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KCa3.1 Inhibition Decreases Size and Alters Composition of Atherosclerotic Lesions Induced by Low, Oscillatory Flow

Artery Research volume 27, pages 93–100 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Low, oscillatory flow/shear patterns are associated with atherosclerotic lesion development. Increased expression of KCa3.1 has been found in Vascular Smooth Muscle (VSM), macrophages and T-cells in lesions from humans and mice. Increased expression of KCa3.1, is also required for VSM cell proliferation and migration. Previously, we showed that the specific KCa3.1 inhibitor, TRAM-34, could inhibit coronary neointimal development following balloon injury in swine. Atherosclerosis develops in regions with a low, oscillatory (i.e. atheroprone) flow pattern. Therefore, we used the Partial Carotid Ligation (PCL) model in high-fat fed, Apoe-/- mice to determine the role of KCa3.1 in atherosclerotic lesion composition and development. PCL was performed on 8–10 week old male Apoe-/- mice and subsequently placed on a Western diet (TD.88137, Teklad) for 4 weeks. Mice received daily s.c. injections of TRAM-34 (120 mg/kg) or equal volumes of vehicle (peanut oil, PO). 1-[(2-chlorophenyl) diphenylmethyl]-1H-pyrazole (TRAM-34) treatment reduced lesion size ~50% (p < 0.05). In addition, lesions from TRAM-34 treated mice contained less collagen (6% ± 1% vs. 15% ± 2%; p < 0.05), fibronectin (14% ± 3% vs. 32% ± 3%; p < 0.05) and smooth muscle content (19% ± 2% vs. 29% ± 3%; p < 0.05). Conversely, TRAM-34 had no effect on total cholesterol (1455 vs. 1334 mg/dl, PO and TRAM, resp.) or body weight (29.1 vs. 28.8 g, PO and TRAM, resp.). Medial smooth muscle of atherosclerotic carotids showed diminished RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor (REST)/Neural Restrictive Silencing Factor (NRSF) expression, while REST overexpression in vitro inhibited smooth muscle migration. Together, these data support a downregulation of REST/NRSF and upregulation of KCa3.1 in determining smooth muscle and matrix content of atherosclerotic lesions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, E102 Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, 65211, Columbia, MO, USA

    Darla L. Tharp & Douglas K. Bowles

  2. Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, 65211, Columbia, MO, USA

    Douglas K. Bowles

Authors
  1. Darla L. Tharp
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Correspondence to Douglas K. Bowles.

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Peer review under responsibility of the Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology

Data availability statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [DKB], upon reasonable request.

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Tharp, D.L., Bowles, D.K. KCa3.1 Inhibition Decreases Size and Alters Composition of Atherosclerotic Lesions Induced by Low, Oscillatory Flow. Artery Res 27, 93–100 (2021). https://doi.org/10.2991/artres.k.210202.001

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Keywords

Artery Research

ISSN: 1876-4401

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