Ouabain- and marinobufagenin-induced proliferation of human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells and a rat vascular smooth muscle cell line, A7r5

Background - We studied the growth-promoting effects of 2 sodium pump - selective cardiotonic steroids, ouabain and marinobufagenin, on cultured cells from vascular smooth muscle (VSMCs) from human umbilical vein and a rat VSMC line, A7r5. Methods and Results - Both ouabain and marinobufagenin activated proliferation of these cells in a concentration-dependent manner, reflecting the cardiotonic steroid sensitivity of the specific alpha(1) subunit contained within each cell source. The observed effective concentration ranges of both compounds was below that necessary to induce cytoplasmic ion alterations by sodium pump inhibition. Conclusions - These data indicate that the ouabain-activated proliferative effect previously observed in canine VSMCs occurs in other VSMC sources. This growth effect seems to be initiated by drug interaction with the sodium pump, reflected by the affinity of the steroid for the pump, and is independent of altered transmembrane ionic gradients.