TY - JOUR
T1 - SMC Abca1 and Abcg1 Deficiency Enhances Urinary Bladder Distension but Not Atherosclerosis
AU - Halmos, Benedek
AU - La Rose, Anouk M
AU - Methorst, Daisey
AU - Groenen, Anouk G
AU - Nakládal, Dalibor
AU - Bazioti, Venetia
AU - Koster, Mirjam H
AU - Kloosterhuis, Niels J
AU - Buiten, Azuwerus van
AU - Schouten, Elisabeth M
AU - Huijkman, Nicolette C A
AU - Langelaar-Makkinje, Miriam
AU - Bongiovanni, Laura
AU - De Neck, Simon M
AU - de Bruin, Alain
AU - Buikema, Hendrik
AU - Deelman, Leo E
AU - van den Heuvel, Marius C
AU - Kuipers, Folkert
AU - de Jong, Igle Jan
AU - Sluimer, Judith C
AU - Jørgensen, Helle F
AU - Henning, Robert H
AU - Westerterp, Marit
PY - 2025/2/28
Y1 - 2025/2/28
N2 - BACKGROUND: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) regulate blood flow distribution via vasoconstriction mediated by α-ARs (α-adrenergic receptors). Plasma membrane cholesterol accumulation affects α
1-AR signaling and promotes loss of SMC contractile markers in vitro. ABCA1 and ABCG1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and G1) mediate cholesterol efflux to HDL (high-density lipoprotein). ABCA1/ABCG1 show high expression in medial and low expression in intimal SMCs of atherosclerotic plaques. The role of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in SMC-mediated vasoconstriction and atherogenesis remains poorly understood.
METHODS: We generated mice with SMC-specific
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency on the low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (
Ldlr
-
/
-
) background by crossbreeding
Abca1
fl/fl
Abcg1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
mice with
Myh11Cre
ERT2
transgenic mice. To induce SMC cholesterol accumulation and atherogenesis, we fed
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Abca1
fl/fl
Abcg1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
,
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Abca1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
,
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Abcg1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
, and
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Ldlr
-/-
mice Western-type diet for 16 weeks.
RESULTS: Combined
SMC-Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency increased vasoconstriction in aortic rings induced by the α
1-AR agonist phenylephrine. Unexpectedly,
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency induced urinary bladder distension by >20-fold. This was reversed by the α
1-AR antagonist tamsulosin, indicating its dependence on bladder neck SMC constriction. Moreover,
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency decreased contractile markers and increased macrophage and fibroblast markers in bladder SMCs, indicating SMC transdifferentiation. This was accompanied by free cholesterol accumulation and increased endoplasmic reticulum stress.
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency did not induce thoracic aorta SMC transdifferentiation, presumably due to increased cholesteryl ester accumulation and no endoplasmic reticulum stress in thoracic aorta SMCs. Surprisingly,
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency did not affect atherosclerotic lesion size or composition in the aortic root or brachiocephalic artery.
CONCLUSIONS: We uncover a new role of SMC cholesterol efflux pathways in suppressing α
1-AR-mediated vasoconstriction and bladder SMC transdifferentiation, decreasing urinary bladder distension. Our data may provide a mechanistic link for the association between urinary bladder distension and diabetes in humans, particularly because diabetes is associated with decreased cholesterol efflux.
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency did not affect atherosclerotic lesion size or plaque composition, presumably due to low expression of
Abca1/Abcg1 in intimal SMCs.
AB - BACKGROUND: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) regulate blood flow distribution via vasoconstriction mediated by α-ARs (α-adrenergic receptors). Plasma membrane cholesterol accumulation affects α
1-AR signaling and promotes loss of SMC contractile markers in vitro. ABCA1 and ABCG1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and G1) mediate cholesterol efflux to HDL (high-density lipoprotein). ABCA1/ABCG1 show high expression in medial and low expression in intimal SMCs of atherosclerotic plaques. The role of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in SMC-mediated vasoconstriction and atherogenesis remains poorly understood.
METHODS: We generated mice with SMC-specific
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency on the low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (
Ldlr
-
/
-
) background by crossbreeding
Abca1
fl/fl
Abcg1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
mice with
Myh11Cre
ERT2
transgenic mice. To induce SMC cholesterol accumulation and atherogenesis, we fed
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Abca1
fl/fl
Abcg1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
,
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Abca1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
,
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Abcg1
fl/fl
Ldlr
-/-
, and
Myh11Cre
ERT2
Ldlr
-/-
mice Western-type diet for 16 weeks.
RESULTS: Combined
SMC-Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency increased vasoconstriction in aortic rings induced by the α
1-AR agonist phenylephrine. Unexpectedly,
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency induced urinary bladder distension by >20-fold. This was reversed by the α
1-AR antagonist tamsulosin, indicating its dependence on bladder neck SMC constriction. Moreover,
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency decreased contractile markers and increased macrophage and fibroblast markers in bladder SMCs, indicating SMC transdifferentiation. This was accompanied by free cholesterol accumulation and increased endoplasmic reticulum stress.
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency did not induce thoracic aorta SMC transdifferentiation, presumably due to increased cholesteryl ester accumulation and no endoplasmic reticulum stress in thoracic aorta SMCs. Surprisingly,
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency did not affect atherosclerotic lesion size or composition in the aortic root or brachiocephalic artery.
CONCLUSIONS: We uncover a new role of SMC cholesterol efflux pathways in suppressing α
1-AR-mediated vasoconstriction and bladder SMC transdifferentiation, decreasing urinary bladder distension. Our data may provide a mechanistic link for the association between urinary bladder distension and diabetes in humans, particularly because diabetes is associated with decreased cholesterol efflux.
SMC-
Abca1/Abcg1 deficiency did not affect atherosclerotic lesion size or plaque composition, presumably due to low expression of
Abca1/Abcg1 in intimal SMCs.
U2 - 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.325103
DO - 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.325103
M3 - Article
C2 - 39931819
SN - 0009-7330
VL - 136
SP - 491
EP - 507
JO - Circulation Research
JF - Circulation Research
IS - 5
ER -