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Jeong JY, Bafor AE, Freeman BH, Chen PR, Park ES, Kim E. Pathophysiology in Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: Focus on Endothelial Dysfunctions and Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1795. [PMID: 39200259 PMCID: PMC11351371 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) substantially increase the risk for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, the treatment options for bAVMs are severely limited, primarily relying on invasive methods that carry their own risks for intraoperative hemorrhage or even death. Currently, there are no pharmaceutical agents shown to treat this condition, primarily due to a poor understanding of bAVM pathophysiology. For the last decade, bAVM research has made significant advances, including the identification of novel genetic mutations and relevant signaling in bAVM development. However, bAVM pathophysiology is still largely unclear. Further investigation is required to understand the detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms involved, which will enable the development of safer and more effective treatment options. Endothelial cells (ECs), the cells that line the vascular lumen, are integral to the pathogenesis of bAVMs. Understanding the fundamental role of ECs in pathological conditions is crucial to unraveling bAVM pathophysiology. This review focuses on the current knowledge of bAVM-relevant signaling pathways and dysfunctions in ECs, particularly the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Eunhee Kim
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (J.Y.J.); (A.E.B.); (B.H.F.); (P.R.C.); (E.S.P.)
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Shabani Z, Do Prado LB, Zhang R, Zhu W, Shaligram SS, Yadav A, Wang C, Su H. Increasing Endoglin Deletion in Endothelial Cells Exacerbates the Severity of Brain Arteriovenous Malformation in Mouse. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1691. [PMID: 39200156 PMCID: PMC11352040 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Endoglin (ENG) mutation causes type 1 hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT1). HHT1 patients have arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in multiple organs, including the brain. In mice, Eng deletion induced by R26RCreER or SM22αCre leads to AVM development in the brain and other organs. We hypothesized that an increase in Eng- negative ECs will enhance AVM severity. To increase EC Eng deletion, we used a codon-improved cre (icre), which is more potent in recombination of the floxed alleles than the wild-type (WT) cre. R26RCreER;Engf/f mice that have a Rosa promoter driving and tamoxifen (TM)-inducible WT cre expression globally, and PdgfbiCreER;Engf/f mice that have a Pdgfb promoter driving and TM-inducible icre expression in ECs were treated with three intra-peritoneal injections of TM (2.5 mg/25 g of body weight) to delete Eng globally or in the ECs. AAV-VEGF was stereotactically injected into the brain to induce brain focal angiogenesis and brain AVM. We found that icre caused more Eng deletion in the brain, indicated by a lower level of Eng proteins (p < 0.001) and fewer Eng-positive ECs (p = 0.01) than mice with WT cre. Mice with icre-mediated Eng deletion have more abnormal vessels (p = 0.02), CD68+ macrophages (p = 0.002), and hemorrhage (p = 0.04) and less vascular pericyte and smooth muscle coverage than mice with WT cre. In addition, arteriovenous shunts were detected in the intestines of icre mice, a phenotype that has not been detected in WT cre mice before. RNA-seq analysis showed that 8 out of the 10 top upregulated pathways identified by gene ontology (GO) analysis are related to inflammation. Therefore, the increase in Eng deletion in ECs exacerbates AVM severity, which is associated with enhanced inflammation. Strategies that can reduce Eng-negative ECs could be used to develop new therapies to reduce AVM severity for HHT1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Shabani
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Leandro Barbosa Do Prado
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Rui Zhang
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Wan Zhu
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Sonali S. Shaligram
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Alka Yadav
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Calvin Wang
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Hua Su
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (Z.S.); (L.B.D.P.); (R.Z.); (W.Z.); (S.S.S.); (A.Y.); (C.W.)
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Hughes CCW, Fang J, Hatch C, Andrejecsk J, Trigt WV, Juat D, Chen YH, Matsumoto S, Lee A. A Microphysiological HHT-on-a-Chip Platform Recapitulates Patient Vascular Lesions. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4578507. [PMID: 38947000 PMCID: PMC11213165 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4578507/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare congenital disease in which fragile vascular malformations (VM) - including small telangiectasias and large arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) - focally develop in multiple organs. There are few treatment options and no cure for HHT. Most HHT patients are heterozygous for loss-of-function mutations affecting Endoglin (ENG) or Alk1 (ACVRL1); however, why loss of these genes manifests as VMs remains poorly understood. To complement ongoing work in animal models, we have developed a fully human, cell-based microphysiological model based on our Vascularized Micro-organ (VMO) platform (the HHT-VMO) that recapitulates HHT patient VMs. Using inducible ACVRL1 -knockdown, we control timing and extent of endogenous Alk1 expression in primary human endothelial cells (EC). Resulting HHT-VMO VMs develop over several days. Interestingly, in chimera experiments AVM-like lesions can be comprised of both Alk1-intact and Alk1-deficient EC, suggesting possible cell non-autonomous effects. Single cell RNA sequencing data are consistent with microvessel pruning/regression as contributing to AVM formation, while loss of PDGFB implicates mural cell recruitment. Finally, lesion formation is blocked by the VEGFR inhibitor pazopanib, mirroring positive effects of this drug in patients. In summary, we have developed a novel HHT-on-a-chip model that faithfully reproduces HHT patient lesions and that can be used to better understand HHT disease biology and identify potential new HHT drugs.
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Bernabéu-Herrero ME, Patel D, Bielowka A, Zhu J, Jain K, Mackay IS, Chaves Guerrero P, Emanuelli G, Jovine L, Noseda M, Marciniak SJ, Aldred MA, Shovlin CL. Mutations causing premature termination codons discriminate and generate cellular and clinical variability in HHT. Blood 2024; 143:2314-2331. [PMID: 38457357 PMCID: PMC11181359 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023021777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT For monogenic diseases caused by pathogenic loss-of-function DNA variants, attention focuses on dysregulated gene-specific pathways, usually considering molecular subtypes together within causal genes. To better understand phenotypic variability in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), we subcategorized pathogenic DNA variants in ENG/endoglin, ACVRL1/ALK1, and SMAD4 if they generated premature termination codons (PTCs) subject to nonsense-mediated decay. In 3 patient cohorts, a PTC-based classification system explained some previously puzzling hemorrhage variability. In blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) derived from patients with ACVRL1+/PTC, ENG+/PTC, and SMAD4+/PTC genotypes, PTC-containing RNA transcripts persisted at low levels (8%-23% expected, varying between replicate cultures); genes differentially expressed to Bonferroni P < .05 in HHT+/PTC BOECs clustered significantly only to generic protein terms (isopeptide-bond/ubiquitin-like conjugation) and pulse-chase experiments detected subtle protein maturation differences but no evidence for PTC-truncated protein. BOECs displaying highest PTC persistence were discriminated in unsupervised hierarchical clustering of near-invariant housekeeper genes, with patterns compatible with higher cellular stress in BOECs with >11% PTC persistence. To test directionality, we used a HeLa reporter system to detect induction of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), which controls expression of stress-adaptive genes, and showed that ENG Q436X but not ENG R93X directly induced ATF4. AlphaFold accurately modeled relevant ENG domains, with AlphaMissense suggesting that readthrough substitutions would be benign for ENG R93X and other less rare ENG nonsense variants but more damaging for Q436X. We conclude that PTCs should be distinguished from other loss-of-function variants, PTC transcript levels increase in stressed cells, and readthrough proteins and mechanisms provide promising research avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Bernabéu-Herrero
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dilipkumar Patel
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adrianna Bielowka
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - JiaYi Zhu
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kinshuk Jain
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian S. Mackay
- Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Charing Cross and Royal Brompton Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Giulia Emanuelli
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Jovine
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Michela Noseda
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan J. Marciniak
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Micheala A. Aldred
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Claire L. Shovlin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
- Specialist Medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Fang JS, Hatch CJ, Andrejecsk J, Trigt WV, Juat DJ, Chen YH, Matsumoto S, Lee AP, Hughes CCW. A Microphysiological HHT-on-a-Chip Platform Recapitulates Patient Vascular Lesions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.11.584490. [PMID: 38559155 PMCID: PMC10979959 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.11.584490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare congenital disease in which fragile vascular malformations focally develop in multiple organs. These can be small (telangiectasias) or large (arteriovenous malformations, AVMs) and may rupture leading to frequent, uncontrolled bleeding. There are few treatment options and no cure for HHT. Most HHT patients are heterozygous for loss-of-function mutations for Endoglin (ENG) or Alk1 (ACVRL1), however, why loss of these genes manifests as vascular malformations remains poorly understood. To complement ongoing work in animal models, we have developed a microphysiological system model of HHT. Based on our existing vessel-on-a-chip (VMO) platform, our fully human cell-based HHT-VMO recapitulates HHT patient vascular lesions. Using inducible ACVRL1 (Alk1)-knockdown, we control timing and extent of endogenous Alk1 expression in primary human endothelial cells (EC) in the HHT-VMO. HHT-VMO vascular lesions develop over several days, and are dependent upon timing of Alk1 knockdown. Interestingly, in chimera experiments AVM-like lesions can be comprised of both Alk1-intact and Alk1-deficient EC, suggesting possible cell non-autonomous effects. Single cell RNA sequencing data are consistent with microvessel pruning/regression as contributing to AVM formation, while loss of PDGFB expression implicates mural cell recruitment. Finally, lesion formation is blocked by the VEGFR inhibitor pazopanib, mirroring the positive effects of this drug in patients. In summary, we have developed a novel HHT-on-a-chip model that faithfully reproduces HHT patient lesions and that is sensitive to a treatment effective in patients. The VMO-HHT can be used to better understand HHT disease biology and identify potential new HHT drugs. Significance This manuscript describes development of an organ-on-a-chip model of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), a rare genetic disease involving development of vascular malformations. Our VMO-HHT model produces vascular malformations similar to those seen in human HHT patients, including small (telangiectasias) and large (arteriovenous malformations) lesions. We show that VMO-HHT lesions are sensitive to a drug, pazopanib, that appears to be effective in HHT human patients. We further use the VMO-HHT platform to demonstrate that there is a critical window during vessel formation in which the HHT gene, Alk1, is required to prevent vascular malformation. Lastly, we show that lesions in the VMO-HHT model are comprised of both Alk1-deficient and Alk1-intact endothelial cells.
