Estrogen receptor α regulates phenotypic switching and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells through the NRF1-OMI-mitophagy signaling pathway under simulated microgravity.

ABSTRACT: Vascular remodeling during microgravity exposure results in postflight cardiovascular deconditioning and orthostatic intolerance in astronauts. To clarify the underlying mechanism, we investigated whether estrogen receptor α (ERα)-NRF1-OMI-mitophagy signaling was involved in the dedifferentiation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) under simulated microgravity. Phenotypic markers, mtDNA copy number and mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in rat thoracic artery smooth muscle cells were examined. Four-week hindlimb unweighting (HU) was used to simulate microgravity in rats and 10% serum was used to induce VSMCs dedifferentiation in vitro. The effects of ERα-NRF1-OMI signaling on mitophagy, phenotypic switching and proliferation o

SUBMITTER: Jiang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9691402 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature