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Fan Y, Jialiken D, Zheng Z, Zhang W, Zhang S, Zheng Y, Sun Z, Zhang H, Yan X, Liu M, Fang Z. Qianyang Yuyin granules alleviate hypertension-induced vascular remodeling by inhibiting the phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024:118896. [PMID: 39393558 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 09/21/2024] [Accepted: 10/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Qianyang Yuyin granules (QYYY) have been used clinically to treat hypertension for over two decades. Previous clinical trials have shown that QYYY can improve vascular elastic function in hypertensive patients. However, the underlying pharmacological mechanism is unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY To elucidate the effects and mechanisms of QYYY on vascular remodeling using a multidisciplinary approach that includes network pharmacology, proteomics, and both in vitro and in vivo experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS The main components of QYYY were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to predict QYYY's primary active ingredients, potential therapeutic targets and intervention pathways in hypertensive vascular remodeling. We induced hypertension in male C57BL/6 mice by infusing angiotensin II (Ang II) via osmotic minipumps, and performed pre-treatment with QYYY or Sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto). Blood pressure was monitored in vivo, followed by the extraction of aortas to examine pathological structural changes and alterations in protein expression patterns. The expression and location of proteins involved in the HIF-1α/TWIST1/P-p65 signaling pathway were investigated, as well as markers of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) phenotypic switch. In vitro, we studied the effects of QYYY water extract on Ang II-stimulated human aortic VSMCs. We investigated whether QYYY could affect the HIF-1α/TWIST1/P-p65 signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating apoptosis, autophagy, and phenotype switch in VSMCs. RESULTS We identified 62 main compounds in QYYY, combined with network pharmacology, speculated 827 potentially active substances, and explored 1021 therapeutic targets. The KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the mechanisms of action associated with QYYY therapy potentially encompass various biological processes, including metabolic pathways, TNF signaling pathways, apoptosis, Ras signaling pathways, HIF-1 signaling pathways, autophagy-animal pathways. In hypertensive mice, QYYY restored abnormally elevated blood pressure, vascular remodeling, and inflammation with a dose-response relationship while altering abnormal protein patterns. In vitro, QYYY could inhibit abnormal proliferation, migration, intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and cytoskeletal changes of VSMCs. It improved mitochondrial function, reduced ROS levels, stabilized membrane potential, prevented cell death, and reduced overproduction of TGF-β1, TNF-a, and IL-1β. CONCLUSION QYYY may be able to inhibit the overactivation of the HIF-1α/TWIST1/P-p65 signaling pathway, improve the phenotypic switch, and balance apoptosis and autophagy in VSMCs, thereby effectively improving vascular remodeling caused by hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadong Fan
- Institute of Hypertension, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Dinala Jialiken
- Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Ziwen Zheng
- Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Weiting Zhang
- Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Institute of Hypertension, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Yawei Zheng
- Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Zeqi Sun
- Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Haitao Zhang
- Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xiwu Yan
- Institute of Hypertension, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Ming Liu
- Institute of Hypertension, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Zhuyuan Fang
- Institute of Hypertension, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Jiangsu Chinese Medicine Clinical Medicine Innovation Center for Hypertension, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.
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2
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Xu Q, Sun J, Holden CM, Neto HCF, Wang T, Zhang C, Fu Z, Joseph G, Shi R, Wang J, Leask A, Taylor WR, Lin Z. Cellular communication network factor 2 regulates smooth muscle cell transdifferentiation and lipid accumulation in atherosclerosis. Cardiovasc Res 2024:cvae215. [PMID: 39365752 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Accruing evidence illustrates an emerging paradigm of dynamic vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) transdifferentiation during atherosclerosis progression. However, the molecular regulators that govern SMC phenotype diversification remain poorly defined. This study aims to elucidate the functional role and underlying mechanisms of cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2), a matricellular protein, in regulating SMC plasticity in the context of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS In both human and murine atherosclerosis, an up-regulation of CCN2 is observed in transdifferentiated SMCs. Using an inducible murine SMC CCN2 deletion model, we demonstrate that SMC-specific CCN2 knockout mice are hypersusceptible to atherosclerosis development as evidenced by a profound increase in lipid-rich plaques along the entire aorta. Single-cell RNA sequencing studies reveal that SMC deficiency of CCN2 positively regulates machinery involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress, endocytosis, and lipid accumulation in transdifferentiated macrophage-like SMCs during the progression of atherosclerosis, findings recapitulated in CCN2-deficient human aortic SMCs. CONCLUSION Our studies illuminate an unanticipated protective role of SMC-CCN2 against atherosclerosis. Disruption of vascular wall homeostasis resulting from vascular SMC CCN2 deficiency predisposes mice to atherosclerosis development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xu
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jisheng Sun
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Claire M Holden
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Ti Wang
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- The Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Yangzhou University (Taizhou People's Hospital), Yangzhou University Medical College, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chiyuan Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zuli Fu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Giji Joseph
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Ruizheng Shi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jinhu Wang
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Andrew Leask
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, 105 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - W Robert Taylor
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Zhiyong Lin
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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3
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Stock AT, Parsons S, Hansen JA, D'Silva DB, Starkey G, Fayed A, Lim XY, D'Costa R, Gordon CL, Wicks IP. mTOR signalling controls the formation of smooth muscle cell-derived luminal myofibroblasts during vasculitis. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:4570-4593. [PMID: 39271773 PMCID: PMC11467406 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00251-1] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of myofibroblasts within the intimal layer of inflamed blood vessels is a potentially catastrophic complication of vasculitis, which can lead to arterial stenosis and ischaemia. In this study, we have investigated how these luminal myofibroblasts develop during Kawasaki disease (KD), a paediatric vasculitis typically involving the coronary arteries. By performing lineage tracing studies in a murine model of KD, we reveal that luminal myofibroblasts develop independently of adventitial fibroblasts and endothelial cells, and instead derive from smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Notably, the emergence of SMC-derived luminal myofibroblasts-in both mice and patients with KD, Takayasu's arteritis and Giant Cell arteritis-coincided with activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway. Moreover, SMC-specific deletion of mTOR signalling, or pharmacological inhibition, abrogated the emergence of luminal myofibroblasts. Thus, mTOR is an intrinsic and essential regulator of luminal myofibroblast formation that is activated in vasculitis patients and therapeutically tractable. These findings provide molecular insight into the pathogenesis of coronary artery stenosis and identify mTOR as a therapeutic target in vasculitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Parsons
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3006, Australia
- Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Melbourne, VIC, 3006, Australia
| | | | | | - Graham Starkey
- Liver & Intestinal Transplant Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Aly Fayed
- Department of Surgery, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Xin Yi Lim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Rohit D'Costa
- DonateLife Victoria, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Claire L Gordon
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia
- North Eastern Public Health Unit, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Ian P Wicks
- WEHI, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia.
- Rheumatology Unit, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.
- University of Melbourne, Department of Medical Biology, Melbourne, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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4
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Yu Y, Cai Y, Yang F, Yang Y, Cui Z, Shi D, Bai R. Vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching in atherosclerosis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37727. [PMID: 39309965 PMCID: PMC11416558 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a complex pathology process involving intricate interactions among various cells and biological processes. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in normal arteries, and under atherosclerotic stimuli, VSMCs respond to altered blood flow and microenvironment changes by downregulating contractile markers and switching their phenotype. This review overviews the diverse phenotypes of VSMCs, including the canonical contractile VSMCs, synthetic VSMCs, and phenotypes resembling macrophages, foam cells, myofibroblasts, osteoblasts/chondrocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells. We summarize their presumed protective and pro-atherosclerotic roles in AS development. Additionally, we underscore the molecular mechanisms and regulatory pathways governing VSMC phenotypic switching, encompassing transcriptional regulation, biochemical factors, plaque microenvironment, epigenetics, miRNAs, and the cytoskeleton, emphasizing their significance in AS development. Finally, we outline probable future research directions targeting VSMCs, offering insights into potential therapeutic strategies for AS management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiao Yu
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yajie Cai
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Furong Yang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Yankai Yang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhuorui Cui
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Dazhuo Shi
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Ruina Bai
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
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5
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Carmona-Berrio D, Adarve-Rengifo I, Marshall AG, Vue Z, Hall DD, Miller-Fleming TW, Actkins KV, Beasley HK, Almonacid PM, Barturen-Larrea P, Wells QS, Lopez MG, Garza-Lopez E, Dai DF, Shao J, Neikirk K, Billings FT, Curci JA, Cox NJ, Gama V, Hinton A, Gomez JA. SOX6 expression and aneurysms of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. iScience 2024; 27:110436. [PMID: 39262802 PMCID: PMC11388018 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms (AAAs, TAAs) remain a major cause of deaths worldwide, in part due to the lack of reliable prognostic markers or early warning signs. Sox6 has been found to regulate renin controlling blood pressure. We hypothesized that Sox6 may serve as an important regulator of the mechanisms contributing to hypertension-induced aortic aneurysms. Phenotype and laboratory-wide association scans in a clinical cohort found that SOX6 gene expression is associated with aortic aneurysm in subjects of European ancestry. Sox6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression were upregulated in aortic tissues from patients affected by either AAA or TAA. In Sox6 knockout mice with angiotensin-II-induced AAA, we found that Sox6 plays critical role in the development and progression of AAA. Our data support a regulatory role of SOX6 in the development of hypertension-induced AAA, suggesting that Sox6 may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of aortic aneurysms.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Carmona-Berrio
- Vanderbilt University, Cell and Developmental Biology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Isabel Adarve-Rengifo
- Vanderbilt University, Cell and Developmental Biology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Andrea G Marshall
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Zer Vue
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Duane D Hall
- Department of Internal Medicine, Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Tyne W Miller-Fleming
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Ky'Era V Actkins
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Heather K Beasley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Paula M Almonacid
- Department of Economics, EAFIT University, Medellín, Antioquia, Columbia
| | - Pierina Barturen-Larrea
- Vanderbilt University, Cell and Developmental Biology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Quinn S Wells
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Marcos G Lopez
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Edgar Garza-Lopez
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Dao-Fu Dai
- Department of Pathology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jianqiang Shao
- Central Microscopy Research Facility, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kit Neikirk
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Frederic T Billings
- Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - John A Curci
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Nancy J Cox
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Vivian Gama
- Vanderbilt University, Cell and Developmental Biology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Antentor Hinton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jose A Gomez
- Department of Medicine / Clinical Pharmacology Division. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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6
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Bell CF, Baylis RA, Lopez NG, Ma WF, Gao H, Wang F, Bamezai S, Fu C, Kojima Y, Adkar SS, Luo L, Miller CL, Leeper NJ. BST2 induces vascular smooth muscle cell plasticity and phenotype switching during cancer progression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.10.612298. [PMID: 39314286 PMCID: PMC11418980 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.10.612298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Background Smooth muscle cell (SMC) plasticity and phenotypic switching play prominent roles in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, but their role in tumorigenesis is unknown. We investigated whether and how SMC diversity and plasticity plays a role in tumor angiogenesis and the tumor microenvironment. Methods and Results We use SMC-specific lineage-tracing mouse models and single cell RNA sequencing to observe the phenotypic diversity of SMCs participating in tumor vascularization. We find that a significant proportion of SMCs adopt a phenotype traditionally associated with macrophage-like cells. These cells are transcriptionally similar to 'resolution phase' M2b macrophages, which have been described to have a role in inflammation resolution. Computationally predicted by the ligand-receptor algorithm CellChat, signaling from BST2 on the surface of tumor cells to PIRA2 on SMCs promote this phenotypic transition; in vitro SMC assays demonstrate upregulation of macrophage transcriptional programs, and increased proliferation, migration, and phagocytic ability when exposed to BST2. Knockdown of BST2 in the tumor significantly decreases the transition towards a macrophage-like phenotype, and cells that do transition have a comparatively higher inflammatory signal typically associated with anti-tumor effect. Conclusion As BST2 is known to be a poor prognostic marker in multiple cancers where it is associated with an M2 macrophage-skewed TME, these studies suggest that phenotypically switched SMCs may have a previously unidentified role in this immunosuppressive milieu. Further translational work is needed to understand how this phenotypic switch could influence the response to anti-cancer agents and if targeted inhibition of SMC plasticity would be therapeutically beneficial.
