Regulation of extrahepatic apolipoprotein serum amyloid A (ApoSAA) gene expression by interleukin-1 alpha alone: synthesis and secretion of ApoSAA by cultured aortic smooth muscle cells.

Serum amyloid A apolipoproteins (apoSAA) appear to compromise the ability of high density lipoprotein to protect against atherosclerosis and it is of interest to determine whether aortic smooth muscle cells can contribute to local pools of apoSAA in the presence of cytokines that are known to stimulate acute phase apoSAA (A-apoSAA) synthesis in the liver. In this study, the regulation of A-apoSAA synthesis was monitored in cultured neonatal rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. Constitutive apoSAA3 gene expression was minimal, and only detectable by amplification of the mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. ApoSAA3 gene expression and protein synthesis were stimulated by IL-1 alpha; as little as 0.01 ng/ml of IL-1 alpha stimulated an increase in steady state levels of apoSAA3 mRNA. Interestingly, IL-6 (which is required in addition to IL-1 alpha for the optimal synthesis of A-apoSAA by human hepatoma cells) had little if any effect on apoSAA3 synthesis by the smooth muscle cells. In a time course, it was shown that the stimulation of apoSAA3 mRNA levels was apparent by 1-2 h after the addition of cytokine, and that levels remained elevated in the presence of the cytokine for at least 48 h. Immunoprecipitation using an antiserum directed against apoSAA3 revealed that IL-1 alpha stimulated the synthesis and secretion of apoSAA3 protein in a manner that was consistent with apoSAA3 mRNA expression. The implications of these findings in atherogenesis are discussed.