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Al Tabosh T, Al Tarrass M, Tourvieilhe L, Guilhem A, Dupuis-Girod S, Bailly S. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: from signaling insights to therapeutic advances. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e176379. [PMID: 38357927 PMCID: PMC10866657 DOI: 10.1172/jci176379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectsia (HHT) is an inherited vascular disorder with highly variable expressivity, affecting up to 1 in 5,000 individuals. This disease is characterized by small arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in mucocutaneous areas (telangiectases) and larger visceral AVMs in the lungs, liver, and brain. HHT is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the BMP9-10/ENG/ALK1/SMAD4 signaling pathway. This Review presents up-to-date insights on this mutated signaling pathway and its crosstalk with proangiogenic pathways, in particular the VEGF pathway, that has allowed the repurposing of new drugs for HHT treatment. However, despite the substantial benefits of these new treatments in terms of alleviating symptom severity, this not-so-uncommon bleeding disorder still currently lacks any FDA- or European Medicines Agency-approved (EMA-approved) therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tala Al Tabosh
- Biosanté Unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France
| | - Mohammad Al Tarrass
- Biosanté Unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France
| | - Laura Tourvieilhe
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, National HHT Reference Center and Genetics Department, Femme-Mère-Enfants Hospital, Bron, France
| | - Alexandre Guilhem
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, National HHT Reference Center and Genetics Department, Femme-Mère-Enfants Hospital, Bron, France
- TAI-IT Autoimmunité Unit RIGHT-UMR1098, Burgundy University, INSERM, EFS-BFC, Besancon, France
| | - Sophie Dupuis-Girod
- Biosanté Unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, National HHT Reference Center and Genetics Department, Femme-Mère-Enfants Hospital, Bron, France
| | - Sabine Bailly
- Biosanté Unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA, Grenoble, France
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Han C, Nguyen CL, Scherschinski L, Schriber TD, Arthur HM, Lawton MT, Oh SP. VEGFR2 Expression Correlates with Postnatal Development of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations in a Mouse Model of Type I Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3153. [PMID: 38137374 PMCID: PMC10740421 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) are a critical concern in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients, carrying the risk of life-threatening intracranial hemorrhage. While traditionally seen as congenital, the debate continues due to documented de novo cases. Our primary goal was to identify the precise postnatal window in which deletion of the HHT gene Endoglin (Eng) triggers BAVM development. We employed SclCreER(+);Eng2f/2f mice, enabling timed Eng gene deletion in endothelial cells via tamoxifen. Tamoxifen was given during four postnatal periods: P1-3, P8-10, P15-17, and P22-24. BAVM development was assessed at 2-3 months using latex dye perfusion. We examined the angiogenic activity by assessing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expression via Western blotting and Flk1-LacZ reporter mice. Longitudinal magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was conducted up to 9 months. BAVMs emerged in 88% (P1-3), 86% (P8-10), and 55% (P15-17) of cases, with varying localization. Notably, the P22-24 group did not develop BAVMs but exhibited skin AVMs. VEGFR2 expression peaked in the initial 2 postnatal weeks, coinciding with BAVM onset. These findings support the "second hit" theory, highlighting the role of early postnatal angiogenesis in initiating BAVM development in HHT type I mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chul Han
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (C.L.N.); (L.S.); (M.T.L.)
| | - Candice L. Nguyen
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (C.L.N.); (L.S.); (M.T.L.)
| | - Lea Scherschinski
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (C.L.N.); (L.S.); (M.T.L.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tyler D. Schriber
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (C.L.N.); (L.S.); (M.T.L.)
| | - Helen M. Arthur
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UK;
| | - Michael T. Lawton
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (C.L.N.); (L.S.); (M.T.L.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Suk Paul Oh
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (C.L.N.); (L.S.); (M.T.L.)
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Scherschinski L, Han C, Kim YH, Winkler EA, Catapano JS, Schriber TD, Vajkoczy P, Lawton MT, Oh SP. Localized conditional induction of brain arteriovenous malformations in a mouse model of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Angiogenesis 2023; 26:493-503. [PMID: 37219736 PMCID: PMC10542309 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-023-09881-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Longitudinal mouse models of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are crucial for developing novel therapeutics and pathobiological mechanism discovery underlying brain AVM progression and rupture. The sustainability of existing mouse models is limited by ubiquitous Cre activation, which is associated with lethal hemorrhages resulting from AVM formation in visceral organs. To overcome this condition, we developed a novel experimental mouse model of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) with CreER-mediated specific, localized induction of brain AVMs. METHODS Hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) was stereotactically delivered into the striatum, parietal cortex, or cerebellum of R26CreER; Alk12f/2f (Alk1-iKO) littermates. Mice were evaluated for vascular malformations with latex dye perfusion and 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Immunofluorescence and Prussian blue staining were performed for vascular lesion characterization. RESULTS Our model produced two types of brain vascular malformations, including nidal AVMs (88%, 38/43) and arteriovenous fistulas (12%, 5/43), with an overall frequency of 73% (43/59). By performing stereotaxic injection of 4-OHT targeting different brain regions, Alk1-iKO mice developed vascular malformations in the striatum (73%, 22/30), in the parietal cortex (76%, 13/17), and in the cerebellum (67%, 8/12). Identical application of the stereotaxic injection protocol in reporter mice confirmed localized Cre activity near the injection site. The 4-week mortality was 3% (2/61). Seven mice were studied longitudinally for a mean (SD; range) duration of 7.2 (3; 2.3-9.5) months and demonstrated nidal stability on sequential MRA. The brain AVMs displayed microhemorrhages and diffuse immune cell invasion. CONCLUSIONS We present the first HHT mouse model of brain AVMs that produces localized AVMs in the brain. The mouse lesions closely resemble the human lesions for complex nidal angioarchitecture, arteriovenous shunts, microhemorrhages, and inflammation. The model's longitudinal robustness is a powerful discovery resource to advance our pathomechanistic understanding of brain AVMs and identify novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Scherschinski
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chul Han
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Yong Hwan Kim
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Ethan A Winkler
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Joshua S Catapano
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Tyler D Schriber
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Peter Vajkoczy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael T Lawton
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - S Paul Oh
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
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Zhou X, Pucel JC, Nomura-Kitabayashi A, Chandakkar P, Guidroz AP, Jhangiani NL, Bao D, Fan J, Arthur HM, Ullmer C, Klein C, Marambaud P, Meadows SM. ANG2 Blockade Diminishes Proangiogenic Cerebrovascular Defects Associated With Models of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:1384-1403. [PMID: 37288572 PMCID: PMC10524982 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular disorder characterized by arteriovenous malformations and blood vessel enlargements. However, there are no effective drug therapies to combat arteriovenous malformation formation in patients with HHT. Here, we aimed to address whether elevated levels of ANG2 (angiopoietin-2) in the endothelium is a conserved feature in mouse models of the 3 major forms of HHT that could be neutralized to treat brain arteriovenous malformations and associated vascular defects. In addition, we sought to identify the angiogenic molecular signature linked to HHT. METHODS Cerebrovascular defects, including arteriovenous malformations and increased vessel calibers, were characterized in mouse models of the 3 common forms of HHT using transcriptomic and dye injection labeling methods. RESULTS Comparative RNA sequencing analyses of isolated brain endothelial cells revealed a common, but unique proangiogenic transcriptional program associated with HHT. This included a consistent upregulation in cerebrovascular expression of ANG2 and downregulation of its receptor Tyr kinase with Ig and EGF homology domains (TIE2/TEK) in HHT mice compared with controls. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed TEK signaling activity was hampered in an HHT setting. Pharmacological blockade of ANG2 improved brain vascular pathologies in all HHT models, albeit to varying degrees. Transcriptomic profiling further indicated that ANG2 inhibition normalized the brain vasculature by impacting a subset of genes involved in angiogenesis and cell migration processes. CONCLUSIONS Elevation of ANG2 in the brain vasculature is a shared trait among the mouse models of the common forms of HHT. Inhibition of ANG2 activity can significantly limit or prevent brain arteriovenous malformation formation and blood vessel enlargement in HHT mice. Thus, ANG2-targeted therapies may represent a compelling approach to treat arteriovenous malformations and vascular pathologies related to all forms of HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyan Zhou
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jenna C. Pucel
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Aya Nomura-Kitabayashi
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Pallavi Chandakkar
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Adella P. Guidroz
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nikita L. Jhangiani
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Duran Bao
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jia Fan
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Helen M. Arthur
- Biosciences Institute, Center for Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK
| | | | | | - Philippe Marambaud
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Stryder M. Meadows
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
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10
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Ung TH, Belanger K, Hashmi A, Sekar V, Meola A, Chang SD. Microenvironment changes in arteriovenous malformations after stereotactic radiation. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:982190. [PMID: 36590065 PMCID: PMC9797682 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.982190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral arteriovenous malformations are dysplastic vascular tangles with aberrant vascular dynamics and can result significant morbidity and mortality. A myriad of challenges are encountered when treating these lesions and are largely based on nidal size, location, and prior hemorrhage. Currently, stereotactic radiosurgery is an accepted form of treatment for small to medium sized lesions and is especially useful in the treatment of lesions in non-surgically assessable eloquent areas of the brain. Despite overall high rates of nidal obliteration, there is relatively limited understand on the mechanisms that drive the inflammatory and obliterative pathways observed after treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery. This review provides an overview of arteriovenous malformations with respect to stereotactic radiosurgery and the current understanding of the mechanisms that lead to nidal obliteration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy H. Ung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States,*Correspondence: Timothy H. Ung
| | - Katherine Belanger
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Ayesha Hashmi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Vashisht Sekar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Antonio Meola
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Steven D. Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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11
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Drapé E, Anquetil T, Larrivée B, Dubrac A. Brain arteriovenous malformation in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: Recent advances in cellular and molecular mechanisms. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:1006115. [PMID: 36504622 PMCID: PMC9729275 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.1006115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder characterized by vessel dilatation, such as telangiectasia in skin and mucosa and arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in internal organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and brain. AVMs are fragile and tortuous vascular anomalies that directly connect arteries and veins, bypassing healthy capillaries. Mutations in transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway components, such as ENG (ENDOGLIN), ACVRL1 (ALK1), and SMAD4 (SMAD4) genes, account for most of HHT cases. 10-20% of HHT patients develop brain AVMs (bAVMs), which can lead to vessel wall rupture and intracranial hemorrhages. Though the main mutations are known, mechanisms leading to AVM formation are unclear, partially due to lack of animal models. Recent mouse models allowed significant advances in our understanding of AVMs. Endothelial-specific deletion of either Acvrl1, Eng or Smad4 is sufficient to induce AVMs, identifying endothelial cells (ECs) as primary targets of BMP signaling to promote vascular integrity. Loss of ALK1/ENG/SMAD4 signaling is associated with NOTCH signaling defects and abnormal arteriovenous EC differentiation. Moreover, cumulative evidence suggests that AVMs originate from venous ECs with defective flow-migration coupling and excessive proliferation. Mutant ECs show an increase of PI3K/AKT signaling and inhibitors of this signaling pathway rescue AVMs in HHT mouse models, revealing new therapeutic avenues. In this review, we will summarize recent advances and current knowledge of mechanisms controlling the pathogenesis of bAVMs, and discuss unresolved questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Drapé
- Centre de Recherche, CHU St. Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada,Département de Pharmacologie et de Physiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Typhaine Anquetil
