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Nolze A, Matern S, Grossmann C. Calcineurin Is a Universal Regulator of Vessel Function-Focus on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Cells 2023; 12:2269. [PMID: 37759492 PMCID: PMC10528183 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin, a serine/threonine phosphatase regulating transcription factors like NFaT and CREB, is well known for its immune modulatory effects and role in cardiac hypertrophy. Results from experiments with calcineurin knockout animals and calcineurin inhibitors indicate that calcineurin also plays a crucial role in vascular function, especially in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In the aorta, calcineurin stimulates the proliferation and migration of VSMCs in response to vascular injury or angiotensin II administration, leading to pathological vessel wall thickening. In the heart, calcineurin mediates coronary artery formation and VSMC differentiation, which are crucial for proper heart development. In pulmonary VSMCs, calcineurin/NFaT signaling regulates the release of Ca2+, resulting in increased vascular tone followed by pulmonary arterial hypertension. In renal VSMCs, calcineurin regulates extracellular matrix secretion promoting fibrosis development. In the mesenteric and cerebral arteries, calcineurin mediates a phenotypic switch of VSMCs leading to altered cell function. Gaining deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms of calcineurin signaling will help researchers to understand developmental and pathogenetical aspects of the vasculature. In this review, we provide an overview of the physiological function and pathophysiology of calcineurin in the vascular system with a focus on vascular smooth muscle cells in different organs. Overall, there are indications that under certain pathological settings reduced calcineurin activity seems to be beneficial for cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Claudia Grossmann
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
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Yee M, Cohen ED, Domm W, Porter GA, McDavid AN, O’Reilly MA. Neonatal hyperoxia depletes pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes in adult mice via mitochondrial oxidation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2018; 314:L846-L859. [PMID: 29345197 PMCID: PMC6008126 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00409.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Supplemental oxygen given to preterm infants has been associated with permanently altering postnatal lung development. Now that these individuals are reaching adulthood, there is growing concern that early life oxygen exposure may also promote cardiovascular disease through poorly understood mechanisms. We previously reported that adult mice exposed to 100% oxygen between postnatal days 0 and 4 develop pulmonary hypertension, defined pathologically by capillary rarefaction, dilation of arterioles and veins, cardiac failure, and a reduced lifespan. Here, Affymetrix Gene Arrays are used to identify early transcriptional changes that take place in the lung before pulmonary capillary rarefaction. We discovered neonatal hyperoxia reduced expression of cardiac muscle genes, including those involved in contraction, calcium signaling, mitochondrial respiration, and vasodilation. Quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and genetic lineage mapping using Myh6CreER; Rosa26RmT/mG mice revealed this reflected loss of pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes. The greatest loss of cadiomyocytes was seen within the lung followed by a graded loss beginning at the hilum and extending into the left atrium. Loss of these cells was seen by 2 wk of age in mice exposed to ≥80% oxygen and was attributed, in part, to reduced proliferation. Administering mitoTEMPO, a scavenger of mitochondrial superoxide during neonatal hyperoxia prevented loss of these cells. Since pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes help pump oxygen-rich blood out of the lung, their early loss following neonatal hyperoxia may contribute to cardiovascular disease seen in these mice, and perhaps in people who were born preterm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yee
- 1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Ethan David Cohen
- 2Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - William Domm
- 1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - George A. Porter
- 1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Andrew N. McDavid
- 3Biostatistics and Computational Biology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
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García-Redondo AB, Esteban V, Briones AM, Díaz Del Campo LS, González-Amor M, Méndez-Barbero N, Campanero MR, Redondo JM, Salaices M. Regulator of calcineurin 1 modulates vascular contractility and stiffness through the upregulation of COX-2-derived prostanoids. Pharmacol Res 2018; 133:236-249. [PMID: 29309904 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) derived-prostanoids participate in the altered vascular function and mechanical properties in cardiovascular diseases. We investigated whether regulator of calcineurin 1 (Rcan1) participates in vascular contractility and stiffness through the regulation of COX-2. For this, wild type (Rcan1+/+) and Rcan1-deficient (Rcan1-/-) mice untreated or treated with the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib were used. Vascular function and structure were analysed by myography. COX-2 and phospo-p65 expression were studied by western blotting and immunohistochemistry and TXA2 production by ELISA. We found that Rcan1 deficiency increases COX-2 and IL-6 expression and NF-κB activation in arteries and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Adenoviral-mediated re-expression of Rcan1.4 in Rcan1-/- VSMC normalized COX-2 expression. Phenylephrine-induced vasoconstrictor responses were greater in aorta from Rcan1-/- compared to Rcan1+/+ mice. This increased response were diminished by etoricoxib, furegrelate, SQ 29548, cyclosporine A and parthenolide, inhibitors of COX-2, TXA2 synthase, TP receptors, calcineurin and NF-κB, respectively. Endothelial removal and NOS inhibition increased phenylephrine responses only in Rcan1+/+ mice. TXA2 levels were greater in Rcan1-/- mice. In small mesenteric arteries, vascular function and structure were similar in both groups of mice; however, vessels from Rcan1-/- mice displayed an increase in vascular stiffness that was diminished by rofecoxib. In conclusion, our results suggest that Rcan1 might act as endogenous negative modulator of COX-2 expression and activity by inhibiting calcineurin and NF-kB pathways to maintain normal contractility and vascular stiffness in aorta and small mesenteric arteries, respectively. Our results uncover a new role for Rcan1 in vascular contractility and mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B García-Redondo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain
| | - Vanesa Esteban
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigación Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana M Briones
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain.
| | - Lucía S Díaz Del Campo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain
| | - María González-Amor
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Méndez-Barbero
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel R Campanero
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Departmento de Biología del Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan M Redondo
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Salaices
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPAZ), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain.
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RCAN1.4 regulates VEGFR-2 internalisation, cell polarity and migration in human microvascular endothelial cells. Angiogenesis 2017; 20:341-358. [PMID: 28271280 PMCID: PMC5511620 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-017-9542-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is an endogenous inhibitor of the calcineurin pathway in cells. It is expressed as two isoforms in vertebrates: RCAN1.1 is constitutively expressed in most tissues, whereas transcription of RCAN1.4 is induced by several stimuli that activate the calcineurin-NFAT pathway. RCAN1.4 is highly upregulated in response to VEGF in human endothelial cells in contrast to RCAN1.1 and is essential for efficient endothelial cell migration and tubular morphogenesis. Here, we show that RCAN1.4 has a role in the regulation of agonist-stimulated VEGFR-2 internalisation and establishment of endothelial cell polarity. siRNA-mediated gene silencing revealed that RCAN1 plays a vital role in regulating VEGF-mediated cytoskeletal reorganisation and directed cell migration and sprouting angiogenesis. Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of RCAN1.4 resulted in increased endothelial cell migration. Antisense-mediated morpholino silencing of the zebrafish RCAN1.4 orthologue revealed a disrupted vascular development further confirming a role for the RCAN1.4 isoform in regulating vascular endothelial cell physiology. Our data suggest that RCAN1.4 plays a novel role in regulating endothelial cell migration by establishing endothelial cell polarity in response to VEGF.
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Yuan HY, Zhou CB, Chen JM, Liu XB, Wen SS, Xu G, Zhuang J. MicroRNA-34a targets regulator of calcineurin 1 to modulate endothelial inflammation after fetal cardiac bypass in goat placenta. Placenta 2017; 51:49-56. [PMID: 28292468 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.01.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Placental dysfunction characterized by vascular endothelial inflammation is one of the most notable responses to fetal cardiac bypass. Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is an important regulator of inflammatory responses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential post-transcriptional modulators of gene expression, and miRNA-34a (miR-34a) was showed to activate vascular endothelial inflammation. We hypothesized that miR-34a may be a key regulator of placental dysfunction after fetal cardiac bypass. METHODS We evaluated miRNA expression in goat placentas via small RNA sequencing, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization. Expression of miRNA target genes was determined via bioinformatics analyses and dual luciferase reporter assays. Furthermore, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-34a or a control sequence. The RCAN1, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATC1) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) levels in HUVECs and placentas were evaluated via Western blot and qRT-PCR. RESULTS We demonstrated that miR-34a was highly enriched in goat placenta after cardiopulmonary bypass. Moreover, RCAN1 was identified as a novel direct target of miR-34a. Transfection of miR-34a led to decreased RCAN1 expression and increased NFATC1 and NF-κB expression in HUVECs. Conversely, inhibition of miR-34a rescued RCAN1 expression and reduced NFATC1 and NF-κB expression in HUVECs. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated a remarkable role of miR-34a as a regulator of NFATC1-associated placental inflammation through direct targeting of RCAN1. MiR-34a could serve as a novel therapeutic target for limiting the progression of placental inflammation after fetal cardiac bypass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yun Yuan
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Fetal Cardiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng-Bin Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Fetal Cardiology, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ji-Mei Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shu-Sheng Wen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Zhuang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangzhou, China.
