Effect of fetal bovine serum concentration on lysophosphatidylcholine-mediated proliferation and apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cells

Lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPtdCho) is produced by the phospholipase A₂-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine and can stimulate proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells. We examined the influence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) concentration in the culture medium on lysoPtdCho-mediated apoptosis and proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) as well as on the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2. In the presence of 1% FBS, HASMC viability increased after lysoPtdCho treatment at 1 and 10 μM but decreased at 25 and 50 μM. However, lysoPtdCho increased HASMC viability in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of 10% FBS. The activity of caspase 3/7 in HASMCs was increased by 25 μM lysoPtdCho in the presence of 1% FBS, but not 10% FBS. Furthermore, lysoPtdCho at 1 and 10 μM triggered ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the presence of 1% FBS, but not at 10% FBS. Thus, lysoPtdCho-mediated HASMC apoptosis, proliferation, and ERK1/2 activation are dependent on the concentration of FBS.