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7
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Zhao Q, Pedroza A, Sharma D, Gu W, Dalal A, Weldy C, Jackson W, Li DY, Ryan Y, Nguyen T, Shad R, Palmisano BT, Monteiro JP, Worssam M, Berezwitz A, Iyer M, Shi H, Kundu R, Limbu L, Kim JB, Kundaje A, Fischbein M, Wirka R, Quertermous T, Cheng P. A cell and transcriptome atlas of the human arterial vasculature. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.10.612293. [PMID: 39314359 PMCID: PMC11419041 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.10.612293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Vascular beds show different propensities for different vascular pathologies, yet mechanisms explaining these fundamental differences remain unknown. We sought to build a transcriptomic, cellular, and spatial atlas of human arterial cells across multiple different arterial segments to understand this phenomenon. We found significant cell type-specific segmental heterogeneity. Determinants of arterial identity are predominantly encoded in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, and their differentially expressed genes are particularly enriched for vascular disease-associated loci and genes. Adventitial fibroblast-specific heterogeneity in gene expression coincides with numerous vascular disease risk genes, suggesting a previously unrecognized role for this cell type in disease risk. Adult arterial cells from different segments cluster not by anatomical proximity but by embryonic origin, with differentially regulated genes heavily influenced by developmental master regulators. Non-coding transcriptomes across arterial cells contain extensive variation in lnc-RNAs expressed in cell type- and segment-specific patterns, rivaling heterogeneity in protein coding transcriptomes, and show enrichment for non-coding genetic signals for vascular diseases.
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8
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Guo B, Zhuang TT, Li CC, Li F, Shan SK, Zheng MH, Xu QS, Wang Y, Lei LM, Tang KX, Ouyang W, Duan JY, Wu YY, Cao YC, Ullah MHE, Zhou ZA, Lin X, Wu F, Xu F, Liao XB, Yuan LQ. MiRNA-132/212 encapsulated by adipose tissue-derived exosomes worsen atherosclerosis progression. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2024; 23:331. [PMID: 39252021 PMCID: PMC11386123 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-024-02404-x] [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: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visceral adipose tissue in individuals with obesity is an independent cardiovascular risk indicator. However, it remains unclear whether adipose tissue influences common cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, through its secreted exosomes. METHODS The exosomes secreted by adipose tissue from diet-induced obesity mice were isolated to examine their impact on the progression of atherosclerosis and the associated mechanism. Endothelial apoptosis and the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within the atherosclerotic plaque were evaluated. Statistical significance was analyzed using GraphPad Prism 9.0 with appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS We demonstrate that adipose tissue-derived exosomes (AT-EX) exacerbate atherosclerosis progression by promoting endothelial apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of VSMCs within the plaque in vivo. MicroRNA-132/212 (miR-132/212) was detected within AT-EX cargo. Mechanistically, miR-132/212-enriched AT-EX exacerbates palmitate acid-induced endothelial apoptosis via targeting G protein subunit alpha 12 and enhances platelet-derived growth factor type BB-induced VSMC proliferation and migration by targeting phosphatase and tensin homolog in vitro. Importantly, melatonin decreases exosomal miR-132/212 levels, thereby mitigating the pro-atherosclerotic impact of AT-EX. CONCLUSION These data uncover the pathological mechanism by which adipose tissue-derived exosomes regulate the progression of atherosclerosis and identify miR-132/212 as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- MicroRNAs/metabolism
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- Exosomes/metabolism
- Exosomes/pathology
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Disease Progression
- Cell Movement/drug effects
- Disease Models, Animal
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Male
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic
- Signal Transduction
- Cells, Cultured
- Obesity/metabolism
- Obesity/pathology
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Endothelial Cells/pathology
- Endothelial Cells/drug effects
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/metabolism
- Aortic Diseases/genetics
- Becaplermin/pharmacology
- Becaplermin/metabolism
- Intra-Abdominal Fat/metabolism
- Intra-Abdominal Fat/pathology
- Mice
- Humans
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Guo
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
- Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Tong-Tian Zhuang
- Department of Dermatology, Air Force Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Chang-Chun Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Fuxingzi Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Su-Kang Shan
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Ming-Hui Zheng
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Qiu-Shuang Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Yi Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Li-Min Lei
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Ke-Xin Tang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Wenlu Ouyang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Jia-Yue Duan
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Yun-Yun Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Ye-Chi Cao
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Muhammad Hasnain Ehsan Ullah
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Zhi-Ang Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Xiao-Bo Liao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ling-Qing Yuan
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China.
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9
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Jia K, Luo X, Yi J, Zhang C. Hormonal influence: unraveling the impact of sex hormones on vascular smooth muscle cells. Biol Res 2024; 57:61. [PMID: 39227995 PMCID: PMC11373308 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-024-00542-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: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones play a pivotal role as endocrine hormones that exert profound effects on the biological characteristics and vascular function of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). By modulating intracellular signaling pathways, activating nuclear receptors, and regulating gene expression, sex hormones intricately influence the morphology, function, and physiological state of VSMCs, thereby impacting the biological properties of vascular contraction, relaxation, and growth. Increasing evidence suggests that abnormal phenotypic changes in VSMCs contribute to the initiation of vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Therefore, understanding the factors governing phenotypic alterations in VSMCs and elucidating the underlying mechanisms can provide crucial insights for refining interventions targeted at vascular diseases. Additionally, the varying levels of different types of sex hormones in the human body, influenced by sex and age, may also affect the phenotypic conversion of VSMCs. This review aims to explore the influence of sex hormones on the phenotypic switching of VSMCs and the development of associated vascular diseases in the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keran Jia
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Medicine Research Innovation Center for Cardiometabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xin Luo
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Medicine Research Innovation Center for Cardiometabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Jingyan Yi
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Medicine Research Innovation Center for Cardiometabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
| | - Chunxiang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital, Basic Medicine Research Innovation Center for Cardiometabolic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
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10
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Liu LL, Song CC, Abu-Elala N, Tan XY, Zhao T, Zheng H, Yang H, Luo Z. Transcriptional regulation of Znt family members znt4, znt5 and znt10 and their function in zinc transport in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2024; 1867:195041. [PMID: 38740364 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2024.195041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The study characterized the transcriptionally regulatory mechanism and functions of three zinc (Zn) transporters (znt4, znt5 and znt10) in Zn2+ metabolism in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), commonly freshwater fish in China and other countries. We cloned the sequences of znt4 promoter, spanning from -1217 bp to +80 bp relative to TSS (1297 bp); znt5, spanning from -1783 bp to +49 bp relative to TSS (1832 bp) and znt10, spanning from -1923 bp to +190 bp relative to TSS (2113 bp). In addition, after conducting the experiments of sequential deletion of promoter region and mutation of potential binding site, we found that the Nrf2 binding site (-607/-621 bp) and Klf4 binding site (-5/-14 bp) were required on znt4 promoter, the Mtf-1 binding site (-1674/-1687 bp) and Atf4 binding site (-444/-456 bp) were required on znt5 promoter and the Atf4 binding site (-905/-918 bp) was required on znt10 promoter. Then, according to EMSA and ChIP, we found that Zn2+ incubation increased DNA affinity of Atf4 to znt5 or znt10 promoter, but decreased DNA affinity of Nrf2 to znt4 promoter, Klf4 to znt4 promoter and Mtf-1 to znt5 promoter. Using fluorescent microscopy, it was revealed that Znt4 and Znt10 were located in the lysosome and Golgi, and Znt5 was located in the Golgi. Finally, we found that znt4 knockdown reduced the zinc content of lysosome and Golgi in the control and zinc-treated group; znt5 knockdown reduced the zinc content of Golgi in the control and zinc-treated group and znt10 knockdown reduced the zinc content of Golgi in the zinc-treated group. High dietary zinc supplement up-regulated Znt4 and Znt5 protein expression. Above all, for the first time, we revealed that Klf4 and Nrf2 transcriptionally regulated the activities of znt4 promoter; Mtf-1 and Atf4 transcriptionally regulated the activities of znt5 promoter and Atf4 transcriptionally regulated the activities of znt10 promoter, which provided innovative regulatory mechanism of zinc transporting in yellow catfish. Our study also elucidated their subcellular location, and regulatory role of zinc homeostasis in yellow catfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Lu Liu
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Fishery College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chang-Chun Song
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Fishery College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Nermeen Abu-Elala
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, King Salman International University, South Saini, Egypt
| | - Xiao-Ying Tan
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Fishery College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Tao Zhao
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Fishery College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hua Zheng
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Fishery College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Fishery College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhi Luo
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Fishery College, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
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11
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Zisser L, Binder CJ. Extracellular Vesicles as Mediators in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. J Lipid Atheroscler 2024; 13:232-261. [PMID: 39355407 PMCID: PMC11439751 DOI: 10.12997/jla.2024.13.3.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial intima, characterized by accumulation of lipoproteins and accompanying inflammation, leading to the formation of plaques that eventually trigger occlusive thrombotic events, such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Although many aspects of plaque development have been elucidated, the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are lipid bilayer-delimited vesicles released by cells as mediators of intercellular communication, has only recently come into focus of atherosclerosis research. EVs comprise several subtypes that may be differentiated by their size, mode of biogenesis, or surface marker expression and cargo. The functional effects of EVs in atherosclerosis depend on their cellular origin and the specific pathophysiological context. EVs have been suggested to play a role in all stages of plaque formation. In this review, we highlight the known mechanisms by which EVs modulate atherogenesis and outline current limitations and challenges in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Zisser
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph J Binder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Dutka M, Zimmer K, Ćwiertnia M, Ilczak T, Bobiński R. The role of PCSK9 in heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases-mechanisms of action beyond its effect on LDL cholesterol. Heart Fail Rev 2024; 29:917-937. [PMID: 38886277 PMCID: PMC11306431 DOI: 10.1007/s10741-024-10409-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK9) is a protein that regulates low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol metabolism by binding to the hepatic LDL receptor (LDLR), ultimately leading to its lysosomal degradation and an increase in LDL cholesterol (LDLc) levels. Treatment strategies have been developed based on blocking PCSK9 with specific antibodies (alirocumab, evolocumab) and on blocking its production with small regulatory RNA (siRNA) (inclisiran). Clinical trials evaluating these drugs have confirmed their high efficacy in reducing serum LDLc levels and improving the prognosis in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Most studies have focused on the action of PCSK9 on LDLRs and the subsequent increase in LDLc concentrations. Increasing evidence suggests that the adverse cardiovascular effects of PCSK9, particularly its atherosclerotic effects on the vascular wall, may also result from mechanisms independent of its effects on lipid metabolism. PCSK9 induces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines contributing to inflammation within the vascular wall and promotes apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes and is thus involved in the development and progression of heart failure. The elimination of PCSK9 may, therefore, not only be a treatment for hypercholesterolaemia but also for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. The mechanisms of action of PCSK9 in the cardiovascular system are not yet fully understood. This article reviews the current understanding of the mechanisms of PCSK9 action in the cardiovascular system and its contribution to cardiovascular diseases. Knowledge of these mechanisms may contribute to the wider use of PCSK9 inhibitors in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieczysław Dutka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biala, Willowa St. 2, 43-309, Bielsko-Biała, Poland.
| | - Karolina Zimmer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biala, Willowa St. 2, 43-309, Bielsko-Biała, Poland
| | - Michał Ćwiertnia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biala, 43-309, Bielsko-Biała, Poland
| | - Tomasz Ilczak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biala, 43-309, Bielsko-Biała, Poland
| | - Rafał Bobiński
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biala, Willowa St. 2, 43-309, Bielsko-Biała, Poland
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13
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Arévalo-Martinez M, Ede J, van der Have O, Ritsvall O, Zetterberg FR, Nilsson UJ, Leffler H, Holmberg J, Albinsson S. Myocardin related transcription factor and galectin-3 drive lipid accumulation in human blood vessels. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 156:107383. [PMID: 38830455 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107383] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diabetes and hypertension are important risk factors for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis. A driving factor in this process is lipid accumulation in smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall. The glucose- and mechano-sensitive transcriptional coactivator, myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A/MKL1) can promote lipid accumulation in cultured human smooth muscle cells and contribute to the formation of smooth muscle-derived foam cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if intact human blood vessels ex vivo can be used to evaluate lipid accumulation in the vascular wall, and if this process is dependent on MRTF and/or galectin-3/LGALS3. Galectin-3 is an early marker of smooth muscle transdifferentiation and a potential mediator for foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS Human mammary arteries and saphenous veins were exposed to altered cholesterol and glucose levels in an organ culture model. Accumulation of lipids, quantified by Oil Red O, was increased by cholesterol loading and elevated glucose concentrations. Pharmacological inhibition of MRTF with CCG-203971 decreased lipid accumulation, whereas adenoviral-mediated overexpression of MRTF-A had the opposite effect. Cholesterol-induced expression of galectin-3 was decreased after inhibition of MRTF. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of galectin-3 with GB1107 reduced lipid accumulation in the vascular wall after cholesterol loading. CONCLUSION Ex vivo organ culture of human arteries and veins can be used to evaluate lipid accumulation in the intact vascular wall, as well as adenoviral transduction and pharmacological inhibition. Although MRTF and galectin-3 may have beneficial, anti-inflammatory effects under certain circumstances, our results, which demonstrate a significant decrease in lipid accumulation, support further evaluation of MRTF- and galectin-3-inhibitors for therapeutic intervention against atherosclerotic vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marycarmen Arévalo-Martinez
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jacob Ede
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oscar van der Have
- Vessel Wall Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Olivia Ritsvall
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Fredrik R Zetterberg
- Galecto Biotech AB, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Medicinaregatan 8 A, SE-413 46 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ulf J Nilsson
- Galecto Biotech AB, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Medicinaregatan 8 A, SE-413 46 Lund, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hakon Leffler
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section MIG, Lund University BMC-C1228b, Klinikgatan 28, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Holmberg
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Albinsson
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden.
