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Neuronatin: A New Inflammation Gene Expressed on the Aortic Endothelium of Diabetic Mice

¹ Division of Cardiology, Columbia University, New York, New York
² Division of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, New York
³ Department of Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York

Corresponding author: Nino Mzhavia, nm2170{at}columbia.edu

OBJECTIVE—Identification of arterial genes and pathways altered in obesity and diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Aortic gene expression profiles of obese and diabetic db/db, high-fat diet–fed C57BL/6J, and control mice were obtained using mouse Affymetrix arrays. Neuronatin (Nnat) was selected for further analysis. To determine the function of Nnat, a recombinant adenovirus (Ad-Nnat) was used to overexpress the Nnat gene in primary endothelial cells and in the mouse aorta in vivo.

RESULTS—Nnat, a gene of unknown vascular function, was upregulated in the aortas of db/db and high-fat diet–fed mice. Nnat gene expression was increased in db/db mouse aorta endothelial cells. Nnat protein was localized to aortic endothelium and was selectively increased in the endothelium of db/db mice. Infection of primary human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) with Ad-Nnat increased expression of a panel of nuclear factor-B (NF-B)-regulated genes, including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and cell adhesion molecules. Infection of mouse carotid arteries in vivo with the Ad-Nnat increased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 protein. Nnat activation of NF-B and inflammatory gene expression in HAECs was mediated through pathways distinct from tumor necrosis factor-. Nnat expression stimulated p38, Jun NH₂-terminal kinase, extracellular signal–related kinase, and AKT kinase phosphorylation. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and p38 inhibitors prevented Nnat-mediated activation of NF-B–induced gene expression.

CONCLUSIONS—Nnat expression is increased in endothelial cells of obese and diabetic mouse blood vessels. The effects of Nnat on inflammatory pathways in vitro and in vivo suggest a pathophysiological role of this new gene in diabetic vascular diseases.

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