Effects of homocysteine on promoter methylation level and expression of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 in human aortic smooth muscle cells
WANG Huiyuan1 ZHANG Zijing1 YUAN Fengyan1 ZHEN Wenqian1 MA Xu1 ZHAI Xiaojuan2 GAO Shengli2,3
1.Department of Optometry, Fenyang College of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Province, Fenyang 032200,China;
2.Cardiovascular Medicine, Fenyang Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Province, Fenyang 032200, China;
3.Department of Physiology, Fenyang College Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Province, Fenyang 032200, China
Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) on the promoter methylation and expression of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in human aortic smooth muscle cells. Methods The human aortic smooth muscle cells were divided into two groups: the control group and the experimental group. The cells in the control group were cultured without Hcy, however cells in the experimental group were cultured with different concentrations of Hcy (50, 100, 200, 500 μmol/L). The cholesterol outflow rate was detected by scintillation counting technique, the expression of ABCA1 mRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR, the expression of ABCA1 protein was detected by Western-blotting, the ABCA1 promoter methylation was detected by nested detection of PCR. Results There was no significant difference in cholesterol efflux rate at each time point in the control group (P > 0.05). Compared with Hcy treatment for 0 h and 12 h, after treatment of 24 h and 48 h the cholesterol efflux rate of the experimental were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). After treated with Hcy for 0 h and 12 h, compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in cholesterol efflux rate (P > 0.05). After treated with Hcy for 24 h and 48 h, compared with the control group, cholesterol efflux rate of the experimental group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, ABCA1 mRNA relative expression level decreased (P < 0.05), the relative expression level of ABCA1 protein was decreased (P < 0.05), ABCA1 promoter methylation level was significantly increased (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in ABCA1mRNA expression, ABCA1 protein expression and ABCA1 promoter methylation level between different Hcy concentrations groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Hcy can increase the methylation level of ABCA1 promoter and decrease the expression of ABCA1 in aortic smooth muscle cells that lead to lower cholesterol efflux rate, which may be one of the pathological mechanisms of atherosclerosis.