1
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Kwartler CS, Pinelo JEE. Use of iPSC-Derived Smooth Muscle Cells to Model Physiology and Pathology. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1523-1536. [PMID: 38695171 PMCID: PMC11209779 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The implementation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models has introduced an additional tool for identifying molecular mechanisms of disease that complement animal models. Patient-derived or CRISPR/Cas9-edited induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) have been leveraged to discover novel mechanisms, screen potential therapeutic strategies, and model in vivo development. The field has evolved over almost 15 years of research using hiPSC-SMCs and has made significant strides toward overcoming initial challenges such as the lineage specificity of SMC phenotypes. However, challenges both specific (eg, the lack of specific markers to thoroughly validate hiPSC-SMCs) and general (eg, a lack of transparency and consensus around methodology in the field) remain. In this review, we highlight the recent successes and remaining challenges of the hiPSC-SMC model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callie S. Kwartler
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Jose Emiliano Esparza Pinelo
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
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2
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Wang E, Zhang B, Huang L, Li P, Han R, Zhou S, Zeng D, Wang R. LncRNA MIR210HG promotes phenotype switching of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells through autophagy-dependent ferroptosis pathway. Apoptosis 2024:10.1007/s10495-024-01963-4. [PMID: 38635022 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-024-01963-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a pathophysiological syndrome in which pulmonary vascular pressure increases under hypoxic stimulation and there is an urgent need to develop emerging therapies for the treatment of HPH. LncRNA MIR210HG is a long non-coding RNA closely related to hypoxia and has been widely reported in a variety of tumor diseases. But its mechanism in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension is not clear. In this study, we identified for the first time the potential effect of MIR210HG on disease progression in HPH. Furthermore, we investigated the underlying mechanism through which elevated levels of MIR210HG promotes the transition from a contractile phenotype to a synthetic phenotype in PASMCs under hypoxia via activation of autophagy-dependent ferroptosis pathway. While overexpression of HIF-2α in PASMCs under hypoxia significantly reversed the phenotypic changes induced by MIR210HG knockdown. We further investigated the potential positive regulatory relationship between STAT3 and the transcription of MIR210HG in PASMCs under hypoxic conditions. In addition, we established both in vivo and in vitro models of HPH to validate the differential expression of specific markers associated with hypoxia. Our findings suggest a potential mechanism of LncRNA MIR210HG in the progression of HPH and offer potential targets for disease intervention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enze Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Binbin Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Ling Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hefei Second People's Hospital, Hefei, 230001, China
| | - Pulin Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Rui Han
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Sijing Zhou
- Department of Occupational Disease, Hefei Third Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
| | - Daxiong Zeng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Dushu Lake Hospital, Affiliated to Soochow University, Medical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Ran Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
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3
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Kim H, Liu Y, Kim J, Kim Y, Klouda T, Fisch S, Baek SH, Liu T, Dahlberg S, Hu CJ, Tian W, Jiang X, Kosmas K, Christou HA, Korman BD, Vargas SO, Wu JC, Stenmark KR, Perez VDJ, Nicolls MR, Raby BA, Yuan K. Pericytes contribute to pulmonary vascular remodeling via HIF2α signaling. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:616-645. [PMID: 38243138 PMCID: PMC10897382 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-023-00054-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular remodeling is the process of structural alteration and cell rearrangement of blood vessels in response to injury and is the cause of many of the world's most afflicted cardiovascular conditions, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Many studies have focused on the effects of vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during vascular remodeling, but pericytes, an indispensable cell population residing largely in capillaries, are ignored in this maladaptive process. Here, we report that hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2α) expression is increased in the lung tissues of PAH patients, and HIF2α overexpressed pericytes result in greater contractility and an impaired endothelial-pericyte interaction. Using single-cell RNAseq and hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) models, we show that HIF2α is a major molecular regulator for the transformation of pericytes into SMC-like cells. Pericyte-selective HIF2α overexpression in mice exacerbates PH and right ventricular hypertrophy. Temporal cellular lineage tracing shows that HIF2α overexpressing reporter NG2+ cells (pericyte-selective) relocate from capillaries to arterioles and co-express SMA. This novel insight into the crucial role of NG2+ pericytes in pulmonary vascular remodeling via HIF2α signaling suggests a potential drug target for PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunbum Kim
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu Liu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute; Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jiwon Kim
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yunhye Kim
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timothy Klouda
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sudeshna Fisch
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seung Han Baek
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tiffany Liu
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Suzanne Dahlberg
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cheng-Jun Hu
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pediatrics-Critical Care, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Wen Tian
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xinguo Jiang
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kosmas Kosmas
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Helen A Christou
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin D Korman
- Division of Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Sara O Vargas