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14
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Shamsuzzaman S, Deaton RA, Salamon A, Doviak H, Serbulea V, Milosek VM, Evans MA, Karnewar S, Saibaba S, Alencar GF, Shankman LS, Walsh K, Bekiranov S, Kocher O, Krieger M, Kull B, Persson M, Michaëlsson E, Bergenhem N, Heydarkhan-Hagvall S, Owens GK. Novel Mouse Model of Myocardial Infarction, Plaque Rupture, and Stroke Shows Improved Survival With Myeloperoxidase Inhibition. Circulation 2024; 150:687-705. [PMID: 38881440 PMCID: PMC11347105 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.067931] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thromboembolic events, including myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, caused by the rupture or erosion of unstable atherosclerotic plaques are the leading cause of death worldwide. Although most mouse models of atherosclerosis develop lesions in the aorta and carotid arteries, they do not develop advanced coronary artery lesions. Moreover, they do not undergo spontaneous plaque rupture with MI and stroke or do so at such a low frequency that they are not viable experimental models to study late-stage thrombotic events or to identify novel therapeutic approaches for treating atherosclerotic disease. This has stymied the development of more effective therapeutic approaches for reducing these events beyond what has been achieved with aggressive lipid lowering. Here, we describe a diet-inducible mouse model that develops widespread advanced atherosclerosis in coronary, brachiocephalic, and carotid arteries with plaque rupture, MI, and stroke. METHODS We characterized a novel mouse model with a C-terminal mutation in the scavenger receptor class B, type 1 (SR-BI), combined with Ldlr knockout (designated SR-BI∆CT/∆CT/Ldlr-/-). Mice were fed Western diet (WD) for 26 weeks and analyzed for MI and stroke. Coronary, brachiocephalic, and carotid arteries were analyzed for atherosclerotic lesions and indices of plaque stability. To validate the utility of this model, SR-BI∆CT/∆CT/Ldlr-/- mice were treated with the drug candidate AZM198, which inhibits myeloperoxidase, an enzyme produced by activated neutrophils that predicts rupture of human atherosclerotic lesions. RESULTS SR-BI∆CT/∆CT/Ldlr-/- mice show high (>80%) mortality rates after 26 weeks of WD feeding because of major adverse cardiovascular events, including spontaneous plaque rupture with MI and stroke. Moreover, WD-fed SR-BI∆CT/∆CT/Ldlr-/- mice displayed elevated circulating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and increased neutrophil extracellular trap formation within lesions compared with control mice. Treatment of WD-fed SR-BI∆CT/∆CT/Ldlr-/- mice with AZM198 showed remarkable benefits, including >90% improvement in survival and >60% decrease in the incidence of plaque rupture, MI, and stroke, in conjunction with decreased circulating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and reduced neutrophil extracellular trap formation within lesions. CONCLUSIONS WD-fed SR-BI∆CT/∆CT/Ldlr-/- mice more closely replicate late-stage clinical events of advanced human atherosclerotic disease than previous models and can be used to identify and test potential new therapeutic agents to prevent major adverse cardiac events.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Male
- Mice
- Diet, Western/adverse effects
- Disease Models, Animal
- Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Myocardial Infarction/pathology
- Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy
- Peroxidase/metabolism
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic/drug therapy
- Receptors, LDL/genetics
- Receptors, LDL/deficiency
- Rupture, Spontaneous
- Scavenger Receptors, Class B/genetics
- Scavenger Receptors, Class B/metabolism
- Stroke/drug therapy
- Stroke/prevention & control
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohel Shamsuzzaman
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Deaton
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Anita Salamon
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Heather Doviak
- Hematovascular Biology Center, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Vlad Serbulea
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Victoria M. Milosek
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Megan A. Evans
- Hematovascular Biology Center, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Santosh Karnewar
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Subhi Saibaba
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gabriel F. Alencar
- Beirne B Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Laura S. Shankman
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kenneth Walsh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Hematovascular Biology Center, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Stefan Bekiranov
- Hematovascular Biology Center, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Olivier Kocher
- Department of Pathology and Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Medical Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monty Krieger
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bengt Kull
- BioPharmaceuticals R&D Early Cardiovascular Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) Bioscience Cardiovascular, AstraZeneca, Mölndal 43183, Sweden
| | - Marie Persson
- BioPharmaceuticals R&D Early Cardiovascular Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) DMPK, AstraZeneca, Mölndal 43183, Sweden
| | - Erik Michaëlsson
- Early Clinical Development, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolism, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nils Bergenhem
- Alliance Management, Business Development & Licensing, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Sepideh Heydarkhan-Hagvall
- AstraZeneca R&D, Chief Medical Office, Global Patient Safety, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, SE43183, Sweden
| | - Gary K. Owens
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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15
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Wang B, Cui K, Zhu B, Dong Y, Wang D, Singh B, Wu H, Li K, Eisa-Beygi S, Sun Y, Wong S, Cowan DB, Chen Y, Du M, Chen H. Epsins oversee smooth muscle cell reprograming by influencing master regulators KLF4 and OCT4. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.08.574714. [PMID: 39131381 PMCID: PMC11312448 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells in major arteries play a crucial role in regulating coronary artery disease. Conversion of smooth muscle cells into other adverse cell types in the artery propels the pathogenesis of the disease. Curtailing artery plaque buildup by modulating smooth muscle cell reprograming presents us a new opportunity to thwart coronary artery disease. Here, our report how Epsins, a family of endocytic adaptor proteins oversee the smooth muscle cell reprograming by influencing master regulators OCT4 and KLF4. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we characterized the phenotype of modulated smooth muscle cells in mouse atherosclerotic plaque and found that smooth muscle cells lacking epsins undergo profound reprogramming into not only beneficial myofibroblasts but also endothelial cells for injury repair of diseased endothelium. Our work lays concrete groundwork to explore an uncharted territory as we show that depleting Epsins bolsters smooth muscle cells reprograming to endothelial cells by augmenting OCT4 activity but restrain them from reprograming to harmful foam cells by destabilizing KLF4, a master regulator of adverse reprograming of smooth muscle cells. Moreover, the expression of Epsins in smooth muscle cells positively correlates with the severity of both human and mouse coronary artery disease. Integrating our scRNA-seq data with human Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) identifies pivotal roles Epsins play in smooth muscle cells in the pathological process leading to coronary artery disease. Our findings reveal a previously unexplored direction for smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation in the development and progression of coronary artery disease and unveil Epsins and their downstream new targets as promising novel therapeutic targets for mitigating metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wang
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kui Cui
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bo Zhu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yunzhou Dong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Donghai Wang
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bandana Singh
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kathryn Li
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shahram Eisa-Beygi
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of Pathology, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Scott Wong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Douglas B Cowan
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yabing Chen
- Department of Pathology, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Mulong Du
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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16
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Xu Y, Zhang H, Chen Y, Pober JS, Zhou M, Zhou JH, Min W. SRF SUMOylation modulates smooth muscle phenotypic switch and vascular remodeling. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6919. [PMID: 39134547 PMCID: PMC11319592 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51350-5] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Serum response factor (SRF) controls gene transcription in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and regulates VSMC phenotypic switch from a contractile to a synthetic state, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). It is not known how post-translational SUMOylation regulates the SRF activity in CVD. Here we show that Senp1 deficiency in VSMCs increased SUMOylated SRF and the SRF-ELK complex, leading to augmented vascular remodeling and neointimal formation in mice. Mechanistically, SENP1 deficiency in VSMCs increases SRF SUMOylation at lysine 143, reducing SRF lysosomal localization concomitant with increased nuclear accumulation and switching a contractile phenotype-responsive SRF-myocardin complex to a synthetic phenotype-responsive SRF-ELK1 complex. SUMOylated SRF and phospho-ELK1 are increased in VSMCs from coronary arteries of CVD patients. Importantly, ELK inhibitor AZD6244 prevents the shift from SRF-myocardin to SRF-ELK complex, attenuating VSMC synthetic phenotypes and neointimal formation in Senp1-deficient mice. Therefore, targeting the SRF complex may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Xu
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yuxin Chen
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Jordan S Pober
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Min Zhou
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jenny Huanjiao Zhou
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Wang Min
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
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17
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Su X, Zhang M, Yang G, Cui X, Yuan X, Du L, Pei Y. Bioinformatics and machine learning approaches reveal key genes and underlying molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis: A review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e38744. [PMID: 39093811 PMCID: PMC11296484 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS) causes thickening and hardening of the arterial wall due to accumulation of extracellular matrix, cholesterol, and cells. In this study, we used comprehensive bioinformatics tools and machine learning approaches to explore key genes and molecular network mechanisms underlying AS in multiple data sets. Next, we analyzed the correlation between AS and immune fine cell infiltration, and finally performed drug prediction for the disease. We downloaded GSE20129 and GSE90074 datasets from the Gene expression Omnibus database, then employed the Cell-type Identification By Estimating Relative Subsets Of RNA Transcripts algorithm to analyze 22 immune cells. To enrich for functional characteristics, the black module correlated most strongly with T cells was screened with weighted gene co-expression networks analysis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the genes were mainly enriched in cell adhesion and T-cell-related pathways, as well as NF-κ B signaling. We employed the Lasso regression and random forest algorithms to screen out 5 intersection genes (CCDC106, RASL11A, RIC3, SPON1, and TMEM144). Pathway analysis in gene set variation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the key genes were mainly enriched in inflammation, and immunity, among others. The selected key genes were analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing technology. We also analyzed differential expression between these 5 key genes and those involved in iron death. We found that ferroptosis genes ACSL4, CBS, FTH1 and TFRC were differentially expressed between AS and the control groups, RIC3 and FTH1 were significantly negatively correlated, whereas SPON1 and VDAC3 were significantly positively correlated. Finally, we used the Connectivity Map database for drug prediction. These results provide new insights into AS genetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Su
- Vascular Surgery Department of Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Vascular Surgery Department of Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Guinan Yang
- Department of Urology, People’s Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xuebin Cui
- Vascular Surgery Department of Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | | | | | - Yuanmin Pei
- Vascular Surgery Department of Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
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18
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Quelquejay H, Al-Rifai R, Silvestro M, Vandestienne M, Ferreira I, Mirault T, Henrion D, Zhong X, Santos-Zas I, Goudot G, Alayrac P, Robidel E, Autret G, Balvay D, Taleb S, Tedgui A, Boulanger CM, Zernecke A, Saliba AE, Hadchouel J, Ramkhelawon B, Cochain C, Bergaya S, Jeunemaitre X, Ait-Oufella H. L-Wnk1 Deletion in Smooth Muscle Cells Causes Aortitis and Inflammatory Shift. Circ Res 2024; 135:488-502. [PMID: 38979610 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.324366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The long isoform of the Wnk1 (with-no-lysine [K] kinase 1) is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase, but its role in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) pathophysiology remains unknown. METHODS AngII (angiotensin II) was infused in Apoe-/- to induce experimental aortic aneurysm. Mice carrying an Sm22-Cre allele were cross-bred with mice carrying a floxed Wnk1 allele to specifically investigate the functional role of Wnk1 in VSMCs. RESULTS Single-cell RNA-sequencing of the aneurysmal abdominal aorta from AngII-infused Apoe-/- mice revealed that VSMCs that did not express Wnk1 showed lower expression of contractile phenotype markers and increased inflammatory activity. Interestingly, WNK1 gene expression in VSMCs was decreased in human abdominal aortic aneurysm. Wnk1-deficient VSMCs lost their contractile function and exhibited a proinflammatory phenotype, characterized by the production of matrix metalloproteases, as well as cytokines and chemokines, which contributed to local accumulation of inflammatory macrophages, Ly6Chi monocytes, and γδ T cells. Sm22Cre+Wnk1lox/lox mice spontaneously developed aortitis in the infrarenal abdominal aorta, which extended to the thoracic area over time without any negative effect on long-term survival. AngII infusion in Sm22Cre+Wnk1lox/lox mice aggravated the aortic disease, with the formation of lethal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Pharmacological blockade of γδ T-cell recruitment using neutralizing anti-CXCL9 (anti-CXC motif chemokine ligand 9) antibody treatment, or of monocyte/macrophage using Ki20227, a selective inhibitor of CSF1 receptor, attenuated aortitis. Wnk1 deletion in VSMCs led to aortic wall remodeling with destruction of elastin layers, increased collagen content, and enhanced local TGF-β (transforming growth factor-beta) 1 expression. Finally, in vivo TGF-β blockade using neutralizing anti-TGF-β antibody promoted saccular aneurysm formation and aorta rupture in Sm22 Cre+ Wnk1lox/lox mice but not in control animals. CONCLUSION Wnk1 is a key regulator of VSMC function. Wnk1 deletion promotes VSMC phenotype switch toward a pathogenic proinflammatory phenotype, orchestrating deleterious vascular remodeling and spontaneous severe aortitis in mice.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Aortitis/genetics
- Aortitis/metabolism
- Aortitis/pathology
- Mice
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Angiotensin II
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/genetics
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/metabolism
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/pathology
- Humans
- WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1/genetics
- WNK Lysine-Deficient Protein Kinase 1/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Male
- Cells, Cultured
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Disease Models, Animal
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Inflammation/genetics
- Inflammation/pathology
- Aorta, Abdominal/metabolism
- Aorta, Abdominal/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene Quelquejay
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Rida Al-Rifai
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Michele Silvestro
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Department of Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center (M.S., B.R.)
