Nitric oxide differentially affects proteasome activator 28 after arterial injury in type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats

Nick D Tsihlis1, Monica P Rodriguez1, Qun Jiang1

  • 1Division of Vascular Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.

Abstract

Insights

Nitric oxide (NO) differentially affects proteasome activator 28 (PA28) levels in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes, influencing neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. This dysregulation may explain NO

Area of Science:

  • Vascular biology and diabetes research
  • Cellular and molecular mechanisms of restenosis
  • Proteasome function in diabetic complications

Background:

  • Diabetic patients exhibit aggressive restenosis post-vascular interventions, linked to hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia.
  • Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in type 2 diabetic rats but not in type 1.
  • Proteasome activator 28 (PA28) role in diabetic vascular environments requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine proteasome activator 28 (PA28) levels after arterial injury in different diabetic models.
  • To investigate the differential effects of nitric oxide (NO) on PA28 in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
  • To test the hypothesis that NO differentially affects PA28 levels based on the metabolic environment.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed 26S proteasome activity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from Lean Zucker (LZ) and Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats with or without PA28 and NO donors.
  • Treated VSMCs with NO donors and measured PA28α levels.
  • Analyzed PA28α expression in balloon-injured carotid arteries from nondiabetic, type 1 (STZ-injected), and type 2 (ZDF) diabetic rats at 3 and 14 days post-injury using Western blotting and immunofluorescence.

Main Results:

  • NO donors modulated 26S proteasome activity and PA28α levels differently in LZ and ZDF VSMCs.
  • NO donors lowered PA28α in LZ VSMCs but increased it in ZDF VSMCs.
  • PA28α levels decreased early after injury in all rat models, with distinct intimal/medial (STZ) versus adventitial (ZDF) increases at later time points.

Conclusions:

  • PA28 dysregulation in diabetic environments contributes to differential responses to NO.
  • Altered PA28 expression patterns in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes may explain the varying efficacy of NO in inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia.
  • These findings highlight PA28 as a potential therapeutic target for managing vascular complications in diabetes.