Negative Air Ions Attenuate Nicotine-Induced Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction by Suppressing AP1-Mediated FN1 and SPP1
Nicotine-induced oxidative stress contributes significantly to vascular endothelial dysfunction. While negative air ions (NAIs) demonstrate potential blood-pressure-regulating and antioxidant properties, their mechanistic role remains unclear. This study examined the effects of NAIs against nicotine...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/859 |
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| Summary: | Nicotine-induced oxidative stress contributes significantly to vascular endothelial dysfunction. While negative air ions (NAIs) demonstrate potential blood-pressure-regulating and antioxidant properties, their mechanistic role remains unclear. This study examined the effects of NAIs against nicotine-induced oxidative damage and vascular endothelial injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of the α7nAChR/MAPK/AP1 pathway. Transcriptomic sequencing was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes after treatment with nicotine or NAIs. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> levels were detected in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) treated with nicotine, and the relationship between transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP1) and the target genes was further elucidated through ChIP–qPCR. Nicotine exposure in SHRs elevated blood pressure and induced oxidative damage through α7nAChR/MAPK/AP1 pathway activation, causing endothelial structural disruption. These effects manifested as decreased NO/eNOS and increased ET-1/ET<sub>ab</sub> expression, while these changes were reversed by NAIs. In HAECs, nicotine impaired proliferation while increasing oxidative stress and [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> levels. This endothelial damage was markedly attenuated by either NAIs or <i>fibronectin 1</i> (<i>Fn1</i>)/<i>secreted phosphoprotein 1</i> (<i>Spp1</i>) knockdown. Mechanistically, we identified AP1 as the transcriptional regulator of <i>FN1</i> and <i>SPP1</i>. NAIs attenuate nicotine-induced endothelial dysfunction in hypertension by inhibiting AP1-mediated FN1 and SPP1 activation, providing novel insights for smoking-associated cardiovascular risk. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-3921 |