- Centre de Recherche, CHU St. Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada,Département De Pathologie et Biologie Cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bruno Larrivée
- Département d’Ophtalmologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Centre De Recherche, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada,*Correspondence: Bruno Larrivée,
| | - Alexandre Dubrac
- Centre de Recherche, CHU St. Justine, Montréal, QC, Canada,Département De Pathologie et Biologie Cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Département d’Ophtalmologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada,Alexandre Dubrac,
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12
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Shabani Z, Schuerger J, Su H. Cellular loci involved in the development of brain arteriovenous malformations. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:968369. [PMID: 36211120 PMCID: PMC9532630 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.968369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are abnormal vessels that are prone to rupture, causing life-threatening intracranial bleeding. The mechanism of bAVM formation is poorly understood. Nevertheless, animal studies revealed that gene mutation in endothelial cells (ECs) and angiogenic stimulation are necessary for bAVM initiation. Evidence collected through analyzing bAVM specimens of human and mouse models indicate that cells other than ECs also are involved in bAVM pathogenesis. Both human and mouse bAVMs vessels showed lower mural cell-coverage, suggesting a role of pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) in bAVM pathogenesis. Perivascular astrocytes also are important in maintaining cerebral vascular function and take part in bAVM development. Furthermore, higher inflammatory cytokines in bAVM tissue and blood demonstrate the contribution of inflammatory cells in bAVM progression, and rupture. The goal of this paper is to provide our current understanding of the roles of different cellular loci in bAVM pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Shabani
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joana Schuerger
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Hua Su
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Hua Su, ; orcid.org/0000-0003-1566-9877
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13
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Han C, Lang MJ, Nguyen CL, Luna Melendez E, Mehta S, Turner GH, Lawton MT, Oh SP. Novel experimental model of brain arteriovenous malformations using conditional Alk1 gene deletion in transgenic mice. J Neurosurg 2022; 137:163-174. [PMID: 34740197 DOI: 10.3171/2021.6.jns21717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is the only condition associated with multiple inherited brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Therefore, a mouse model was developed with a genetics-based approach that conditionally deleted the causative activin receptor-like kinase 1 (Acvrl1 or Alk1) gene. Radiographic and histopathological findings were correlated, and AVM stability and hemorrhagic behavior over time were examined. METHODS Alk1-floxed mice were crossed with deleter mice to generate offspring in which both copies of the Alk1 gene were deleted by Tagln-Cre to form brain AVMs in the mice. AVMs were characterized using MRI, MRA, and DSA. Brain AVMs were characterized histopathologically with latex dye perfusion, immunofluorescence, and Prussian blue staining. RESULTS Brains of 55 Tagln-Cre+;Alk12f/2f mutant mice were categorized into three groups: no detectable vascular lesions (group 1; 23 of 55, 42%), arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) with no nidus (group 2; 10 of 55, 18%), and nidal AVMs (group 3; 22 of 55, 40%). Microhemorrhage was observed on MRI or MRA in 11 AVMs (50%). AVMs had the angiographic hallmarks of early nidus opacification, a tangle of arteries and dilated draining veins, and rapid shunting of blood flow. Latex dye perfusion confirmed arteriovenous shunting in all AVMs and AVFs. Microhemorrhages were detected adjacent to AVFs and AVMs, visualized by iron deposition, Prussian blue staining, and macrophage infiltration using CD68 immunostaining. Brain AVMs were stable on serial MRI and MRA in group 3 mice (mean age at initial imaging 2.9 months; mean age at last imaging 9.5 months). CONCLUSIONS Approximately 40% of transgenic mice satisfied the requirements of a stable experimental AVM model by replicating nidal anatomy, arteriovenous hemodynamics, and microhemorrhagic behavior. Transgenic mice with AVFs had a recognizable phenotype of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia but were less suitable for experimental modeling. AVM pathogenesis can be understood as the combination of conditional Alk1 gene deletion during embryogenesis and angiogenesis that is hyperactive in developing and newborn mice, which translates to a congenital origin in most patients but an acquired condition in patients with a confluence of genetic and angiogenic events later in life. This study offers a novel experimental brain AVM model for future studies of AVM pathophysiology, growth, rupture, and therapeutic regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chul Han
- 1Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
| | | | - Candice L Nguyen
- 1Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
| | - Ernesto Luna Melendez
- 3Ivy Brain Tumor Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Shwetal Mehta
- 3Ivy Brain Tumor Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Gregory H Turner
- 4Neuroimaging, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix; and
| | - Michael T Lawton
- 1Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
- Departments of2Neurosurgery and
| | - S Paul Oh
- 1Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix
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14
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Genetics and Emerging Therapies for Brain Arteriovenous Malformations. World Neurosurg 2022; 159:327-337. [PMID: 35255632 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.10.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are characterized by a high-pressure, low-resistance vascular nidus created by direct shunting of blood from feeding arteries into arterialized veins, bypassing intervening capillaries. AVMs pose a risk of spontaneous rupture because the vessel walls are continuously exposed to increased shear stress and abnormal flow phenomena, which lead to vessel wall inflammation and distinct morphologic changes. The annual rupture rate is estimated at 2%, and once an AVM ruptures, the risk of rerupture increases 5-fold. The ability of AVMs to grow, regress, recur, and undergo remodeling shows their dynamic nature. Identifying the underlying cellular and molecular pathways of AVMs not only helps us understand their natural physiology but also allows us to directly block vital pathways, thus preventing AVM development and progression. Management of AVMs is challenging and often necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, including neurosurgical, endovascular, and radiosurgical expertise. Because many of these procedures are invasive, carry a risk of inciting hemorrhage, or are controversial, the demand for pharmacologic treatment options is increasing. In this review, we introduce novel findings of cellular and molecular AVM physiology and highlight key signaling mediators that are potential targets for AVM treatment. Furthermore, we give an overview of syndromes associated with hereditary and nonhereditary AVM formation and discuss causative genetic alterations.
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15
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Riera-Mestre A, Cerdà P, Iriarte A, Graupera M, Viñals F. Translational medicine in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Eur J Intern Med 2022; 95:32-37. [PMID: 34538686 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Scientific community have gained lots of new insights in the genetic and biochemical background of different conditions, rare diseases included, settling the basis for preclinical models that are helping to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Translational Medicine (TM) is an interdisciplinary area of biomedicine with an essential role in bench-to-bedside transition enhancement, generating a circular flow of knowledge transference between research environment and clinical setting, always centered in patient needs. Here, we present different tools used in TM and an overview of what is being done related to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), as a disease's model. This work is focused on how this combination of basic and clinical research impacts in HHT patient's daily clinical management and also looking into the future. Further randomized clinical trials with HHT patients should assess the findings of this bench-to-bedside transition. The benefits of this basic and clinical research combination, may not only be important for HHT patients but for patients with other vascular diseases sharing angiogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Riera-Mestre
- HHT Unit. Internal Medicine Department. Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, C/ Feixa Llarga s/n., L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain; Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - P Cerdà
- HHT Unit. Internal Medicine Department. Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, C/ Feixa Llarga s/n., L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain; Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Iriarte
- HHT Unit. Internal Medicine Department. Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, C/ Feixa Llarga s/n., L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona 08907, Spain; Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Graupera
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Barcelona 08916, Spain; CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Viñals
- Physiological Sciences Department. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Institut Catala d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain; Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Shaligram SS, Zhang R, Zhu W, Ma L, Luo M, Li Q, Weiss M, Arnold T, Santander N, Liang R, do Prado L, Tang C, Pan F, Oh SP, Pan P, Su H. Bone Marrow-Derived Alk1 Mutant Endothelial Cells and Clonally Expanded Somatic Alk1 Mutant Endothelial Cells Contribute to the Development of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations in Mice. Transl Stroke Res 2021; 13:494-504. [PMID: 34674144 PMCID: PMC9021325 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-021-00955-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that deletion of activin receptor-like kinase 1 (Alk1) or endoglin in a fraction of endothelial cells (ECs) induces brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) in adult mice upon angiogenic stimulation. Here, we addressed three related questions: (1) could Alk1- mutant bone marrow (BM)-derived ECs (BMDECs) cause bAVMs? (2) is Alk1- ECs clonally expended during bAVM development? and (3) is the number of mutant ECs correlates to bAVM severity? For the first question, we transplanted BM from PdgfbiCreER;Alk12f/2f mice (EC-specific tamoxifen-inducible Cre with Alk1-floxed alleles) into wild-type mice, and then induced bAVMs by intra-brain injection of an adeno-associated viral vector expressing vascular endothelial growth factor and intra-peritoneal injection of tamoxifen. For the second question, clonal expansion was analyzed using PdgfbiCreER;Alk12f/2f;confetti+/- mice. For the third question, we titrated tamoxifen to limit Alk1 deletion and compared the severity of bAVM in mice treated with low and high tamoxifen doses. We found that wild-type mice with PdgfbiCreER;Alk12f/2f BM developed bAVMs upon VEGF stimulation and Alk1 gene deletion in BMDECs. We also observed clusters of ECs expressing the same confetti color within bAVMs and significant proliferation of Alk1- ECs at early stage of bAVM development, suggesting that Alk1- ECs clonally expanded by local proliferation. Tamoxifen dose titration revealed a direct correlation between the number of Alk1- ECs and the burden of dysplastic vessels in bAVMs. These results provide novel insights for the understanding of the mechanism by which a small fraction of Alk1 or endoglin mutant ECs contribute to development of bAVMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali S Shaligram
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rui Zhang
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wan Zhu
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Man Luo
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Miriam Weiss
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Arnold
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicolas Santander
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rich Liang
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Leandro do Prado
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chaoliang Tang
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Felix Pan
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - S Paul Oh
- Barrow Aneurysm & AVM Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Peipei Pan
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hua Su
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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17
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Rivera R, Cruz JP, Merino-Osorio C, Rouchaud A, Mounayer C. Brain arteriovenous malformations: A scoping review of experimental models. INTERDISCIPLINARY NEUROSURGERY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inat.2021.101200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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18
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Thresholds of Endoglin Expression in Endothelial Cells Explains Vascular Etiology in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Type 1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168948. [PMID: 34445652 PMCID: PMC8396348 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by arteriovenous malformations and hemorrhage. HHT1 is caused by mutations in ENDOGLIN, which encodes an ancillary receptor for Transforming Growth Factor-β/Bone Morphogenetic Protein-9 expressed in all vascular endothelial cells. Haploinsufficiency is widely accepted as the underlying mechanism for HHT1. However, it remains intriguing that only some, but not all, vascular beds are affected, as these causal gene mutations are present in vasculature throughout the body. Here, we have examined the endoglin expression levels in the blood vessels of multiple organs in mice and in humans. We found a positive correlation between low basal levels of endoglin and the general prevalence of clinical manifestations in selected organs. Endoglin was found to be particularly low in the skin, the earliest site of vascular lesions in HHT1, and even undetectable in the arteries and capillaries of heterozygous endoglin mice. Endoglin levels did not appear to be associated with organ-specific vascular functions. Instead, our data revealed a critical endoglin threshold compatible with the haploinsufficiency model, below which endothelial cells independent of their tissue of origin exhibited abnormal responses to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Our results support the development of drugs promoting endoglin expression as potentially protective.