| | - Marie Vandestienne
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Irmine Ferreira
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Tristan Mirault
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Daniel Henrion
- MITOVASC Department, Team 2 (CarMe), ICAT SFR (Interactions Cellulaires et Applications Thérapeutiques Structure Fédérale de Recherche), University of Angers, Inserm U1083, France (D.H.)
| | - Xiaodan Zhong
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Icia Santos-Zas
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología Celular, Área de Endocrinología Molecular y Celular Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain (I.S.-Z.)
| | - Guillaume Goudot
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Paul Alayrac
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Estelle Robidel
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Gwennhael Autret
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Daniel Balvay
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Soraya Taleb
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Alain Tedgui
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Chantal M Boulanger
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany (A.Z., C.C.)
| | - Antoine-Emmanuel Saliba
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research, Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research, Würzburg, Germany (A.-E.S.)
| | - Juliette Hadchouel
- Inserm UMRS 1155, Tenon Hospital (J.H.), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Bhama Ramkhelawon
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Department of Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center (M.S., B.R.)
| | - Clement Cochain
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany (A.Z., C.C.)
| | - Sonia Bergaya
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Xavier Jeunemaitre
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
| | - Hafid Ait-Oufella
- Université de Paris, Inserm U970, Paris-Cardiovascular Research Center, France (H.Q., R.A.-R., M.V., I.F., T.M., X.Z., I.S.-Z., G.G., P.A., E.R., G.A., D.B., S.T., A.T., C.M.B., S.B., X.J., H.A.-O.)
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP (Assistance Publique- Hôpitaux de Paris) (H.A.-O.), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
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19
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Chen X, Obukhov AG, Weisman GA, Seye CI. Basal ATP release signals through the P2Y 2 receptor to maintain the differentiated phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells. Atherosclerosis 2024; 395:117613. [PMID: 38889566 PMCID: PMC11254552 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.117613] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dedifferentiation contributes substantively to vascular disease. VSMCs spontaneously release low levels of ATP that modulate vessel contractility, but it is unclear if autocrine ATP signaling in VSMCs is critical to the maintenance of the VSMC contractile phenotype. METHODS We used pharmacological inhibitors to block ATP release in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) for studying changes in VSMC differentiation marker gene expression. We employed RNA interference and generated mice with SMC-specific inducible deletion of the P2Y2 receptor (P2Y2R) gene to evaluate resulting phenotypic alterations. RESULTS HASMCs constitutively release low levels of ATP that when blocked results in a significant decrease in VSMC differentiation marker gene expression, including smooth muscle actin (SMA), smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), SM-22α and calponin. Basal release of ATP represses transcriptional activation of the Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KFL4) thereby preventing platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) from inhibiting expression of SMC contractile phenotype markers. SMC-restricted conditional deletion of P2Y2R evoked dedifferentiation characterized by decreases in aortic contractility and contractile phenotype markers expression. This loss was accompanied by a transition to the synthetic phenotype with the acquisition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins characteristic of dedifferentiation, such as osteopontin and vimentin. CONCLUSIONS Our data establish the first direct evidence that an autocrine ATP release mechanism maintains SMC cytoskeletal protein expression by inhibiting VSMCs from transitioning to a synthetic phenotype, and further demonstrate that activation of the P2Y2R by basally released ATP is required for maintenance of the differentiated VSMC phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjuan Chen
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China; Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive MS 360A, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Alexander G Obukhov
- Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology & Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive MS 360A, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Gary A Weisman
- Department of Biochemistry, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 Rollins Road, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Cheikh I Seye
- Department of Biochemistry, Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, 1201 Rollins Road, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
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20
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Bhat OM, Mir RA, Nehvi IB, Wani NA, Dar AH, Zargar MA. Emerging role of sphingolipids and extracellular vesicles in development and therapeutics of cardiovascular diseases. IJC HEART & VASCULATURE 2024; 53:101469. [PMID: 39139609 PMCID: PMC11320467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcha.2024.101469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are eighteen carbon alcohol lipids synthesized from non-sphingolipid precursors in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The sphingolipids serve as precursors for a vast range of moieties found in our cells that play a critical role in various cellular processes, including cell division, senescence, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, nutrition intake, metabolism, and protein synthesis. In CVDs, different subclasses of sphingolipids and other derived molecules such as sphingomyelin (SM), ceramides (CERs), and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are directly related to diabetic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, ischemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension, and atherogenesis. Several genome-wide association studies showed an association between genetic variations in sphingolipid pathway genes and the risk of CVDs. The sphingolipid pathway plays an important role in the biogenesis and secretion of exosomes. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs)/ exosomes have recently been found as possible indicators for the onset of CVDs, linking various cellular signaling pathways that contribute to the disease progression. Important features of EVs like biocompatibility, and crossing of biological barriers can improve the pharmacokinetics of drugs and will be exploited to develop next-generation drug delivery systems. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed the role of sphingolipids, and sphingolipid metabolites in the development of CVDs. In addition, concise deliberations were laid to discuss the role of sEVs/exosomes in regulating the pathophysiological processes of CVDs and the exosomes as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owais Mohmad Bhat
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
| | - Rakeeb Ahmad Mir
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
| | | | - Nissar Ahmad Wani
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
| | - Abid Hamid Dar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
| | - M Afzal Zargar
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
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21
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Schäfer S, Gogiraju R, Rösch M, Kerstan Y, Beck L, Garbisch J, Saliba AE, Gisterå A, Hermanns HM, Boon L, Kastenmüller W, Schäfer K, Cochain C, Zernecke A. CD8 + T Cells Drive Plaque Smooth Muscle Cell Dedifferentiation in Experimental Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1852-1872. [PMID: 38868941 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320084] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis is driven by the infiltration of the arterial intima by diverse immune cells and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). CD8+ T cells promote lesion growth during atherosclerotic lesion development, but their role in advanced atherosclerosis is less clear. Here, we studied the role of CD8+ T cells and their effects on SMCs in established atherosclerosis. METHODS CD8+ T cells were depleted in (SMC reporter) low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/-) mice with established atherosclerotic lesions. Atherosclerotic lesion formation was examined, and single-cell RNA sequencing of aortic SMCs and their progeny was performed. Additionally, coculture experiments with primary aortic SMCs and CD8+ T cells were conducted. RESULTS Although we could not detect differences in atherosclerotic lesion size, an increased plaque SMC content was noted in mice after CD8+ T-cell depletion. Single-cell RNA sequencing of aortic lineage-traced SMCs revealed contractile SMCs and a modulated SMC cluster, expressing macrophage- and osteoblast-related genes. CD8+ T-cell depletion was associated with an increased contractile but decreased macrophage and osteoblast-like gene signature in this modulated aortic SMC cluster. Conversely, exposure of isolated aortic SMCs to activated CD8+ T cells decreased the expression of genes indicative of a contractile SMC phenotype and induced a macrophage and osteoblast-like cell state. Notably, CD8+ T cells triggered calcium deposits in SMCs under osteogenic conditions. Mechanistically, we identified transcription factors highly expressed in modulated SMCs, including Runx1, to be induced by CD8+ T cells in cultured SMCs in an IFNγ (interferon-γ)-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS We here uncovered CD8+ T cells to control the SMC phenotype in atherosclerosis. CD8+ T cells promote SMC dedifferentiation and drive SMCs to adopt features of macrophage-like and osteoblast-like, procalcifying cell phenotypes. Given the critical role of SMCs in atherosclerotic plaque stability, CD8+ T cells could thus be explored as therapeutic target cells during lesion progression.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/immunology
- Cell Dedifferentiation
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic
- Mice
- Disease Models, Animal
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Atherosclerosis/immunology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/immunology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Cells, Cultured
- Male
- Receptors, LDL/genetics
- Receptors, LDL/deficiency
- Phenotype
- Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit/genetics
- Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit/metabolism
- Aorta/pathology
- Aorta/immunology
- Aorta/metabolism
- Coculture Techniques
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/genetics
- Aortic Diseases/immunology
- Aortic Diseases/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Schäfer
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine (S.S., M.R., Y.K., L. Beck, J.G., C.C., A.Z.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rajinikanth Gogiraju
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medicine Mainz, Germany (R.G., K.S.)
| | - Melanie Rösch
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine (S.S., M.R., Y.K., L. Beck, J.G., C.C., A.Z.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kerstan
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine (S.S., M.R., Y.K., L. Beck, J.G., C.C., A.Z.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lina Beck
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine (S.S., M.R., Y.K., L. Beck, J.G., C.C., A.Z.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Janine Garbisch
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine (S.S., M.R., Y.K., L. Beck, J.G., C.C., A.Z.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Antoine-Emmanuel Saliba
- Institute of Molecular Infection Biology Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Germany (A.-E.S.)
| | - Anton Gisterå
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (A.G.)
| | - Heike M Hermanns
- Medical Clinic II, Division of Hepatology (H.M.H.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Katrin Schäfer
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medicine Mainz, Germany (R.G., K.S.)
| | - Clément Cochain
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine (S.S., M.R., Y.K., L. Beck, J.G., C.C., A.Z.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alma Zernecke
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine (S.S., M.R., Y.K., L. Beck, J.G., C.C., A.Z.), University Hospital of Würzburg, Germany
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22
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Zhang Y, Li Y, Han Z, Huo Q, Ji L, Liu X, Li H, Zhu X, Hao Z. miR-328-5p functions as a critical negative regulator in early endothelial inflammation and advanced atherosclerosis. BMB Rep 2024; 57:375-380. [PMID: 38919016 PMCID: PMC11362139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Early proatherogenic inflammation constitutes a significant risk factor for atherogenesis development. Despite this, the precise molecular mechanisms driving this pathological progression largely remain elusive. Our study unveils a pivotal role for the microRNA miR-328-5p in dampening endothelial inflammation by modulating the stability of JUNB (JunB proto-oncogene). Perturbation of miR-328-5p levels results in heightened monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells and enhanced transendothelial migration, while its overexpression mitigates these inflammatory processes. Furthermore, miR-328-5p hinders macrophage polarization toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, and exerts a negative influence on atherosclerotic plaque formation in vivo. By pinpointing JUNB as a direct miR-328-5p target, our research underscores the potential of miR-328-5p as a therapeutic target for inflammatory atherosclerosis. Reintroduction of JUNB effectively counteracts the anti-atherosclerotic effects of miR-328-5p, highlighting the promise of pharmacological miR-328-5p targeting in managing inflammatory atherosclerosis. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(8): 375-380].
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangxia Zhang
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Medicine, School of Medical Engineering, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Yingke Li
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Medicine, School of Medical Engineering, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Zhisheng Han
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Medicine, School of Medical Engineering, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Qingyang Huo
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Medicine, School of Medical Engineering, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Longkai Ji
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Medicine, School of Medical Engineering, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Xuejia Liu
- Stem Cells and Biotherapy Engineering Research Center of Henan, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Han Li
- Stem Cells and Biotherapy Engineering Research Center of Henan, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Xinxing Zhu
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Stem Cell Medicine, School of Medical Engineering, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Clinical and Preclinical Research in Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233004, China
| | - Zhipeng Hao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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23
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Guan X, Hu Y, Hao J, Lu M, Zhang Z, Hu W, Li D, Li C. Stress, Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype and Atherosclerosis: Novel Insight into Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Transition in Atherosclerosis. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2024; 26:411-425. [PMID: 38814419 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-024-01220-8] [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] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Our work is to establish more distinct association between specific stress and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) phenotypes to alleviate atherosclerotic plaque burden and delay atherosclerosis (AS) progression. RECENT FINDING In recent years, VSMCs phenotypic transition has received significant interests. Different stresses were found to be associated with VSMCs phenotypic transition. However, the explicit correlation between VSMCs phenotype and specific stress has not been elucidated clearly yet. We discover that VSMCs phenotypic transition, which is widely involved in the progression of AS, is associated with specific stress. We discuss approaches targeting stresses to intervene VSMCs phenotypic transition, which may contribute to develop innovative therapies for AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuya Guan
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Yuanlong Hu
- First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Jiaqi Hao
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Mengkai Lu
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Wenxian Hu
- Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University (Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Qingdao, 266000, China.
| | - Dongxiao Li
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Chao Li
- Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
- Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University (Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Qingdao, 266000, China.
