Transcriptome Analysis Reviewed a Two-step Transformation of VSMCs to Macrophage-like Cells

We report the transcriptome profiles of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (rVSMCs) treated by cholesterol loading or NOTCH inhibitor DAPT through RNA-Seq. rVSMCs were resistant to cholesterol loading alone that only promoted limited inflammatory responses. DAPT treatment alone also resulted in limited gene expression changes related with VSMC differentiations. Interestingly, cholesterol loading supplemented with DAPT resulted in significant changes of gene expression in rVSMCs and promoted VSMC-to-macrophage-like cell transformations. Primary rVSMCs were cultured with water soluble cholesterol (Chol:MβCD) or NOTCH inhibitor DAPT or both for 48 hours to observe transcriptome profile changes in rVSMCs.