O-Linked -N-Acetylglucosamine Modification of A20 Enhances the Inhibition of NF-B (Nuclear Factor-B) Activation and Elicits Vascular Protection After Acute Endoluminal Arterial Injury

Objective Recently, we have demonstrated that acute glucosamine-induced augmentation of protein O-linked -N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) levels inhibits inflammation in isolated vascular smooth muscle cells and neointimal formation in a rat model of carotid injury by interfering with NF-B (nuclear factor-B) signaling. However, the specific molecular target for O-GlcNAcylation that is responsible for glucosamine-induced vascular protection remains unclear. In this study, we test the hypothesis that increased A20 (also known as TNFAIP3 [tumor necrosis factor -induced protein 3]) O-GlcNAcylation is required for glucosamine-mediated inhibition of inflammation and vascular protection. Approach and Results In cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells, both glucosamine and the selective O-linked N-acetylglucosaminidase inhibitor thiamet G significantly increased A20 O-GlcNAcylation. Thiamet G treatment did not increase A20 protein expression but did significantly enhance binding to TAX1BP1 (Tax1-binding protein 1), a key regulatory protein for A20 activity. Adenovirus-mediated A20 overexpression further enhanced the effects of thiamet G on prevention of TNF- (tumor necrosis factor-)-induced IB (inhibitor of B) degradation, p65 phosphorylation, and increases in DNA-binding activity. A20 overexpression enhanced the inhibitory effects of thiamet G on TNF--induced proinflammatory cytokine expression and vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation, whereas silencing endogenous A20 by transfection of specific A20 shRNA significantly attenuated these inhibitory effects. In balloon-injured rat carotid arteries, glucosamine treatment markedly inhibited neointimal formation and p65 activation compared with vehicle treatment. Adenoviral delivery of A20 shRNA to the injured arteries dramatically reduced balloon injury-induced A20 expression and inflammatory response compared with scramble shRNA and completely abolished the vascular protection of glucosamine. Conclusions These results suggest that O-GlcNAcylation of A20 plays a key role in the negative regulation of NF-B signaling cascades in TNF--treated vascular smooth muscle cells in culture and in acutely injured arteries, thus protecting against inflammation-induced vascular injury.