- Division of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute; Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Kurt R Stenmark
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Pediatrics-Critical Care, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Vinicio de Jesus Perez
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mark R Nicolls
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Dept of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin A Raby
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ke Yuan
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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4
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Wan JJ, Yi J, Wang FY, Zhang C, Dai AG. Expression and regulation of HIF-1a in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension: Focus on pathological mechanism and Pharmacological Treatment. Int J Med Sci 2024; 21:45-60. [PMID: 38164358 PMCID: PMC10750340 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.88216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1), a heterodimeric transcription factor, is composed of two subunits (HIF-1α and HIF-1β). It is considered as an important transcription factor for regulating oxygen changes in hypoxic environment, which can regulate the expression of various hypoxia-related target genes and play a role in acute and chronic hypoxia pulmonary vascular reactions. In this paper, the function and mechanism of HIF-1a expression and regulation in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) were reviewed, and current candidate schemes for treating pulmonary hypertension by using HIF-1a as the target were introduced, so as to provide reference for studying the pathogenesis of HPH and screening effective treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jing Wan
- School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Translational Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Yi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410021, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei-Ying Wang
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Translational Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Translational Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ai-Guo Dai
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Translational Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410021, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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5
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Szafron JM, Yang W, Feinstein JA, Rabinovitch M, Marsden AL. A computational growth and remodeling framework for adaptive and maladaptive pulmonary arterial hemodynamics. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:1935-1951. [PMID: 37658985 PMCID: PMC10929588 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01744-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Hemodynamic loading is known to contribute to the development and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This loading drives changes in mechanobiological stimuli that affect cellular phenotypes and lead to pulmonary vascular remodeling. Computational models have been used to simulate mechanobiological metrics of interest, such as wall shear stress, at single time points for PAH patients. However, there is a need for new approaches that simulate disease evolution to allow for prediction of long-term outcomes. In this work, we develop a framework that models the pulmonary arterial tree through adaptive and maladaptive responses to mechanical and biological perturbations. We coupled a constrained mixture theory-based growth and remodeling framework for the vessel wall with a morphometric tree representation of the pulmonary arterial vasculature. We show that non-uniform mechanical behavior is important to establish the homeostatic state of the pulmonary arterial tree, and that hemodynamic feedback is essential for simulating disease time courses. We also employed a series of maladaptive constitutive models, such as smooth muscle hyperproliferation and stiffening, to identify critical contributors to development of PAH phenotypes. Together, these simulations demonstrate an important step toward predicting changes in metrics of clinical interest for PAH patients and simulating potential treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Szafron
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Weiguang Yang
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Feinstein
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Marlene Rabinovitch
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Alison L Marsden
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.
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6
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Zhao Y, Xiong W, Li C, Zhao R, Lu H, Song S, Zhou Y, Hu Y, Shi B, Ge J. Hypoxia-induced signaling in the cardiovascular system: pathogenesis and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:431. [PMID: 37981648 PMCID: PMC10658171 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01652-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, characterized by reduced oxygen concentration, is a significant stressor that affects the survival of aerobic species and plays a prominent role in cardiovascular diseases. From the research history and milestone events related to hypoxia in cardiovascular development and diseases, The "hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) switch" can be observed from both temporal and spatial perspectives, encompassing the occurrence and progression of hypoxia (gradual decline in oxygen concentration), the acute and chronic manifestations of hypoxia, and the geographical characteristics of hypoxia (natural selection at high altitudes). Furthermore, hypoxia signaling pathways are associated with natural rhythms, such as diurnal and hibernation processes. In addition to innate factors and natural selection, it has been found that epigenetics, as a postnatal factor, profoundly influences the hypoxic response and progression within the cardiovascular system. Within this intricate process, interactions between different tissues and organs within the cardiovascular system and other systems in the context of hypoxia signaling pathways have been established. Thus, it is the time to summarize and to construct a multi-level regulatory framework of hypoxia signaling and mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases for developing more therapeutic targets and make reasonable advancements in clinical research, including FDA-approved drugs and ongoing clinical trials, to guide future clinical practice in the field of hypoxia signaling in cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weidong Xiong
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chaofu Li
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ranzun Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shuai Song
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - You Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yiqing Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Bei Shi
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China.