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24
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Liang G, Lv XF, Huang W, Jin YJ, Roquid KA, Kawase H, Offermanns S. Loss of Smooth Muscle Tenascin-X Inhibits Vascular Remodeling Through Increased TGF-β Signaling. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1748-1763. [PMID: 38934115 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.321067] [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: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are highly plastic. Vessel injury induces a phenotypic transformation from differentiated to dedifferentiated VSMCs, which involves reduced expression of contractile proteins and increased production of extracellular matrix and inflammatory cytokines. This transition plays an important role in several cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and aortic aneurysm. TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) is critical for VSMC differentiation and to counterbalance the effect of dedifferentiating factors. However, the mechanisms controlling TGF-β activity and VSMC phenotypic regulation under in vivo conditions are poorly understood. The extracellular matrix protein TN-X (tenascin-X) has recently been shown to bind TGF-β and to prevent it from activating its receptor. METHODS We studied the role of TN-X in VSMCs in various murine disease models using tamoxifen-inducible SMC-specific knockout and adeno-associated virus-mediated knockdown. RESULTS In hypertensive and high-fat diet-fed mice, after carotid artery ligation as well as in human aneurysmal aortae, expression of Tnxb, the gene encoding TN-X, was increased in VSMCs. Mice with smooth muscle cell-specific loss of TN-X (SMC-Tnxb-KO) showed increased TGF-β signaling in VSMCs, as well as upregulated expression of VSMC differentiation marker genes during vascular remodeling compared with controls. SMC-specific TN-X deficiency decreased neointima formation after carotid artery ligation and reduced vessel wall thickening during Ang II (angiotensin II)-induced hypertension. SMC-Tnxb-KO mice lacking ApoE showed reduced atherosclerosis and Ang II-induced aneurysm formation under high-fat diet. Adeno-associated virus-mediated SMC-specific expression of short hairpin RNA against Tnxb showed similar beneficial effects. Treatment with an anti-TGF-β antibody or additional SMC-specific loss of the TGF-β receptor reverted the effects of SMC-specific TN-X deficiency. CONCLUSIONS In summary, TN-X critically regulates VSMC plasticity during vascular injury by inhibiting TGF-β signaling. Our data indicate that inhibition of vascular smooth muscle TN-X may represent a strategy to prevent and treat pathological vascular remodeling.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Angiotensin II
- Aortic Aneurysm/metabolism
- Aortic Aneurysm/pathology
- Aortic Aneurysm/genetics
- Aortic Aneurysm/prevention & control
- Carotid Artery Injuries/pathology
- Carotid Artery Injuries/metabolism
- Carotid Artery Injuries/genetics
- Cells, Cultured
- Diet, High-Fat
- Disease Models, Animal
- Hypertension/metabolism
- Hypertension/pathology
- Hypertension/physiopathology
- Hypertension/genetics
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Neointima
- Phenotype
- Signal Transduction
- Tenascin/metabolism
- Tenascin/genetics
- Tenascin/deficiency
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Vascular Remodeling
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Affiliation(s)
- Guozheng Liang
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (G.L., X.-F.L., W.H., Y.-J.J., K.A.R., H.K., S.O.)
| | - Xiao-Fei Lv
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (G.L., X.-F.L., W.H., Y.-J.J., K.A.R., H.K., S.O.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Cardiac and Cerebral Vascular Research Center, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China (X.-F.L.)
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (G.L., X.-F.L., W.H., Y.-J.J., K.A.R., H.K., S.O.)
| | - Young-June Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (G.L., X.-F.L., W.H., Y.-J.J., K.A.R., H.K., S.O.)
| | - Kenneth Anthony Roquid
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (G.L., X.-F.L., W.H., Y.-J.J., K.A.R., H.K., S.O.)
| | - Haruya Kawase
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (G.L., X.-F.L., W.H., Y.-J.J., K.A.R., H.K., S.O.)
| | - Stefan Offermanns
- Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (G.L., X.-F.L., W.H., Y.-J.J., K.A.R., H.K., S.O.)
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany (S.O.)
- Cardiopulmonary Institute, Bad Nauheim, Germany (S.O.)
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany (S.O.)
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25
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Vartak T, Giardini E, Kelly D, Moran B, Kennedy C, Barry M, Godson C, Brennan E. Induction of let-7d-5p miRNA modulates aortic smooth muscle inflammatory signaling and phenotypic switching. Atherosclerosis 2024; 395:117573. [PMID: 38796407 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.117573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Activation of vascular smooth muscle cell inflammation is recognised as an important early driver of vascular disease. We have previously identified the let-7 miRNA family as important regulators of inflammation in in vitro and in vivo models of atherosclerosis. Here we investigated a dual statin/let-7d-5p miRNA combination therapy approach to target human aortic SMC (HAoSMC) activation and inflammation. METHODS In vitro studies using primary HAoSMCs were performed to investigate the effects of let-7d-5p miRNA overexpression and inhibition. HAoSMCs were treated with combinations of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and atorvastatin or lovastatin. HAoSMC Bulk RNA-seq transcriptomics of HAoSMCs revealed downstream regulatory networks modulated by let-7d-5p miRNA overexpression and statins. Proteome profiler cytokine array, Western blotting and quantitative PCR analyses were performed on HAoSMCs to validate key findings. RESULTS Let-7d-5p overexpression significantly attenuated TNF-α-induced upregulation of IL-6, ICAM1, VCAM1, CCL2, CD68, MYOCD gene expression in HAoSMCs (p<0.05). Statins (atorvastatin, lovastatin) significantly attenuated inflammatory gene expression and upregulated Let-7d levels in HAoSMCs (p<0.05). Bulk RNA-seq analysis of a dual Let-7d-5p overexpression/statin therapy in HAoSMCs revealed that let-7d-5p activation and statins converge on key inflammatory pathways (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ). Let-7d-5p overexpression led to reduced expression of the ox-LDL receptor OLR1, and this was associated with lower ox-LDL uptake in HAoSMCs. In silico analysis of smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching shows that overexpression of let-7d-5p in HAoSMCs maintains a contractile phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Targeting the Let-7 network alongside statins can modulate HAoSMC activation and attenuate key inflammatory pathway signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanwi Vartak
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute & UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Elena Giardini
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute & UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Daniel Kelly
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute & UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Bruce Moran
- St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ciarán Kennedy
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute & UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Mary Barry
- Department of Vascular Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Catherine Godson
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute & UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Eoin Brennan
- Diabetes Complications Research Centre, Conway Institute & UCD School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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26
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Chen SJ, Chien HC, Tsai SH, Jheng YS, Chen Y, Hsieh PS, Tsui PF, Chien S, Tsai MC. Melatonin Ameliorates Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability by Regulating PPARδ-Associated Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching. J Pineal Res 2024; 76:e12988. [PMID: 38982751 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12988] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque rupture, the leading cause of fatal atherothrombotic events, is associated with an increased risk of mortality worldwide. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) has been shown to modulate vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching, and, hence, atherosclerotic plaque stability. Melatonin reportedly plays a beneficial role in cardiovascular diseases; however, the mechanisms underlying improvements in atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability remain unknown. In this study, we assessed the role of melatonin in regulating SMC phenotypic switching and its consequential contribution to the amelioration of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and explored the mechanisms underlying this process. We analyzed features of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and markers of SMC phenotypic transition in high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice and human aortic SMCs (HASMCs). Melatonin reduced atherosclerotic plaque size and necrotic core area while enhancing collagen content, fibrous cap thickness, and smooth muscle alpha-actin positive cell coverage on the plaque cap, which are all known phenotypic characteristics of vulnerable plaques. In atherosclerotic lesions, melatonin significantly decreased the synthetic SMC phenotype and KLF4 expression and increased the expression of PPARδ, but not PPARα and PPARγ, in HCD-fed ApoE-/- mice. These results were subsequently confirmed in the melatonin-treated HASMCs. Further analysis using PPARδ silencing and immunoprecipitation assays revealed that PPARδ plays a role in the melatonin-induced SMC phenotype switching from synthetic to contractile. Collectively, we provided the first evidence that melatonin mediates its protective effect against plaque destabilization by enhancing PPARδ-mediated SMC phenotypic switching, thereby indicating the potential of melatonin in treating atherosclerosis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Melatonin/pharmacology
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic/metabolism
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic/pathology
- Mice
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Kruppel-Like Factor 4/metabolism
- Humans
- PPAR delta/metabolism
- PPAR delta/genetics
- Mice, Knockout
- Male
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Phenotype
- Apolipoproteins E/genetics
- Apolipoproteins E/metabolism
- Apolipoproteins E/deficiency
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Affiliation(s)
- Sy-Jou Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Che Chien
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hung Tsai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Sin Jheng
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Shiuan Hsieh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pi-Fen Tsui
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shu Chien
- Department of Bioengineering and Medicine, Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Min-Chien Tsai
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
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27
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Cai D, Chen SY. ADAR1 Is Essential for Smooth Muscle Homeostasis and Vascular Integrity. Cells 2024; 13:1257. [PMID: 39120288 PMCID: PMC11311430 DOI: 10.3390/cells13151257] [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: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a critical role in maintaining vascular integrity. VSMC dysfunction leads to numerous vascular diseases. Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), an RNA editing enzyme, has shown both RNA editing and non-editing functions. Global deletion of ADAR1 causes embryonic lethality, but the phenotype of homozygous ADAR1 deletion specifically in SMCs (ADAR1sm-/-) remains to be determined. By crossing ADAR1fl/fl mice with Myh11-CreERT2 mice followed by Tamoxifen induction, we found that ADAR1sm-/- leads to lethality in adult mice 14 days after the induction. Gross examination revealed extensive hemorrhage and detrimental vascular damage in different organs. Histological analyses revealed destruction of artery structural integrity with detachment of elastin laminae from VSMCs in ADAR1sm-/- aortas. Furthermore, ADAR1sm-/- resulted in severe VSMC apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. RNA sequencing analyses of ADAR1sm-/- aorta segments demonstrated profound transcriptional alteration of genes impacting vascular health including a decrease in fibrillin-1 expression. More importantly, ADAR1sm-/- disrupts the elastin and fibrillin-1 interaction, a molecular event essential for artery structure. Our results indicate that ADAR1 plays a critical role in maintaining SMC survival and vascular stability and resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dunpeng Cai
- Departments of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA;
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Departments of Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA;
- The Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
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28
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Raju S, Turner ME, Cao C, Abdul-Samad M, Punwasi N, Blaser MC, Cahalane RM, Botts SR, Prajapati K, Patel S, Wu R, Gustafson D, Galant NJ, Fiddes L, Chemaly M, Hedin U, Matic L, Seidman M, Subasri V, Singh SA, Aikawa E, Fish JE, Howe KL. Multiomics unveils extracellular vesicle-driven mechanisms of endothelial communication in human carotid atherosclerosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.21.599781. [PMID: 38979218 PMCID: PMC11230219 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.599781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Background: Carotid atherosclerosis is orchestrated by cell-cell communication that drives progression along a clinical continuum (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived nanoparticles representing a new paradigm in cellular communication. Little is known about their biological cargo, cellular origin/destination, and functional roles in human atherosclerotic plaque. Methods: EVs were enriched via size exclusion chromatography from human carotid endarterectomy samples dissected into paired plaque and marginal zones (symptomatic n=16, asymptomatic n=13). EV cargos were assessed via whole transcriptome miRNA sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. EV multi-omics were integrated with bulk and single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets to predict EV cellular origin and ligand-receptor interactions, and multi-modal biological network integration of EV-cargo was completed. EV functional impact was assessed with endothelial angiogenesis assays. Results: Carotid plaques contained more EVs than adjacent marginal zones, with differential enrichment for EV-miRNAs and EV-proteins in key atherogenic pathways. EV cellular origin analysis suggested that tissue EV signatures originated from endothelial cells (EC), smooth muscle cells (SMC), and immune cells. Integrated tissue vesiculomics and scRNA-seq indicated complex EV-vascular cell communication that changed with disease progression and plaque vulnerability (i.e., symptomatic disease). Plaques from symptomatic patients, but not asymptomatic patients, were characterized by increased involvement of endothelial pathways and more complex ligand-receptor interactions, relative to their marginal zones. Plaque-EVs were predicted to mediate communication with ECs. Pathway enrichment analysis delineated an endothelial signature with roles in angiogenesis and neovascularization - well-known indices of plaque instability. This was validated functionally, wherein human carotid symptomatic plaque EVs induced sprouting angiogenesis in comparison to their matched marginal zones. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that EVs may drive dynamic changes in plaques through EV- vascular cell communication and effector functions that typify vulnerability to rupture, precipitating symptomatic disease. The discovery of endothelial-directed angiogenic processes mediated by EVs creates new therapeutic avenues for atherosclerosis.
