Lactate Dehydrogenase A Crotonylation and Mono‐Ubiquitination Maintains Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Growth and Migration and Promotes Neointima Hyperplasia

Background Phenotypic plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is believed to be a key factor in neointima hyperplasia, which is the pathological basis of vascular remodeling diseases. LDHA (lactate dehydrogenase A) has been demonstrated to promote the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. However, the mechanism is still unclear. Methods and Results LDHA ubiquitination and crotonylation in VSMCs were predicted by modified omics and proteomic analysis and were verified by immunoprecipitation. Lysine mutants of LDHA were conducted to determine the specific modified sites. Immunofluorescent staining, cell growth and migration assays, lactate production, immunobloting, adenovirus transduction, LDHA tetramerization, and mitochondrial extraction assays were performed to determine the molecular mechanism. LDHA expression, crotonylation, and ubiquitination in vivo were observed in the carotid arteries of ligation injury mice. We showed that the expression, crotonylation, and mono‐ubiquitination of LDHA is upregulated in PDGF‐BB (platelet‐derived growth factor‐BB)‐induced proliferative VSMCs and ligation‐induced neointima. LDHA is crotonylated at lysine 5 and is mono‐ubiquitinated at K76. Crotonylation at lysine 5 activates LDHA through tetramer formation to enhance lactate production and VSMC growth. Mono‐ubiquitination at K76 induces the translocation of LDHA into mitochondria, which promotes mitochondria fission and subsequent formation of lamellipodia and podosomes, thereby enhancing VSMC migration and growth. Furthermore, deletion of LDHA K5 crotonylation or K76 mono‐ubiquitination decreases ligation‐induced neointima formation. Conclusions Our study reveals a novel mechanism that combines VSMC metabolic reprogramming and vascular remodeling. Inhibition of LDHA K5 crotonylation or K76 mono‐ubiquitination may be a promising approach for the therapy of vascular remodeling diseases.