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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7
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Hu Y, Zhao Y, Li P, Lu H, Li H, Ge J. Hypoxia and panvascular diseases: exploring the role of hypoxia-inducible factors in vascular smooth muscle cells under panvascular pathologies. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:1954-1974. [PMID: 37541793 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.07.032] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
As an emerging discipline, panvascular diseases are a set of vascular diseases with atherosclerosis as the common pathogenic hallmark, which mostly affect vital organs like the heart, brain, kidney, and limbs. As the major responser to the most common stressor in the vasculature (hypoxia)-hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), and the primary regulator of pressure and oxygen delivery in the vasculature-vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), their own multifaceted nature and their interactions with each other are fascinating. Abnormally active VSMCs (e.g., atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension) or abnormally dysfunctional VSMCs (e.g., aneurysms, vascular calcification) are associated with HIFs. These widespread systemic diseases also reflect the interdisciplinary nature of panvascular medicine. Moreover, given the comparable proliferative characteristics exhibited by VSMCs and cancer cells, and the delicate equilibrium between angiogenesis and cancer progression, there is a pressing need for more accurate modulation targets or combination approaches to bolster the effectiveness of HIF targeting therapies. Based on the aforementioned content, this review primarily focused on the significance of integrating the overall and local perspectives, as well as temporal and spatial balance, in the context of the HIF signaling pathway in VSMC-related panvascular diseases. Furthermore, the review discussed the implications of HIF-targeting drugs on panvascular disorders, while considering the trade-offs involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqing Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yongchao Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China.
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8
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Wang D, Brady T, Santhanam L, Gerecht S. The extracellular matrix mechanics in the vasculature. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:718-732. [PMID: 39195965 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00311-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli from the extracellular matrix (ECM) modulate vascular differentiation, morphogenesis and dysfunction of the vasculature. With innovation in measurements, we can better characterize vascular microenvironment mechanics in health and disease. Recent advances in material sciences and stem cell biology enable us to accurately recapitulate the complex and dynamic ECM mechanical microenvironment for in vitro studies. These biomimetic approaches help us understand the signaling pathways in disease pathologies, identify therapeutic targets, build tissue replacement and activate tissue regeneration. This Review analyzes how ECM mechanics regulate vascular homeostasis and dysfunction. We highlight approaches to examine ECM mechanics at tissue and cellular levels, focusing on how mechanical interactions between cells and the ECM regulate vascular phenotype, especially under certain pathological conditions. Finally, we explore the development of biomaterials to emulate, measure and alter the physical microenvironment of pathological ECM to understand cell-ECM mechanical interactions toward the development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Travis Brady
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lakshmi Santhanam
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sharon Gerecht
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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9
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Volkova E, Procell L, Kong L, Santhanam L, Gerecht S. Vascular stiffening in aging females with a hypertension-induced HIF2A gain-of-function mutation. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10403. [PMID: 36925716 PMCID: PMC10013765 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is more prevalent in females than males; the causes of this sex difference have not been adequately explored. Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2A) lead to PAH and thrombotic consequences in patients and mice. Additionally, multiple emerging studies suggest that elevated systemic arterial stiffening (SAS) occurs in PAH; this could have critical prognostic value. Here, we utilized a HIF2A GOF mouse model to determine how SAS can be used as a prognosticator in sex-divergent PAH. We analyzed survival, vascular mechanics, and vascular phenotypes in young adult (8-16 weeks) and middle age (9-12 months) Hif2a GOF mice. We find that Hif2a heterozygous (HT) female mice, but not Hif2a HT male mice, exhibit poor survival, SAS upon aging, and decreased ability to withstand repeated physiological strain. Hif2a HT female mice also display thickening of the adventitial intima and increased collagen I and collagen III in all layers of the thoracic aorta. Our findings demonstrate differing PAH progression in female and male Hif2a GOF mice. Specifically, alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) content led to vascular stiffening in aged females, resulting in poor survival. Moreover, we show that SAS emerges early in mice with PAH by coupling studies of vascular mechanics and analyzing vascular structure and composition. Importantly, we present a model for assessing sex differences in hereditary PAH progression and sex-specific prognosis, proposing that aortic stiffening can be used to prognosticate future poor outcomes in PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Volkova
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Linda Procell
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Lingyang Kong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Lakshmi Santhanam
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Sharon Gerecht
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringDuke UniversityDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
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10
