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Oliveira-Paula GH, Liu S, Maira A, Ressa G, Ferreira GC, Quintar A, Jayakumar S, Almonte V, Parikh D, Valenta T, Basler K, Hla T, Riascos-Bernal DF, Sibinga NES. The β-catenin C terminus links Wnt and sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling pathways to promote vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadg9278. [PMID: 38478616 PMCID: PMC10936954 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg9278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Canonical Wnt and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling pathways are highly conserved systems that contribute to normal vertebrate development, with key consequences for immune, nervous, and cardiovascular system function; despite these functional overlaps, little is known about Wnt/β-catenin-S1P cross-talk. In the vascular system, both Wnt/β-catenin and S1P signals affect vessel maturation, stability, and barrier function, but information regarding their potential coordination is scant. We report an instance of functional interaction between the two pathways, including evidence that S1P receptor 1 (S1PR1) is a transcriptional target of β-catenin. By studying vascular smooth muscle cells and arterial injury response, we find a specific requirement for the β-catenin carboxyl terminus, which acts to induce S1PR1, and show that this interaction is essential for vascular remodeling. We also report that pharmacological inhibition of the β-catenin carboxyl terminus reduces S1PR1 expression, neointima formation, and atherosclerosis. These findings provide mechanistic understanding of how Wnt/β-catenin and S1P systems collaborate during vascular remodeling and inform strategies for therapeutic manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo H. Oliveira-Paula
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Sophia Liu
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Alishba Maira
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Gaia Ressa
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Graziele C. Ferreira
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Amado Quintar
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Smitha Jayakumar
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Vanessa Almonte
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Dippal Parikh
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Tomas Valenta
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Konrad Basler
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Timothy Hla
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dario F. Riascos-Bernal
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas E. S. Sibinga
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology Division), Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, and Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Harvey AB, Wolters RA, Deepe RN, Tarolli HG, Drummond JR, Trouten A, Zandi A, Barth JL, Mukherjee R, Romeo MJ, Vaena SG, Tao G, Muise-Helmericks R, Ramos PS, Norris RA, Wessels A. Epicardial deletion of Sox9 leads to myxomatous valve degeneration and identifies Cd109 as a novel gene associated with valve development. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2024; 186:16-30. [PMID: 37935281 PMCID: PMC10843603 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs) are involved in the regulation of myocardial growth and coronary vascularization and are critically important for proper development of the atrioventricular (AV) valves. SOX9 is a transcription factor expressed in a variety of epithelial and mesenchymal cells in the developing heart, including EPDCs. To determine the role of SOX9 in epicardial development, an epicardial-specific Sox9 knockout mouse model was generated. Deleting Sox9 from the epicardial cell lineage impairs the ability of EPDCs to invade both the ventricular myocardium and the developing AV valves. After birth, the mitral valves of these mice become myxomatous with associated abnormalities in extracellular matrix organization. This phenotype is reminiscent of that seen in humans with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MVD). An RNA-seq analysis was conducted in an effort to identify genes associated with this myxomatous degeneration. From this experiment, Cd109 was identified as a gene associated with myxomatous valve pathogenesis in this model. Cd109 has never been described in the context of heart development or valve disease. This study highlights the importance of SOX9 in the regulation of epicardial cell invasion-emphasizing the importance of EPDCs in regulating AV valve development and homeostasis-and reports a novel expression profile of Cd109, a gene with previously unknown relevance in heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Harvey
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Renélyn A Wolters
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Raymond N Deepe
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Hannah G Tarolli
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Jenna R Drummond
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Allison Trouten
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Auva Zandi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Jeremy L Barth
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Rupak Mukherjee
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 30 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Martin J Romeo
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Silvia G Vaena
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 86 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Ge Tao
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Robin Muise-Helmericks
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Paula S Ramos
- Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Russell A Norris
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Andy Wessels
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Liu H, Lu P, He S, Luo Y, Fang Y, Benkaci S, Wu B, Wang Y, Zhou B. β-Catenin regulates endocardial cushion growth by suppressing p21. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302163. [PMID: 37385754 PMCID: PMC10310929 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocardial cushion formation is essential for heart valve development and heart chamber separation. Abnormal endocardial cushion formation often causes congenital heart defects. β-Catenin is known to be essential for endocardial cushion formation; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that endothelial-specific deletion of β-catenin in mice resulted in formation of hypoplastic endocardial cushions due to reduced cell proliferation and impaired cell migration. By using a β-catenin DM allele in which the transcriptional function of β-catenin is selectively disrupted, we further reveal that β-catenin regulated cell proliferation and migration through its transcriptional and non-transcriptional function, respectively. At the molecular level, loss of β-catenin resulted in increased expression of cell cycle inhibitor p21 in cushion endocardial and mesenchymal cells in vivo. In vitro rescue experiments with HUVECs and pig aortic valve interstitial cells confirmed that β-catenin promoted cell proliferation by suppressing p21. In addition, one savvy negative observation is that β-catenin was dispensable for endocardial-to-mesenchymal fate change. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that β-catenin is essential for cell proliferation and migration but dispensable for endocardial cells to gain mesenchymal fate during endocardial cushion formation. Mechanistically, β-catenin promotes cell proliferation by suppressing p21. These findings inform the potential role of β-catenin in the etiology of congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huahua Liu
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Pengfei Lu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Shan He
- The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuru Luo
- The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Sonia Benkaci
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Bingruo Wu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Yidong Wang
- The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- Departments of Genetics, Pediatrics (Pediatric Genetic Medicine), and Medicine (Cardiology), The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, The Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, largely due to the limited regenerative capacity of the adult human heart. In contrast, teleost zebrafish hearts possess natural regeneration capacity by proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes after injury. Hearts of mice can regenerate if injured in a few days after birth, which coincides with the transient capacity for cardiomyocyte proliferation. This review tends to elaborate the roles and mechanisms of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in heart development and regeneration in mammals and non-mammalian vertebrates. RECENT FINDINGS Studies in zebrafish, mice, and human embryonic stem cells demonstrate the binary effect for Wnt/β-catenin signaling during heart development. Both Wnts and Wnt antagonists are induced in multiple cell types during cardiac development and injury repair. In this review, we summarize composites of the Wnt signaling pathway and their different action routes, followed by the discussion of their involvements in cardiac specification, proliferation, and patterning. We provide overviews about canonical and non-canonical Wnt activity during heart homeostasis, remodeling, and regeneration. Wnt/β-catenin signaling exhibits biphasic and antagonistic effects on cardiac specification and differentiation depending on the stage of embryogenesis. Inhibition of Wnt signaling is beneficial for cardiac wound healing and functional recovery after injury. Understanding of the roles and mechanisms of Wnt signaling pathway in injured animal hearts will contribute to the development of potential therapeutics for human diseased hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongliang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jianjian Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510100, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao P Zhong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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Pham DH, Dai CR, Lin B, Butcher JT. Local fluid shear stress operates a molecular switch to drive fetal semilunar valve extension. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:481-497. [PMID: 34535945 PMCID: PMC8891031 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While much is known about the genetic regulation of early valvular morphogenesis, mechanisms governing fetal valvular growth and remodeling remain unclear. Hemodynamic forces strongly influence morphogenesis, but it is unknown whether or how they interact with valvulogenic signaling programs. Side-specific activity of valvulogenic programs motivates the hypothesis that shear stress pattern-specific endocardial signaling controls the elongation of leaflets. RESULTS We determined that extension of the semilunar valve occurs via fibrosa sided endocardial proliferation. Low OSS was necessary and sufficient to induce canonical Wnt/β-catenin activation in fetal valve endothelium, which in turn drives BMP receptor/ligand expression, and pSmad1/5 activity essential for endocardial proliferation. In contrast, ventricularis endocardial cells expressed active Notch1 but minimal pSmad1/5. Endocardial monolayers exposed to LSS attenuate Wnt signaling in a Notch1 dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Low OSS is transduced by endocardial cells into canonical Wnt signaling programs that regulate BMP signaling and endocardial proliferation. In contrast, high LSS induces Notch signaling in endocardial cells, inhibiting Wnt signaling and thereby restricting growth on the ventricular surface. Our results identify a novel mechanically regulated molecular switch, whereby fluid shear stress drives the growth of valve endothelium, orchestrating the extension of the valve in the direction of blood flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc H. Pham
