Investigation into the role of Stmn2 in vascular smooth muscle phenotype transformation during vascular injury via RNA sequencing and experimental validation

This study examined the effects of Stmn2 on phenotype transformation of vascular smooth muscle in vascular injury via RNA sequencing and experimental validation. Total RNA was extracted for RNA sequencing after 1, 3 and 5 days of injury to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Stmn2 and its associated targets. The morphological changes of carotid arteries in rats were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The expression of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype markers smooth muscle alpha-actin (α-SMA), vimentin and OPN were detected by immunohistochemistry. DEGs were related to the extracellular matrix and other cell components outside the plasma membrane. They were associated with protein binding, cytoskeleton protein binding, signal receptor binding and other molecular functions, actin cytoskeleton regulation and other Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Stmn2 was identified as the hub gene of actin cytoskeleton pathway and vascular disease, and its expression followed the trend of decreasing initially and increasing afterwards during the progress of vascular injury. Western blot assay showed that the expression of Stmn2 and Tubulin decreased immediately after vascular injury; Stmn2 overexpression significantly up-regulated the expression of osteopontin and α-SMA and vimentin in VSMCs. The results of morphology analysis and immunostaining also showed that Stmn2 overexpression promoted the intima thickening and enhanced the proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression in the injured vascular tissues. In conclusion, our results implied that Stmn2 may play a potential role in vascular injury, which may be associated with VSMC phenotype transformation. Further studies are warranted to determine detailed molecular mechanisms of Stmn2 in vascular injury.