Nesfatin-1 promotes VSMC migration and neointimal hyperplasia by upregulating matrix metalloproteinases and downregulating PPARγ.

The dedifferentiation, proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are essential in the progression of hypertension, atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia. Nesfatin-1 is a potential modulator in cardiovascular functions. However, the role of nesfatin-1 in VSMC biology has not been explored. The present study was designed to determine the regulatory role of nesfatin-1 in VSMC proliferation, migration and intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. Herein, we demonstrated that nesfatin-1 promoted VSMC phenotype switch from a contractile to a synthetic state, stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro. At the molecular level, nesfatin-1 upregulated the protein and mRNA levels, as well as the promoter activities of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9, but downregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) levels and promoter activity in VSMCs. Blockade of MMP-2/9 or activation of PPARγ prevented the nesfatin-1-induced VSMC proliferation and migration. In vivo, knockdown of nesfatin-1 ameliorated neointima formation following rat carotid injury. Taken together, our results indicated that nesfatin-1 stimulated VSMC proliferation, migration and neointimal hyperplasia by elevating MMP2/MMP-9 levels and inhibiting PPARγ gene expression.