Rap1 promotes proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cell via the ERK pathway

Background: Rap1 is involved in a multitude of cellular signal transduction pathways, which has extensively been linked to cell proliferation and migration. It has been shown to be important in the regulation of physiological and pathological processes. The present study aims to elucidate its detailed mechanistic in proliferation and migration.

Material/methods: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were transfected with pcDNA3.1(empty vector), pcDNA3.1 containing Myc-Tagged-Rap1V12 (Rap1V12) or pcDNA3.1 containing Flag-Tagged-Rap1GAP (Rap1GAP).The cells were presence or absence with 8CPT-2'OMe-cAMP or SDF-1 before transfection. The proliferation and migration were examined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and transwell analysis, respectively. Afterwards, western blot was performed to detect the expression of ERK, phosphorylated-ERK, Rap1, Rap1GAP and Rap1GTP.

Results: The results showed that proliferation, migration and the expression of Rap1, Rap1GAP, p-EKR were boosted in treatment of Rap1V12-transfection. However, Rap1GAP presented the opposite effects. Subsequently, VSMCs were pretreatment with stimulators Rap1 guanine exchange factor (Rap1GEF), 8CPT-2'OMe-cAMP and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), then transfected with different vectors and the expression of Rap1, Rap1GAP and p-EKR were obviously decreased.

Conclusions: Taken together, these findings indicated for the first time that Rap1 was essential for the VSMCs in proliferation and migration by ERK signaling pathway.