- The Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Charles R. Dai
- The Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Belle Lin
- The Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan T. Butcher
- The Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA,Corresponding author:
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Jiang H, Zhong J, Li W, Dong J, Xian CJ, Shen YK, Yao L, Wu Q, Wang L. Gentiopicroside promotes the osteogenesis of bone mesenchymal stem cells by modulation of β-catenin-BMP2 signalling pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10825-10836. [PMID: 34783166 PMCID: PMC8642693 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoporosis is characterized by increased bone fragility, and the drugs used at present to treat osteoporosis can cause adverse reactions. Gentiopicroside (GEN), a class of natural compounds with numerous biological activities such as anti‐resorptive properties and protective effects against bone loss. Therefore, the aim of this work was to explore the effect of GEN on bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) osteogenesis for a potential osteoporosis therapy. In vitro, BMSCs were exposed to GEN at different doses for 2 weeks, whereas in vivo, ovariectomized osteoporosis was established in mice and the therapeutic effect of GEN was evaluated for 3 months. Our results in vitro showed that GEN promoted the activity of alkaline phosphatase, increased the calcified nodules in BMSCs and up‐regulated the osteogenic factors (Runx2, OSX, OCN, OPN and BMP2). In vivo, GEN promoted the expression of Runx2, OCN and BMP2, increased the level of osteogenic parameters, and accelerated the osteogenesis of BMSCs by activating the BMP pathway and Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, effect that was inhibited using the BMP inhibitor Noggin and Wnt/β‐catenin inhibitor DKK1. Silencing the β‐catenin gene and BMP2 gene blocked the osteogenic differentiation induced by GEN in BMSCs. This block was also observed when only β‐catenin was silenced, although the knockout of BMP2 did not affect β‐catenin expression induced by GEN. Therefore, GEN promotes BMSC osteogenesis by regulating β‐catenin‐BMP signalling, providing a novel strategy in the treatment of osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaji Jiang
- Department of Orthopaedic, Yuebei People's Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shantou University, Shaoguan, China.,Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jialiang Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenjun Li
- Department of Orthopaedic, Yuebei People's Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shantou University, Shaoguan, China
| | - Jianghui Dong
- UniSA Clinical& Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Cory J Xian
- UniSA Clinical& Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Yung-Kang Shen
- School of Dental Technology, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lufeng Yao
- Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Ningbo No. 6 Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic, Yuebei People's Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shantou University, Shaoguan, China
| | - Liping Wang
- UniSA Clinical& Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Augmenting canonical Wnt signalling in therapeutically inert cells converts them into therapeutically potent exosome factories. Nat Biomed Eng 2019; 3:695-705. [PMID: 31451800 PMCID: PMC6736698 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-019-0448-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) are therapeutic candidates with disease-modifying bioactivity, but their variable potency has complicated their clinical translation. Transcriptomic analyses of CDCs from human donors have revealed that the therapeutic potency of these cells correlates with Wnt/β-catenin signalling and with β-catenin protein levels. Here, we show that skin fibroblasts engineered to overexpress β-catenin and the transcription factor Gata4 become immortal and therapeutically potent. Transplantation of the engineered fibroblasts into a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction led to improved cardiac function and mouse survival. And in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, exosomes secreted by the engineered fibroblasts improved exercise capacity and reduced skeletal-muscle fibrosis. We also demonstrate that exosomes from high-potency CDCs exhibit enhanced levels of miR-92a (a known potentiator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway), and that they activate cardioprotective bone-morphogenetic-protein signalling in cardiomyocytes. Our findings show that the modulation of canonical Wnt signalling can turn therapeutically inert mammalian cells into immortal exosome factories for cell-free therapies. Overexpression of β-catenin and the transcription factor Gata4 in skin fibroblasts converts them into therapeutically active cells that secrete reparative exosomes as shown in mice models of myocardial infarction and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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