YAP1/TEAD1 upregulate platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta to promote vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointima formation

Islam Osman, Kunzhe Dong, Xiuhua Kang, Luyi Yu, Fei Xu, Abu Shufian Ishtiaq Ahmed, Xiangqin He, Jian Shen, Guoqing Hu, Wei Zhang, Jiliang Zhou

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that the transcription co-factor yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) promotes vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) de-differentiation. Yet, the role and underlying mechanisms of YAP1 in neointima formation in vivo remain unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of VSMC-expressed YAP1 in vascular injury-induced VSMC proliferation and delineate the mechanisms underlying its action. Experiments employing gain- or loss-of-function of YAP1 demonstrated that YAP1 promotes human VSMC proliferation. Mechanistically, we identified platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) as a novel YAP1 target gene that confers the YAP1-dependent hyper-proliferative effects in VSMCs. Furthermore, we identified TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) as a key transcription factor that mediates YAP1-dependent PDGFRβ expression. ChIP assays demonstrated that TEAD1 is enriched at a PDGFRB gene enhancer. Luciferase reporter assays further demonstrated that YAP1 and TEAD1 co-operatively activate the PDGFRB enhancer. Consistent with these observations, we found that YAP1 expression is upregulated after arterial injury and correlates with PDGFRβ expression and VSMC proliferation in vivo. Using a novel inducible SM-specific Yap1 knockout mouse model, we found that the specific deletion of Yap1 in adult VSMCs is sufficient to attenuate arterial injury-induced neointima formation, largely due to inhibited PDGFRβ expression and VSMC proliferation. Our study unravels a novel mechanism by which YAP1/TEAD1 promote VSMC proliferation via transcriptional induction of PDGFRβ, thereby enhancing PDGF-BB downstream signaling and promoting neointima formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)20-32
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of molecular and cellular cardiology
Volume156
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2021

Keywords

  • Gene expression and regulation
  • Genetically altered and transgenic models
  • Restenosis
  • Smooth muscle proliferation and differentiation
  • Vascular biology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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