Oxidized LDL activates PAI-1 transcription through autocrine activation of TGF-β signaling in mesangial cells

Oxidized LDL activates PAI-1 transcription through autocrine activation of TGF-β signaling in mesangial cells. Lipid abnormalities and oxidative stress may be involved in the development of glomerulosclerosis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a component of extracellular matrix (ECM) and target gene of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Smad proteins play a key role in TGF-β signaling, and Smad binding CAGA boxes are present in the PAI-1 promoter. This study examined whether oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) activates PAI-1 transcription in human mesangial cells, mediated by increased Smad/DNA interactions. Quiescent HMC were incubated with 50 μg/mL of Cu++-catalyzed Ox-LDL for 15 minutes to 4 hours, and the effects of Ox-LDL on TGF-β1 and PAI-1 mRNA expression, PAI-1 promoter activity, and DNA binding activity of Smad proteins were examined. Ox-LDL induced TGF-β1 and PAI-1 mRNA expression. Ox-LDL increased the transiently transfected PAI-1 promoter activity as compared with controls to 3.9-fold. Ox-LDL–treated cells increased Smad3 protein levels two times the control levels in the nuclei. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) performed using a CAGA sequence probe and nuclear extracts showed that Ox-LDL increased DNA/protein complexes. When nuclear extracts were preincubated with 100 molar excess of unlabeled CAGA oligonucleotide or SB-431542, an inhibitior of the TGF-β type I receptor, the formation of complex was prevented. The DNA binding protein was shown to be Smad3 by antibody supershift. Transfection of phosphorothioate CAGA oligonucleotides, which compete with the CAGA-containing PAI-1 promoter for Smad3 binding, inhibited the Ox-LDL–induced PAI-1 mRNA expression. Cotransfection of phosphorothioate CAGA oligonucleotides with PAI-1 reporter vector also blocked the Ox-LDL-induced PAI-1 promoter activity. These results suggest that Ox-LDL activates TGF-β/Smad signaling to stimulate PAI-1 transcription in human mesangial cells. Thus, progression of glomerular disease may be promoted by PAI-1 up-regulation in human mesangial cells mediated by the Ox-LDL–induced TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways.