
-   Alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) gene expression was up-regulated in NR4A-transduced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). And a NGFI-B response element (NBRE-71/-64) was shown to be essential for the direct transcriptional regulation of the human A2M promoter by NR4A receptors. NR4A receptors modulate VSMC MMP activity by several mechanisms including the up-regulation of A2M [PMID: 25809189].
-   Nickel is a specific inhibitor for the binding of activated alpha 2-macroglobulin (A2M) to the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor (LRP/alpha 2-MR) [PMID: 8519764].
-   Reaction of alpha 2M with methylamine (alpha 2M-MA) forms "activated" alpha 2M which binds TGF-beta. Alpha 2M-MA enhanced TGF-beta 1-induced growth responses in smooth muscle cells and that this effect was dependent on alpha 2M-MA binding to alpha 2M receptor/LRP [PMID: 7688745].
