Tie-1-directed expression of Cre recombinase in endothelial cells of embryoid bodies and transgenic mice

Spinster homolog 2 (spns2) deficiency causes early onset progressive hearing loss

Spinster homolog 2 (Spns2) acts as a Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) transporter in zebrafish and mice, regulating heart development and lymphocyte trafficking respectively. S1P is a biologically active lysophospholipid with multiple roles in signalling. The mechanism of action of Spns2 is still elusive in mammals. Here, we report that Spns2-deficient mice rapidly lost auditory sensitivity and endocochlear potential (EP) from 2 to 3 weeks old. We found progressive degeneration of sensory hair cells in the organ of Corti, but the earliest defect was a decline in the EP, suggesting that dysfunction of the lateral wall was the primary lesion. In the lateral wall of adult mutants, we observed structural changes of marginal cell boundaries and of strial capillaries, and reduced expression of several key proteins involved in the generation of the EP (Kcnj10, Kcnq1, Gjb2 and Gjb6), but these changes were likely to be secondary. Permeability of the boundaries of the stria vascularis and of the strial capillaries appeared normal. We also found focal retinal degeneration and anomalies of retinal capillaries together with anterior eye defects in Spns2 mutant mice. Targeted inactivation of Spns2 in red blood cells, platelets, or lymphatic or vascular endothelial cells did not affect hearing, but targeted ablation of Spns2 in the cochlea using a Sox10-Cre allele produced a similar auditory phenotype to the original mutation, suggesting that local Spns2 expression is critical for hearing in mammals. These findings indicate that Spns2 is required for normal maintenance of the EP and hence for normal auditory function, and support a role for S1P signalling in hearing.

Progressive hearing loss is common in the human population but we know very little about the molecular mechanisms involved. Mutant mice are useful for investigating these mechanisms and have revealed a wide range of different abnormalities that can all lead to the same outcome: deafness. We report here our findings of a new mouse line with a mutation in the Spns2 gene, affecting the release of a lipid called sphingosine-1-phosphate, which has an important role in several processes in the body. For the first time, we report that this molecular pathway is required for normal hearing through a role in generating a voltage difference that acts like a battery, allowing the sensory hair cells of the cochlea to detect sounds at extremely low levels. Without the normal function of the Spns2 gene and release of sphingosine-1-phosphate locally in the inner ear, the voltage in the cochlea declines, leading to rapid loss of sensitivity to sound and ultimately to complete deafness. The human version of this gene, SPNS2, may be involved in human deafness, and understanding the underlying mechanism presents an opportunity to develop potential treatments for this form of hearing loss.

HOIP deficiency causes embryonic lethality by aberrant TNFR1-mediated endothelial cell death

Linear ubiquitination is crucial for innate and adaptive immunity. The linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), consisting of HOIL-1, HOIP, and SHARPIN, is the only known ubiquitin ligase that generates linear ubiquitin linkages. HOIP is the catalytically active LUBAC component. Here, we show that both constitutive and Tie2-Cre-driven HOIP deletion lead to aberrant endothelial cell death, resulting in defective vascularization and embryonic lethality at midgestation. Ablation of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) prevents cell death, vascularization defects, and death at midgestation. HOIP-deficient cells are more sensitive to death induction by both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin-α (LT-α), and aberrant complex-II formation is responsible for sensitization to TNFR1-mediated cell death in the absence of HOIP. Finally, we show that HOIP's catalytic activity is necessary for preventing TNF-induced cell death. Hence, LUBAC and its linear-ubiquitin-forming activity are required for maintaining vascular integrity during embryogenesis by preventing TNFR1-mediated endothelial cell death.

Developmental heterogeneity of cardiac fibroblasts does not predict pathological proliferation and activation

RATIONALE

Fibrosis is mediated partly by extracellular matrix-depositing fibroblasts in the heart. Although these mesenchymal cells are reported to have multiple embryonic origins, the functional consequence of this heterogeneity is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to validate a panel of surface markers to prospectively identify cardiac fibroblasts. We elucidated the developmental origins of cardiac fibroblasts and characterized their corresponding phenotypes. We also determined proliferation rates of each developmental subset of fibroblasts after pressure overload injury.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We showed that Thy1(+)CD45(-)CD31(-)CD11b(-)Ter119(-) cells constitute the majority of cardiac fibroblasts. We characterized these cells using flow cytometry, epifluorescence and confocal microscopy, and transcriptional profiling (using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and RNA-seq). We used lineage tracing, transplantation studies, and parabiosis to show that most adult cardiac fibroblasts derive from the epicardium, a minority arises from endothelial cells, and a small fraction from Pax3-expressing cells. We did not detect generation of cardiac fibroblasts by bone marrow or circulating cells. Interestingly, proliferation rates of fibroblast subsets on injury were identical, and the relative abundance of each lineage remained the same after injury. The anatomic distribution of fibroblast lineages also remained unchanged after pressure overload. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that Tie2-derived and Tbx18-derived fibroblasts within each operation group exhibit similar gene expression profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

The cellular expansion of cardiac fibroblasts after transaortic constriction surgery was not restricted to any single developmental subset. The parallel proliferation and activation of a heterogeneous population of fibroblasts on pressure overload could suggest that common signaling mechanisms stimulate their pathological response.

Endothelial cells contribute to generation of adult ventricular myocytes during cardiac homeostasis

Cardiac tissue undergoes renewal with low rates. Although resident stem cell populations have been identified to support cardiomyocyte turnover, the source of the cardiac stem cells and their niche remain elusive. Using Cre/Lox-based cell lineage tracing strategies, we discovered that labeling of endothelial cells in the adult heart yields progeny that have cardiac stem cell characteristics and express Gata4 and Sca1. Endothelial-derived cardiac progenitor cells were localized in the arterial coronary walls with quiescent and proliferative cells in the media and adventitia layers, respectively. Within the myocardium, we identified labeled cardiomyocytes organized in clusters of single-cell origin. Pulse-chase experiments showed that generation of individual clusters was rapid but confined to specific regions of the heart, primarily in the right anterior and left posterior ventricular walls and the junctions between the two ventricles. Our data demonstrate that endothelial cells are an intrinsic component of the cardiac renewal process.

Resident fibroblast lineages mediate pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis

Activation and accumulation of cardiac fibroblasts, which result in excessive extracellular matrix deposition and consequent mechanical stiffness, myocyte uncoupling, and ischemia, are key contributors to heart failure progression. Recently, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) and the recruitment of circulating hematopoietic progenitors to the heart have been reported to generate substantial numbers of cardiac fibroblasts in response to pressure overload-induced injury; therefore, these processes are widely considered to be promising therapeutic targets. Here, using multiple independent murine Cre lines and a collagen1a1-GFP fusion reporter, which specifically labels fibroblasts, we found that following pressure overload, fibroblasts were not derived from hematopoietic cells, EndoMT, or epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Instead, pressure overload promoted comparable proliferation and activation of two resident fibroblast lineages, including a previously described epicardial population and a population of endothelial origin. Together, these data present a paradigm for the origins of cardiac fibroblasts during development and in fibrosis. Furthermore, these data indicate that therapeutic strategies for reducing pathogenic cardiac fibroblasts should shift from targeting presumptive EndoMT or infiltrating hematopoietically derived fibroblasts, toward common pathways upregulated in two endogenous fibroblast populations.

