Viral vector-mediated 12/15-lipoxygenase overexpression in vascular smooth muscle cells enhances inflammatory gene expression and migration.

Increased expression and activity of 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and vascular complications. However, the consequences of 12/15-LO overexpression for VSMC migration and inflammatory gene expression are not known. In this study, 12/15-LO was overexpressed using adeno- and baculoviral vectors in human VSMC (HVSMCs) and proatherogenic responses compared with control enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing cells. HVSMCs transduced with 12/15-LO viruses expressed high levels of enzymatically active protein and produced increased levels of the LO product, 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. 12/15-LO-overexpressing HVSMCs exhibited increased oxidant stress, activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, migration and inflammatory gene expression relative to HVSMCs expressing EGFP. Furthermore, inflammatory gene expression induced by 12/15-LO overexpression was abolished by anti-oxidants, siRNAs targeting p65 (nuclear factor-kappaB), or new-generation baculoviruses expressing inhibitory IkappaBalpha or IkappaBalpha superrepressor mutant. Thus, we have used novel viral vector delivery systems, including baculoviruses, for the first time to deliver foreign genes into VSMCs and thereby demonstrated that 12/15-LO overexpression increases oxidant stress, mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, migration and inflammatory genes in VSMCs and that NF-kappaB is a key downstream effector. Enhanced proatherogenic responses in VSMCs triggered by increased 12/15-LO levels under pathological conditions may contribute to vascular dysfunction.