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19
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The BMP Pathway in Blood Vessel and Lymphatic Vessel Biology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126364. [PMID: 34198654 PMCID: PMC8232321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were originally identified as the active components in bone extracts that can induce ectopic bone formation. In recent decades, their key role has broadly expanded beyond bone physiology and pathology. Nowadays, the BMP pathway is considered an important player in vascular signaling. Indeed, mutations in genes encoding different components of the BMP pathway cause various severe vascular diseases. Their signaling contributes to the morphological, functional and molecular heterogeneity among endothelial cells in different vessel types such as arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels and capillaries within different organs. The BMP pathway is a remarkably fine-tuned pathway. As a result, its signaling output in the vessel wall critically depends on the cellular context, which includes flow hemodynamics, interplay with other vascular signaling cascades and the interaction of endothelial cells with peri-endothelial cells and the surrounding matrix. In this review, the emerging role of BMP signaling in lymphatic vessel biology will be highlighted within the framework of BMP signaling in the circulatory vasculature.
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20
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Bofarid S, Hosman AE, Mager JJ, Snijder RJ, Post MC. Pulmonary Vascular Complications in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia and the Underlying Pathophysiology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3471. [PMID: 33801690 PMCID: PMC8038106 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in the development of pulmonary vascular disease (PVD), both pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and pulmonary hypertension (PH), in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). HHT or Rendu-Osler-Weber disease is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1 in 5000 persons and characterized by epistaxis, telangiectasia and AVMs in more than 80% of cases, HHT is caused by a mutation in the ENG gene on chromosome 9 encoding for the protein endoglin or activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ACVRL1) gene on chromosome 12 encoding for the protein ALK-1, resulting in HHT type 1 or HHT type 2, respectively. A third disease-causing mutation has been found in the SMAD-4 gene, causing a combination of HHT and juvenile polyposis coli. All three genes play a role in the TGF-β signaling pathway that is essential in angiogenesis where it plays a pivotal role in neoangiogenesis, vessel maturation and stabilization. PH is characterized by elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure caused by a variety of different underlying pathologies. HHT carries an additional increased risk of PH because of high cardiac output as a result of anemia and shunting through hepatic AVMs, or development of pulmonary arterial hypertension due to interference of the TGF-β pathway. HHT in combination with PH is associated with a worse prognosis due to right-sided cardiac failure. The treatment of PVD in HHT includes medical or interventional therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sala Bofarid
- Department of Cardiology, St. Antonius Hospital, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands;
| | - Anna E. Hosman
- Department of Pulmonology, St. Antonius Hospital, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; (A.E.H.); (J.J.M.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Johannes J. Mager
- Department of Pulmonology, St. Antonius Hospital, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; (A.E.H.); (J.J.M.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Repke J. Snijder
- Department of Pulmonology, St. Antonius Hospital, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; (A.E.H.); (J.J.M.); (R.J.S.)
| | - Marco C. Post
- Department of Cardiology, St. Antonius Hospital, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands;
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
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21
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Park ES, Kim S, Huang S, Yoo JY, Körbelin J, Lee TJ, Kaur B, Dash PK, Chen PR, Kim E. Selective Endothelial Hyperactivation of Oncogenic KRAS Induces Brain Arteriovenous Malformations in Mice. Ann Neurol 2021; 89:926-941. [PMID: 33675084 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) are a leading cause of hemorrhagic stroke and neurological deficits in children and young adults, however, no pharmacological intervention is available to treat these patients. Although more than 95% of bAVMs are sporadic without family history, the pathogenesis of sporadic bAVMs is largely unknown, which may account for the lack of therapeutic options. KRAS mutations are frequently observed in cancer, and a recent unprecedented finding of these mutations in human sporadic bAVMs offers a new direction in the bAVM research. Using a novel adeno-associated virus targeting brain endothelium (AAV-BR1), the current study tested if endothelial KRASG12V mutation induces sporadic bAVMs in mice. METHODS Five-week-old mice were systemically injected with either AAV-BR1-GFP or -KRASG12V . At 8 weeks after the AAV injection, bAVM formation and characteristics were addressed by histological and molecular analyses. The effect of MEK/ERK inhibition on KRASG12V -induced bAVMs was determined by treatment of trametinib, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MEK/ERK inhibitor. RESULTS The viral-mediated KRASG12V overexpression induced bAVMs, which were composed of a tangled nidus mirroring the distinctive morphology of human bAVMs. The bAVMs were accompanied by focal angiogenesis, intracerebral hemorrhages, altered vascular constituents, neuroinflammation, and impaired sensory/cognitive/motor functions. Finally, we confirmed that bAVM growth was inhibited by trametinib treatment. INTERPRETATION Our innovative approach using AAV-BR1 confirms that KRAS mutations promote bAVM development via the MEK/ERK pathway, and provides a novel preclinical mouse model of bAVMs which will be useful to develop a therapeutic strategy for patients with bAVM. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:926-941.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun S Park
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Sehee Kim
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Shuning Huang
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Ji Young Yoo
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Jakob Körbelin
- II. Department of Internal Medicine, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tae Jin Lee
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Balveen Kaur
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Pramod K Dash
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Peng R Chen
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Eunhee Kim
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
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22
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Peterson K, Coffman S, Zehri A, Anzalone A, Xiang Z, Wolfe S. Somatic Mosaicism in the Pathogenesis of de novo Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations: A Paradigm Shift Implicating the RAS-MAPK Signaling Cascade. Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 50:231-238. [PMID: 33556951 DOI: 10.1159/000512800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are leading causes of lesional hemorrhagic stroke in both the pediatric and young adult population, with sporadic AVMs accounting for the majority of cases. Recent evidence has identified somatic mosaicism in key proximal components of the RAS-MAPK signaling cascade within endothelial cells collected from human sporadic cerebral AVMs, with early preclinical models supporting a potential causal role for these mutations in the pathogenesis of these malformations. Germline mutations that predispose to deregulation of the RAS-MAPK signaling axis have also been identified in hereditary vascular malformation syndromes, highlighting the key role of this signaling axis in global AVM development. Herein, we review the most recent genomic and preclinical evidence implicating somatic mosaicism in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of sporadic cerebral AVMs. Also, we review evidence for RAS-MAPK dysregulation in hereditary vascular malformation syndromes and present a hypothesis suggesting that this pathway is central for the development of both sporadic and syndrome-associated AVMs. Finally, we examine the clinical implications of these recent discoveries and highlight potential therapeutic targets within this signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyan Peterson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA,
| | - Stephanie Coffman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aqib Zehri
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anthony Anzalone
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Zhidan Xiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stacey Wolfe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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23
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Giarretta I, Sturiale CL, Gatto I, Pacioni S, Gaetani E, Porfidia A, Puca A, Palucci I, Tondi P, Olivi A, Pallini R, Pola R. Sonic hedgehog is expressed in human brain arteriovenous malformations and induces arteriovenous malformations in vivo. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2021; 41:324-335. [PMID: 32169015 PMCID: PMC8369994 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20912405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abnormalities in arterial versus venous endothelial cell identity and dysregulation of angiogenesis are deemed important in the pathophysiology of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway is crucial for both angiogenesis and arterial versus venous differentiation of endothelial cells, through its dual role on the vascular endothelial growth factor/Notch signaling and the nuclear orphan receptor COUP-TFII. In this study, we show that Shh, Gli1 (the main transcription factor of the Shh pathway), and COUP-TFII (a target of the non-canonical Shh pathway) are aberrantly expressed in human brain AVMs. We also show that implantation of pellets containing Shh in the cornea of Efnb2/LacZ mice induces growth of distinct arteries and veins, interconnected by complex sets of arteriovenous shunts, without an interposed capillary bed, as seen in AVMs. We also demonstrate that injection in the rat brain of a plasmid containing the human Shh gene induces the growth of tangles of tortuous and dilated vessels, in part positive and in part negative for the arterial marker αSMA, with direct connections between αSMA-positive and -negative vessels. In summary, we show that the Shh pathway is active in human brain AVMs and that Shh-induced angiogenesis has characteristics reminiscent of those seen in AVMs in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Giarretta
- Department of Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Carmelo L Sturiale
- Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Gatto
- Department of Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Pacioni
- Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gaetani
- Department of Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Porfidia
- Department of Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Puca
- Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivana Palucci
- Istitute of Microbiology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Tondi
- Department of Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Olivi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Pallini
- Division of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Pola
- Department of Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Division of Cardiovascular Research, St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Abstract
The complex development of the brain vascular system can be broken down by embryonic stages and anatomic locations, which are tightly regulated by different factors and pathways in time and spatially. The adult brain is relatively quiescent in angiogenesis. However, under disease conditions, such as trauma, stroke, or tumor, angiogenesis can be activated in the adult brain. Disruption of any of the factors or pathways may lead to malformed vessel development. In this chapter, we will discuss factors and pathways involved in normal brain vasculogenesis and vascular maturation, and the pathogenesis of several brain vascular malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yao
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Sonali S Shaligram
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Hua Su
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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25
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Potential Second-Hits in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9113571. [PMID: 33167572 PMCID: PMC7694477 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9113571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that presents with telangiectases in skin and mucosae, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in internal organs such as lungs, liver, and brain. Mutations in ENG (endoglin), ACVRL1 (ALK1), and MADH4 (Smad4) genes account for over 95% of HHT. Localized telangiectases and AVMs are present in different organs, with frequencies which differ among affected individuals. By itself, HHT gene heterozygosity does not account for the focal nature and varying presentation of the vascular lesions leading to the hypothesis of a “second-hit” that triggers the lesions. Accumulating research has identified a variety of triggers that may synergize with HHT gene heterozygosity to generate the vascular lesions. Among the postulated second-hits are: mechanical trauma, light, inflammation, vascular injury, angiogenic stimuli, shear stress, modifier genes, and somatic mutations in the wildtype HHT gene allele. The aim of this review is to summarize these triggers, as well as the functional mechanisms involved.
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26
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Zhang Y, Yang X. The Roles of TGF-β Signaling in Cerebrovascular Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:567682. [PMID: 33072751 PMCID: PMC7530326 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.567682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebrovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, however, little progress has been made in preventing or treating these diseases to date. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays crucial and highly complicated roles in cerebrovascular development and homeostasis, and dysregulated TGF-β signaling contributes to cerebrovascular diseases. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the functional role of TGF-β signaling in the cerebrovascular system under physiological and pathological conditions. We discuss the current understanding of TGF-β signaling in cerebral angiogenesis and the maintenance of brain vessel homeostasis. We also review the mechanisms by which disruption of TGF-β signaling triggers or promotes the progression of cerebrovascular diseases. Finally, we briefly discuss the potential of targeting TGF-β signaling to treat cerebrovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences, Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
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27
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Fish JE, Flores Suarez CP, Boudreau E, Herman AM, Gutierrez MC, Gustafson D, DiStefano PV, Cui M, Chen Z, De Ruiz KB, Schexnayder TS, Ward CS, Radovanovic I, Wythe JD. Somatic Gain of KRAS Function in the Endothelium Is Sufficient to Cause Vascular Malformations That Require MEK but Not PI3K Signaling. Circ Res 2020; 127:727-743. [PMID: 32552404 PMCID: PMC7447191 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.119.316500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Rationale: We previously identified somatic activating mutations in the KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue) gene in the endothelium of the majority of human sporadic brain arteriovenous malformations; a disorder characterized by direct connections between arteries and veins. However, whether this genetic abnormality alone is sufficient for lesion formation, as well as how active KRAS signaling contributes to arteriovenous malformations, remains unknown. Objective: To establish the first in vivo models of somatic KRAS gain of function in the endothelium in both mice and zebrafish to directly observe the phenotypic consequences of constitutive KRAS activity at a cellular level in vivo, and to test potential therapeutic interventions for arteriovenous malformations. Methods and Results: Using both postnatal and adult mice, as well as embryonic zebrafish, we demonstrate that endothelial-specific gain of function mutations in Kras (G12D or G12V) are sufficient to induce brain arteriovenous malformations. Active KRAS signaling leads to altered endothelial cell morphogenesis and increased cell size, ectopic sprouting, expanded vessel lumen diameter, and direct connections between arteries and veins. Furthermore, we show that these lesions are not associated with altered endothelial growth dynamics or a lack of proper arteriovenous identity but instead seem to feature exuberant angiogenic signaling. Finally, we demonstrate that KRAS-dependent arteriovenous malformations in zebrafish are refractory to inhibition of the downstream effector PI3K but instead require active MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1) signaling. Conclusions: We demonstrate that active KRAS expression in the endothelium is sufficient for brain arteriovenous malformations, even in the setting of uninjured adult vasculature. Furthermore, the finding that KRAS-dependent lesions are reversible in zebrafish suggests that MEK inhibition may represent a promising therapeutic treatment for arteriovenous malformation patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E Fish
- From the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (J.E.F., E.B., D.G., P.V.D., Z.C.), University Health Network, Canada.,Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (J.E.F.), University Health Network, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (J.E.F., D.G.), University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Carlos Perfecto Flores Suarez
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Emilie Boudreau
- From the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (J.E.F., E.B., D.G., P.V.D., Z.C.), University Health Network, Canada
| | - Alexander M Herman
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Manuel Cantu Gutierrez
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Graduate Program in Developmental Biology (M.C.G., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Dakota Gustafson
- From the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (J.E.F., E.B., D.G., P.V.D., Z.C.), University Health Network, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology (J.E.F., D.G.), University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Peter V DiStefano
- From the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (J.E.F., E.B., D.G., P.V.D., Z.C.), University Health Network, Canada
| | - Meng Cui
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Zhiqi Chen
- From the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (J.E.F., E.B., D.G., P.V.D., Z.C.), University Health Network, Canada
| | - Karen Berman De Ruiz
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Taylor S Schexnayder
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,and Advanced Technology Cores (T.S.S., C.S.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Christopher S Ward
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,and Advanced Technology Cores (T.S.S., C.S.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Ivan Radovanovic
- Krembil Research Institute (I.R.), University Health Network, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Sprott Department of Surgery (I.R.), University Health Network, Canada.,Department of Surgery (I.R.), University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Joshua D Wythe
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (C.P.F.S., A.M.H., M.C.G., M.C., K.B.D.R., T.S.S., C.S.W., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Graduate Program in Developmental Biology (M.C.G., J.D.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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28
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Trauma Can Induce Telangiectases in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9051507. [PMID: 32429545 PMCID: PMC7290907 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9051507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disease of the fibrovascular tissue resulting in visceral vascular malformations and (muco-) cutaneous telangiectases with recurrent bleedings. The mechanism behind the disease is not fully understood; however, observations from HHT mouse models suggest that mechanical trauma may induce the formation of abnormal vessels. To assess the influence of environmental trauma (mechanical or light induced) on the number of telangiectases in patients with HHT, the number of telangiectases on the hands, face, and lips were counted on 103 HHT patients possessing at least three out of four Curaçao criteria. They were then surveyed for information concerning their dominant hand, exposure to sunlight, and types of regular manual work. Patients developed more telangiectases on their dominant hand and lower lip (Wilcoxon rank sum test: p < 0.001). Mechanical stress induced by manual work led to an increased number of telangiectases on patients’ hands (Mann–Whitney U test: p < 0.001). There was also a positive correlation between sun exposure and the number of telangiectases on the lips (Mann–Whitney U test: 0.027). This study shows that mechanical and UV-induced trauma strongly influence the formation of telangiectases in HHT patients. This result has potential implications in preventive measures and on therapeutic approaches for HHT.