Endothelial cell-specific liver kinase B1 deletion causes endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in mice in vivo

BACKGROUND

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1), a tumor suppressor, is a central regulator of cell polarity and energy homeostasis. The role of LKB1 in endothelial function in vivo has not been explored.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Endothelium-specific LKB1 knockout (LKB1(endo-/-)) mice were generated by cross-breeding LKB1(flox/flox) mice with VE-Cadherin-Cre mice. LKB1(endo-/-) mice exhibited hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation. LKB1(endo-/-) endothelial cells exhibited reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity and AMP kinase (a downstream enzyme of LKB1) phosphorylation at Thr172 compared with wild-type (WT) cells. In addition, the levels of caveolin-1 were higher in the endothelial cells of LKB1(endo-/-) mice, and knockdown of caveolin-1 by siRNA normalized endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity. Human antigen R bound with the adenylate-uridylate-rich elements of caveolin-1 mRNA 3' untranslated region, resulting in the increased stability of caveolin-1, and genetic knockdown of human antigen R decreased the expression of caveolin-1 in LKB1-deficient endothelial cells. Finally, adenoviral overexpression of constitutively active AMP kinase, but not green fluorescent protein, decreased caveolin-1, lowered blood pressure, and improved endothelial function in LKB1(endo-/-) mice in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that endothelial LKB1 regulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity, endothelial function, and blood pressure by modulating AMP kinase-mediated caveolin-1 expression.

Acute depletion of endothelial β3-integrin transiently inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis in mice

RATIONALE

The dramatic upregulation of αvβ3-integrin that occurs in the vasculature during tumor growth has long suggested that the endothelial expression of this molecule is an ideal target for antiangiogenic therapy to treat cancer. This discovery led to the development of small-molecule inhibitors directed against αvβ3-integrin that are currently in clinical trials. In 2002, we reported that β3-integrin-knockout mice exhibit enhanced tumor growth and angiogenesis. However, as β3-integrin is expressed by a wide variety of cells, endothelial cell-specific contributions to tumor angiogenesis are muddied by the use of a global knockout of β3-integrin function.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to examine the endothelial-specific contribution β3-integrin makes to tumor growth and angiogenesis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We have crossed β3-integrin-floxed (β3-floxed) mice to 2 endothelial-specific Cre models and examined angiogenic responses in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. We show that acute depletion of endothelial β3-integrin inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis preventatively, but not in already established tumors. However, the effects are transient, and long-term depletion of the molecule is ineffective. Furthermore, long-term depletion of the molecule correlates with many molecular changes, such as reduced levels of focal adhesion kinase expression and a misbalance in focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation, which may lead to a release from the inhibitory effects of decreased endothelial β3-integrin expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings imply that timing and length of inhibition are critical factors that need to be considered when targeting the endothelial expression of β3-integrin to inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis.

Discovery of endothelium and mesenchymal properties of primo vessels in the mesentery

Recent evidences demonstrated that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has a crucial role in cancer and is recognized as a unique source of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Primo vascular system (PVS) is a new circulatory system which may play an important role in cancer metastasis and regeneration. In the current study, we applied previously established time-saving method to identify primo vessels and further investigated the immunocytochemical properties of primo vessels. Both primo vessels and primary primo vessel cells in the mesentery expressed endothelial markers and fibroblast markers. Double-labeling experiments demonstrated that endothelial and fibroblast markers are coexpressed in primo vessels. In addition, under the stimulation of TGF-β1 in vitro, primary primo vessel cells differentiated into fibroblasts. Therefore, we found that primo vessels in the mesentery had a transitional structure between endothelium and mesenchymal. This is a new finding of EndMT in normal postnatal animals.

Mouse models for studying angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cancer

The formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is required for the growth of most tumors. The tumor microenvironment also induces lymphangiogenic factors that promote metastatic spread. Anti-angiogenic therapy targets the mechanisms behind the growth of the tumor vasculature. During the past two decades, several strategies targeting blood and lymphatic vessels in tumors have been developed. The blocking of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) signaling has proven effective for inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and growth, and inhibitors of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 involved in lymphangiogenesis have recently entered clinical trials. However, thus far anti-angiogenic treatments have been less effective in humans than predicted on the basis of pre-clinical tests in mice. Intrinsic and induced resistance against anti-angiogenesis occurs in patients, and thus far the clinical benefit of the treatments has been limited to modest improvements in overall survival in selected tumor types. Our current knowledge of tumor angiogenesis is based mainly on experiments performed in tumor-transplanted mice, and it has become evident that these models are not representative of human cancer. For an improved understanding, angiogenesis research needs models that better recapitulate the multistep tumorigenesis of human cancers, from the initial genetic insults in single cells to malignant progression in a proper tissue environment. To improve anti-angiogenic therapies in cancer patients, it is necessary to identify additional molecular targets important for tumor angiogenesis, and to get mechanistic insight into their interactions for eventual combinatorial targeting. The recent development of techniques for manipulating the mammalian genome in a precise and predictable manner has opened up new possibilities for the generation of more reliable models of human cancer that are essential for the testing of new therapeutic strategies. In addition, new imaging modalities that permit visualization of the entire mouse tumor vasculature down to the resolution of single capillaries have been developed in pre-clinical models and will likely benefit clinical imaging.

Cardiac outflow tract anomalies

The mature outflow tract (OFT) is, in basic terms, a short conduit. It is a simple, although vital, connection situated between contracting muscular heart chambers and a vast embryonic vascular network. Unfortunately, it is also a focal point underlying many multifactorial congenital heart defects (CHDs). Through the use of various animal models combined with human genetic investigations, we are beginning to comprehend the molecular and cellular framework that controls OFT morphogenesis. Clear roles of neural crest cells (NCC) and second heart field (SHF) derivatives have been established during OFT formation and remodeling. The challenge now is to determine how the SHF and cardiac NCC interact, the complex reciprocal signaling that appears to be occurring at various stages of OFT morphogenesis, and finally how endocardial progenitors and primary heart field (PHF) communicate with both these colonizing extra-cardiac lineages. Although we are beginning to understand that this dance of progenitor populations is wonderfully intricate, the underlying pathogenesis and the spatiotemporal cell lineage interactions remain to be fully elucidated. What is now clear is that OFT alignment and septation are independent processes, invested via separate SHF and cardiac neural crest (CNC) lineages. This review will focus on our current understanding of the respective contributions of the SHF and CNC lineage during OFT development and pathogenesis.

Endocardial cells form the coronary arteries by angiogenesis through myocardial-endocardial VEGF signaling

The origins and developmental mechanisms of coronary arteries are incompletely understood. We show here by fate mapping, clonal analysis, and immunohistochemistry that endocardial cells generate the endothelium of coronary arteries. Dye tracking, live imaging, and tissue transplantation also revealed that ventricular endocardial cells are not terminally differentiated; instead, they are angiogenic and form coronary endothelial networks. Myocardial Vegf-a or endocardial Vegfr-2 deletion inhibited coronary angiogenesis and arterial formation by ventricular endocardial cells. In contrast, lineage and knockout studies showed that endocardial cells make a small contribution to the coronary veins, the formation of which is independent of myocardial-to-endocardial Vegf signaling. Thus, contrary to the current view of a common source for the coronary vessels, our findings indicate that the coronary arteries and veins have distinct origins and are formed by different mechanisms. This information may help develop better cell therapies for coronary artery disease.

