Cilostazol inhibits uremic toxin-induced vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction: role of Axl signaling

This study aimed to identify the effect of cilostazol in VSMCs in the experimental CKD and to investigate whether the regulatory mechanism occurs through Axl signaling. We investigated the effect of P-cresol and cilostazol on Axl signaling in A7r5 rat VSMCs and the rat and human CKD models. From the in vivo CKD rats and patients, aortic tissue exhibited significantly decreased Axl expression after cilostazol treatment. P-cresol increased Axl, proliferating of cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expressions, decreased caspase-3 expression, and was accompanied by increased cell viability and migration. Cilostazol significantly reversed P-cresol-induced Axl, downstream gene expressions, and cell functions. Along with the increased Axl expression, P-cresol activated PLC, Akt, and ERK phosphorylation and cilostazol significantly suppressed the effect of P-cresol. Axl knockdown significantly reversed the expressions of P-cresol-induced Axl-related gene expression and cell functions. Cilostazol with Axl knockdown have additive changes in downstream gene expression and cell functions in P-cresol culture. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental CKD models elucidate a new signal transduction of cilostazol-mediated protection against uremic toxin-related VSMCs dysfunction and highlight the involvement of the Axl signaling and downstream pathways.

Source: AJP: Renal Physiology - February 28, 2017 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Lee, C.-H., Hung, Y.-J., Shieh, Y.-S., Chien, C.-Y., Hsu, Y.-J., Lin, C.-Y., Chiang, C.-F., Huang, C.-L., Hsieh, C.-H. Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research