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29
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Salido E, de Medeiros Vieira C, Mosquera JV, Zade R, Miller CL, Lo Sardo V. The 9p21.3 coronary artery disease risk locus drives vascular smooth muscle cells to an osteochondrogenic state. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.25.595888. [PMID: 38853913 PMCID: PMC11160673 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.25.595888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified common genetic variants at ~400 human genomic loci linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility. Among these genomic regions, the most impactful is the 9p21.3 CAD risk locus, which spans a 60 kb gene desert and encompasses ~80 SNPs in high linkage disequilibrium. Despite nearly two decades since its discovery, the functional mechanism of this genomic region remains incompletely resolved. To investigate the transcriptional gene programs mediated by 9p21.3 risk locus, we applied a model of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from risk and non-risk donors at 9p21.3, as well as isogenic lines with a full haplotype deletion. Upon differentiation to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), single-cell transcriptomic profiling demonstrated iPSC-VSMC phenotypes resembling those from native human coronary arteries, confirming the robustness of this model. Remarkably, our analyses revealed that VSMCs harboring the 9p21.3 risk haplotype preferentially adopt an osteochondrogenic state. Importantly, we identified LIMCH1 and CRABP1 as signature genes critical for defining this transcriptional program. Our study provides new insights into the mechanism at the 9p21.3 risk locus and defines its role in driving a disease-prone transcriptional state in VSMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Salido
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53705 USA
| | | | - José Verdezoto Mosquera
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics; University of Virginia; Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Rohan Zade
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53705 USA
| | - Clint L. Miller
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics; University of Virginia; Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Valentina Lo Sardo
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison, WI 53705 USA
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30
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Xiang L, Wang Y, Liu S, Ying L, Zhang K, Liang N, Li H, Luo G, Xiao L. Quercetin Attenuates KLF4-Mediated Phenotypic Switch of VSMCs to Macrophage-like Cells in Atherosclerosis: A Critical Role for the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7755. [PMID: 39062998 PMCID: PMC11277168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147755] [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: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to elucidate the protective role of quercetin in atherosclerosis by examining its effect on the phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to macrophage-like cells and the underlying regulatory pathways. Aorta tissues from apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE KO) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), treated with or without 100 mg/kg/day quercetin, were analyzed for histopathological changes and molecular mechanisms. Quercetin was found to decrease the size of atherosclerotic lesions and mitigate lipid accumulation induced by HFD. Fluorescence co-localization analysis revealed a higher presence of macrophage-like vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) co-localizing with phospho-Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), and Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in regions of foam cell aggregation within aortic plaques. However, this co-localization was reduced following treatment with quercetin. Quercetin treatment effectively inhibited the KLF4-mediated phenotypic switch in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-loaded mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (MOVAS), as indicated by decreased expressions of KLF4, LGALS3, CD68, and F4/80, increased expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), reduced intracellular fluorescence Dil-ox-LDL uptake, and decreased lipid accumulation. In contrast, APTO-253, a KLF4 activator, was found to reverse the effects of quercetin. Furthermore, AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor, effectively counteracted the ox-LDL-induced JAK2/STAT3 pathway-dependent switch to a macrophage-like phenotype and lipid accumulation in MOVAS cells. These effects were significantly mitigated by quercetin but exacerbated by coumermycin A1, a JAK2 activator. Our research illustrates that quercetin inhibits the KLF4-mediated phenotypic switch of VSMCs to macrophage-like cells and reduces atherosclerosis by suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Quercetin/pharmacology
- Janus Kinase 2/metabolism
- Kruppel-Like Factor 4/metabolism
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/drug therapy
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics
- Mice
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Macrophages/drug effects
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Male
- Phenotype
- Lipoproteins, LDL/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects
- Aorta/metabolism
- Aorta/drug effects
- Aorta/pathology
- Apolipoproteins E/metabolism
- Apolipoproteins E/genetics
- Mice, Knockout
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gang Luo
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; (L.X.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (L.Y.); (K.Z.); (N.L.); (H.L.)
| | - Lin Xiao
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China; (L.X.); (Y.W.); (S.L.); (L.Y.); (K.Z.); (N.L.); (H.L.)
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31
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Ni L, Yang L, Lin Y. Recent progress of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the mechanism of atherosclerosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1413441. [PMID: 39070554 PMCID: PMC11282489 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1413441] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The research progress of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in atherosclerosis (AS) is of great concern. The ER, a critical cellular organelle, plays a role in important biological processes including protein synthesis, folding, and modification. Various pathological factors may cause ER stress, and sustained or excessive ER stress triggers the unfolded protein response, ultimately resulting in apoptosis and disease. Recently, researchers have discovered the importance of ER stress in the onset and advancement of AS. ER stress contributes to the occurrence of AS through different pathways such as apoptosis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and autophagy. Therefore, this review focuses on the mechanisms of ER stress in the development of AS and related therapeutic targets, which will contribute to a deeper understanding of the disease's pathogenesis and provide novel strategies for preventing and treating AS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yuanyuan Lin
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
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32
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Weldy CS, Li Q, Monteiro JP, Guo H, Galls D, Gu W, Cheng PP, Ramste M, Li D, Palmisano BT, Sharma D, Worssam MD, Zhao Q, Bhate A, Kundu RK, Nguyen T, Li JB, Quertermous T. Smooth muscle expression of RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 controls vascular integrity and progression of atherosclerosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.08.602569. [PMID: 39026721 PMCID: PMC11257488 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.08.602569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Mapping the genomic architecture of complex disease has been predicated on the understanding that genetic variants influence disease risk through modifying gene expression. However, recent discoveries have revealed that a significant burden of disease heritability in common autoinflammatory disorders and coronary artery disease is mediated through genetic variation modifying post-transcriptional modification of RNA through adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing. This common RNA modification is catalyzed by ADAR enzymes, where ADAR1 edits specific immunogenic double stranded RNA (dsRNA) to prevent activation of the double strand RNA (dsRNA) sensor MDA5 ( IFIH1 ) and stimulation of an interferon stimulated gene (ISG) response. Multiple lines of human genetic data indicate impaired RNA editing and increased dsRNA sensing to be an important mechanism of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Here, we provide a crucial link between observations in human genetics and mechanistic cell biology leading to progression of CAD. Through analysis of human atherosclerotic plaque, we implicate the vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) to have a unique requirement for RNA editing, and that ISG induction occurs in SMC phenotypic modulation, implicating MDA5 activation. Through culture of human coronary artery SMCs, generation of a conditional SMC specific Adar1 deletion mouse model on a pro-atherosclerosis background, and with incorporation of single cell RNA sequencing cellular profiling, we further show that Adar1 controls SMC phenotypic state, is required to maintain vascular integrity, and controls progression of atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. Through this work, we describe a fundamental mechanism of CAD, where cell type and context specific RNA editing and sensing of dsRNA mediates disease progression, bridging our understanding of human genetics and disease causality.
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33
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Mangum KD, Li Q, Bauer TM, Wolf SJ, Shadiow J, Moon JY, Barrett EC, Joshi AD, Ahmed Z, Wasikowski R, Boyer K, Obi AT, Davis FM, Chang L, Tsoi LC, Gudjonsson J, Gallagher KA. Epigenetic Alteration of Smooth Muscle Cells Regulates Endothelin-Dependent Blood Pressure and Hypertensive Arterial Remodeling. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.07.09.24310178. [PMID: 39040193 PMCID: PMC11261912 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.09.24310178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Long-standing hypertension (HTN) affects multiple organ systems and leads to pathologic arterial remodeling, which is driven largely by smooth muscle cell (SMC) plasticity. Although genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous variants associated with changes in blood pressure in humans, only a small percentage of these variants actually cause HTN. In order to identify relevant genes important in SMC function in HTN, we screened three separate human GWAS and Mendelian randomization studies to identify SNPs located within non-coding gene regions, focusing on genes encoding epigenetic enzymes, as these have been recently identified to control SMC fate in cardiovascular disease. We identified SNPs rs62059712 and rs74480102 in the promoter of the human JMJD3 gene and show that the minor C allele increases JMJD3 transcription in SMCs via increased SP1 binding to the JMJD3 promoter. Using our novel SMC-specific Jmjd3-deficient murine model ( Jmjd3 flox/flox Myh11 CreERT ), we show that loss of Jmjd3 in SMCs results in HTN, mechanistically, due to decreased EDNRB expression and a compensatory increase in EDNRA expression. As a translational corollary, through single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of human arteries, we found strong correlation between JMJD3 and EDNRB expression in SMCs. Further, we identified that JMJD3 is required for SMC-specific gene expression, and loss of JMJD3 in SMCs in the setting of HTN results in increased arterial remodeling by promoting the SMC synthetic phenotype. Our findings link a HTN-associated human DNA variant with regulation of SMC plasticity, revealing therapeutic targets that may be used in the screening and/or personalized treatment of HTN.
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34
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Nankivell V, Vidanapathirana AK, Hoogendoorn A, Tan JTM, Verjans J, Psaltis PJ, Hutchinson MR, Gibson BC, Lu Y, Goldys E, Zheng G, Bursill CA. Targeting macrophages with multifunctional nanoparticles to detect and prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc Res 2024; 120:819-838. [PMID: 38696700 PMCID: PMC11218693 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae099] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the emergence of novel diagnostic, pharmacological, interventional, and prevention strategies, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Nanoparticle (NP)-based platforms encompass diverse imaging, delivery, and pharmacological properties that provide novel opportunities for refining diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for atherosclerosis at the cellular and molecular levels. Macrophages play a critical role in atherosclerosis and therefore represent an important disease-related diagnostic and therapeutic target, especially given their inherent ability for passive and active NP uptake. In this review, we discuss an array of inorganic, carbon-based, and lipid-based NPs that provide magnetic, radiographic, and fluorescent imaging capabilities for a range of highly promising research and clinical applications in atherosclerosis. We discuss the design of NPs that target a range of macrophage-related functions such as lipoprotein oxidation, cholesterol efflux, vascular inflammation, and defective efferocytosis. We also provide examples of NP systems that were developed for other pathologies such as cancer and highlight their potential for repurposing in cardiovascular disease. Finally, we discuss the current state of play and the future of theranostic NPs. Whilst this is not without its challenges, the array of multifunctional capabilities that are possible in NP design ensures they will be part of the next frontier of exciting new therapies that simultaneously improve the accuracy of plaque diagnosis and more effectively reduce atherosclerosis with limited side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Nankivell
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Vascular Research Centre, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Achini K Vidanapathirana
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Vascular Research Centre, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Ayla Hoogendoorn
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Vascular Research Centre, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Joanne T M Tan
- Vascular Research Centre, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Johan Verjans
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Vascular Research Centre, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Peter J Psaltis
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Vascular Research Centre, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Mark R Hutchinson
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
| | - Brant C Gibson
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yiqing Lu
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ewa Goldys
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, High Street, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Gang Zheng
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Christina A Bursill
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP)
- Vascular Research Centre, Lifelong Health, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Science, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
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35
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Ravindran A, Holappa L, Niskanen H, Skovorodkin I, Kaisto S, Beter M, Kiema M, Selvarajan I, Nurminen V, Aavik E, Aherrahrou R, Pasonen-Seppänen S, Fortino V, Laakkonen JP, Ylä-Herttuala S, Vainio S, Örd T, Kaikkonen MU. Translatome profiling reveals Itih4 as a novel smooth muscle cell-specific gene in atherosclerosis. Cardiovasc Res 2024; 120:869-882. [PMID: 38289873 PMCID: PMC11218691 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae028] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and their derivatives are key contributors to the development of atherosclerosis. However, studying changes in SMC gene expression in heterogeneous vascular tissues is challenging due to the technical limitations and high cost associated with current approaches. In this paper, we apply translating ribosome affinity purification sequencing to profile SMC-specific gene expression directly from tissue. METHODS AND RESULTS To facilitate SMC-specific translatome analysis, we generated SMCTRAP mice, a transgenic mouse line expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged ribosomal protein L10a (EGFP-L10a) under the control of the SMC-specific αSMA promoter. These mice were further crossed with the atherosclerosis model Ldlr-/-, ApoB100/100 to generate SMCTRAP-AS mice and used to profile atherosclerosis-associated SMCs in thoracic aorta samples of 15-month-old SMCTRAP and SMCTRAP-AS mice. Our analysis of SMCTRAP-AS mice showed that EGFP-L10a expression was localized to SMCs in various tissues, including the aortic wall and plaque. The TRAP fraction demonstrated high enrichment of known SMC-specific genes, confirming the specificity of our approach. We identified several genes, including Cemip, Lum, Mfge8, Spp1, and Serpina3, which are known to be involved in atherosclerosis-induced gene expression. Moreover, we identified several novel genes not previously linked to SMCs in atherosclerosis, such as Anxa4, Cd276, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor-4 (Itih4), Myof, Pcdh11x, Rab31, Serpinb6b, Slc35e4, Slc8a3, and Spink5. Among them, we confirmed the SMC-specific expression of Itih4 in atherosclerotic lesions using immunofluorescence staining of mouse aortic roots and spatial transcriptomics of human carotid arteries. Furthermore, our more detailed analysis of Itih4 showed its link to coronary artery disease through the colocalization of genome-wide association studies, splice quantitative trait loci (QTL), and protein QTL signals. CONCLUSION We generated a SMC-specific TRAP mouse line to study atherosclerosis and identified Itih4 as a novel SMC-expressed gene in atherosclerotic plaques, warranting further investigation of its putative function in extracellular matrix stability and genetic evidence of causality.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Aorta/metabolism
- Aorta/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/genetics
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/metabolism
- Apolipoprotein B-100/genetics
- Apolipoprotein B-100/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Phenotype
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic
- Receptors, LDL/genetics
- Receptors, LDL/metabolism
- Ribosomal Proteins/genetics
- Ribosomal Proteins/metabolism
- Transcriptome
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarthi Ravindran
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Lari Holappa
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Henri Niskanen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ilya Skovorodkin
- Disease networks research unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Kvantum Institute, Infotech Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Susanna Kaisto
- Disease networks research unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Kvantum Institute, Infotech Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mustafa Beter
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Miika Kiema
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ilakya Selvarajan
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Valtteri Nurminen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Einari Aavik
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Rédouane Aherrahrou
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Institute for Cardiogenetics, Universität zu Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, University Heart Centre Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sanna Pasonen-Seppänen
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Vittorio Fortino
- Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna P Laakkonen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Vainio
- Disease networks research unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Kvantum Institute, Infotech Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiit Örd
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Minna U Kaikkonen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
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36
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Kawai K, Kawakami R, Finn AV, Virmani R. Differences in Stable and Unstable Atherosclerotic Plaque. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1474-1484. [PMID: 38924440 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.319396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Kawai
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., R.K., A.V.F., R.V.)