Host responses in tissue repair and fibrosis

Myofibroblasts accumulate in the spaces between organ structures and produce extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including collagen I. They are the primary "effector" cells in tissue remodeling and fibrosis. Previously, leukocyte progenitors termed fibrocytes and myofibroblasts generated from epithelial cells through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were considered the primary sources of ECM-producing myofibroblasts in injured tissues. However, genetic fate mapping experiments suggest that mesenchyme-derived cells, known as resident fibroblasts, and pericytes are the primary precursors of scar-forming myofibroblasts, whereas epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and myeloid leukocytes contribute to fibrogenesis predominantly by producing key fibrogenic cytokines and by promoting cell-to-cell communication. Numerous cytokines derived from T cells, macrophages, and other myeloid cell populations are important drivers of myofibroblast differentiation. Monocyte-derived cell populations are key regulators of the fibrotic process: They act as a brake on the processes driving fibrogenesis, and they dismantle and degrade established fibrosis. We discuss the origins, modes of activation, and fate of myofibroblasts in various important fibrotic diseases and describe how manipulation of macrophage activation could help ameliorate fibrosis.

Conditional deletions refine the embryonic requirement for Dlk1

Numerous studies have implicated Delta-like 1 (DLK1), a transmembrane protein that shares homology with Notch ligands, in embryonic growth and differentiation. Dlk1 expression is widespread, though not ubiquitous, during early development, but is confined to a few specific cell types in adults. Adult Dlk1-expressing tissues include the Insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas and the Growth hormone-producing somatotrophs of the pituitary gland. Previously generated Dlk1 null mice (Dlk1(Sul-pat)), display a partially penetrant neonatal lethality and a complex pattern of developmental and adult phenotypes. Here we describe the generation of a conditional Dlk1 mouse line (Dlk1(flox)) to facilitate cell type-specific deletion of the Dlk1 gene, providing a powerful system to explore each aspect of the Dlk1 null phenotype. Four tissue-specific Cre mouse lines were used to produce individual Dlk1 deletions in pancreatic β-cells, pituitary somatotrophs and the endothelial cells of the embryo and placenta, key candidates for the Dlk1 phenotype. Contrary to expectations, all of these conditional mice were fully viable, and none recapitulated any aspect of the Dlk1(Sul-pat) null mice. Dlk1 expression is therefore not essential for the normal development of β-cells, somatotrophs and endothelial cells, and the tissues responsible for the Dlk1 null phenotype remain to be identified. Dlk1(flox) mice will continue to provide an important tool for further research into the function of Dlk1.

Conditional expression of Lodavin, an avidin-tagged LDL receptor, for biotin-mediated applications in vivo

Lodavin represents an engineered fusion protein that consists of a cytoplasmic and a transmembrane domain of the human low-density lipoprotein receptor coupled to an extracellular avidin monomer. Biotinylated compounds have been successfully targeted to Lodavin-expressing cells that have been transduced by a Lodavin-containing virus, and the targeting is based on the high affinity between biotin and avidin. We engineered a Rosa26 (R26R) knock-in Lodavin mouse to develop biotin-based applications such as targeted drug delivery, cell purification, and tissue imaging in vivo. A cDNA encoding Lodavin was inserted downstream of a floxed βgeo resistance gene in the R26R locus in embryonic stem cells, and a germ line-derived R26RLodavin mouse line was generated. Efficient removal of the floxed βgeo cassette and conditional activation of Lodavin expression was achieved as a result of crossing the R26RLodavin mice with HoxB7-Cre, Wnt4-Cre, or Tie1-Cre mice. In summary, the R26RLodavin mouse line may provide a useful tool for testing and developing applications with the aid of avidin and biotin interaction.

CLEC-2 and Syk in the megakaryocytic/platelet lineage are essential for development

The C-type lectin receptor CLEC-2 signals through a pathway that is critically dependent on the tyrosine kinase Syk. We show that homozygous loss of either protein results in defects in brain vascular and lymphatic development, lung inflation, and perinatal lethality. Furthermore, we find that conditional deletion of Syk in the hematopoietic lineage, or conditional deletion of CLEC-2 or Syk in the megakaryocyte/platelet lineage, also causes defects in brain vascular and lymphatic development, although the mice are viable. In contrast, conditional deletion of Syk in other hematopoietic lineages had no effect on viability or brain vasculature and lymphatic development. We show that platelets, but not platelet releasate, modulate the migration and intercellular adhesion of lymphatic endothelial cells through a pathway that depends on CLEC-2 and Syk. These studies found that megakaryocyte/platelet expression of CLEC-2 and Syk is required for normal brain vasculature and lymphatic development and that platelet CLEC-2 and Syk directly modulate lymphatic endothelial cell behavior in vitro.

Transgenic mice over-expressing ET-1 in the endothelial cells develop systemic hypertension with altered vascular reactivity

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor involved in the regulation of vascular tone and implicated in hypertension. However, the role of small blood vessels endothelial ET-1 in hypertension remains unclear. The present study investigated the effect of chronic over-expression of endothelial ET-1 on arterial blood pressure and vascular reactivity using transgenic mice approach. Transgenic mice (TET-1) with endothelial ET-1 over-expression showed increased in ET-1 level in the endothelial cells of small pulmonary blood vessels. Although TET-1 mice appeared normal, they developed mild hypertension which was normalized by the ET(A) receptor (BQ123) but not by ET(B) receptor (BQ788) antagonist. Tail-cuff measurements showed a significant elevation of systolic and mean blood pressure in conscious TET-1 mice. The mice also exhibited left ventricular hypertrophy and left axis deviation in electrocardiogram, suggesting an increased peripheral resistance. The ionic concentrations in the urine and serum were normal in 8-week old TET-1 mice, indicating that the systemic hypertension was independent of renal function, although, higher serum urea levels suggested the occurrence of kidney dysfunction. The vascular reactivity of the aorta and the mesenteric artery was altered in the TET-1 mice indicating that chronic endothelial ET-1 up-regulation leads to vascular tone imbalance in both conduit and resistance arteries. These findings provide evidence for the role of spatial expression of ET-1 in the endothelium contributing to mild hypertension was mediated by ET(A) receptors. The results also suggest that chronic endothelial ET-1 over-expression affects both cardiac and vascular functions, which, at least in part, causes blood pressure elevation.

TGF-β signaling in endothelial cells, but not neuroepithelial cells, is essential for cerebral vascular development

The various organs of the body harbor blood vessel networks that display unique structural and functional features; however, the mechanisms that control organ-specific vascular development and physiology remain mostly unknown. In the developing mouse brain, αvβ8 integrin-mediated TGF-β activation and signaling is essential for normal blood vessel growth and sprouting. Whether integrins activate TGF-β signaling pathways in vascular endothelial cells (ECs), neural cells, or both, has yet to be determined. Here, we have generated and characterized mice in which TGF-β receptors are specifically deleted in neuroepithelial cells via Nestin-Cre, or in ECs via a novel Cre transgenic strain (Alk1(GFPCre)) in which Cre is expressed under control of the endogenous activin receptor-like kinase 1 (Alk1) promoter. We report that deletion of Tgfbr2 in the neuroepithelium does not impact brain vascular development. In contrast, selective deletion of the Tgfbr2 or Alk5 genes in ECs result in embryonic lethality because of brain-specific vascular pathologies, including blood vessel morphogenesis and intracerebral hemorrhage. These data reveal for the first time that αvβ8 integrin-activated TGF-βs regulate angiogenesis in the developing brain via paracrine signaling to ECs.

