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Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
Nitric oxide attenuates the expression of transforming growth factor-beta(3) mRNA in rat cardiac fibroblasts via
N Abdelaziz1, F Colombo, I Mercier
1Université de Montréal, Departemént de Physiologie, et l'Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Abstract:
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been implicated in the development of interstitial fibrosis in cardiac hypertrophy. NO has been regarded as a potent inhibitor of cardiac fibroblast growth, albeit the modulation of cellular events associated with interstitial fibrosis remains undefined. In this regard, the regulation of TGF-beta mRNA expression by the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) was examined in neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts. SNAP treatment for 4 hours decreased TGF-beta(3) mRNA levels, an effect mimicked by 8-bromo-cGMP. TGF-beta(3) mRNA, however, had returned to levels observed in the untreated cells after a 24-hour exposure to SNAP, whereas a decreased expression persisted with 8-bromo-cGMP. In contrast to TGF-beta(3), TGF-beta(1) mRNA levels were modestly increased in response to cGMP-generating molecules. The treatment with actinomycin D for at least 8 hours did not appreciably alter TGF-beta(3) mRNA levels. By contrast, SNAP treatment caused a rapid decrease of TGF-beta(3) mRNA with a half-life of 3.3+/-0.2 hours, thereby supporting a mechanism of destabilization. The pretreatment with SNAP inhibited angiotensin II-stimulated protein synthesis and the concomitant expression of TGF-beta(3) mRNA. These data reveal a disparate pattern of TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) mRNA regulation by NO and highlight a novel mechanism of destabilization contributing to the decreased expression of TGF-beta(3) mRNA. The modulation of both basal and angiotensin II-stimulated TGF-beta(3) mRNA expression provides a mechanism by which NO may influence the progression of interstitial fibrosis.
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