| | - Rika Kawakami
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., R.K., A.V.F., R.V.)
| | - Aloke V Finn
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., R.K., A.V.F., R.V.)
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore (A.V.F.)
| | - Renu Virmani
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., R.K., A.V.F., R.V.)
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37
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MacRitchie N, Maffia P. Blocking Interleukin-1β: A Double-Edged Sword in Experimental Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1537-1539. [PMID: 38813698 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.321113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Neil MacRitchie
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (N.M., P.M.), University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Pasquale Maffia
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (N.M., P.M.), University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (P.M.), University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence in Non-Communicable Diseases and Multimorbidity, Glasgow, United Kingdom (P.M.)
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Italy (P.M.)
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38
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Elishaev M, Li B, Zhou A, Salim K, Leeper NJ, Francis GA, Lai C, Wang Y. Multiplex Imaging for Cell Phenotyping of Early Human Atherosclerosis. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e034990. [PMID: 38842292 PMCID: PMC11255771 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.034990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies using animal models and cultured cells suggest that vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and inflammatory cytokines are important players in atherogenesis. Validating these findings in human disease is critical to designing therapeutics that target these components. Multiplex imaging is a powerful tool for characterizing cell phenotypes and microenvironments using biobanked human tissue sections. However, this technology has not been applied to human atherosclerotic lesions and needs to first be customized and validated. METHODS AND RESULTS For validation, we created an 8-plex imaging panel to distinguish foam cells from SMC and leukocyte origins on tissue sections of early human atherosclerotic lesions (n=9). The spatial distribution and characteristics of these foam cells were further analyzed to test the association between SMC phenotypes and inflammation. Consistent with previous reports using human lesions, multiplex imaging showed that foam cells of SMC origin outnumbered those of leukocyte origin and were enriched in the deep intima, where the lipids accumulate in early atherogenesis. This new technology also found that apoptosis or the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were not more associated with foam cells than with nonfoam cells in early human lesions. More CD68+ SMCs were present among SMCs that highly expressed interleukin-1β. Highly inflamed SMCs showed a trend of increased apoptosis, whereas leukocytes expressing similar levels of cytokines were enriched in regions of extracellular matrix remodeling. CONCLUSIONS The multiplex imaging method can be applied to biobanked human tissue sections to enable proof-of-concept studies and validate theories based on animal models and cultured cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elishaev
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Centre for Heart Lung InnovationUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Boaz Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Centre for Heart Lung InnovationUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Annie Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Centre for Heart Lung InnovationUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Kevin Salim
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research InstituteUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Nicholas J. Leeper
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular SurgeryStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCAUSA
- Stanford Cardiovascular InstituteStanford UniversityStanfordCAUSA
| | - Gordon A. Francis
- Centre for Heart Lung InnovationUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Department of MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Chi Lai
- Centre for Heart Lung InnovationUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Division of Anatomical PathologyProvidence Health Care, St. Paul’s HospitalVancouverBCCanada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Centre for Heart Lung InnovationUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
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39
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La Chica Lhoëst MT, Martinez A, Claudi L, Garcia E, Benitez-Amaro A, Polishchuk A, Piñero J, Vilades D, Guerra JM, Sanz F, Rotllan N, Escolà-Gil JC, Llorente-Cortés V. Mechanisms modulating foam cell formation in the arterial intima: exploring new therapeutic opportunities in atherosclerosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1381520. [PMID: 38952543 PMCID: PMC11215187 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1381520] [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: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the role of macrophages as the primary cell type contributing to foam cell formation and atheroma plaque development has been widely acknowledged. However, it has been long recognized that diffuse intimal thickening (DIM), which precedes the formation of early fatty streaks in humans, primarily consists of lipid-loaded smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and their secreted proteoglycans. Recent studies have further supported the notion that SMCs constitute the majority of foam cells in advanced atherosclerotic plaques. Given that SMCs are a major component of the vascular wall, they serve as a significant source of microvesicles and exosomes, which have the potential to regulate the physiology of other vascular cells. Notably, more than half of the foam cells present in atherosclerotic lesions are of SMC origin. In this review, we describe several mechanisms underlying the formation of intimal foam-like cells in atherosclerotic plaques. Based on these mechanisms, we discuss novel therapeutic approaches that have been developed to regulate the generation of intimal foam-like cells. These innovative strategies hold promise for improving the management of atherosclerosis in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. T. La Chica Lhoëst
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - A. Martinez
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - L. Claudi
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - E. Garcia
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - A. Benitez-Amaro
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - A. Polishchuk
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
| | - J. Piñero
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - D. Vilades
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-SANTPAU), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, CIBERCV, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - J. M. Guerra
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB-SANTPAU), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, CIBERCV, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - F. Sanz
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - N. Rotllan
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, CIBERDEM, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - J. C. Escolà-Gil
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, CIBERDEM, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - V. Llorente-Cortés
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR SANT PAU), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cardiovascular, CIBERCV, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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40
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Kang K, Sun C, Li H, Liu X, Deng J, Chen S, Zeng L, Chen J, Liu X, Kuang J, Xiang J, Cheng J, Liao X, Lin M, Zhang X, Zhan C, Liu S, Wang J, Niu Y, Liu C, Liang C, Zhu J, Liang S, Tang H, Gou D. N6-methyladenosine-driven miR-143/145-KLF4 circuit orchestrates the phenotypic switch of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:256. [PMID: 38866991 PMCID: PMC11335293 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05304-1] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by vascular remodeling predominantly driven by a phenotypic switching in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). However, the underlying mechanisms for this phenotypic alteration remain incompletely understood. Here, we identified that RNA methyltransferase METTL3 is significantly elevated in the lungs of hypoxic PH (HPH) mice and rats, as well as in the pulmonary arteries (PAs) of HPH rats. Targeted deletion of Mettl3 in smooth muscle cells exacerbated hemodynamic consequences of hypoxia-induced PH and accelerated pulmonary vascular remodeling in vivo. Additionally, the absence of METTL3 markedly induced phenotypic switching in PASMCs in vitro. Mechanistically, METTL3 depletion attenuated m6A modification and hindered the processing of pri-miR-143/145, leading to a downregulation of miR-143-3p and miR-145-5p. Inhibition of hnRNPA2B1, an m6A mediator involved in miRNA maturation, similarly resulted in a significant reduction of miR-143-3p and miR-145-5p. We demonstrated that miR-145-5p targets Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and miR-143-3p targets fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) in PASMCs. The decrease of miR-145-5p subsequently induced an upregulation of KLF4, which in turn suppressed miR-143/145 transcription, establishing a positive feedback circuit between KLF4 and miR-143/145. This regulatory circuit facilitates the persistent suppression of contractile marker genes, thereby sustaining PASMC phenotypic switch. Collectively, hypoxia-induced upregulation of METTL3, along with m6A mediated regulation of miR-143/145, might serve as a protective mechanism against phenotypic switch of PASMCs. Our results highlight a potential therapeutic strategy targeting m6A modified miR-143/145-KLF4 loop in the treatment of PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Kang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuannan Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaojia Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingyuan Deng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Silei Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Le Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jiahao Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiahao Kuang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingjing Xiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingqian Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoyun Liao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Mujin Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingshi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuzhi Zhan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Sisi Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Yanqin Niu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Cuilian Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Cai Liang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jinsheng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuxin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Haiyang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Deming Gou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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41
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Chatterjee P, Martin KA. A Concept of "Athero-Oncology": Tumor-Like Smooth Muscle Cells Drive Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2024; 149:1899-1902. [PMID: 38857330 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.124.069446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Payel Chatterjee
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Kathleen A Martin
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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42
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Getz GS, Reardon CA. Insights from Murine Studies on the Site Specificity of Atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6375. [PMID: 38928086 PMCID: PMC11204064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126375] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory reaction that develops at specific regions within the artery wall and at specific sites of the arterial tree over a varying time frame in response to a variety of risk factors. The mechanisms that account for the interaction of systemic factors and atherosclerosis-susceptible regions of the arterial tree to mediate this site-specific development of atherosclerosis are not clear. The dynamics of blood flow has a major influence on where in the arterial tree atherosclerosis develops, priming the site for interactions with atherosclerotic risk factors and inducing cellular and molecular participants in atherogenesis. But how this accounts for lesion development at various locations along the vascular tree across differing time frames still requires additional study. Currently, murine models are favored for the experimental study of atherogenesis and provide the most insight into the mechanisms that may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Based largely on these studies, in this review, we discuss the role of hemodynamic shear stress, SR-B1, and other factors that may contribute to the site-specific development of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey S. Getz
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA;
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43
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Zhang R, Wang H, Cheng X, Fan K, Gao T, Qi X, Gao S, Zheng G, Dong H. High estrogen induces trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells to a macrophage-like phenotype resulting in aortic inflammation via inhibiting VHL/HIF1a/KLF4 axis. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:9876-9898. [PMID: 38843385 PMCID: PMC11210252 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205904] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen is thought to have a role in slowing down aging and protecting cardiovascular and cognitive function. However, high doses of estrogen are still positively associated with autoimmune diseases and tumors with systemic inflammation. First, we administered exogenous estrogen to female mice for three consecutive months and found that the aorta of mice on estrogen develops inflammatory manifestations similar to Takayasu arteritis (TAK). Then, in vitro estrogen intervention was performed on mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (MOVAS cells). Stimulated by high concentrations of estradiol, MOVAS cells showed decreased expression of contractile phenotypic markers and increased expression of macrophage-like phenotypic markers. This shift was blocked by tamoxifen and Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) inhibitors and enhanced by Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) interaction inhibitors. It suggests that estrogen-targeted regulation of the VHL/HIF-1α/KLF4 axis induces phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In addition, estrogen-regulated phenotypic conversion of VSMC to macrophages is a key mechanism of estrogen-induced vascular inflammation, which justifies the risk of clinical use of estrogen replacement therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Kruppel-Like Factor 4
- Animals
- Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors/genetics
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Macrophages/drug effects
- Mice
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Female
- Estrogens/pharmacology
- Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein/metabolism
- Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein/genetics
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Cell Transdifferentiation/drug effects
- Phenotype
- Aorta/pathology
- Aorta/drug effects
- Inflammation/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijing Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Xing Cheng
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Keyi Fan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Tingting Gao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiaotong Qi
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Siqi Gao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Guoping Zheng
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
- Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Honglin Dong
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
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44
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Teuwen JTJ, van der Vorst EPC, Maas SL. Navigating the Maze of Kinases: CaMK-like Family Protein Kinases and Their Role in Atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6213. [PMID: 38892400 PMCID: PMC11172518 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116213] [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: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels are a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and even though current treatment strategies focusing on lowering lipid levels are effective, CVD remains the primary cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is the major cause of CVD and is a chronic inflammatory condition in which various cell types and protein kinases play a crucial role. However, the underlying mechanisms of atherosclerosis are not entirely understood yet. Notably, protein kinases are highly druggable targets and represent, therefore, a novel way to target atherosclerosis. In this review, the potential role of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-like (CaMKL) family and its role in atherosclerosis will be discussed. This family consists of 12 subfamilies, among which are the well-described and conserved liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) subfamilies. Interestingly, LKB1 plays a key role and is considered a master kinase within the CaMKL family. It has been shown that LKB1 signaling leads to atheroprotective effects, while, for example, members of the microtubule affinity-regulating kinase (MARK) subfamily have been described to aggravate atherosclerosis development. These observations highlight the importance of studying kinases and their signaling pathways in atherosclerosis, bringing us a step closer to unraveling the underlying mechanisms of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules T. J. Teuwen
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
- Aachen-Maastricht Institute for CardioRenal Disease (AMICARE), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Emiel P. C. van der Vorst
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
- Aachen-Maastricht Institute for CardioRenal Disease (AMICARE), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336 München, Germany
| | - Sanne L. Maas
- Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
- Aachen-Maastricht Institute for CardioRenal Disease (AMICARE), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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45
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Lambert J, Oc S, Worssam MD, Häußler D, Solomon CU, Figg NL, Baxter R, Imaz M, Taylor JCK, Foote K, Finigan A, Mahbubani KT, Webb TR, Ye S, Bennett MR, Krüger A, Spivakov M, Jørgensen HF. Network-based prioritization and validation of regulators of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in disease. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2024; 3:714-733. [PMID: 39215134 PMCID: PMC11182749 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-024-00474-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) homeostasis and proliferation characterize vascular diseases causing heart attack and stroke. Here we elucidate molecular determinants governing VSMC proliferation by reconstructing gene regulatory networks from single-cell transcriptomics and epigenetic profiling. We detect widespread activation of enhancers at disease-relevant loci in proliferation-predisposed VSMCs. We compared gene regulatory network rewiring between injury-responsive and nonresponsive VSMCs, which suggested shared transcription factors but differing target loci between VSMC states. Through in silico perturbation analysis, we identified and prioritized previously unrecognized regulators of proliferation, including RUNX1 and TIMP1. Moreover, we showed that the pioneer transcription factor RUNX1 increased VSMC responsiveness and that TIMP1 feeds back to promote VSMC proliferation through CD74-mediated STAT3 signaling. Both RUNX1 and the TIMP1-CD74 axis were expressed in human VSMCs, showing low levels in normal arteries and increased expression in disease, suggesting clinical relevance and potential as vascular disease targets.
