Inflammatory factor interferon-gamma affects migration and apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cells through pyroptosis pathway

doi:10.12307/2025.004

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Successful uterine spiral artery remodeling is necessary for normal pregnancy, in which vascular smooth muscle cells are important cells. Interferon-γ is associated with the loss of vascular smooth muscle cells during early pregnancy. However, the specific mechanism is not fully understood.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of interferon-γ on migration and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells through NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.
METHODS: Human vascular smooth muscle cells were divided into control group and interferon-γ group. The control group was cultured normally, and the interferon-γ group was treated with 10 ng/mL interferon-γ for 24 hours. The migration ability of vascular smooth muscle cells was detected by Transwell assay. The apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells was detected by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry. The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were detected by qPCR. Western blot assay was utilized to detect NLRP3, caspase-1, and cleaved N-terminal GSDMD protein expression levels.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, the migration ability and apoptosis rate of vascular smooth muscle cells in interferon-γ group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells of interferon-γ group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and cleaved N-terminal GSDMD protein in vascular smooth muscle cells in the interferon-γ group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The results suggest that interferon-γ may regulate the migration and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells through NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.

Key words: interferon-γ, uterine spiral artery remodeling, vascular smooth muscle cell, pyroptosis, apoptosis

CLC Number:

Wan Lingling, Wu Mengying, Zhang Yujiao, Luo Qingqing. Inflammatory factor interferon-gamma affects migration and apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cells through pyroptosis pathway[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2025, 29(7): 1422-1428.

Figures/Tables 1

References

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