LPS Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation Through the TLR4/Rac1/Akt Signalling Pathway

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent activator of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we knocked down Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) expression using small interfering RNA (siRNA) in order to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of LPS-induced VSMCs proliferation.

VSMCs proliferation was monitored by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, and Rac1 activity was measured via Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay. mRNAs encoding proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), smooth muscle 22α (SM22α), myosin heavy chain (MYH) and transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1) were detected by qRT-PCR. The expression of total Akt, p-Akt (308), p-Akt (473), SM22α, MYH and TRPC1 protein was analysed by Western blot.

Treatment with TLR4 siRNA (siTLR4) or Rac1 siRNA (siRac1) significantly decreased LPS-induced VSMCs proliferation. Moreover, LPS-induced activation of Rac1 through TLR4 was observed. Western blot analysis revealed that transfection with siTLR4 or siRac1 inhibited LPS-induced Akt phosphorylation. We discovered that LPS stimulated VSMCs proliferation via phenotypic modulation and that this effect was partially inhibited by pre-treatment with siTLR4 or siRac1. Further, TLR4 and Rac1 are involved in LPS-induced activation of TRPC1.

This study suggests that LPS exerts an effect on VSMCs proliferation and that the TLR4/Rac1/Akt signalling pathway mediates this effect.