Baicalin promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and migration of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by up-regulating A2a receptor via the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway

Background: Baicalin is a flavonoid compound that exerts specific pharmacological effect in attenuating the proliferation, migration, and apoptotic resistance of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated yet. Although our previous studies had indicated that activation of A2aR attenuates CXCR expression, little is known about the relationship between A2aR and SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in hypoxic PASMCs. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of A2aR on the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in hypoxic PASMCs, the mechanism underlying this effect, and whether baicalin exerts its protective functions though A2aR.

Methods: Rat PASMCs were cultured under normoxia/hypoxia and divided into nine groups: normoxia, hypoxia, hypoxia + AMD3100 (a CXCR4 antagonist), hypoxia + baicalin, hypoxia + negative virus, normoxia + A2aR knockdown, hypoxia + A2aR knockdown, hypoxia + CGS21680 (an A2aR agonist), and hypoxia + A2aR knockdown + baicalin. Lentiviral transfection methods were used to establish the A2aR knockdown model in PASMCs. Cells were incubated under hypoxic conditions for 24 h. Expression levels of A2aR, SDF-1, and CXCR4 were detected using RT-qPCR and western blot. The proliferation and migration rate were observed via CCK-8 and Transwell methods. Cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry (FCM) and the In-Situ Cell Death Detection kit (Fluorescein).

Results: Under hypoxic conditions, levels of A2aR, SDF-1, and CXCR4 were significantly increased compared to those under normoxia. The trend of SDF-1 and CXCR4 being inhibited when A2aR is up-regulated was more obvious in the baicalin intervention group. Baicalin directly enhanced A2aR expression, and A2aR knockdown weakened the function of baicalin. SDF-1 and CXCR4 expression levels were increased in the hypoxia + A2aR knockdown group, as were the proliferation and migration rates of PASMCs, while the apoptotic rate was decreased. Baicalin and CGS21680 showed opposite effects.

Conclusions: Our data indicate that baicalin efficiently attenuates hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation, migration, and apoptotic resistance, as well as SDF-1 secretion, by up-regulating A2aR and down-regulating the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis.