII in VSMCs-CREG cells, and attenuated the secretion of IGFII into cell medium.Blockade experiments showed that enhancement of IGFII secretion promoted the proliferation of HVSMCs.PI3K/Akt and ERK signal pathways mediated the effect of IGFII on the VSMCs.CONCLUSION: CREG inhibits the proliferation of VSMCs through interfering with the internalization of IGF2R-IGFII.