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Ren B, Liu R, He Q, Wu T, Song L, Wang H, Gu J. Stimulus-Responsive Zwitterionic Prodrug Delivery System with Sustained Release of Hydrogen Sulfide for Protective Aortic Dissection. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:9099-9109. [PMID: 36759500 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c21460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is one of the most frequent types of aortic disease with extremely poor prognosis. The biological signaling gas hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has exhibited protective effects in various types of cardiovascular diseases. However, as a toxic, colorless gas, the application of H2S is immensely hampered due to the lack of ideal donors. In this article, a drug delivery system with a H2S donor has been prepared. Meanwhile, the donor could be deposed in a cysteine-containing environment to generate H2S. The results indicate that the H2S donor polymer nanomicelles mitigated the processive transformation of smooth muscle cells effectively in a proper concentration range, which may play a protective role in aortic dissection. In animal experiments, the sustained-release H2S donor stimulated in the presence of cysteine was found to demonstrate beneficial effects in a murine model of aortic dissection and would likely become a potential target of H2S therapy for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibo Ren
- Department of Cardiovascular surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Ruiqi Liu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Qian He
- Department of Emergency, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Tongyi Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Lei Song
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Haibo Wang
- College of Biomass Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Jun Gu
- Department of Cardiovascular surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
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Zhang J, Jiang JZ, Xu J, Xu CY, Mao S, Shi Y, Gu W, Zou CF, Zhao YM, Ye L. Identification of Novel Biomarkers for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Promoted by Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Ann Vasc Surg 2023; 92:285-293. [PMID: 36739079 DOI: 10.1016/j.avsg.2023.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to find new biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) caused by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). METHODS The AAA mice model was created using Ang II. The mice were divided into normoxic and CIH groups. The structure of AAA was observed using abdominal ultrasonography, Elastica van Gieson (EVG), and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression of ɑ-SMA was investigated using immunohistochemistry. The novel biomarkers were screened using bioinformatics analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to verify the expression of novel genes in both normal oxygen and CIH. RESULTS CIH appears to cause greater aortic dilation, higher AAA incidence, lower survival rate, thicker vessel wall, and more brittle elastic lamellae when compared to controls. The immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of ɑ-SMA in the CIH group was reduced significantly. Four novel genes, including Homer2, Robo2, Ehf, and Asic1, were found to be differentially expressed between normal oxygen and CIH using qRT-PCR, indicating the same trend as bioinformatics analysis. CONCLUSIONS We discovered that CIH could hasten the occurrence and progression of AAA. Four genes (Homer2, Robo2, Ehf, and Asic1) may be novel biomarkers for AAA, which could aid in the search for new therapies for patients with AAA caused by CIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Jiang
- Department of Geriatrics, The Affiliated Yixing Hospital of Jiangsu University, Yixing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen-Yu Xu
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shan Mao
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Gu
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chun-Fang Zou
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue-Ming Zhao
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Liang Ye
- Department of Respiration, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Zhang X, Chen J, Brott BC, Anderson PG, Hwang P, Sherwood J, Huskin G, Yoon YS, Virmani R, Jun HW. Pro-Healing Nanomatrix-Coated Stent Analysis in an In Vitro Vascular Double-Layer System and in a Rabbit Model. