Smooth Muscle-Alpha Actin Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration by Inhibiting Rac1 Activity
Fig 4
Expression of a constitutively active Rac1 mutant counteracts the inhibitory effects of SMA on cell migration and growth.
Controls or SMCs overexpressing SMA were transfected with adenovirus to express lacZ (Ad-lacZ) or constitutively active V12rac1 (Ad-rac). All assays were performed in triplicates. (A) Proliferation of cells was determined by MTT assays at day 1 and day 5 after stimulation with 10% FBS. Data (OD560 measurements) are presented as mean +/- S.D. (B) Cell migration in response to 10% FBS was measured by scratch assays. Hydroxyurea at 5 mmol/L was added to prevent proliferation. Data (percent area covered by cells 17 hours after wounding) are presented as mean +/- S.D.