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MESH Headings
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology
- Humans
- Cell Proliferation/genetics
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Gene Regulatory Networks
- Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/metabolism
- Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/genetics
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/genetics
- Signal Transduction/genetics
- Cells, Cultured
- Single-Cell Analysis
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Transcriptome
- Animals
- Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Lambert
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sebnem Oc
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Functional Gene Control Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Matthew D Worssam
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Häußler
- TUM School of Medicine and Health, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Charles U Solomon
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, and National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Leicester, UK
| | - Nichola L Figg
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ruby Baxter
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Imaz
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - James C K Taylor
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kirsty Foote
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alison Finigan
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Krishnaa T Mahbubani
- Collaborative Biorepository for Translational Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tom R Webb
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, and National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Leicester, UK
| | - Shu Ye
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, and National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Leicester, UK
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Translational Research Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Martin R Bennett
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Achim Krüger
- TUM School of Medicine and Health, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mikhail Spivakov
- Functional Gene Control Group, MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Helle F Jørgensen
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart and Lung Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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46
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Karnewar S, Karnewar V, Deaton R, Shankman LS, Benavente ED, Williams CM, Bradley X, Alencar GF, Bulut GB, Kirmani S, Baylis RA, Zunder ER, den Ruijter HM, Pasterkamp G, Owens GK. IL-1β Inhibition Partially Negates the Beneficial Effects of Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis Regression in Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1379-1392. [PMID: 38695167 PMCID: PMC11111338 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.320800] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thromboembolic events secondary to rupture or erosion of advanced atherosclerotic lesions is the global leading cause of death. The most common and effective means to reduce these major adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, is aggressive lipid lowering via a combination of drugs and dietary modifications. However, we know little regarding the effects of reducing dietary lipids on the composition and stability of advanced atherosclerotic lesions, the mechanisms that regulate these processes, and what therapeutic approaches might augment the benefits of lipid lowering. METHODS Smooth muscle cell lineage-tracing Apoe-/- mice were fed a high-cholesterol Western diet for 18 weeks and then a zero-cholesterol standard laboratory diet for 12 weeks before treating them with an IL (interleukin)-1β or control antibody for 8 weeks. We assessed lesion size and remodeling indices, as well as the cellular composition of aortic and brachiocephalic artery lesions, indices of plaque stability, overall plaque burden, and phenotypic transitions of smooth muscle cell and other lesion cells by smooth muscle cell lineage tracing combined with single-cell RNA sequencing, cytometry by time-of-flight, and immunostaining plus high-resolution confocal microscopic z-stack analysis. RESULTS Lipid lowering by switching Apoe-/- mice from a Western diet to a standard laboratory diet reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 70% and resulted in multiple beneficial effects including reduced overall aortic plaque burden, as well as reduced intraplaque hemorrhage and necrotic core area. However, contrary to expectations, IL-1β antibody treatment after diet-induced reductions in lipids resulted in multiple detrimental changes including increased plaque burden and brachiocephalic artery lesion size, as well as increasedintraplaque hemorrhage, necrotic core area, and senescence as compared with IgG control antibody-treated mice. Furthermore, IL-1β antibody treatment upregulated neutrophil degranulation pathways but downregulated smooth muscle cell extracellular matrix pathways likely important for the protective fibrous cap. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, IL-1β appears to be required for the maintenance of standard laboratory diet-induced reductions in plaque burden and increases in multiple indices of plaque stability.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Interleukin-1beta/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Atherosclerosis/prevention & control
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic
- Mice
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Male
- Diet, Western
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Aorta/pathology
- Aorta/metabolism
- Aorta/drug effects
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/prevention & control
- Aortic Diseases/genetics
- Aortic Diseases/metabolism
- Diet, High-Fat
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Brachiocephalic Trunk/pathology
- Brachiocephalic Trunk/metabolism
- Brachiocephalic Trunk/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Karnewar
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Vaishnavi Karnewar
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Rebecca Deaton
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Laura S. Shankman
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Ernest D. Benavente
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Corey M. Williams
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Xenia Bradley
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Gabriel F. Alencar
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Gamze B. Bulut
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Sara Kirmani
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Richard A. Baylis
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Eli R. Zunder
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Hester M. den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Gary K. Owens
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
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47
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Tang SY, Lordan R, Meng H, Auerbach BJ, Hennessy EJ, Sengupta A, Das US, Joshi R, Marcos-Contreras OA, McConnell R, Grant GR, Ricciotti E, Muzykantov VR, Grosser T, Weiljie AM, FitzGerald GA. Differential Impact In Vivo of Pf4-ΔCre-Mediated and Gp1ba-ΔCre-Mediated Depletion of Cyclooxygenase-1 in Platelets in Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:1393-1406. [PMID: 38660804 PMCID: PMC11138953 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320295] [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: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low-dose aspirin is widely used for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects of low-dose aspirin are attributable to its inhibition of platelet Cox (cyclooxygenase)-1-derived thromboxane A2. Until recently, the use of the Pf4 (platelet factor 4) Cre has been the only genetic approach to generating megakaryocyte/platelet ablation of Cox-1 in mice. However, Pf4-ΔCre displays ectopic expression outside the megakaryocyte/platelet lineage, especially during inflammation. The use of the Gp1ba (glycoprotein 1bα) Cre promises a more specific, targeted approach. METHODS To evaluate the role of Cox-1 in platelets, we crossed Pf4-ΔCre or Gp1ba-ΔCre mice with Cox-1flox/flox mice to generate platelet Cox-1-/- mice on normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic (Ldlr-/-; low-density lipoprotein receptor) backgrounds. RESULTS Ex vivo platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid or adenosine diphosphate in platelet-rich plasma was inhibited to a similar extent in Pf4-ΔCre Cox-1-/-/Ldlr-/- and Gp1ba-ΔCre Cox-1-/-/Ldlr-/- mice. In a mouse model of tail injury, Pf4-ΔCre-mediated and Gp1ba-ΔCre-mediated deletions of Cox-1 were similarly efficient in suppressing platelet prostanoid biosynthesis. Experimental thrombogenesis and attendant blood loss were similar in both models. However, the impact on atherogenesis was divergent, being accelerated in the Pf4-ΔCre mice while restrained in the Gp1ba-ΔCres. In the former, accelerated atherogenesis was associated with greater suppression of PGI2 biosynthesis, a reduction in the lipopolysaccharide-evoked capacity to produce PGE2 (prostaglandin E) and PGD2 (prostanglandin D), activation of the inflammasome, elevated plasma levels of IL-1β (interleukin), reduced plasma levels of HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein receptor-cholesterol), and a reduction in the capacity for reverse cholesterol transport. By contrast, in the latter, plasma HDL-C and α-tocopherol were elevated, and MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-1α) and MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) were reduced. CONCLUSIONS Both approaches to Cox-1 deletion similarly restrain thrombogenesis, but a differential impact on Cox-1-dependent prostanoid formation by the vasculature may contribute to an inflammatory phenotype and accelerated atherogenesis in Pf4-ΔCre mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soon Yew Tang
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Ronan Lordan
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Hu Meng
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Benjamin J. Auerbach
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Elizabeth J. Hennessy
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Arjun Sengupta
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Ujjalkumar S. Das
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Robin Joshi
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | - Ryan McConnell
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Gregory R. Grant
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Emanuela Ricciotti
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Vladimir R. Muzykantov
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Tilo Grosser
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Medicine Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Aalim M. Weiljie
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Garret A. FitzGerald
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania
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48
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Chu S, Shan D, He L, Yang S, Feng Y, Zhang Y, Yu J. Anemoside B4 attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm by limiting smooth muscle cell transdifferentiation and its mediated inflammation. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1412022. [PMID: 38881898 PMCID: PMC11176519 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1412022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a degenerative disease characterized by local abnormal dilation of the aorta accompanied by vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction and chronic inflammation. VSMC dedifferentiation, transdifferentiation, and increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are essential causes of AAA formation. Previous studies from us and others have shown that Anemoside B4 (AB4), a saponin from Pulsatilla chinensis, has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and regulatory effects on VSMC dedifferentiation. The current study aimed to investigate whether AB4 inhibits AAA development and its underlying mechanisms. By using an Ang II induced AAA model in vivo and cholesterol loading mediated VSMC to macrophage transdifferentiation model in vitro, our study demonstrated that AB4 could attenuate AAA pathogenesis, prevent VSMC dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation to macrophage-like cells, decrease vascular inflammation, and suppress MMP expression and activity. Furthermore, KLF4 overexpression attenuated the effects of AB4 on VSMC to macrophage-like cell transition and VSMC inflammation in vitro. In conclusion, AB4 protects against AAA formation in mice by inhibiting KLF4 mediated VSMC transdifferentiation and inflammation. Our study provides the first proof of concept of using AB4 for AAA management.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/pathology
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/metabolism
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/prevention & control
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/chemically induced
- Cell Transdifferentiation/drug effects
- Kruppel-Like Factor 4/metabolism
- Mice
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Saponins/pharmacology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Male
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Macrophages/drug effects
- Macrophages/immunology
- Angiotensin II/pharmacology
- Humans
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhan Chu
- Center for Translational Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dan Shan
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Luling He
- Center for Translational Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shilin Yang
- National Pharmaceutical Engineering Center (NPEC) for Solid Preparation in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yulin Feng
- National Pharmaceutical Engineering Center (NPEC) for Solid Preparation in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Center for Translational Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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49
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Hernandes MS, Griendling KK. RNA Sequencing Atherosclerosis Data Sets: Expanding Potential Therapeutic Targets. Circ Res 2024; 134:1424-1426. [PMID: 38781303 PMCID: PMC11125524 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.324239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kathy K Griendling
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
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50
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Brown SD, Klimi E, Bakker WAM, Beqqali A, Baker AH. Non-coding RNAs to treat vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38773733 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16409] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) dysfunction is a critical contributor to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, restenosis and vein graft failure. Recent advances have unveiled a fascinating range of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that play a pivotal role in regulating vSMC function. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms underlying vSMC dysfunction and the therapeutic potential of various ncRNAs in mitigating this dysfunction, either preventing or reversing it. We explore the intricate interplay of microRNAs, long-non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, shedding light on their roles in regulating key signalling pathways associated with vSMC dysfunction. We also discuss the prospects and challenges associated with developing ncRNA-based therapies for this prevalent type of cardiovascular pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brown
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Eftychia Klimi
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew H Baker
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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