Apolipoprotein D and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB Synergism Mediates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Migration

Abstract
We identified apolipoprotein (apo)D in a search for proteins upregulated in a posttranscriptional manner similar to fibronectin in motile smooth muscle cells (SMCs). To address the function of apoD in SMCs, we cloned a partial apoD cDNA from ovine aortic (Ao) SMCs using RT-PCR. We documented a 2.5-fold increase in apoD protein but no increase in apoD mRNA in Ao SMCs 48 hours after a multiwound migration assay ( P P P P <0.05). This was unrelated to increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 or of phospholipase C-γ1, but correlated with enhanced Rac1 activation. This study shows that apoD can be expressed or taken up by SMCs and can regulate their motility in response to growth factors.

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