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Dharmadhikari AV, Sun JJ, Gogolewski K, Carofino BL, Ustiyan V, Hill M, Majewski T, Szafranski P, Justice MJ, Ray RS, Dickinson ME, Kalinichenko VV, Gambin A, Stankiewicz P. Lethal lung hypoplasia and vascular defects in mice with conditional Foxf1 overexpression. Biol Open 2016; 5:1595-1606. [PMID: 27638768 PMCID: PMC5155529 DOI: 10.1242/bio.019208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
FOXF1 heterozygous point mutations and genomic deletions have been reported in newborns with the neonatally lethal lung developmental disorder, alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACDMPV). However, no gain-of-function mutations in FOXF1 have been identified yet in any human disease conditions. To study the effects of FOXF1 overexpression in lung development, we generated a Foxf1 overexpression mouse model by knocking-in a Cre-inducible Foxf1 allele into the ROSA26 (R26) locus. The mice were phenotyped using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), head-out plethysmography, ChIP-seq and transcriptome analyses, immunohistochemistry, and lung histopathology. Thirty-five percent of heterozygous R26-Lox-Stop-Lox (LSL)-Foxf1 embryonic day (E)15.5 embryos exhibit subcutaneous edema, hemorrhages and die perinatally when bred to Tie2-cre mice, which targets Foxf1 overexpression to endothelial and hematopoietic cells. Histopathological and micro-CT evaluations revealed that R26Foxf1; Tie2-cre embryos have immature lungs with a diminished vascular network. Neonates exhibited respiratory deficits verified by detailed plethysmography studies. ChIP-seq and transcriptome analyses in E18.5 lungs identified Sox11, Ghr, Ednrb, and Slit2 as potential downstream targets of FOXF1. Our study shows that overexpression of the highly dosage-sensitive Foxf1 impairs lung development and causes vascular abnormalities. This has important clinical implications when considering potential gene therapy approaches to treat disorders of FOXF1 abnormal dosage, such as ACDMPV. Summary: Similar to Foxf1 loss, Foxf1 overexpression in mice is lethal. This finding highlights the need to consider alternatives beyond gene therapy to find a cure for alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACDMPV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash V Dharmadhikari
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Program in Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jenny J Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Brandi L Carofino
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Program in Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vladimir Ustiyan
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Misty Hill
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tadeusz Majewski
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Przemyslaw Szafranski
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Monica J Justice
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Program in Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Genetics & Genome Biology Program, SickKids, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Russell S Ray
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mary E Dickinson
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vladimir V Kalinichenko
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Anna Gambin
- Institute of Informatics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-097, Poland
| | - Paweł Stankiewicz
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA .,Program in Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Regulator of Calcineurin 1 in Periodontal Disease. Mediators Inflamm 2016; 2016:5475821. [PMID: 27403036 PMCID: PMC4925939 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5475821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) and NF-kB pathway associated processes are involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory disorders, for example, periodontal disease. The activation of these pathways is controlled by the regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1). The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of RCAN1 in periodontal disease. Healthy and inflamed periodontal tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence using specific rabbit polyclonal anti-RCAN1 antibodies. For expression analysis human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used. HUVEC were incubated for 2 h with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) or with wild type and laboratory strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). Expression analysis of rcan1 and cox2 was done by real time PCR using specific primers for rcan1.4 and cox2. The expression of rcan1 was found to be significantly suppressed in endothelial cells of chronically inflamed periodontal tissues compared to healthy controls. Rcan1 and cox2 were significantly induced by VEGF and wild type and laboratory P. gingivalis strains. Interestingly, the magnitude of the rcan1 and cox2 induction was strain dependent. The results of this study indicate that RCAN1 is suppressed in endothelial cells of chronically inflamed periodontal tissues. During an acute infection, however, rcan1 seems to be upregulated in endothelial cells, indicating a modulating role in immune homeostasis of periodontal tissues.
