Pentraxin 3 inhibits fibroblast growth factor 2-dependent activation of smooth muscle cells in vitro and neointima formation in vivo

Maura Camozzi, Serena Zacchigna, Marco Rusnati, Daniela Coltrini, Genaro Ramirez-Correa, Barbara Bottazzi, Alberto Mantovani, Mauro Giacca, Marco Presta

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective - The fibroblast growth factor (FGF)/FGF receptor system plays an important role in smooth muscle cell (SMC) activation. Long-pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a soluble pattern recognition receptor with non-redundant functions in inflammation and innate immunity. PTX3 is produced by different cell types of the vessel wall, including SMCs. PTX3 binds FGF2 and inhibits its angiogenic activity on endothelial cells. We investigated the capacity of PTX3 to affect FGF2-dependent SMC activation in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Results - When added to human coronary artery SMCs, human PTX3 inhibits cell proliferation driven by endogenous FGF2 and the mitogenic and chemotactic activity exerted by exogenous recombinant FGF2. Accordingly, PTX3 prevents 125I-FGF2 interaction with FGF receptors on the same cells. Also, PTX3 overexpression after recombinant adeno-associated virus-PTX3 gene transfer inhibits human coronary artery SMC proliferation and survival promoted by FGF2 in vitro. Consistently, a single local endovascular injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus-PTX3 gene inhibits intimai thickening after balloon injury in rat carotid arteries. Conclusions - PTX3 is a potent inhibitor of the autocrine and paracrine stimulation exerted by FGF2 on SMCs. Local PTX3 upregulation may modulate SMC activation after arterial injury.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1837-1842
Number of pages6
JournalArteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
Volume25
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005

Keywords

  • Arterial injury
  • Fibroblast growth factor
  • Gene therapy
  • Pentraxin 3
  • Smooth muscle cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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