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29
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Cheng P, Ma L, Shaligram S, Walker EJ, Yang ST, Tang C, Zhu W, Zhan L, Li Q, Zhu X, Lawton MT, Su H. Effect of elevation of vascular endothelial growth factor level on exacerbation of hemorrhage in mouse brain arteriovenous malformation. J Neurosurg 2020; 132:1566-1573. [PMID: 31026826 PMCID: PMC6817409 DOI: 10.3171/2019.1.jns183112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A high level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) bleeding and rupture. However, direct evidence is missing. In this study the authors used a mouse bAVM model to test the hypothesis that elevation of focal VEGF levels in bAVMs exacerbates the severity of bAVM hemorrhage. METHODS Brain AVMs were induced in adult mice in which activin receptor-like kinase 1 (Alk1, a gene that causes AVM) gene exons 4-6 were floxed by intrabasal ganglia injection of an adenoviral vector expressing Cre recombinase to induce Alk1 mutation and an adeno-associated viral vector expressing human VEGF (AAV-VEGF) to induce angiogenesis. Two doses of AAV-VEGF (5 × 109 [high] or 2 × 109 [low]) viral genomes were used. In addition, the common carotid artery and external jugular vein were anastomosed in a group of mice treated with low-dose AAV-VEGF 6 weeks after the model induction to induce cerebral venous hypertension (VH), because VH increases the VEGF level in the brain. Brain samples were collected 8 weeks after the model induction. Hemorrhages in the bAVM lesions were quantified on brain sections stained with Prussian blue, which detects iron deposition. VEGF levels were quantified in bAVM tissue by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Compared to mice injected with a low dose of AAV-VEGF, the mice injected with a high dose had higher levels of VEGF (p = 0.003) and larger Prussian blue-positive areas in the bAVM lesion at 8 or 9 weeks after model induction (p = 0.002). VH increased bAVM hemorrhage in the low-dose AAV-VEGF group. The overall mortality in the high-dose AAV-VEGF group was 26.7%, whereas no mouse died in the low-dose AAV-VEGF group without VH. In contrast, VH caused a mortality of 50% in the low-dose AAV-VEGF group. CONCLUSIONS Using mouse bAVM models, the authors provided direct evidence that elevation of the VEGF level increases bAVM hemorrhage and mouse mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Cheng
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sonali Shaligram
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Espen J. Walker
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Shun-Tai Yang
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Chaoliang Tang
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Wan Zhu
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Lei Zhan
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Xiaonan Zhu
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Michael T. Lawton
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Hua Su
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California, San Francisco, California
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30
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DiStefano PV, Glading AJ. VEGF signalling enhances lesion burden in KRIT1 deficient mice. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 24:632-639. [PMID: 31746130 PMCID: PMC6933401 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The exact molecular mechanisms underlying CCM pathogenesis remain a complicated and controversial topic. Our previous work illustrated an important VEGF signalling loop in KRIT1 depleted endothelial cells. As VEGF is a major mediator of many vascular pathologies, we asked whether the increased VEGF signalling downstream of KRIT1 depletion was involved in CCM formation. Using an inducible KRIT1 endothelial‐specific knockout mouse that models CCM, we show that VEGFR2 activation plays a role in CCM pathogenesis in mice. Inhibition of VEGFR2 using a specific inhibitor, SU5416, significantly decreased the number of lesions formed and slightly lowered the average lesion size. Notably, VEGFR2 inhibition also decreased the appearance of lesion haemorrhage as denoted by the presence of free iron in adjacent tissues. The presence of free iron correlated with increased microvessel permeability in both skeletal muscle and brain, which was completely reversed by SU5416 treatment. Finally, we show that VEGFR2 activation is a common downstream consequence of KRIT1, CCM2 and CCM3 loss of function, though the mechanism by which VEGFR2 activation occurs likely varies. Thus, our study clearly shows that VEGFR2 activation downstream of KRIT1 depletion enhances the severity of CCM formation in mice, and suggests that targeting VEGF signalling may be a potential future therapy for CCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter V DiStefano
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Angela J Glading
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
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31
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Snellings DA, Gallione CJ, Clark DS, Vozoris NT, Faughnan ME, Marchuk DA. Somatic Mutations in Vascular Malformations of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Result in Bi-allelic Loss of ENG or ACVRL1. Am J Hum Genet 2019; 105:894-906. [PMID: 31630786 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a Mendelian disease characterized by vascular malformations (VMs) including visceral arteriovenous malformations and mucosal telangiectasia. HHT is caused by loss-of-function (LoF) mutations in one of three genes, ENG, ACVRL1, or SMAD4, and is inherited as an autosomal-dominant condition. Intriguingly, the constitutional mutation causing HHT is present throughout the body, yet the multiple VMs in individuals with HHT occur focally, rather than manifesting as a systemic vascular defect. This disconnect between genotype and phenotype suggests that a local event is necessary for the development of VMs. We investigated the hypothesis that local somatic mutations seed the formation HHT-related telangiectasia in a genetic two-hit mechanism. We identified low-frequency somatic mutations in 9/19 telangiectasia through the use of next-generation sequencing. We established phase for seven of nine samples, which confirms that the germline and somatic mutations in all seven samples exist in trans configuration; this is consistent with a genetic two-hit mechanism. These combined data suggest that bi-allelic loss of ENG or ACVRL1 may be a required event in the development of telangiectasia, and that rather than haploinsufficiency, VMs in HHT are caused by a Knudsonian two-hit mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Snellings
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Carol J Gallione
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Dewi S Clark
- Toronto HHT Centre, Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, ON M5B 1A6, Canada
| | - Nicholas T Vozoris
- Toronto HHT Centre, Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, ON M5B 1A6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Marie E Faughnan
- Toronto HHT Centre, Division of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, ON M5B 1A6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Douglas A Marchuk
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Barbosa Do Prado L, Han C, Oh SP, Su H. Recent Advances in Basic Research for Brain Arteriovenous Malformation. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215324. [PMID: 31731545 PMCID: PMC6862668 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections of vessels that shunt blood directly from arteries into veins. Rupture of brain AVMs (bAVMs) can cause life-threatening intracranial bleeding. Even though the majority of bAVM cases are sporadic without a family history, some cases are familial. Most of the familial cases of bAVMs are associated with a genetic disorder called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The mechanism of bAVM formation is not fully understood. The most important advances in bAVM basic science research is the identification of somatic mutations of genes in RAS-MAPK pathways. However, the mechanisms by which mutations of these genes lead to AVM formation are largely unknown. In this review, we summarized the latest advance in bAVM studies and discussed some pathways that play important roles in bAVM pathogenesis. We also discussed the therapeutic implications of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Barbosa Do Prado
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA;
| | - Chul Han
- Barrow Aneurysm & AVM Research Center, Barrow Neurological Institute/Dignity Health, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (S.P.O.)
| | - S. Paul Oh
- Barrow Aneurysm & AVM Research Center, Barrow Neurological Institute/Dignity Health, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (C.H.); (S.P.O.)
| | - Hua Su
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +01-415-206-3162
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33
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Frösen J, Joutel A. Smooth muscle cells of intracranial vessels: from development to disease. Cardiovasc Res 2019; 114:501-512. [PMID: 29351598 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvy002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebrovascular diseases that cause ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke with subsequent loss of life or functional capacity due to damage of the brain tissue are among the leading causes of human suffering and economic burden inflicted by diseases in the developed world. Diseases affecting intracranial vessels are significant contributors to ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes. Brain arteriovenous malformations, which are a collection of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries to veins, are the most common cause of intracranial haemorrhage in children and young adults. Saccular intracranial aneurysms, which are pathological saccular dilations mainly occurring at bifurcations of the large intracranial arteries near the circle of Willis, are highly prevalent in the middle-aged population, causing significant anxiety and concern; their rupture, although rare, is a significant cause of intracranial haemorrhage in those past middle age that is associated with a very sinister prognosis. Cerebral small-vessel disease, which comprise all pathological processes affecting vessels <500 microns in diameter, account for the majority of intracerebral haemorrhages and ∼25% of ischaemic strokes and 45% of dementias in the elderly. In this review, we summarize the developmental, structural, and functional features of intracranial vessels. We then describe the role of smooth muscle cells in brain arteriovenous malformations, intracranial aneurysms, and small-vessel diseases, and discuss how the peculiar ontogeny, structure, and function of intracranial vessels are related to the development of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhana Frösen
- Hemorrhagic Brain Pathology Research Group, NeuroCenter, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio 70029, Finland.,Department of Neurosurgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio 70029, Finland
| | - Anne Joutel
- Genetics and Pathogenesis of Cerebrovascular Diseases, INSERM, Université Paris Diderot-Paris 7, 10 av de Verdun, Paris 75010, France.,DHU NeuroVasc, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75010, France
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34
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Winkler EA, Lu AY, Raygor KP, Linzey JR, Jonzzon S, Lien BV, Rutledge WC, Abla AA. Defective vascular signaling & prospective therapeutic targets in brain arteriovenous malformations. Neurochem Int 2019; 126:126-138. [PMID: 30858016 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The neurovascular unit is composed of endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, astrocytes and neurons. Through tightly regulated multi-directional cell signaling, the neurovascular unit is responsible for the numerous functionalities of the cerebrovasculature - including the regulation of molecular and cellular transport across the blood-brain barrier, angiogenesis, blood flow responses to brain activation and neuroinflammation. Historically, the study of the brain vasculature focused on endothelial cells; however, recent work has demonstrated that pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells - collectively known as mural cells - play critical roles in many of these functions. Given this emerging data, a more complete mechanistic understanding of the cellular basis of brain vascular malformations is needed. In this review, we examine the integrated functions and signaling within the neurovascular unit necessary for normal cerebrovascular structure and function. We then describe the role of aberrant cell signaling within the neurovascular unit in brain arteriovenous malformations and identify how these pathways may be targeted therapeutically to eradicate or stabilize these lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan A Winkler
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Alex Y Lu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kunal P Raygor
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph R Linzey
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Soren Jonzzon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brian V Lien
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - W Caleb Rutledge
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adib A Abla
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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35
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Galaris G, Thalgott JH, Lebrin FPG. Pericytes in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1147:215-246. [PMID: 31147880 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-16908-4_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder characterized by multi-systemic vascular dysplasia affecting 1 in 5000 people worldwide. Individuals with HHT suffer from many complications including nose and gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia, iron deficiency, stroke, abscess, and high-output heart failure. Identification of the causative gene mutations and the generation of animal models have revealed that decreased transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling activity in endothelial cells are responsible for the development of the vascular malformations in HHT. Perturbations in these key pathways are thought to lead to endothelial cell activation resulting in mural cell disengagement from the endothelium. This initial instability state causes the blood vessels to response inadequately when they are exposed to angiogenic triggers resulting in excessive blood vessel growth and the formation of vascular abnormalities that are prone to bleeding. Drugs promoting blood vessel stability have been reported as effective in preclinical models and in clinical trials indicating possible interventional targets based on a normalization approach for treating HHT. Here, we will review how disturbed TGF-β and VEGF signaling relates to blood vessel destabilization and HHT development and will discuss therapeutic opportunities based on the concept of vessel normalization to treat HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Galaris
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology), Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jérémy H Thalgott
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology), Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Franck P G Lebrin
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology), Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Physics for Medicine, ESPCI, INSERM U1273, CNRS, Paris, France.
- MEMOLIFE Laboratory of Excellence and PSL Research University, Paris, France.