Knockout of the vascular endothelial glucocorticoid receptor abrogates dexamethasone-induced hypertension

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoid-mediated hypertension is incompletely understood. Recent studies have suggested the primary mechanism of this form of hypertension may be through the effects of glucocorticoids on vascular tissues and not to excess sodium and water re-absorption as traditionally believed.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to better understand the role of the vasculature in the generation and maintenance of glucocorticoid-mediated hypertension.

METHODS

We created a mouse model with a tissue-specific knockout of the glucocorticoid receptor in the vascular endothelium.

RESULTS

We show that these mice are relatively resistant to dexamethasone-induced hypertension. After 1 week of dexamethasone treatment, control animals have a mean blood pressure (BP) increase of 13.1 mmHg, whereas knockout animals have only a 2.7 mmHg increase (P < 0.001). Interestingly, the knockout mice have slightly elevated baseline BP compared with the controls (112.2 ± 2.5 vs. 104.6 ± 1.2 mmHg, P = 0.04), a finding which is not entirely explained by our data. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the knockout resistance arterioles have a decreased contractile response to dexamethasone with only 6.6% contraction in knockout vessels compared with 13.4% contraction in control vessels (P = 0.034). Finally, we show that in contrast to control animals, the knockout animals are able to recover a significant portion of their normal circadian BP rhythm, suggesting that the vascular endothelial glucocorticoid receptor may function as a peripheral circadian clock.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights the importance of the vascular endothelial glucocorticoid receptor in several fundamental physiologic processes, namely BP homeostasis and circadian rhythm.

Transforming growth factor-β signaling in myogenic cells regulates vascular morphogenesis, differentiation, and matrix synthesis

OBJECTIVE

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is required for normal vascular development. We aimed to discover the role of TGF-β signaling in embryonic smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We bred mice with smooth muscle (SM) 22α-Cre and Tgfbr2(flox) alleles to generate embryos in which the type II TGF-β receptor (TGFBR2; required for TGF-β signaling) was deleted in SMCs. Embryos were harvested between embryonic day (E) 9.5 and E18.5 and examined grossly, microscopically, and by histochemical and RNA analyses. SM22α-Cre(+/0) Tgfbr2(flox/flox) (knockout [KO]) embryos died before E15.5 with defects that included cardiac outflow tract abnormalities, persistence of the right dorsal aorta, and dilation of the distal aorta. Histological analyses suggested normal expression of SMC differentiation markers in KO aortas; however, RNA analyses showed that SMC differentiation markers were increased in KO cardiac outflow vessels but decreased in the descending aorta. KO aortas had only rare mature elastin deposits and contained abnormal aggregates of extracellular matrix proteins. Expression of several matrix proteins was significantly decreased in KO descending aortas but not in cardiac outflow vessels.

CONCLUSIONS

TGF-β signaling in SMCs controls differentiation, matrix synthesis, and vascular morphogenesis. Effects of TGF-β on SMC gene expression appear to differ depending on the location of SMCs in the aorta.

Connective tissue growth factor acts within both endothelial cells and beta cells to promote proliferation of developing beta cells

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes result from an absolute or relative reduction in functional β-cell mass. One approach to replacing lost β-cell mass is transplantation of cadaveric islets; however, this approach is limited by lack of adequate donor tissue. Therefore, there is much interest in identifying factors that enhance β-cell differentiation and proliferation in vivo or in vitro. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a secreted molecule expressed in endothelial cells, pancreatic ducts, and embryonic β cells that we previously showed is required for β-cell proliferation, differentiation, and islet morphogenesis during development. The current study investigated the tissue interactions by which CTGF promotes normal pancreatic islet development. We found that loss of CTGF from either endothelial cells or β cells results in decreased embryonic β-cell proliferation, making CTGF unique as an identified β cell-derived factor that regulates embryonic β-cell proliferation. Endothelial CTGF inactivation was associated with decreased islet vascularity, highlighting the proposed role of endothelial cells in β-cell proliferation. Furthermore, CTGF overexpression in β cells during embryogenesis using an inducible transgenic system increased islet mass at birth by promoting proliferation of immature β cells, in the absence of changes in islet vascularity. Together, these findings demonstrate that CTGF acts in an autocrine manner during pancreas development and suggest that CTGF has the potential to enhance expansion of immature β cells in directed differentiation or regeneration protocols.

Cell autonomous requirement of endocardial Smad4 during atrioventricular cushion development in mouse embryos

Atrioventricular (AV) cushions are the precursors of AV septum and valves. In this study, we examined roles of Smad4 during AV cushion development using a conditional gene inactivation approach. We found that endothelial/endocardial inactivation of Smad4 led to the hypocellular AV cushion defect and that both reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis contributed to the defect. Expression of multiple genes critical for cushion development was down-regulated in mutant embryos. In collagen gel assays, the number of mesenchymal cells formed is significantly reduced in mutant AV explants compared to that in control explants, suggesting that the reduction of cushion mesenchyme formation in mutants is unlikely secondary to their gross vasculature abnormalities. Using a previously developed immortal endocardial cell line, we showed that Smad4 is required for BMP signaling- stimulated upregulation of Tbx20 and Gata4. Therefore, our data collectively support the cell-autonomous requirement of endocardial Smad4 in regulating AV cushion development.

3'UTR-truncated Hmga2 cDNA causes MPN-like hematopoiesis by conferring a clonal growth advantage at the level of HSC in mice

Overexpression of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is found in a number of benign and malignant tumors, including the clonal PIGA(-) cells in 2 cases of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and some myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and recently in hematopoietic cell clones resulting from gene therapy procedures. In nearly all these cases overexpression is because of deletions or translocations that remove the 3' untranslated region (UTR) which contains binding sites for the regulatory micro RNA let-7. We were therefore interested in the effect of HMGA2 overexpression in hematopoietic tissues in transgenic mice (ΔHmga2 mice) carrying a 3'UTR-truncated Hmga2 cDNA. ΔHmga2 mice expressed increased levels of HMGA2 protein in various tissues including hematopoietic cells and showed proliferative hematopoiesis with increased numbers in all lineages of peripheral blood cells, hypercellular bone marrow (BM), splenomegaly with extramedullary erythropoiesis and erythropoietin-independent erythroid colony formation. ΔHmga2-derived BM cells had a growth advantage over wild-type cells in competitive repopulation and serial transplantation experiments. Thus overexpression of HMGA2 leads to proliferative hematopoiesis with clonal expansion at the stem cell and progenitor levels and may account for the clonal expansion in PNH and MPNs and in gene therapy patients after vector insertion disrupts the HMGA2 locus.

Origins of cardiac fibroblasts

Cardiac fibroblasts play a critical role in maintenance of normal cardiac function. They are indispensable for damage control and tissue remodeling on myocardial injury and principal mediators of pathological cardiac remodeling and fibrosis. Despite their manyfold functions, cardiac fibroblasts remain poorly characterized in molecular terms. Evidence is evolving that cardiac fibroblasts are a heterogeneous population and likely derive from various distinct tissue niches in health and disease. Here, we review our emerging understanding of where cardiac fibroblasts come from, as well as how we can possibly use this knowledge to develop novel therapies for cardiac fibrosis.

