Differential up-regulation of Rap1a and Rap1b proteins during smooth muscle cell cycle

The relationship between Rap1 proteins and cell proliferation was assessed by investigating the effect of isoforms AA and BB of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on Rap1 protein and mRNA expression throughout the smooth muscle cell cycle. Firstly, PDGF BB-induced cell cycle traverse was studied, thus demonstrating entry into S phase at 18 to 20 h. Western blotting carried out on total Rap1 proteins showed that 5 ng/ml of PDGF BB instigated a biphasic induction of total Rap1 proteins during the cell cycle. This involved a 2.1 +/- 0.4-fold increase at 6 h (early G1) and a 2.8 +/- 0.6-fold increase at 20 to 24 h (G1/S transition). Such an up-regulation was abolished by addition of 1 ng/ml of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), which inhibited up to 80% of the PDGF BB-induced entry into S phase. Comparative RT-PCR of both rap1a and rap1b mRNAs throughout the cell cycle allowed us to differentiate between the two rap1a and rap1b species. PDGF BB induced a 1.9 +/- 0.3-fold increase at 4 h and a 2.4 +/- 0.2-fold relative increase at 16 h for rap1b mRNA, whereas a unique 1.9 +/- 0.5-fold increase in rap1a mRNA was observed at 14 h. Again, this induction of rap1a and rap1b mRNAs by PDGF BB was totally abolished by TGF-beta 1. We conclude that the differential up-regulation of Rap1a and Rap1b proteins during the smooth muscle cell cycle is directly linked to cell proliferation.