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36
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Goumans MJ, Zwijsen A, Ten Dijke P, Bailly S. Bone Morphogenetic Proteins in Vascular Homeostasis and Disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2018; 10:cshperspect.a031989. [PMID: 28348038 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a031989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that control of vascular morphogenesis and homeostasis is regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), Delta-like 4 (Dll4), angiopoietin, and ephrin signaling. It has become clear that signaling by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which have a long history of studies in bone and early heart development, are also essential for regulating vascular function. Indeed, mutations that cause deregulated BMP signaling are linked to two human vascular diseases, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension. These observations are corroborated by data obtained with vascular cells in cell culture and in mouse models. BMPs are required for normal endothelial cell differentiation and for venous/arterial and lymphatic specification. In adult life, BMP signaling orchestrates neo-angiogenesis as well as vascular inflammation, remodeling, and calcification responses to shear and oxidative stress. This review emphasizes the pivotal role of BMPs in the vascular system, based on studies of mouse models and human vascular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - An Zwijsen
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.,KU Leuven Department of Human Genetics, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Ten Dijke
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.,Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Bailly
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Mécale (INSERM), U1036, 38000 Grenoble, France.,Laboratoire Biologie du Cancer et de l'Infection, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Biosciences and Biotechnology Institute of Grenoble, 38000 Grenoble, France.,University of Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
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37
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Roman BL, Hinck AP. ALK1 signaling in development and disease: new paradigms. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:4539-4560. [PMID: 28871312 PMCID: PMC5687069 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2636-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Activin A receptor like type 1 (ALK1) is a transmembrane serine/threonine receptor kinase in the transforming growth factor-beta receptor family that is expressed on endothelial cells. Defects in ALK1 signaling cause the autosomal dominant vascular disorder, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), which is characterized by development of direct connections between arteries and veins, or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Although previous studies have implicated ALK1 in various aspects of sprouting angiogenesis, including tip/stalk cell selection, migration, and proliferation, recent work suggests an intriguing role for ALK1 in transducing a flow-based signal that governs directed endothelial cell migration within patent, perfused vessels. In this review, we present an updated view of the mechanism of ALK1 signaling, put forth a unified hypothesis to explain the cellular missteps that lead to AVMs associated with ALK1 deficiency, and discuss emerging roles for ALK1 signaling in diseases beyond HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth L Roman
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 130 DeSoto St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
| | - Andrew P Hinck
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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38
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Abstract
Endoglin (ENG, also known as CD105) is a transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) associated receptor and is required for both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is important in the development of cerebral vasculature and in the pathogenesis of cerebral vascular diseases. ENG is an essential component of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation complex. Animal studies showed that ENG deficiency impairs stroke recovery. ENG deficiency also impairs the regulation of vascular tone, which contributes to the pathogenesis of brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) and vasospasm. In human, functional haploinsufficiency of ENG gene causes type I hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT1), an autosomal dominant disorder. Compared to normal population, HHT1 patients have a higher prevalence of AVM in multiple organs including the brain. Vessels in bAVM are fragile and tend to rupture, causing hemorrhagic stroke. High prevalence of pulmonary AVM in HHT1 patients are associated with a higher incidence of paradoxical embolism in the cerebral circulation causing ischemic brain injury. Therefore, HHT1 patients are at risk for both hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. This review summarizes the possible mechanism of ENG in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases in experimental animal models and in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Zhu
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Li Ma
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Hua Su
- Center for Cerebrovascular Research, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Abstract
Correct organization of the vascular tree requires the balanced activities of several signaling pathways that regulate tubulogenesis and vascular branching, elongation, and pruning. When this balance is lost, the vessels can be malformed and fragile, and they can lose arteriovenous differentiation. In this review, we concentrate on the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway, which is one of the most important and complex signaling systems in vascular development. Inactivation of these pathways can lead to altered vascular organization in the embryo. In addition, many vascular malformations are related to deregulation of TGF-β/BMP signaling. Here, we focus on two of the most studied vascular malformations that are induced by deregulation of TGF-β/BMP signaling: hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM). The first of these is related to loss-of-function mutation of the TGF-β/BMP receptor complex and the second to increased signaling sensitivity to TGF-β/BMP. In this review, we discuss the potential therapeutic targets against these vascular malformations identified so far, as well as their basis in general mechanisms of vascular development and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara I Cunha
- From the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden (S.I.C., P.U.M., E.D.); FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy (E.D., M.G.L.); and Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy (M.G.L.)
| | - Peetra U Magnusson
- From the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden (S.I.C., P.U.M., E.D.); FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy (E.D., M.G.L.); and Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy (M.G.L.)
| | - Elisabetta Dejana
- From the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden (S.I.C., P.U.M., E.D.); FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy (E.D., M.G.L.); and Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy (M.G.L.).
| | - Maria Grazia Lampugnani
- From the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Sweden (S.I.C., P.U.M., E.D.); FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy (E.D., M.G.L.); and Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy (M.G.L.)
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Hlushchuk R, Styp-Rekowska B, Dzambazi J, Wnuk M, Huynh-Do U, Makanya A, Djonov V. Endoglin inhibition leads to intussusceptive angiogenesis via activation of factors related to COUP-TFII signaling pathway. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182813. [PMID: 28859090 PMCID: PMC5578572 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a highly coordinated, extremely complex process orchestrated by multiple signaling molecules and blood flow conditions. While sprouting mode of angiogenesis is very well investigated, the molecular mechanisms underlying intussusception, the second mode of angiogenesis, remain largely unclear. In the current study two molecules involved in vascular growth and differentiation, namely endoglin (ENG/CD105) and chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) were examined to unravel their specific roles in angiogenesis. Down- respectively up-regulation of both molecules tightly correlates with intussusceptive microvascular growth. Upon ENG inhibition in chicken embryo model, formation of irregular capillary meshwork accompanied by increased expression of COUP-TFII could be observed. This dynamic expression pattern of ENG and COUP-TFII during vascular development and remodeling correlated with formation of pillars and progression of intussusceptive angiogenesis. Similar findings could be observed in mammalian model of acute rat Thy1.1 glomerulonephritis, which was induced by intravenous injection of anti-Thy1 antibody and has shown upregulation of COUP-TFII in initial phase of intussusception, while ENG expression was not disturbed compared to the controls but decreased over the time of pillar formation. In this study, we have shown that ENG inhibition and at the same time up-regulation of COUP-TFII expression promotes intussusceptive angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Monika Wnuk
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Uyen Huynh-Do
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Makanya
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Valentin Djonov
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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Ruiz-Llorente L, Gallardo-Vara E, Rossi E, Smadja DM, Botella LM, Bernabeu C. Endoglin and alk1 as therapeutic targets for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2017; 21:933-947. [PMID: 28796572 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2017.1365839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is as an autosomal dominant trait characterized by frequent nose bleeds, mucocutaneous telangiectases, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the lung, liver and brain, and gastrointestinal bleedings due to telangiectases. HHT is originated by mutations in genes whose encoded proteins are involved in the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family signalling of vascular endothelial cells. In spite of the great advances in the diagnosis as well as in the molecular, cellular and animal models of HHT, the current treatments remain just at the palliative level. Areas covered: Pathogenic mutations in genes coding for the TGF-β receptors endoglin (ENG) (HHT1) or the activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ACVRL1 or ALK1) (HHT2), are responsible for more than 80% of patients with HHT. Therefore, ENG and ALK1 are the main potential therapeutic targets for HHT and the focus of this review. The current status of the preclinical and clinical studies, including the anti-angiogenic strategy, have been addressed. Expert opinion: Endoglin and ALK1 are attractive therapeutic targets in HHT. Because haploinsufficiency is the pathogenic mechanism in HHT, several therapeutic approaches able to enhance protein expression and/or function of endoglin and ALK1 are keys to find novel and efficient treatments for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Ruiz-Llorente
- a Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) , Madrid , Spain
| | - Eunate Gallardo-Vara
- a Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) , Madrid , Spain
| | - Elisa Rossi
- b Faculté de Pharmacie , Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité and Inserm UMR-S1140 , Paris , France
| | - David M Smadja
- b Faculté de Pharmacie , Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne Paris Cité and Inserm UMR-S1140 , Paris , France
| | - Luisa M Botella
- a Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) , Madrid , Spain
| | - Carmelo Bernabeu
- a Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER) , Madrid , Spain
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Jin Y, Muhl L, Burmakin M, Wang Y, Duchez AC, Betsholtz C, Arthur HM, Jakobsson L. Endoglin prevents vascular malformation by regulating flow-induced cell migration and specification through VEGFR2 signalling. Nat Cell Biol 2017; 19:639-652. [PMID: 28530660 PMCID: PMC5467724 DOI: 10.1038/ncb3534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in the endothelial cell (EC) enriched gene endoglin (ENG) causes the human disease hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia-1, characterized by vascular malformations promoted by vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). How ENG deficiency alters EC behaviour to trigger these anomalies is not understood. Mosaic ENG deletion in the postnatal mouse rendered Eng LOF ECs insensitive to flow-mediated venous to arterial migration. Eng LOF ECs retained within arterioles acquired venous characteristics and secondary ENG-independent proliferation resulting in arterio-venous malformation (AVM). Analysis following simultaneous Eng LOF and overexpression (OE) revealed that ENG OE ECs dominate tip cell positions and home preferentially to arteries. ENG knock-down altered VEGFA-mediated VEGFR2 kinetics and promoted AKT signalling. Blockage of PI3K/AKT partly normalised flow-directed migration of ENG LOF ECs in vitro and reduced the severity of AVM in vivo. This demonstrates the requirement of ENG in flow-mediated migration and modulation of VEGFR2 signalling in vascular patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles väg 2, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Muhl
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles väg 2, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikhail Burmakin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles väg 2, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yixin Wang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles väg 2, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne-Claire Duchez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles väg 2, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christer Betsholtz
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 20, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.,Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre (ICMC), Karolinska Institutet, Novum, Blickagången 6, SE14157 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Helen M Arthur
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Lars Jakobsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Scheeles väg 2, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Arthur H, Geisthoff U, Gossage JR, Hughes CCW, Lacombe P, Meek ME, Oh P, Roman BL, Trerotola SO, Velthuis S, Wooderchak-Donahue W. Executive summary of the 11th HHT international scientific conference. Angiogenesis 2016; 18:511-24. [PMID: 26391603 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-015-9482-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a hereditary condition that results in vascular malformations throughout the body, which have a proclivity to rupture and bleed. HHT has a worldwide incidence of about 1:5000 and approximately 80 % of cases are due to mutations in ENG, ALK1 (aka activin receptor-like kinase 1 or ACVRL1) and SMAD4. Over 200 international clinicians and scientists met at Captiva Island, Florida from June 11-June 14, 2015 to present and discuss the latest research on HHT. 156 abstracts were accepted to the meeting and 60 were selected for oral presentations. The first two sections of this article present summaries of the basic science and clinical talks. Here we have summarized talks covering key themes, focusing on areas of agreement, disagreement, and unanswered questions. The final four sections summarize discussions in the Workshops, which were theme-based topical discussions led by two moderators. We hope this overview will educate as well as inspire those within the field and from outside, who have an interest in the science and treatment of HHT.