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:51728-51743. [PMID: 36346768 PMCID: PMC10860673 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c15554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular stent technologies have significantly improved over time. However, their optimal performance remains limited by restenosis, thrombosis, inflammation, and delayed re-endothelialization. Current stent designs primarily target inhibition of neointimal proliferation but do not promote functional arterial healing (pro-healing) in order to restore normal vascular reactivity. The endothelial lining that does develop with current stents appears to have loose intracellular junctions. We have developed a pro-healing nanomatrix coating for stents that enhances healing while limiting neointimal proliferation. This builds on our prior work evaluating the effects of the pro-healing nanomatrix coating on cultures of vascular endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), monocytes, and platelets. However, when a stent is deployed in an artery, multiple vascular cell types interact, and their interactions affect stent performance. Thus, in our current study, an in vitro vascular double-layer (VDL) system was used to observe stent effects on communication between different vascular cell types. Additionally, we assessed the pro-healing ability and vascular cell interactions after stent deployment in the VDL system and in a rabbit model, evaluating the nanomatrix-coated stent compared to a commercial bare metal stent (BMS) and a drug eluting stent (DES). In vitro results indicated that, in a layered vascular structure, the pro-healing nanomatrix-coated stent could (1) improve endothelialization and endothelial functions, (2) regulate SMC phenotype to reduce SMC proliferation and migration, (3) suppress inflammation through a multifactorial manner, and (4) reduce foam cell formation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and calcification. Consistent with this, in vivo results demonstrated that, compared with commercial BMS and DES, this pro-healing nanomatrix-coated stent enhanced re-endothelialization with negligible restenosis, inflammation, or thrombosis. Thus, these findings indicate the unique pro-healing features of this nanomatrix stent coating with superior efficacy over commercial BMS and DES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, United States
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, United States
| | - Brigitta C. Brott
- Department of Medicine and Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, United States
- Endomimetics, LLC, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
| | - Peter G. Anderson
- Department of Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, United States
| | - Patrick Hwang
- Endomimetics, LLC, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
| | | | - Gillian Huskin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, United States
| | - Young-sup Yoon
- School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, United States
| | - Renu Virmani
- CVPath Institute, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States
| | - Ho-Wook Jun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, United States
- Endomimetics, LLC, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
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IL-37 Expression in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Its Role in the Necroptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:1806513. [PMID: 35602104 PMCID: PMC9117036 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1806513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Our previous studies have shown that interleukin- (IL-) 37 plays a protective role in patients and animal models with coronary artery disease. However, the role of IL-37 in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), another artery disease, is yet to be elucidated. Methods and Results AAA tissues and plasma samples were obtained from patients with or without surgical intervention. Normal renal aortic tissues were collected from kidney transplant donors. Our findings established that in AAA, IL-37 was distributed in endothelial cells, macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and that it was chiefly concentrated in VSMCs. Furthermore, the expression was found to be downregulated compared with that in normal artery tissues. Immunofluorescence showed that, unlike normal arteries, IL-37 was translocated to the nucleus of VSMCs in AAA. Moreover, in patients with AAA, the expressions of IL-37, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α were increased in the plasma in comparison with the healthy controls. Correlation analysis revealed that IL-37 was positively correlated with IL-6, TNF-α, age, aneurysm diameter, and blood pressure. Furthermore, human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were stimulated with angiotensin II (AngII) in vitro to simulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) damage in AAA. A decrease in IL-37 expression and an increase in receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) expression were observed in HASMCs stimulated with AngII. On this basis, inhibition of RIPK3 with GSK'872 significantly attenuated necroptosis. Moreover, the necroptosis rates were significantly lowered in HASMCs treated with recombinant IL-37, whereas the rates were enhanced when the cells were depleted of the interleukin. Immunoblotting results showed that both exogenous and endogenous IL-37 could affect the expressions of RIPK3, NLRP3, and IL-1β. Also, the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and p65 was affected. Meanwhile, IL-37 promoted the transition of SMC from proliferative type to contractile type. Conclusions The expression of IL-37 in VSMCs decreases in patients with AAA, whereas IL-37 supplementation suppresses RIPK3-mediated necroptosis and promotes the transition of VSMCs from proliferative to contractile type.
