A new role for Nogo as a regulator of vascular remodeling

Nat Med. 2004 Apr;10(4):382-8. doi: 10.1038/nm1020. Epub 2004 Mar 21.

Abstract

Although Nogo-A has been identified in the central nervous system as an inhibitor of axonal regeneration, the peripheral roles of Nogo isoforms remain virtually unknown. Here, using a proteomic analysis to identify proteins enriched in caveolae and/or lipid rafts (CEM/LR), we show that Nogo-B is highly expressed in cultured endothelial and smooth muscle cells, as well as in intact blood vessels. The N terminus of Nogo-B promotes the migration of endothelial cells but inhibits the migration of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells, processes necessary for vascular remodeling. Vascular injury in Nogo-A/B-deficient mice promotes exaggerated neointimal proliferation, and adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of Nogo-B rescues the abnormal vascular expansion in those knockout mice. Our discovery that Nogo-B is a regulator of vascular homeostasis and remodeling broadens the functional scope of this family of proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / physiology*
  • Myelin Proteins / metabolism
  • Myelin Proteins / physiology*
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms / physiology

Substances

  • Myelin Proteins
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RTN4 protein, human
  • Rtn4 protein, mouse