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Peña Silva RA, Chu Y, Miller JD, Mitchell IJ, Penninger JM, Faraci FM, Heistad DD. Impact of ACE2 deficiency and oxidative stress on cerebrovascular function with aging. Stroke 2012; 43:3358-63. [PMID: 23160880 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.112.667063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Angiotensin II produces oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in cerebral arteries, and angiotensin II type I receptors may play a role in longevity and vascular aging. Angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) converts angiotensin II to angiotensin (1-7) and thus, may protect against effects of angiotensin II. We hypothesized that ACE2 deficiency increases oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in cerebral arteries and examined the role of ACE2 in age-related cerebrovascular dysfunction. METHODS Endothelial function, expression of angiotensin system components, NADPH oxidase subunits, and proinflammatory cytokines were examined in cerebral arteries from adult (12 months old) and old (24 months old) ACE2 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. The superoxide scavenger tempol was used to examine the role of oxidative stress on endothelial function. RESULTS Vasodilatation to acetylcholine was impaired in adult ACE2 KO (24±6% [mean±SE]) compared with WT mice (52±7%; P<0.05). In old mice, vasodilatation to acetylcholine was impaired in WT mice (29±6%) and severely impaired in ACE2 KO mice (7±5%). Tempol improved endothelial function in adult and old ACE2 KO and WT mice. Aging increased mRNA for tumor necrosis factor-α in WT mice, and significantly increased mRNA levels of NAPDH oxidase 2, p47(phox), and Regulator of calcineurin 1 in both ACE2 KO and WT mice. mRNA levels of angiotensin system components did not change during aging. CONCLUSIONS ACE2 deficiency impaired endothelial function in cerebral arteries from adult mice and augmented endothelial dysfunction during aging. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in cerebrovascular dysfunction induced by ACE2 deficiency and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo A Peña Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, 500 Newton Road, 340B EMRB, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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Yang C, Wan X, Yang Q, Xue H, Tang NLS, Yu W. A hidden two-locus disease association pattern in genome-wide association studies. BMC Bioinformatics 2011; 12:156. [PMID: 21569557 PMCID: PMC3116488 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-12-156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Accepted: 05/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent association analyses in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) mainly focus on single-locus association tests (marginal tests) and two-locus interaction detections. These analysis methods have provided strong evidence of associations between genetics variances and complex diseases. However, there exists a type of association pattern, which often occurs within local regions in the genome and is unlikely to be detected by either marginal tests or interaction tests. This association pattern involves a group of correlated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The correlation among SNPs can lead to weak marginal effects and the interaction does not play a role in this association pattern. This phenomenon is due to the existence of unfaithfulness: the marginal effects of correlated SNPs do not express their significant joint effects faithfully due to the correlation cancelation. RESULTS In this paper, we develop a computational method to detect this association pattern masked by unfaithfulness. We have applied our method to analyze seven data sets from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC). The analysis for each data set takes about one week to finish the examination of all pairs of SNPs. Based on the empirical result of these real data, we show that this type of association masked by unfaithfulness widely exists in GWAS. CONCLUSIONS These newly identified associations enrich the discoveries of GWAS, which may provide new insights both in the analysis of tagSNPs and in the experiment design of GWAS. Since these associations may be easily missed by existing analysis tools, we can only connect some of them to publicly available findings from other association studies. As independent data set is limited at this moment, we also have difficulties to replicate these findings. More biological implications need further investigation. AVAILABILITY The software is freely available at http://bioinformatics.ust.hk/hidden_pattern_finder.zip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Yang
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong.
