NOX4 mediates activation of FoxO3a and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by urotensin-II

The vasoactive peptide urotensin-II (U-II) has been associated with vascular remodeling in different cardiovascular disorders. Although U-II can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the NADPH oxidase NOX4 and stimulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, the precise mechanisms linking U-II to vascular remodeling processes remain unclear. Forkhead Box O (FoxO) transcription factors have been associated with redox signaling and control of proliferation and apoptosis. We thus hypothesized that FoxOs are involved in the SMC response toward U-II and NOX4. We found that U-II and NOX4 stimulated FoxO activity and identified matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) as target gene of FoxO3a. FoxO3a activation by U-II was preceded by NOX4-dependent phosphorylation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase and 14-3-3 and decreased interaction of FoxO3a with its inhibitor 14-3-3, allowing MMP2 transcription. Functional studies in FoxO3a-depleted SMCs and in FoxO3a(–/–) mice showed that FoxO3a was important for basal and U-II–stimulated proliferation and vascular outgrowth, whereas treatment with an MMP2 inhibitor blocked these responses. Our study identified U-II and NOX4 as new activators of FoxO3a, and MMP2 as a novel target gene of FoxO3a, and showed that activation of FoxO3a by this pathway promotes vascular growth. FoxO3a may thus contribute to progression of cardiovascular diseases associated with vascular remodeling.