Homeobox c6 (Hoxc6) affects the proliferation, migration, and infiltration of malignant tumor cells; however, the effect of Hoxc6 on atherosclerosis (AS) as well as the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which play a role in promoting AS, has not yet been well clarified. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that Hoxc6 affects the proliferation and migration of rat VSMCs, and hence is involved in AS. The results showed that the expression of Hoxc6 mRNA and protein was higher in normal rat aortic wall than in the myocardium. Subsequently, a rat model of AS was established by high-fat feeding for 2 months. The expression of Hoxc6 mRNA and protein was increased significantly in AS lesions, while the expression of p53 protein was decreased and that of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was increased. Moreover, not only the proliferation and mobility of cells in normal culture were decreased, but also the proliferation was stimulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein, which was decreased after downregulation of Hoxc6 expression in VSMCs in rat. Consecutively, the expression of PCNA protein was decreased, while that of p53 was increased. These results indicated that Hoxc6 is probably involved in AS via p53 and PCNA by affecting the proliferation and migration of VSMCs.

中文翻译：

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同源盒c6在动脉粥样硬化主动脉中的异常表达及其对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖和迁移的影响。

同源盒c6（Hoxc6）影响恶性肿瘤细胞的增殖，迁移和浸润；然而，尚不清楚Hoxc6对动脉粥样硬化（AS）以及在促进AS中起作用的血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）的增殖和迁移的作用。在本研究中，我们测试了Hoxc6影响大鼠VSMC增殖和迁移并因此参与AS的假设。结果表明，正常大鼠主动脉壁中Hoxc6 mRNA和蛋白的表达高于心肌。随后，通过高脂喂养2个月建立了AS大鼠模型。AS病变中Hoxc6 mRNA和蛋白的表达显着增加，而p53蛋白的表达降低，而增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达增加。此外，不仅正常培养中的细胞增殖和迁移率降低，而且氧化低密度脂蛋白刺激增殖，其在大鼠VSMC中Hoxc6表达下调后降低。连续地，PCNA蛋白的表达减少，而p53的表达增加。这些结果表明，Hoxc6可能通过影响VSMC的增殖和迁移而通过p53和PCNA参与AS。