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Körbelin J, Klein J, Matuszcak C, Runge J, Harbaum L, Klose H, Hennigs JK. Transcription factors in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension-Current knowledge and therapeutic potential. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1036096. [PMID: 36684555 PMCID: PMC9853303 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1036096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery pressure. Mortality remains high in severe cases despite significant advances in management and pharmacotherapy. Since currently approved PAH therapies are unable to significantly reverse pathological vessel remodeling, novel disease-modifying, targeted therapeutics are needed. Pathogenetically, PAH is characterized by vessel wall cell dysfunction with consecutive remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and the right heart. Transcription factors (TFs) regulate the process of transcribing DNA into RNA and, in the pulmonary circulation, control the response of pulmonary vascular cells to macro- and microenvironmental stimuli. Often, TFs form complex protein interaction networks with other TFs or co-factors to allow for fine-tuning of gene expression. Therefore, identification of the underlying molecular mechanisms of TF (dys-)function is essential to develop tailored modulation strategies in PAH. This current review provides a compendium-style overview of TFs and TF complexes associated with PAH pathogenesis and highlights their potential as targets for vasculoregenerative or reverse remodeling therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Körbelin
- ENDomics Lab, Department of Medicine, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,*Correspondence: Jakob Körbelin,
| | - Julius Klein
- ENDomics Lab, Department of Medicine, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,Division of Pneumology and Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Matuszcak
- ENDomics Lab, Department of Medicine, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,Division of Pneumology and Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Runge
- ENDomics Lab, Department of Medicine, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,Division of Pneumology and Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lars Harbaum
- Division of Pneumology and Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans Klose
- Division of Pneumology and Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan K. Hennigs
- ENDomics Lab, Department of Medicine, Center of Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,Division of Pneumology and Center for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany,Jan K. Hennigs,
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11
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Wang N, Hua J, Fu Y, An J, Chen X, Wang C, Zheng Y, Wang F, Ji Y, Li Q. Updated perspective of EPAS1 and the role in pulmonary hypertension. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1125723. [PMID: 36923253 PMCID: PMC10008962 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1125723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a group of syndromes characterized by irreversible vascular remodeling and persistent elevation of pulmonary vascular resistance and pressure, leading to ultimately right heart failure and even death. Current therapeutic strategies mainly focus on symptoms alleviation by stimulating pulmonary vessel dilation. Unfortunately, the mechanism and interventional management of vascular remodeling are still yet unrevealed. Hypoxia plays a central role in the pathogenesis of PH and numerous studies have shown the relationship between PH and hypoxia-inducible factors family. EPAS1, known as hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α), functions as a transcription factor participating in various cellular pathways. However, the detailed mechanism of EPAS1 has not been fully and systematically described. This article exhibited a comprehensive summary of EPAS1 including the molecular structure, biological function and regulatory network in PH and other relevant cardiovascular diseases, and furthermore, provided theoretical reference for the potential novel target for future PH intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated by Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Hua
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated by Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhua Fu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Central Hospital of Jiading District, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun An
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiangyu Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated by Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuancui Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jinshan Branch of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanghong Zheng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated by Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feilong Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated by Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingqun Ji
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated by Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated by Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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12
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Engineering Smooth Muscle to Understand Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Vascular Disease. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9090449. [PMID: 36134994 PMCID: PMC9495899 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9090449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The vascular smooth muscle is vital for regulating blood pressure and maintaining cardiovascular health, and the resident smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in blood vessel walls rely on specific mechanical and biochemical signals to carry out these functions. Any slight change in their surrounding environment causes swift changes in their phenotype and secretory profile, leading to changes in the structure and functionality of vessel walls that cause pathological conditions. To adequately treat vascular diseases, it is essential to understand how SMCs crosstalk with their surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we summarize in vivo and traditional in vitro studies of pathological vessel wall remodeling due to the SMC phenotype and, conversely, the SMC behavior in response to key ECM properties. We then analyze how three-dimensional tissue engineering approaches provide opportunities to model SMCs’ response to specific stimuli in the human body. Additionally, we review how applying biomechanical forces and biochemical stimulation, such as pulsatile fluid flow and secreted factors from other cell types, allows us to study disease mechanisms. Overall, we propose that in vitro tissue engineering of human vascular smooth muscle can facilitate a better understanding of relevant cardiovascular diseases using high throughput experiments, thus potentially leading to therapeutics or treatments to be tested in the future.