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Bhoiwala DL, Kannabiran V, Hushmendy SF, Hahn A, Bhoiwala DL, Heuring JM, Crawford DR. The calcineurin inhibitor RCAN1 is involved in cultured macrophage and in vivo immune response. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 61:103-13. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2010.00753.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Oh M, Dey A, Gerard RD, Hill JA, Rothermel BA. The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) cooperates with NFAT to control expression of the calcineurin regulatory protein RCAN1-4. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:16623-31. [PMID: 20371871 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.098236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) inhibits the protein phosphatase calcineurin and is required for appropriate immune responses, synaptic plasticity, vascular tone, angiogenesis, and cardiac remodeling. Expression of the RCAN1-4 isoform is under the control of the calcineurin-responsive transcription factor NFAT. Typically, NFATs act in cooperation with other transcription factors to achieve maximal activation of gene expression. In this study, we identify the CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) as an NFAT binding partner that cooperates with NFAT to regulate RCAN1-4 expression. Numerous C/EBPbeta binding sites are conserved in the RCAN1-4 proximal promoter. Overexpression of C/EBPbeta increased activity of both the endogenous mouse Rcan1-4 gene and a human RCAN1-4 luciferase reporter. Binding of C/EBPbeta to multiple sites in the promoter was verified using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation. A direct interaction between C/EBPbeta and NFAT was demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation of proteins and complex formation at NFAT-C/EBPbeta composite sites. Depletion of endogenous C/EBPbeta decreased maximal activation of RCAN1-4 expression by calcineurin, whereas inhibition of calcineurin did not alter the ability of C/EBPbeta to activate RCAN1-4 expression. Together, these findings suggest that calcineurin/NFAT activation of RCAN1-4 expression is in part dependent upon C/EBPbeta, whereas activation by C/EBPbeta is not dependent on calcineurin and may provide a calcineurin-independent pathway for regulating RCAN1-4 expression. Importantly, nuclear localization, C/EBPbeta DNA binding activity and occupancy of the Rcan1-4 promoter increased in mouse models of heart failure demonstrating in vivo activation of this pathway to regulate Rcan1-4 expression and ultimately shape the dynamics of calcineurin-dependent signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misook Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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Hirakawa Y, Nary LJ, Medh RD. Glucocorticoid evoked upregulation of RCAN1-1 in human leukemic CEM cells susceptible to apoptosis. J Mol Signal 2009; 4:6. [PMID: 19725972 PMCID: PMC2745384 DOI: 10.1186/1750-2187-4-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2009] [Accepted: 09/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) induce apoptosis of leukemic T-cells by transcriptional regulation via the GC receptor, GR. In the human leukemic CEM cell culture model, RCAN1 has been identified as one of the genes that is specifically upregulated only in the GC-sensitive CEM C7-14 cells, but not in the GC-resistant CEM-C1-15 sister cells in correlation with GC-evoked apoptosis. RCAN1 gene encodes two major protein isoforms of the regulator of calcineurin (RCAN1), RCAN1-1 and RCAN1-4 via alternative splicing of exons 1 and 4 respectively, to exons 5-7. Studies reported here evaluated the differential regulation and function of the two transcripts and protein products of RCAN1 by the synthetic GC dexamethasone (Dex), and by modulators of calcium signaling. RESULTS Dex selectively upregulates transcript specific for RCAN 1-1 in glucocorticoid (GC)-susceptible human leukemic CEM-C7-14 cells but not in GC-refractory CEM-C1-15 sister cells. Expression of the second major transcript, RCAN1-4, is upregulated by [Ca2+]i inducers, thapsigargin and A23187, but not by Dex, suggesting a mutually exclusive regulatory pathway for both RCAN1 transcripts. GC-mediated upregulation of RCAN1-1 transcript and RCAN1-1 protein was kinase dependent, and was blocked by staurosporine and the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB 202190. RCAN1-1 coimmunoprecipitates with calcineurin PP3C and Dex-mediated RCAN1-1 upregulation correlated with reduction in calcineurin PP3C activity. CONCLUSION Data presented here suggest that GCs specifically upregulate RCAN1-1 transcript and protein while inducers of [Ca2+]i selectively upregulate RCAN1-4. GC-mediated increase in RCAN1-1 abundance and binding possibly inhibits calcineurin activity and modulates apoptosis in CEM-C7-14 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuko Hirakawa
- Department of Biology, California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-8303, USA.
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