Objective:  Hcy is an independent risk factor for cerebrovascular disease and cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of mGluR5 in Hcy-mediated impairment of cerebral endothelial wound repair.

Methods:  Mouse CMVECs (bEnd.3) were used in conjunction with directed pharmacology and shRNA. AutoDock was used to simulate the docking of ligand–receptor interactions.

Results:  Hcy (20 μM) significantly increased Cx43-pS368 by mGluR5- and PKC-dependent mechanisms. Hcy attenuated wound repair by an mGluR5-dependent mechanism over the six-day study period but did not alter cell proliferation in a proliferation assay, suggesting that the attenuation of wound repair may be due to dysfunctional migration in HHcy. Hcy increased the expression of Cx43 and Cx43-pS368 at the wound edge by activating mGluR5. Direct activation of mGluR5, using the specific agonist CHPG, was sufficient to reproduce the results whereas KO of mGluR5 with shRNA, or inhibition with MPEP, blocked the response to Hcy.

Conclusions:  Inhibition of mGluR5 activation could be a novel strategy for promoting endothelial wound repair in patients with HHcy. Activation of mGluR5 may be a viable strategy for disrupting angiogenesis.