AIF-1 is an actin-polymerizing and Rac1-activating protein that promotes vascular smooth muscle cell migration

Development of vascular restenosis is a multifaceted process characterized by migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), resulting in loss of lumen diameter. Characterization of proteins that mediate this process is essential in our understanding of the pathogenesis of arterial injury. Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is a cytoplasmic, calcium-binding protein that is expressed in VSMCs by allograft and balloon angioplasty injury. AIF-1 is not present in cultured human VSMCs but is induced by cytokines, and overexpression of AIF-1 results in increased VSMC growth and cell-cycle gene expression. To characterize AIF-1 modulatory effects in primary human VSMCs, AIF-1-interacting proteins were identified by an AIF-1/glutathione S transferase fusion protein affinity assay. MALDI-TOF mass spectrophotometric amino analysis identified actin as an AIF-1 interacting protein. This interaction was verified by coimmunoprecipitation. This is a functional interaction, because AIF-1 binds to and polymerizes F-actin in vitro. In unstimulated VSMCs, AIF-1 colocalizes with F-actin but translocates to lamellipodia on stimulation with platelet-derived growth factor. VSMCs stably transduced with AIF-1 retrovirus migrate 2.6-fold more rapidly (85.1±2.9 versus 225.5 ± 16.6; P<0.001) in response to platelet-derived growth factor versus control cells. AIF-1 colocalizes with Rac1, and AIF-1-transduced VSMCs show a constitutive and enhanced activation of Rac1, providing a mechanism for the increased migration. These data indicate that AIF-1 binds and polymerizes F actin and also regulates Rac1 activity and VSMC migration. Considering the AIF-1 expression pattern in injured arteries, this suggests that AIF-1 may be involved in the cytoskeletal signaling network leading to vascular remodeling.