Endothelial alpha3beta1-integrin represses pathological angiogenesis and sustains endothelial-VEGF

Integrin alpha3beta1 is a major receptor for laminin. The expression levels of laminins-8 and -10 in the basement membrane surrounding blood vessels are known to change during tumor angiogenesis. Although some studies have suggested that certain ligands of alpha3beta1 can affect angiogenesis either positively or negatively, either a direct in vivo role for alpha3beta1 in this process or its mechanism of action in endothelial cells during angiogenesis is still unknown. Because the global genetic ablation of alpha3-integrin results in an early lethal phenotype, we have generated conditional-knockout mice where alpha3 is deleted specifically in endothelial cells (ec-alpha3-/-). Here we show that ec-alpha3-/- mice are viable, fertile, and display enhanced tumor growth, elevated tumor angiogenesis, augmented hypoxia-induced retinal angiogenesis, and increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated neovascularization ex vivo and in vivo. Furthermore, our data provide a novel method by which an integrin may regulate angiogenesis. We show that alpha3beta1 is a positive regulator of endothelial-VEGF and that, surprisingly, the VEGF produced by endothelial cells can actually repress VEGF-receptor 2 (Flk-1) expression. These data, therefore, identify directly that endothelial alpha3beta1 negatively regulates pathological angiogenesis and implicate an unexpected role for low levels of endothelial-VEGF as an activator of neovascularization.

Claudin-like protein 24 interacts with the VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 pathways and regulates lymphatic vessel development

The Claudin-like protein of 24 kDa (CLP24) is a hypoxia-regulated transmembrane protein of unknown function. We show here that clp24 knockdown in Danio rerio and Xenopus laevis results in defective lymphatic development. Targeted disruption of Clp24 in mice led to enlarged lymphatic vessels having an abnormal smooth muscle cell coating. We also show that the Clp24(-/-) phenotype was further aggravated in the Vegfr2(+/LacZ) or Vegfr3(+/LacZ) backgrounds and that CLP24 interacts with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and VEGFR-3 and attenuates the transcription factor CREB phosphorylation via these receptors. Our results indicate that CLP24 is a novel regulator of VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 signaling pathways and of normal lymphatic vessel structure.

Genetic ablation of the alpha 6-integrin subunit in Tie1Cre mice enhances tumour angiogenesis

Laminins are expressed highly in blood vessel basement membranes and have been implicated in angiogenesis. alpha6beta1- and alpha6beta4-integrins are major receptors for laminins in endothelial cells, but the precise role of endothelial alpha6-integrin in tumour angiogenesis is not clear. We show that blood vessels in human invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast have decreased expression of the alpha6-integrin-subunit when compared with normal breast tissue. These data suggest that a decrease in alpha6-integrin-subunit expression in endothelial cells is associated with tumour angiogenesis. To test whether the loss of the endothelial alpha6-integrin subunit affects tumour growth and angiogenesis, we generated alpha6fl/fl-Tie1Cre+ mice and showed that endothelial deletion of alpha6-integrin is sufficient to enhance tumour size and tumour angiogenesis in both murine B16F0 melanoma and Lewis cell lung carcinoma. Mechanistically, endothelial alpha6-integrin deficiency elevated significantly VEGF-mediated angiogenesis both in vivo and ex vivo. In particular, alpha6-integrin-deficient endothelial cells displayed increased levels of VEGF-receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and VEGF-mediated downstream ERK1/2 activation. By developing the first endothelial-specific alpha6-knockout mice, we show that the expression of the alpha6-integrin subunit in endothelial cells acts as a negative regulator of angiogenesis both in vivo and ex vivo.

ATX expression and LPA signalling are vital for the development of the nervous system

Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted glycoprotein widely present in biological fluids, originally isolated from the supernatant of melanoma cells as an autocrine motility stimulation factor. Its enzymatic product, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), is a phospholipid mediator that evokes growth-factor-like responses in almost all cell types through G-protein coupled receptors. To assess the role of ATX and LPA signalling in pathophysiology, a conditional knockout mouse was created. Ubiquitous, obligatory deletion resulted to embryonic lethality most likely due to aberrant vascular branching morphogenesis and chorio-allantoic fusion. Moreover, the observed phenotype was shown to be entirely depended on embryonic, but not extraembryonic or maternal ATX expression. In addition, E9.5 ATX null mutants exhibited a failure of neural tube closure, most likely independent of the circulatory failure, which correlated with decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death. More importantly, neurite outgrowth in embryo explants was severely compromised in mutant embryos but could be rescued upon the addition of LPA, thus confirming a role for ATX and LPA signalling in the development of the nervous system. Finally, expression profiling of mutant embryos revealed attenuated embryonic expression of HIF-1a in the absence of ATX, suggesting a novel effector pathway of ATX/LPA.

Regulation of lymphatic-blood vessel separation by endothelial Rac1

Sprouting angiogenesis and lymphatic-blood vessel segregation both involve the migration of endothelial cells, but the precise migratory molecules that govern the decision of blood vascular endothelial cells to segregate into lymphatic vasculature are unknown. Here, we deleted endothelial Rac1 in mice (Tie1-Cre(+);Rac1(fl/fl)) and revealed, unexpectedly, that whereas blood vessel morphology appeared normal, lymphatic-blood vessel separation was impaired, with corresponding edema, haemorrhage and embryonic lethality. Importantly, normal levels of Rac1 were essential for directed endothelial cell migratory responses to lymphatic-inductive signals. Our studies identify Rac1 as a crucial part of the migratory machinery required for endothelial cells to separate and form lymphatic vasculature.

Alphav beta3 integrin limits the contribution of neuropilin-1 to vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis

Both vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) and integrins are major regulators of VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Previous work has shown that beta3 integrin can regulate negatively VEGFR2 expression. Here we show that beta3 integrin can regulate negatively VEGF-mediated angiogenesis by limiting the interaction of the co-receptor NRP1 (neuropilin-1) with VEGFR2. In the presence of alphav beta3 integrin, NRP1 contributed minimally to VEGF-induced angiogenic processes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. Conversely, when beta3 integrin expression is absent or low or its function is blocked with RGD-mimetic inhibitors, VEGF-mediated responses became NRP1-dependent. Indeed, combined inhibition of beta3 integrin and NRP1 decreased VEGF-mediated angiogenic responses further than individual inhibition of these receptors. We also show that alphav beta3 integrin can associate with NRP1 in a VEGF-dependent fashion. Our data suggest that beta3 integrin may, in part, negatively regulate VEGF signaling by sequestering NRP1 and preventing it from interacting with VEGFR2.

The notch ligands Dll4 and Jagged1 have opposing effects on angiogenesis

The Notch pathway is a highly conserved signaling system that controls a diversity of growth, differentiation, and patterning processes. In growing blood vessels, sprouting of endothelial tip cells is inhibited by Notch signaling, which is activated by binding of the Notch receptor to its ligand Delta-like 4 (Dll4). Here, we show that the Notch ligand Jagged1 is a potent proangiogenic regulator in mice that antagonizes Dll4-Notch signaling in cells expressing Fringe family glycosyltransferases. Upon glycosylation of Notch, Dll4-Notch signaling is enhanced, whereas Jagged1 has weak signaling capacity and competes with Dll4. Our findings establish that the equilibrium between two Notch ligands with distinct spatial expression patterns and opposing functional roles regulates angiogenesis, a mechanism that might also apply to other Notch-controlled biological processes.

