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Code from: Metabolic control of smooth muscle cell phenotype switching in atherosclerosis
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Code from: Metabolic control of smooth muscle cell phenotype switching in atherosclerosis

Ying H. Shen, Jiasheng Zhang, George Tellides, Zoltan Arany, Nathaniel Snyder, Martin Schwartz, Cholsoon Jang, Hosung Bae, Xiaolong Zhu, Pei-Yu Chen, …
Dryad
04/17/2026
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.m0cfxppjn
url
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m0cfxppjnView
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Abstract

The loss of smooth muscle cell (SMC) contractile phenotype contributes to various diseases, including atherosclerosis. However, its metabolic basis is not entirely elucidated. Since transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling is among the principal regulators of SMC contractility, we studied the metabolic regulation of TGFβ signaling in SMCs in vitro and atherosclerotic mouse models and human lesions. We found that TGFβ induced Ac-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2)-dependent Ac-CoA production by suppressing pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4). This stabilized R-SMADs and TGFβ receptor 1, preserving SMC contractile phenotype. SMC-specific PDK4 knockout mimicked the effect of TGFβ signaling both metabolically and phenotypically, increasing glucose-derived synthesis of Ac-CoA and SMC contractile phenotype. SMC-specific Pdk4 knockout in ApoE knockout mice reduced atherosclerosis. Furthermore, human specimens demonstrated a strong correlation between PDK4 level and atherosclerosis severity. These findings indicate that continuous TGFβ signaling, critical to the maintenance of the normal SMC contractile state, is regulated by PDK4 and carbohydrate metabolism.
 Acetylation Atherosclerosis FOS: Basic medicine FOS: Biological sciences Glucose metabolism Smooth muscle cells TGF-beta signaling cascade

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