Protective effect of nectandrin B, a potent AMPK activator on neointima formation: inhibition of Pin1 expression through AMPK activation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neointima is considered a critical event in the development of vascular occlusive disease. Nectandrin B from nutmeg functions as a potent AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators. The present study addressed whether nectandrin B inhibits intimal hyperplasia in guide wire-injured arteries and examined its molecular mechanism.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Neointima was induced by guide wire injury in mouse femoral arteries. Cell proliferation and mechanism studies were performed in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) culture model.

KEY RESULTS: Nectandrin B increased AMPK activity in VSMC. Nectandrin B inhibited the cell proliferation induced by PDGF and DNA synthesis. Moreover, treatment of nectandrin B suppressed neointima formation in femoral artery after guide wire injury. We have recently shown that Pin1 plays a critical role in VSMC proliferation and neointima formation. Nectandrin B potently blocked PDGF-induced Pin1 and cyclin D1 expression and nectandrin B's anti-proliferation effect was diminished in Pin1 overexpressed VSMC. PDGF-induced phosphorylation of ERK and Akt was marginally affected by nectandrin B. However, nectandrin B increased the levels of p53 and its downstream target p21 and, also reversibly decreased the expression of E2F1 and phosphorylated Rb in PDGF-treated VSMC. AMPK inhibition by dominant mutant form of adenovirus rescued nectandrin B-mediated down-regulation of Pin1 and E2F1.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Nectandrin B inhibited VSMC proliferation and neointima formation via inhibition of E2F1-dependent Pin1 gene transcription, which is mediated through the activation of an AMPK/p53-triggered pathway.