心血管所知识库

Objective To study the role of hypertension-related gene (HRG-1) in cardiovascular disease.

Methods The expression of HRG-1 was analyzed with RT-PCR and Northern blotting. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation was measured with H-3-TdR incorporation and was confirmed with histological analysis.

Results Northern blot analysis showed that HRG-1 mRNA was expressed not only in VSMC, but also in various rat tissues (heart, brain, lung, kidney, and liver). In addition, the expression of HRG-1 mRNA in heart, brain, kidney and liver of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) was lower than that in the same tissues of Wistar-Kyotorat (WKY). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and histological analysis showed that the expression of HRG-1 mRNA in ApoE-knockout mice and in animal models of restenosis was decreased and neointimal formation was observed in both models. ET, All, and IL-1 stimulating VSMC proliferation reduced the expression of HRG-1 mRNA of VSMC. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), calcitonin gene-related peptide and adrenomedullin, inhibited VSMC proliferation and elevated the expression of HRG-1 mRNA. These effects could be blocked or attenuated by their corresponding antagonists or antibodies.

Conclusion HRG-1 is a gene related to VSMC proliferation. It may play an important role in several occlusive cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, restenosis and hypertension.