The RNA-binding protein Elavl1/HuR is essential for placental branching morphogenesis and embryonic development

HuR is an RNA-binding protein implicated in a diverse array of pathophysiological processes due to its effects on the posttranscriptional regulation of AU- and U-rich mRNAs. Here we reveal HuR's requirement in embryonic development through its genetic ablation. Obligatory HuR-null embryos exhibited a stage retardation phenotype and failed to survive beyond midgestation. By means of conditional transgenesis, we restricted HuR's mutation in either embryonic or endothelial compartments to demonstrate that embryonic lethality is consequent to defects in extraembryonic placenta. HuR's absence impaired the invagination of allantoic capillaries into the chorionic trophoblast layer and the differentiation of syncytiotrophoblast cells that control the morphogenesis and vascularization of the placental labyrinth and fetal support. HuR-null embryos rescued from these placental defects proceeded to subsequent developmental stages but displayed defects in skeletal ossification, fusions in limb elements, and asplenia. By coupling gene expression measurements, data meta-analysis, and HuR-RNA association assays, we identified transcription and growth factor mRNAs controlled by HuR, primarily at the posttranscriptional level, to guide morphogenesis, specification, and patterning. Collectively, our data demonstrate the dominant role of HuR in organizing gene expression programs guiding placental labyrinth morphogenesis, skeletal specification patterns, and splenic ontogeny.

Artery and vein size is balanced by Notch and ephrin B2/EphB4 during angiogenesis

A mutual coordination of size between developing arteries and veins is essential for establishing proper connections between these vessels and, ultimately, a functional vasculature; however, the cellular and molecular regulation of this parity is not understood. Here, we demonstrate that the size of the developing dorsal aorta and cardinal vein is reciprocally balanced. Mouse embryos carrying gain-of-function Notch alleles show enlarged aortae and underdeveloped cardinal veins, whereas those with loss-of-function mutations show small aortae and large cardinal veins. Notch does not affect the overall number of endothelial cells but balances the proportion of arterial to venous endothelial cells, thereby modulating the relative sizes of both vessel types. Loss of ephrin B2 or its receptor EphB4 also leads to enlarged aortae and underdeveloped cardinal veins; however, endothelial cells with venous identity are mislocalized in the aorta, suggesting that ephrin B2/EphB4 signaling functions distinctly from Notch by sorting arterial and venous endothelial cells into their respective vessels. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into the processes underlying artery and vein size equilibration during angiogenesis.

Cre transgenic mouse lines

With the development of the Cre-LoxP system, conditional gene targeting has rapidly become a powerful technology that facilitates the study of gene function. This advanced technique circumvents three major concerns sometimes levelled against conventional transgenic and gene-targeting approaches. First of all, gene ablation may exert its effect in multiple cell and tissue types, creating a complex phenotype in which it is difficult to distinguish direct function in a particular tissue from secondary effects resulting from altered gene function in other tissues. Secondly, a gene deletion expressed in the germ line may cause embryonic lethality, thereby precluding analysis of gene function in the adult tissues. Thirdly, the transgenic approach represents a somewhat surreal over-expression of a given protein often causing spurious phenotypes. The generation of conditional knockout mice is a multiple-step process, which involves mating the flox mutant mouse line (essential exon/s of the gene of interest are flanked by two LoxP sites) and the Cre-expressing mouse line. Over the past few years many inducible and/or tissue-specific Cre mouse lines have been developed. This chapter will give a brief review of the generation of Cre-expressing mouse lines and will discuss the strategy of using these Cre lines. In addition, information regarding established Cre-expressing mouse lines will be provided.

Endothelial cell-specific NF-kappaB inhibition protects mice from atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder of the arterial wall and the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Today, atherosclerosis is recognized as a complex disease with a strong inflammatory component. The nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway regulates inflammatory responses and has been implicated in atherosclerosis. Here, we addressed the function of NF-kappaB signaling in vascular endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in vivo. Endothelium-restricted inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, achieved by ablation of NEMO/IKKgamma or expression of dominant-negative IkappaBalpha specifically in endothelial cells, resulted in strongly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE(-/-) mice fed with a cholesterol-rich diet. Inhibition of NF-kappaB abrogated adhesion molecule induction in endothelial cells, impaired macrophage recruitment to atherosclerotic plaques, and reduced expression of cytokines and chemokines in the aorta. Thus, endothelial NF-kappaB signaling orchestrates proinflammatory gene expression at the arterial wall and promotes the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Integrins

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vasculature, contributes to the pathogenesis of many disorders, including ischemic diseases and cancer. Integrins are cell adhesion molecules that are expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and pericytes, making them potential targets for antiangiogenic therapy. Here we review the contribution of endothelial and mural cell integrins to angiogenesis and highlight their potential as antiangiogenesis targets.

LKB1 in endothelial cells is required for angiogenesis and TGFbeta-mediated vascular smooth muscle cell recruitment

Inactivation of the tumor suppressor kinase Lkb1 in mice leads to vascular defects and midgestational lethality at embryonic day 9-11 (E9-E11). Here, we have used conditional targeting to investigate the defects underlying the Lkb1(-/-) phenotype. Endothelium-restricted deletion of Lkb1 led to embryonic death at E12.5 with a loss of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) and vascular disruption. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) pathway activity was reduced in Lkb1-deficient endothelial cells (ECs), and TGFbeta signaling from Lkb1(-/-) ECs to adjacent mesenchyme was defective, noted as reduced SMAD2 phosphorylation. The addition of TGFbeta to mutant yolk sac explants rescued the loss of vSMCs, as evidenced by smooth muscle alpha actin (SMA) expression. These results reveal an essential function for endothelial Lkb1 in TGFbeta-mediated vSMC recruitment during angiogenesis.

Overexpression of delta-like 4 induces arterialization and attenuates vessel formation in developing mouse embryos

The importance of Notch signaling pathway in the regulation of vascular development and angiogenesis is suggested by the expression of Notch receptors and ligands in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and the observed vascular phenotypes in mutants of Notch receptors or ligands, especially Dll4. DLL4 is specifically expressed in arterial ECs during development, and haplo-insufficiency is embryonically lethal in mice. To address the role of Dll4 in vascular development, we produced mDll4 conditionally overexpressed transgenic mice that were crossed with constitutive recombinase cre lines. Double transgenic embryos displayed grossly enlarged dorsal aortae (DA) and died before embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5), showing a variable degree of premature arteriovenous fusion. Veins displayed ectopic expression of arterial markers. Other defects included reduced vascular sprouting, EC proliferation, and migration. mDll4 overexpression also inhibited VEGF signaling and increased fibronectin accumulation around the vessels. In vitro and in vivo studies of DLL4-FL (Dll4-full-length) in ECs recapitulate many of the mDll4 transgenics findings, including decreased tube formation, reduced vascular branching, fewer vessels, increased pericyte recruitment, and increased fibronectin expression. These results establish the role of Dll4 in arterial identity determination, and regulation of angiogenesis subject to dose and location.

c-myc in the hematopoietic lineage is crucial for its angiogenic function in the mouse embryo