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Yu L, Qiu C, Chen R. A narrative review of research advances in the study of molecular markers of airway smooth muscle cells. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2022; 10:375. [PMID: 35434039 PMCID: PMC9011254 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objective Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) are an important component of the airway. Their thickening and proliferation are important in pathological situations, such as airway remodeling in asthma, but their origin remains unclear. Therefore, characterizing molecular markers of ASMCs were sought to identify the source of increased ASMCs in asthmatic airway remodeling. Methods Articles for this review were derived from a review of the literature related to surface markers and biological properties of ASMCs and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Key Content and Findings This review discusses several SMC molecular markers, describes the different developmental stages of SMCs that express different molecular markers, and summarizes several classical SMC molecular markers. However, the establishment of a specific molecular marker detection system for ASMCs still faces great challenges. Conclusions Although there is no recognized molecular marker detection system for ASMCs, and the study of the properties and sources of increased ASMCs in asthma airway remodeling is still in a state of exploration, the future is promising. Among the SMC markers described in this review, Myosin heavy chain 11 (MYH11) is a molecular marker for mature SMCs and Transgelin (TAGLN) is an early marker for SMC differentiation, and different molecular markers or combinations of molecular markers can be selected for the identification of the properties and sources of increased ASMCs in asthma airway remodeling according to the differentiation period and research needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chen Qiu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rongchang Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shenzhen, China
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Mangum K, Gallagher K, Davis FM. The Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Pathogenesis. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020172. [PMID: 35204673 PMCID: PMC8961599 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disease associated with high morbidity and mortality in the setting of acute rupture. Recently, advances in surgical and endovascular repair of AAA have been achieved; however, pharmaceutical therapies to prevent AAA expansion and rupture remain lacking. This highlights an ongoing need to improve the understanding the pathological mechanisms that initiate formation, maintain growth, and promote rupture of AAA. Over the past decade, epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, posttranslational histone modifications, and non-coding RNA, have emerged as important regulators of cellular function. Accumulating studies reveal the importance of epigenetic enzymes in the dynamic regulation of key signaling pathways that alter cellular phenotypes and have emerged as major intracellular players in a wide range of biological processes. In this review, we discuss the roles and implications of epigenetic modifications in AAA animal models and their relevance to human AAA pathology.
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MiR-126-5p promotes contractile switching of aortic smooth muscle cells by targeting VEPH1 and alleviates Ang II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice. J Transl Med 2020; 100:1564-1574. [PMID: 32612287 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-0454-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potential lethal disease that is defined by an irreversible dilatation (>50%) of the aorta. During AAA expansion, the aortic wall is often remodeled, which is featured by extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration, medial and adventitial inflammation, depletion and phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Recent studies have suggested microRNAs as vital regulators for vascular SMC function. Our earlier work demonstrated an anti-AAA role of miR-126-5p in ApoE-/- mice infused with angiotensin (Ang) II. The present study aimed to further elucidate its role in AAA pathogenesis with a focus on aortic SMC phenotypic switching. Ventricular zone expressed PH domain containing 1 (VEPH1) was identified as a novel negative regulator for vascular SMC differentiation by our group, and its expression was negatively correlated to miR-126-5p in mouse abdominal aortas based on the present microarray data. In vivo, in addition attenuating Ang II infusion-induced aortic dilation and elastin degradation, miR-126-5p agomirs also significantly reduced the expression of VEPH1. In vitro, to induce synthetic transition of human aortic smooth muscle cells (hAoSMCs), cells were stimulated with 1 μM Ang II for 24 h. Ectopic overexpression of miR-126-5p restored the differentiation of hAoSMCs-the expression of contractile/differentiated SMC markers, MYH11, and α-SMA, increased, whilst that of synthetic/dedifferentiated SMC markers, PCNA and Vimentin, decreased. Both mus and homo VEPH1 genes were validated as direct targets for miR-126-5p. VEPH1 re-expression impaired miR-126-5p-induced differentiation of hAoSMCs. In addition, Ang II-induced upregulation in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP2, two key proteases responsible for ECM degradation, in mouse aortas and hAoSMCs was reduced by miR-126-5p overexpression as well. Collectively, these results reveal an important, but previously unexplored, role of miR-126-5p in inhibiting AAA development-associated aortic SMC dedifferentiation.
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