Differential regulation of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression in fibroblast growth factor-treated rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

The acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) proteins are potent vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) mitogens that are expressed by endothelial cells and SMCs in vivo. Overexpression of these proteins in transfected cell lines can result in autocrine transformation; therefore, the precise control of fibroblast growth factor gene expression in the vessel wall may be an important mechanism regulating vascular cell growth. In the present study, we demonstrate that bFGF can induce bFGF mRNA expression, but not aFGF mRNA expression, in serum-starved rat aortic SMCs. bFGF autoinduction is maximal at 4 hours, requires de novo RNA and protein synthesis, and is mediated predominantly by a protein kinase C-dependent signaling pathway. Furthermore, aFGF treatment of rat SMCs also increases bFGF mRNA and protein expression; however, aFGF mRNA levels are only slightly modulated. These results suggest that the local release of aFGF or bFGF within the vessel wall could promote a prolonged period of elevated bFGF synthesis. This, in turn, could be of importance in the SMC hyperplasia that occurs in response to vascular injury and during atherosclerotic plaque formation.