The c-myc proto-oncogene, which is crucial for the progression of many human cancers, has been implicated in key cellular processes in diverse cell types, including endothelial cells that line the blood vessels and are critical for angiogenesis. The de novo differentiation of endothelial cells is known as vasculogenesis, whereas the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels is known as angiogenesis. To ascertain the function of c-myc in vascular development, we deleted c-myc in selected cell lineages. Embryos lacking c-myc in endothelial and hematopoietic lineages phenocopied those lacking c-myc in the entire embryo proper. At embryonic day (E) 10.5, both mutant embryos were grossly normal, had initiated primitive hematopoiesis, and both survived until E11.5-12.5, longer than the complete null. However, they progressively developed defective hematopoiesis and angiogenesis. The majority of embryos lacking c-myc specifically in hematopoietic cells phenocopied those lacking c-myc in endothelial and hematopoietic lineages, with impaired definitive hematopoiesis as well as angiogenic remodeling. c-myc is required for embryonic hematopoietic stem cell differentiation, through a cell-autonomous mechanism. Surprisingly, c-myc is not required for vasculogenesis in the embryo. c-myc deletion in endothelial cells does not abrogate endothelial proliferation, survival, migration or capillary formation. Embryos lacking c-myc in a majority of endothelial cells can survive beyond E12.5. Our findings reveal that hematopoiesis is a major function of c-myc in embryos and support the notion that c-myc functions in selected cell lineages rather than in a ubiquitous manner in mammalian development.

Cell-autonomous requirement for beta1 integrin in endothelial cell adhesion, migration and survival during angiogenesis in mice

beta1 integrin (encoded by Itgb1) is established as a regulator of angiogenesis based upon the phenotypes of complete knockouts of beta1 heterodimer partners or ligands and upon antibody inhibition studies in mice. Its direct function in endothelial cells (ECs) in vivo has not been determined because Itgb1(-/-) embryos die before vascular development. Excision of Itgb1 from ECs and a subset of hematopoietic cells, using Tie2-Cre, resulted in abnormal vascular development by embryonic day (e) 8.5 and lethality by e10.5. Tie1-Cre mediated a more restricted excision of Itgb1 from ECs and hematopoietic cells and resulted in embryonic lethal vascular defects by e11.5. Capillaries of the yolk sacs were disorganized, and the endothelium of major blood vessels and of the heart was frequently discontinuous in mutant embryos. We also found similar vascular morphogenesis defects characterized by EC disorganization in embryonic explants and isolated ECs. Itgb1-null ECs were deficient in adhesion and migration in a ligand-specific fashion, with impaired responses to laminin and collagens, but not to fibronectin. Deletion of Itgb1 reduced EC survival, but did not affect proliferation. Our findings demonstrate that beta1 integrin is essential for EC adhesion, migration and survival during angiogenesis, and further validate that therapies targeting beta1 integrins may effectively impair neovascularization.

The microenvironment for erythropoiesis is regulated by HIF-2alpha through VCAM-1 in endothelial cells

Erythropoiesis is a dynamic process regulated by oxygen in vertebrates. Recent evidence has indicated that erythropoietin (Epo) expression is regulated by hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs), HIF-2alpha in particular. In this study, we report that knockdown mutation of HIF-2alpha in mice (kd/kd) results in normocytic anemia, despite Epo induction in response to hypoxia not being severely affected. Transplantation analyses clearly demonstrated that the hematopoietic microenvironment, but not the hematopoietic cells, was altered in kd/kd. Furthermore, cell-type specific recovery of HIF-2alpha expression in endothelial cells (ECs) abrogated the anemic condition of the kd/kd mice, indicating that HIF-2alpha in EC plays an essential role in supporting erythropoiesis. In the absence of HIF-2alpha, the expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was reduced significantly and restoration of VCAM-1 expression in kd/kd ECs enhanced the development of erythroid progenitors. Finally, a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and a reporter assay indicated that VCAM-1 gene transcription is directly regulated by HIF-2alpha. These data suggest that the hematopoietic microenvironment required for erythropoiesis is dynamically regulated by oxygen through the functions of HIF-2alpha in ECs.

Compensatory signalling induced in the yolk sac vasculature by deletion of TGFbeta receptors in mice

Vascular development depends on transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), but whether signalling of this protein is required for the development of endothelial cells (ECs), vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) or both is unclear. To address this, we selectively deleted the type I (ALK5, TGFBR1) and type II (TbetaRII, TGFBR2) receptors in mice. Absence of either receptor in ECs resulted in vascular defects in the yolk sac, as seen in mice lacking receptors in all cells, causing embryonic lethality at embryonic day (E)10.5. Deletion of TbetaRII specifically in VSMCs also resulted in vascular defects in the yolk sac; however, these were observed at later stages of development, allowing the embryo to survive to E12.5. Because TGFbeta can also signal in ECs via ALK1 (ACVRL1), we replaced ALK5 by a mutant defective in SMAD2 and SMAD3 (SMAD2/3) activation that retained the ability to transactivate ALK1. This again caused defects in the yolk sac vasculature with embryonic lethality at E10.5, demonstrating that TGFbeta/ALK1 signalling in ECs cannot compensate for the lack of TGFbeta/ALK5-induced SMAD2/3 signalling in vivo. Unexpectedly, SMAD2 phosphorylation and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMAalpha, ACTA2) expression occurred in the yolk sacs of ALK5(-/-) embryos and ALK5(-/-) embryonic stem cells undergoing vasculogenesis, and these processes could be blocked by an ALK4 (ACVR1B)/ALK5 inhibitor. Together, the data show that ALK5 is required in ECs and VSMCs for yolk sac vasculogenesis; in the absence of ALK5, ALK4 mediates SMAD2 phosphorylation and consequently SMAalpha expression.

ALK5- and TGFBR2-independent role of ALK1 in the pathogenesis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 2

ALK1 belongs to the type I receptor family for transforming growth factor-beta family ligands. Heterozygous ALK1 mutations cause hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 2 (HHT2), a multisystemic vascular disorder. Based largely on in vitro studies, TGF-beta1 has been considered as the most likely ALK1 ligand related to HHT, yet the identity of the physiologic ALK1 ligand remains controversial. In cultured endothelial cells, ALK1 and another TGF-beta type I receptor, ALK5, regulate angiogenesis by controlling TGF-beta signal transduction, and ALK5 is required for ALK1 signaling. However, the extent to which such interactions between these 2 receptors play a role in pathogenesis of HHT is unknown. We directly addressed these issues in vivo by comparing the phenotypes of mice in which the Alk1, Alk5, or Tgfbr2 gene was conditionally deleted in restricted vascular endothelia using a novel endothelial Cre transgenic line. Alk1-conditional deletion resulted in severe vascular malformations mimicking all pathologic features of HHT. Yet Alk5- or Tgfbr2-conditional deletion in mice, or Alk5 inhibition in zebrafish, did not affect vessel morphogenesis. These data indicate that neither ALK5 nor TGFBR2 is required for ALK1 signaling pertinent to the pathogenesis of HHT and suggest that HHT might not be a TGF-beta subfamily disease.

