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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Two-photon Imaging of Intracellular Ca2+ Handling and Nitric Oxide Production in Endothelial and Smooth Muscle Cells of an Isolated Rat Aorta
Published on: June 10, 2015
15d-PGJ2 stimulates HO-1 expression through p38 MAP kinase and Nrf-2 pathway in rat vascular smooth muscle cells
Hyun-Joung Lim1, Kuy-Sook Lee, Seahyoung Lee
1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
15d-PGJ(2), a potent endogenous ligand for peroxisome proliferators activated receptor-gamma, is a cyclopentenone-type prostaglandin produced by many different types of cells. Pertinent to its effect on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC), antiproliferative effects have been most frequently reported. In the present study, we investigated the effect of 15d-PGJ(2) on HO-1 expression that has been reported to inhibit VSMC proliferation. According to our data, 15d-PGJ(2) significantly induced ROS/NO production and HO-1 expression in rVSMCs. We also observed 15d-PGJ(2)-induced translocation of Nrf-2. In addition, ROS scavenger pretreatment suppressed 15d-PGJ(2)-induced HO-1 expression while PPARgamma antagonist did not, suggesting nuclear translocation of Nrf-2 and subsequent HO-1 expression was ROS dependent rather than PPARgamma dependent. Furthermore, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK abolished 15d-PGJ(2)-induced HO-1 expression. These data suggest that 15d-PGJ(2)-induced up-regulation of HO-1 is independent of PPARgamma but dependent of ROS and p38 MAPK pathway. The present study reports for the first time that 15d-PGJ(2) induces HO-1 expression possibly using Nrf-2 pathway as a response to ROS in VSMCs.
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