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MESH Headings
- Activin Receptors, Type II/genetics
- Activin Receptors, Type II/metabolism
- Antigens, CD/genetics
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Congresses as Topic
- Endoglin
- Humans
- Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics
- Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism
- Smad4 Protein/genetics
- Smad4 Protein/metabolism
- Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/genetics
- Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/metabolism
- Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/pathology
- Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/therapy
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Arthur
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Centre for Life, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Urban Geisthoff
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - James R Gossage
- Department of Medicine, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA, USA.
| | - Christopher C W Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Pascal Lacombe
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Université de Versailles, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Mary E Meek
- Department of Interventional Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Paul Oh
- Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Beth L Roman
- Department of Human Genetics and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Scott O Trerotola
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sebastiaan Velthuis
- Department of Cardiology, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Whitney Wooderchak-Donahue
- ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Integrin β8 Deletion Enhances Vascular Dysplasia and Hemorrhage in the Brain of Adult Alk1 Heterozygous Mice. Transl Stroke Res 2016; 7:488-496. [PMID: 27352867 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-016-0478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM), characterized by tangled dysplastic vessels, is an important cause of intracranial hemorrhage in young adults, and its pathogenesis and progression are not fully understood. Patients with haploinsufficiency of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) receptors, activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1) or endoglin (ENG) have a higher incidence of bAVM than the general population. However, bAVM does not develop effectively in mice with the same haploinsufficiency. The expression of integrin β8 subunit (ITGB8), another member in the TGF-β superfamily, is reduced in sporadic human bAVM. Brain angiogenic stimulation results at the capillary level of vascular malformation in adult Alk1 haploinsufficient (Alk1 +/- ) mice. We hypothesized that deletion of Itgb8 enhances bAVM development in adult Alk1 +/- mice. An adenoviral vector expressing Cre recombinase (Ad-Cre) was co-injected with an adeno-associated viral vector expressing vascular endothelial growth factor (AAV-VEGF) into the brain of Alk1 +/-;Itgb8-floxed mice to induce focal Itgb8 gene deletion and angiogenesis. We showed that compared with Alk +/- mice (4.75 ± 1.38/mm2), the Alk1 +/-;Itgb8-deficient mice had more dysplastic vessels in the angiogenic foci (7.14 ± 0.68/mm2, P = 0.003). More severe hemorrhage was associated with dysplastic vessels in the brain of Itgb8-deleted Alk1 +/- , as evidenced by larger Prussian blue-positive areas (1278 ± 373 pixels/mm2 vs. Alk1 +/- : 320 ± 104 pixels/mm2; P = 0.028). These data indicate that both Itgb8 and Alk1 are important in maintaining normal cerebral angiogenesis in response to VEGF. Itgb8 deficiency enhances the formation of dysplastic vessels and hemorrhage in Alk1 +/- mice.
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Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) represent a high risk of intracranial hemorrhages, which are substantial causes of morbidity and mortality of bAVMs, especially in children and young adults. Although a variety of factors leading to hemorrhages of bAVMs are investigated extensively, their pathogenesis is still not well elucidated. The author has reviewed the updated data of genetic aspects of bAVMs, especially focusing on clinical and experimental knowledge from hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, which is the representative genetic disease presenting with bAVMs caused by loss-of-function in one of the two genes: endoglin and activin receptor-like kinase 1. This knowledge may allow us to infer the pathogensis of sporadic bAVMs and in the development of new medical therapies for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Komiyama
- Department of Neuro-Intervention, Osaka City General Hospital
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Morrell NW, Bloch DB, ten Dijke P, Goumans MJTH, Hata A, Smith J, Yu PB, Bloch KD. Targeting BMP signalling in cardiovascular disease and anaemia. Nat Rev Cardiol 2016; 13:106-20. [PMID: 26461965 PMCID: PMC4886232 DOI: 10.1038/nrcardio.2015.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and their receptors, known to be essential regulators of embryonic patterning and organogenesis, are also critical for the regulation of cardiovascular structure and function. In addition to their contributions to syndromic disorders including heart and vascular development, BMP signalling is increasingly recognized for its influence on endocrine-like functions in postnatal cardiovascular and metabolic homeostasis. In this Review, we discuss several critical and novel aspects of BMP signalling in cardiovascular health and disease, which highlight the cell-specific and context-specific nature of BMP signalling. Based on advancing knowledge of the physiological roles and regulation of BMP signalling, we indicate opportunities for therapeutic intervention in a range of cardiovascular conditions including atherosclerosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension, as well as for anaemia of inflammation. Depending on the context and the repertoire of ligands and receptors involved in specific disease processes, the selective inhibition or enhancement of signalling via particular BMP ligands (such as in atherosclerosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension, respectively) might be beneficial. The development of selective small molecule antagonists of BMP receptors, and the identification of ligands selective for BMP receptor complexes expressed in the vasculature provide the most immediate opportunities for new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W Morrell
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Donald B Bloch
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Leiden University Medicine Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marie-Jose T H Goumans
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Leiden University Medicine Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Akiko Hata
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, 500 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jim Smith
- MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Paul B Yu
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kenneth D Bloch
- Anaesthesia Centre for Critical Care Research, Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Animal Models in Studying Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:178407. [PMID: 26649296 PMCID: PMC4663287 DOI: 10.1155/2015/178407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 10/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an important cause of hemorrhagic stroke. The etiology is largely unknown and the therapeutics are controversial. A review of AVM-associated animal models may be helpful in order to understand the up-to-date knowledge and promote further research about the disease. We searched PubMed till December 31, 2014, with the term “arteriovenous malformation,” limiting results to animals and English language. Publications that described creations of AVM animal models or investigated AVM-related mechanisms and treatments using these models were reviewed. More than 100 articles fulfilling our inclusion criteria were identified, and from them eight different types of the original models were summarized. The backgrounds and procedures of these models, their applications, and research findings were demonstrated. Animal models are useful in studying the pathogenesis of AVM formation, growth, and rupture, as well as in developing and testing new treatments. Creations of preferable models are expected.
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Nielsen CM, Huang L, Murphy PA, Lawton MT, Wang RA. Mouse Models of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation. Stroke 2015; 47:293-300. [PMID: 26351360 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.115.002869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Corinne M Nielsen
- From the Laboratory for Accelerated Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery (C.M.N., L.H., P.A.M., R.A.W.) and Department of Neurosurgery (M.T.L.), University of California, San Francisco; and Department of Biology, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (P.A.M.)
| | - Lawrence Huang
- From the Laboratory for Accelerated Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery (C.M.N., L.H., P.A.M., R.A.W.) and Department of Neurosurgery (M.T.L.), University of California, San Francisco; and Department of Biology, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (P.A.M.)
| | - Patrick A Murphy
- From the Laboratory for Accelerated Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery (C.M.N., L.H., P.A.M., R.A.W.) and Department of Neurosurgery (M.T.L.), University of California, San Francisco; and Department of Biology, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (P.A.M.)
| | - Michael T Lawton
- From the Laboratory for Accelerated Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery (C.M.N., L.H., P.A.M., R.A.W.) and Department of Neurosurgery (M.T.L.), University of California, San Francisco; and Department of Biology, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (P.A.M.)
| | - Rong A Wang
- From the Laboratory for Accelerated Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery (C.M.N., L.H., P.A.M., R.A.W.) and Department of Neurosurgery (M.T.L.), University of California, San Francisco; and Department of Biology, Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (P.A.M.).
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Tørring PM, Larsen MJ, Kjeldsen AD, Ousager LB, Tan Q, Brusgaard K. Global gene expression profiling of telangiectasial tissue from patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Microvasc Res 2015; 99:118-26. [PMID: 25892364 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), the most common inherited vascular disorder, is predominantly caused by mutations in ENG and ACVRL1, which are part of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway. HHT is characterized by the presence of mucocutaneous telangiectases and arteriovenous malformations in visceral organs, primarily the lungs, brain and liver. The most common symptom in HHT is epistaxis originating from nasal telangiectasia, which can be difficult to prevent and can lead to severe anemia. The clinical manifestations of HHT are extremely variable, even within family members, and the exact mechanism of how endoglin and ALK1 haploinsufficiency leads to HHT manifestations remains to be identified. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to detect significantly differentially regulated genes in HHT, and try to elucidate the pathways and regulatory mechanisms occurring in the affected tissue of HHT patients, in order to further characterize this disorder and hypothesize on how telangiectases develop. By microarray technology (Agilent G3 Human GE 8x60), we performed global gene expression profiling of mRNA transcripts from HHT nasal telangiectasial (n = 40) and non-telangiectasial (n = 40) tissue using a paired design. Comparing HHT telangiectasial and non-telangiectasial tissue, significantly differentially expressed genes were detected using a paired t-test. Gene set analysis was performed using GSA-SNP. In the group of ENG mutation carriers, we detected 67 differentially expressed mRNAs, of which 62 were down-regulated in the telangiectasial tissue. Gene set analysis identified the gene ontology (GO) terms vasculogenesis, TGF-β signaling, and Wnt signaling as differentially expressed in HHT1. Altered Wnt signaling might be related to HHT pathogenesis and a greater understanding of this may lead to the discovery of therapeutic targets in HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pernille M Tørring
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Otorhinolaryngology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
| | - Martin Jakob Larsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Human Genetics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Anette D Kjeldsen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Otorhinolaryngology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Lilian Bomme Ousager
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Human Genetics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Qihua Tan
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Klaus Brusgaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Human Genetics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
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Dingenouts CKE, Goumans MJ, Bakker W. Mononuclear cells and vascular repair in HHT. Front Genet 2015; 6:114. [PMID: 25852751 PMCID: PMC4369645 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) or Rendu–Osler–Weber disease is a rare genetic vascular disorder known for its endothelial dysplasia causing arteriovenous malformations and severe bleedings. HHT-1 and HHT-2 are the most prevalent variants and are caused by heterozygous mutations in endoglin and activin receptor-like kinase 1, respectively. An undervalued aspect of the disease is that HHT patients experience persistent inflammation. Although endothelial and mural cells have been the main research focus trying to unravel the mechanism behind the disease, wound healing is a process with a delicate balance between inflammatory and vascular cells. Inflammatory cells are part of the mononuclear cells (MNCs) fraction, and can, next to eliciting an immune response, also have angiogenic potential. This biphasic effect of MNC can hold a promising mechanism to further elucidate treatment strategies for HHT patients. Before MNC are able to contribute to repair, they need to home to and retain in ischemic and damaged tissue. Directed migration (homing) of MNCs following tissue damage is regulated by the stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF1). MNCs that express the C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) migrate toward the tightly regulated gradient of SDF1. This directed migration of monocytes and lymphocytes can be inhibited by dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4). Interestingly, MNC of HHT patients express elevated levels of DPP4 and show impaired homing toward damaged tissue. Impaired homing capacity of the MNCs might therefore contribute to the impaired angiogenesis and tissue repair observed in HHT patients. This review summarizes recent studies regarding the role of MNCs in the etiology of HHT and vascular repair, and evaluates the efficacy of DPP4 inhibition in tissue integrity and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calinda K E Dingenouts
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Wineke Bakker
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center Leiden, Netherlands
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