Inhibitor of differentiation 1 promotes endothelial survival in a bleomycin model of lung injury in mice

The Id family of genes encodes negative regulators of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors and has been implicated in diverse cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and migration. However, the specific role of Id1 in lung injury has not been investigated. Bleomycin has been widely used to generate animal models of acute lung injury and fibrogenesis. In this study we found that, on bleomycin challenge, Id1 expression was significantly up-regulated in the lungs, predominantly in endothelial cells, as revealed by double immunolabeling and quantitative flow cytometric analysis. Mice with Id1 loss-of-function (Id1(-/-)) displayed increased vascular permeability and endothelial apoptosis in the lungs after bleomycin-induced injury. Cultured Id1(-/-) lung microvascular endothelial cells also showed decreased survival when exposed to bleomycin. We detected a decrease in the level of Bcl-2, a primary anti-apoptotic protein, in Id1(-/-) endothelial cells, suggesting that down-regulated Bcl-2 may promote endothelial apoptosis in the lung. Therefore, we propose that Id1 plays a crucial role in promoting endothelial survival in the adult lung on injury. In addition, bleomycin-exposed Id1(-/-) mice showed increased lung collagen accumulation and fibrogenesis, suggesting that Id1 up-regulation in the lung may play a critical role in lung homeostasis.

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition contributes to cardiac fibrosis

Cardiac fibrosis, associated with a decreased extent of microvasculature and with disruption of normal myocardial structures, results from excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, which is mediated by the recruitment of fibroblasts. The source of these fibroblasts is unclear and specific anti-fibrotic therapies are not currently available. Here we show that cardiac fibrosis is associated with the emergence of fibroblasts originating from endothelial cells, suggesting an endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) similar to events that occur during formation of the atrioventricular cushion in the embryonic heart. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induced endothelial cells to undergo EndMT, whereas bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP-7) preserved the endothelial phenotype. The systemic administration of recombinant human BMP-7 (rhBMP-7) significantly inhibited EndMT and the progression of cardiac fibrosis in mouse models of pressure overload and chronic allograft rejection. Our findings show that EndMT contributes to the progression of cardiac fibrosis and that rhBMP-7 can be used to inhibit EndMT and to intervene in the progression of chronic heart disease associated with fibrosis.

Inactivation of Smad5 in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells demonstrates that Smad5 is required for cardiac homeostasis

Smads are intracellular signaling proteins that transduce signals elicited by members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily. Smad5 and Smad1 are highly homologous, and they mediate primarily bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) signals. We used the Cre-loxP system and Sm22-Cre and Tie-1-Cre mice to study the function of Smad5 in the developing blood vessel wall. Analysis of embryos demonstrated that deletion of Smad5 in endothelial or smooth muscle cells resulted in a normal organization of embryonic and extra-embryonic vasculature. Angiogenic assays performed in adult mice revealed that mutant mice display a comparable angiogenic and vascular remodeling response to control mice. In Sm22-Cre; Smad5(fl/-) mice, Smad5 is also deleted in cardiomyocytes. Echocardiographic analysis on those 9-month-old female mice demonstrated larger left ventricle internal diameters and decreased fractional shortening compared with control littermates without signs of cardiac hypertrophy. The decreased cardiac contractility was associated with a decreased performance in a treadmill experiment. In isolated cardiomyocytes, fractional shortening was significantly reduced compared with control cells. These data demonstrate that restricted deletion of Smad5 in the blood vessel wall results in viable mice. However, loss of Smad5 in cardiomyocytes leads to a mild heart defect.

Vascular endothelial cell-specific NF-kappaB suppression attenuates hypertension-induced renal damage

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) participates in hypertension-induced vascular and target-organ damage. We tested whether or not endothelial cell-specific NF-kappaB suppression would be ameliorative. We generated Cre/lox transgenic mice with endothelial cell-restricted NF-kappaB super-repressor IkappaBalphaDeltaN (Tie-1-DeltaN mice) overexpression. We confirmed cell-specific IkappaBalphaDeltaN expression and reduced NF-kappaB activity after TNF-alpha stimulation in primary endothelial cell culture. To induce hypertension with target-organ damage, we fed mice a high-salt diet and N(omega)-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) and infused angiotensin (Ang) II. This treatment caused a 40-mm Hg blood pressure increase in both Tie-1-DeltaN and control mice. In contrast to control mice, Tie-1-DeltaN mice developed a milder renal injury, reduced inflammation, and less albuminuria. RT-PCR showed significantly reduced expression of the NF-kappaB targets VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, compared with control mice. Thus, the data demonstrate a causal link between endothelial NF-kappaB activation and hypertension-induced renal damage. We conclude that in vivo NF-kappaB suppression in endothelial cells stops a signaling cascade leading to reduced hypertension-induced renal damage despite high blood pressure.

Lack of endothelial cell survivin causes embryonic defects in angiogenesis, cardiogenesis, and neural tube closure

We explored the physiologic role of endothelial cell apoptosis during development by generating mouse embryos lacking the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) survivin in endothelium. This was accomplished by intercrossing survivin(lox/lox) mice with mice expressing cre recombinase under the control of the endothelial cell specific tie1 promoter (tie1-cre mice). Lack of endothelial cell survivin resulted in embryonic lethality. Mutant embryos had prominent and diffuse hemorrhages from embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) and died before E13.5. Heart development was strikingly abnormal. Survivin-null endocardial lineage cells could not support normal epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), resulting in hypoplastic endocardial cushions and in utero heart failure. In addition, 30% of mutant embryos had neural tube closure defects (NTDs) that were not caused by bleeding or growth retardation, but were likely due to alterations in the release of soluble factors from endothelial cells that otherwise support neural stem cell proliferation and neurulation. Thus, regulation of endothelial cell survival, and maintenance of vascular integrity by survivin are crucial for normal embryonic angiogenesis, cardiogenesis, and neurogenesis.

Protective role of hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha against ischemic damage and oxidative stress in the kidney

Central to cellular responses to hypoxic environment is the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcriptional control system. A role for HIF-2alpha was investigated in a model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) associated with oxidative stress using HIF-2alpha knockdown mice. In these mice, HIF-2alpha expression was approximately one half that of wild-type mice, whereas HIF-1alpha expression was equivalent. HIF-2alpha knockdown mice were more susceptible to renal IRI, as indicated by elevated blood urea nitrogen levels and semiquantitative histologic analysis. Immunostaining with markers of oxidative stress showed enhanced oxidative stress in the kidney of HIF-2alpha knockdown mice, which was associated with peritubular capillary loss. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed decreased expression of antioxidative stress genes in the HIF-2alpha knockdown kidneys. Studies that used small interference RNA confirmed regulation of the antioxidative stress genes in cultured endothelial cells. Although HIF-2alpha knockdown mice were anemic, serum erythropoietin levels were not significantly increased, reflecting inappropriate response to anemia as a result of HIF-2alpha knockdown. Experiments that used hemodiluted mice with renal ischemia demonstrated that anemia of this degree did not affect susceptibility to ischemia. Knockdown of HIF-2alpha in inflammatory cells by bone marrow transplantation experiments demonstrated that HIF-2alpha in inflammatory cells did not contribute to susceptibility to renal IRI. Restoration of HIF-2alpha in endothelium by intercrossing with Tie1-Cre mice ameliorated renal injury by IRI, demonstrating a specific role of endothelial HIF-2alpha. These results suggest that HIF-2alpha in the endothelium has a protective role against ischemia of the kidney via amelioration of oxidative stress.