This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Riessen, R. Articles by Lawler, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Riessen, R. Articles by Lawler, J. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Related Collections Restenosis Pathophysiology Cell biology/structural biology Gene expression Mechanism of atherosclerosis/growth factors Other Vascular biology

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2001;21:47.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.

Vascular Biology

Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (Thrombospondin-5) Is Expressed by Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Reimer Riessen; Michael Fenchel; Hui Chen; Dorothea I. Axel; Karl R. Karsch; Jack Lawler

From the Department of Medicine III (Cardiology) (R.R., M.F., D.I.A., K.R.K.), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; and Department of Pathology (H.C., J.L.), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

Correspondence to Reimer Riessen, MD, Department of Medicine III (Cardiology), University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. E-mail reimer.riessen{at}uni-tuebingen.de

Abstract—Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP/thrombospondin [TSP]-5) belongs to the thrombospondin gene family and is an extracellular glycoprotein found predominantly in cartilage and tendon. To date, there is limited evidence of COMP/TSP-5 expression outside of the skeletal system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of COMP/TSP-5 in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells and human arteries. COMP/TSP-5 mRNA and protein expression was detected in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells with both Northern blotting and immunoprecipitation. Serum, as well as transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and TGF-ß3, stimulated COMP/TSP-5 mRNA expression. COMP/TSP-5 was detected in normal as well as atherosclerotic and restenotic human arteries with immunohistochemistry. The majority of COMP/TSP-5 was expressed in close proximity to vascular smooth muscle cells. In vitro attachment assays demonstrated strong adhesion of smooth muscle cells to COMP/TSP-5–coated surfaces, with the majority of cells spreading and forming stress fibers. In addition, COMP/TSP-5 supported the migration of smooth muscle cells in vitro. The present study shows that COMP/TSP-5 is present in human arteries and may play a role in the adhesion and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells during vasculogenesis and in vascular disease settings such as atherosclerosis.

Key Words: Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein • thrombospondin • extracellular matrix • smooth muscle cells

This article has been cited by other articles:

				O. Dakhova, M. Ozen, C. J. Creighton, R. Li, G. Ayala, D. Rowley, and M. Ittmann Global Gene Expression Analysis of Reactive Stroma in Prostate Cancer Clin. Cancer Res., June 15, 2009; 15(12): 3979 - 3989. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Wang, J. Zheng, X. Bai, B. Liu, C.-j. Liu, Q. Xu, Y. Zhu, N. Wang, W. Kong, and X. Wang ADAMTS-7 Mediates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Migration and Neointima Formation in Balloon-Injured Rat Arteries Circ. Res., March 13, 2009; 104(5): 688 - 698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Gagarina, A. L. Carlberg, L. Pereira-Mouries, and D. J. Hall Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Protects Cells against Death by Elevating Members of the IAP Family of Survival Proteins J. Biol. Chem., January 4, 2008; 283(1): 648 - 659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Holden, D. R. Keene, G. P. Lunstrum, H. P. Bachinger, and W. A. Horton Secretion of Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Is Affected by the Signal Peptide J. Biol. Chem., April 29, 2005; 280(17): 17172 - 17179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A. Kingston, S. Sinha, C. E. Appleby, A. David, T. Verakis, M. G. Castro, P. R. Lowenstein, and A. M. Heagerty Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer of Transforming Growth Factor-{beta}3, but Not Transforming Growth Factor-{beta}1, Inhibits Constrictive Remodeling and Reduces Luminal Loss After Coronary Angioplasty Circulation, December 2, 2003; 108(22): 2819 - 2825. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Fitzpatrick, R. T. Turner, and E. R. Ritman Endochondral Bone Formation in the Heart: A Possible Mechanism of Coronary Calcification Endocrinology, June 1, 2003; 144(6): 2214 - 2219. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Hamsten and P. Eriksson Thrombospondins and Premature Coronary Artery Disease: Time to Go Beyond Genotype-Phenotype Association Studies Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, January 1, 2003; 23(1): 6 - 7. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Svensson, A. Aszodi, D. Heinegard, E. B. Hunziker, F. P. Reinholt, R. Fassler, and A. Oldberg Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein-Deficient Mice Have Normal Skeletal Development Mol. Cell. Biol., June 15, 2002; 22(12): 4366 - 4371. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. J. Topol, J. McCarthy, S. Gabriel, D. J. Moliterno, W. J. Rogers, L. K. Newby, M. Freedman, J. Metivier, R. Cannata, C. J. O'Donnell, et al. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Multiple Novel Thrombospondin Genes May Be Associated With Familial Premature Myocardial Infarction Circulation, November 27, 2001; 104(22): 2641 - 2644. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]