Lentiviral-Mediated shRNA Silencing of PDE4D Gene Inhibits Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-Induced Proliferation and Migration of Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract

Phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) is a member of the large superfamily of phosphodiesterases. PDE4D polymorphisms have been found to associate with ischemic stroke. Proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, infection of VSMCs with lentivrius particles carrying shRNA direct against PDE4D significantly inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-induced VSMC proliferation and migration, and the inhibitory effects were not associated with global intracellular cAMP level. Our results implicate that PDE4D has an important role in VSMC proliferation and migration which may explain its genetic susceptibility to ischemic stroke.