Deletion of type VIII collagen reduces blood pressure, increases carotid artery functional distensibility and promotes elastin deposition
Amanda L. Mohabeer, Jeffrey T. Kroetsch, Meghan J. McFadden, Negin Khosraviani, Thomas J. Broekelmann, Guangpei Hou, Hangjun Zhang, Yuqing Zhou, Minyao Wang, Anthony O. Gramolini, Robert P. Mecham, Scott P. Heximer, Steffen‐Sebastian Bolz, Michelle P. Bendeck
Abstract
studies revealed that the absence of Col-8 dramatically increased tropoelastin mRNA and elastic fiber deposition in the ECM, which was decreased with exogenous Col-8 treatment. These findings suggest a causative role for Col-8 in reducing mRNA levels of tropoelastin and the presence of elastic fibers in the matrix. Moreover, we also found that Col-8 and elastin have opposing effects on VSMC phenotype, the former promoting a synthetic phenotype, whereas the latter confers quiescence. These studies further our understanding of Col-8 function and open a promising new area of investigation related to elastin biology.