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13
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Schnellmann R, Ntekoumes D, Choudhury MI, Sun S, Wei Z, Gerecht S. Stiffening Matrix Induces Age-Mediated Microvascular Phenotype Through Increased Cell Contractility and Destabilization of Adherens Junctions. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2201483. [PMID: 35657074 PMCID: PMC9353494 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202201483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor in microvascular dysfunction and disease development, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. As a result, age-mediated changes in the mechanical properties of tissue collagen have gained interest as drivers of endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction. 3D culture models that mimic age-mediated changes in the microvasculature can facilitate mechanistic understanding. A fibrillar hydrogel capable of changing its stiffness after forming microvascular networks is established. This hydrogel model is used to form vascular networks from induced pluripotent stem cells under soft conditions that mimic young tissue mechanics. Then matrix stiffness is gradually increased, thus exposing the vascular networks to the aging-mimicry process in vitro. It is found that upon dynamic matrix stiffening, EC contractility is increased, resulting in the activation of focal adhesion kinase and subsequent dissociation of β-catenin from VE-Cadherin mediated adherens junctions, leading to the abruption of the vascular networks. Inhibiting cell contractility impedes the dissociation of β-catenin, thereby preventing the deconstruction of adherens junctions, thus partially rescuing the age-mediated vascular phenotype. The findings provide the first direct evidence of matrix's dynamic mechano-changes in compromising microvasculature with aging and highlight the importance of hydrogel systems to study tissue-level changes with aging in basic and translational studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel Schnellmann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- The Institute for NanoBioTechnologyPhysical Sciences‐Oncology CenterJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
| | - Dimitris Ntekoumes
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- The Institute for NanoBioTechnologyPhysical Sciences‐Oncology CenterJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringDuke UniversityDurhamNC 27708USA
| | - Mohammad Ikbal Choudhury
- The Institute for NanoBioTechnologyPhysical Sciences‐Oncology CenterJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
| | - Sean Sun
- The Institute for NanoBioTechnologyPhysical Sciences‐Oncology CenterJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
| | - Zhao Wei
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- The Institute for NanoBioTechnologyPhysical Sciences‐Oncology CenterJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
| | - Sharon Gerecht
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- The Institute for NanoBioTechnologyPhysical Sciences‐Oncology CenterJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- Department of Materials Science and EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD 21218USA
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringDuke UniversityDurhamNC 27708USA
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14
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Macklin BL, Lin YY, Emmerich K, Wisniewski E, Polster BM, Konstantopoulos K, Mumm JS, Gerecht S. Intrinsic epigenetic control of angiogenesis in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelium regulates vascular regeneration. NPJ Regen Med 2022; 7:28. [PMID: 35551465 PMCID: PMC9098630 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00223-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iECs) provide opportunities to study vascular development and regeneration, develop cardiovascular therapeutics, and engineer model systems for drug screening. The differentiation and characterization of iECs are well established; however, the mechanisms governing their angiogenic phenotype remain unknown. Here, we aimed to determine the angiogenic phenotype of iECs and the regulatory mechanism controlling their regenerative capacity. In a comparative study with HUVECs, we show that iECs increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) mediates their highly angiogenic phenotype via regulation of glycolysis enzymes, filopodia formation, VEGF mediated migration, and robust sprouting. We find that the elevated expression of VEGFR2 is epigenetically regulated via intrinsic acetylation of histone 3 at lysine 27 by histone acetyltransferase P300. Utilizing a zebrafish xenograft model, we demonstrate that the ability of iECs to promote the regeneration of the amputated fin can be modulated by P300 activity. These findings demonstrate how the innate epigenetic status of iECs regulates their phenotype with implications for their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bria L Macklin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Ying-Yu Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Kevin Emmerich
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute and McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Emily Wisniewski
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Brian M Polster
- Department of Anesthesiology and Center for Shock, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Konstantinos Konstantopoulos
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Jeff S Mumm
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute and McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sharon Gerecht
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Institute for NanoBioTechnology, Physical Sciences-Oncology Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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15
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Adenylate Kinase 4-A Key Regulator of Proliferation and Metabolic Shift in Human Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells via Akt and HIF-1α Signaling Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910371. [PMID: 34638712 PMCID: PMC8508902 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in response to chronic hypoxia contributes to pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH shares numerous similarities with cancer, including a metabolic shift towards glycolysis. In lung cancer, adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) promotes metabolic reprogramming and metastasis. Against this background, we show that AK4 regulates cell proliferation and energy metabolism of primary human PASMCs. We demonstrate that chronic hypoxia upregulates AK4 in PASMCs in a hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-dependent manner. RNA interference of AK4 decreases the viability and proliferation of PASMCs under both normoxia and chronic hypoxia. AK4 silencing in PASMCs augments mitochondrial respiration and reduces glycolytic metabolism. The observed effects are associated with reduced levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) as well as HIF-1α, indicating the existence of an AK4-HIF-1α feedforward loop in hypoxic PASMCs. Finally, we show that AK4 levels are elevated in pulmonary vessels from patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), and AK4 silencing decreases glycolytic metabolism of IPAH-PASMCs. We conclude that AK4 is a new metabolic regulator in PASMCs interacting with HIF-1α and Akt signaling pathways to drive the pro-proliferative and glycolytic phenotype of PH.
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