Blood pressure homeostasis is maintained by a P311-TGF-β axis.

ABSTRACT: P311 is an 8-kDa intracellular protein that is highly conserved across species and is expressed in the nervous system as well as in vascular and visceral smooth muscle cells. P311-null (P311-/-) mice display learning and memory defects, but alterations in their vasculature have not been previously described. Here we report that P311-/- mice are markedly hypotensive with accompanying defects in vascular tone and VSMC contractility. Functional abnormalities in P311-/- mice resulted from decreased total and active levels of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 that arise as a specific consequence of decreased translation. Vascular hypofunctionality was fully rescued in vitro and in vivo by exogenous TGF-β1-TGF-β3. Conversely, P311-transgenic (P311(TG)) mice had elevated levels of TGF-β1-TGF-β3 and subs

SUBMITTER: Badri KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3784545 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature