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Cano E, Schwarzkopf J, Kanda M, Lindberg EL, Hollfinger I, Pogontke C, Braeuning C, Fischer C, Hübner N, Gerhardt H. Intramyocardial Sprouting Tip Cells Specify Coronary Arterialization. Circ Res 2024; 135:671-684. [PMID: 39092506 PMCID: PMC11361357 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.324868] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The elaborate patterning of coronary arteries critically supports the high metabolic activity of the beating heart. How coronary endothelial cells coordinate hierarchical vascular remodeling and achieve arteriovenous specification remains largely unknown. Understanding the molecular and cellular cues that pattern coronary arteries is crucial to develop innovative therapeutic strategies that restore functional perfusion within the ischemic heart. METHODS Single-cell transcriptomics and histological validation were used to delineate heterogeneous transcriptional states of the developing and mature coronary endothelium with a focus on sprouting endothelium and arterial cell specification. Genetic lineage tracing and high-resolution 3-dimensional imaging were used to characterize the origin and mechanisms of coronary angiogenic sprouting, as well as to fate-map selective endothelial lineages. Integration of single-cell transcriptomic data from ischemic adult mouse hearts and human embryonic data served to assess the conservation of transcriptional states across development, disease, and species. RESULTS We discover that coronary arteries originate from cells that have previously transitioned through a specific tip cell phenotype. We identify nonoverlapping intramyocardial and subepicardial tip cell populations with differential gene expression profiles and regulatory pathways. Esm1-lineage tracing confirmed that intramyocardial tip cells selectively contribute to coronary arteries and endocardial tunnels, but not veins. Notably, prearterial cells are detected from development stages to adulthood, increasingly in response to ischemic injury, and in human embryos, suggesting that tip cell-to-artery specification is a conserved mechanism. CONCLUSIONS A tip cell-to-artery specification mechanism drives arterialization of the intramyocardial plexus and endocardial tunnels throughout life and is reactivated upon ischemic injury. Differential sprouting programs govern the formation and specification of the venous and arterial coronary plexus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cano
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory (E.C., J.S., I.H., H.G.), Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Málaga, Spain (E.C., C.P.)
- Cardiovascular Development and Disease, Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga and Nanomedicine Platform (IBIMA - BIONAND Platform), Málaga, Spain (E.C., C.P.)
| | - Jennifer Schwarzkopf
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory (E.C., J.S., I.H., H.G.), Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
| | - Masatoshi Kanda
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences (M.K., E.L.L., N.H.), Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Sapporo Medical University, Japan (M.K.)
| | - Eric L. Lindberg
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences (M.K., E.L.L., N.H.), Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximiliams-University Munich, Germany (E.L.L.)
| | - Irene Hollfinger
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory (E.C., J.S., I.H., H.G.), Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Cristina Pogontke
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Málaga, Spain (E.C., C.P.)
- Cardiovascular Development and Disease, Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga and Nanomedicine Platform (IBIMA - BIONAND Platform), Málaga, Spain (E.C., C.P.)
| | | | | | - Norbert Hübner
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences (M.K., E.L.L., N.H.), Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
| | - Holger Gerhardt
- Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory (E.C., J.S., I.H., H.G.), Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany (E.C., J.S., N.H., H.G.)
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Germany (H.G.)
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2
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Groten SA, Smit ER, van den Biggelaar M, Hoogendijk AJ. The proteomic landscape of in vitro cultured endothelial cells across vascular beds. Commun Biol 2024; 7:989. [PMID: 39143368 PMCID: PMC11324761 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06649-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood vessel endothelial cells (EC) display heterogeneity across vascular beds, which is anticipated to drive site-specific vascular pathology. This heterogeneity is assessed using transcriptomics in vivo, and functional assays in vitro, but how proteomes compare across human in vitro cultured ECs remains incompletely characterized. We generated an in-depth human EC proteomic landscape (>8000 proteins) across six organs and two in vitro models in steady-state and upon IFNγ-induced inflammation. EC proteomes displayed a high similarity and organ-specific proteins were limited. Variation between ECs was mainly based on proliferation and differentiation processes in which Blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOEC) and Human umbilical vein cells (HUVEC) represented the extremes of proteomic phenotypes. The IFNγ response was highly conserved across all samples. Harnessing dynamics in protein abundances we delineated VWF and VE-Cadherin correlation networks. This EC landscape provides an extensive proteomic addition in studying EC biology and heterogeneity from an in vitro perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn A Groten
- Department of Molecular Hematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eva R Smit
- Department of Molecular Hematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Arie J Hoogendijk
- Department of Molecular Hematology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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3
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Orge I, Nogueira Pinto H, Silva M, Bidarra S, Ferreira S, Calejo I, Masereeuw R, Mihăilă S, Barrias C. Vascular units as advanced living materials for bottom-up engineering of perfusable 3D microvascular networks. Bioact Mater 2024; 38:499-511. [PMID: 38798890 PMCID: PMC11126780 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.05.021] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The timely establishment of functional neo-vasculature is pivotal for successful tissue development and regeneration, remaining a central challenge in tissue engineering. In this study, we present a novel (micro)vascularization strategy that explores the use of specialized "vascular units" (VUs) as building blocks to initiate blood vessel formation and create perfusable, stroma-embedded 3D microvascular networks from the bottom-up. We demonstrate that VUs composed of endothelial progenitor cells and organ-specific fibroblasts exhibit high angiogenic potential when embedded in fibrin hydrogels. This leads to the formation of VUs-derived capillaries, which fuse with adjacent capillaries to form stable microvascular beds within a supportive, extracellular matrix-rich fibroblastic microenvironment. Using a custom-designed biomimetic fibrin-based vessel-on-chip (VoC), we show that VUs-derived capillaries can inosculate with endothelialized microfluidic channels in the VoC and become perfused. Moreover, VUs can establish capillary bridges between channels, extending the microvascular network throughout the entire device. When VUs and intestinal organoids (IOs) are combined within the VoC, the VUs-derived capillaries and the intestinal fibroblasts progressively reach and envelop the IOs. This promotes the formation of a supportive vascularized stroma around multiple IOs in a single device. These findings underscore the remarkable potential of VUs as building blocks for engineering microvascular networks, with versatile applications spanning from regenerative medicine to advanced in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- I.D. Orge
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - H. Nogueira Pinto
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - M.A. Silva
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - S.J. Bidarra
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - S.A. Ferreira
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - I. Calejo
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - R. Masereeuw
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - S.M. Mihăilă
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - C.C. Barrias
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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4
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Liu Z, Tanke NT, Neal A, Yu T, Branch T, Sharma A, Cook JG, Bautch VL. Differential endothelial cell cycle status in postnatal retinal vessels revealed using a novel PIP-FUCCI reporter and zonation analysis. Angiogenesis 2024:10.1007/s10456-024-09920-0. [PMID: 38795286 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-024-09920-0] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
Cell cycle regulation is critical to blood vessel formation and function, but how the endothelial cell cycle integrates with vascular regulation is not well-understood, and available dynamic cell cycle reporters do not precisely distinguish all cell cycle stage transitions in vivo. Here we characterized a recently developed improved cell cycle reporter (PIP-FUCCI) that precisely delineates S phase and the S/G2 transition. Live image analysis of primary endothelial cells revealed predicted temporal changes and well-defined stage transitions. A new inducible mouse cell cycle reporter allele was selectively expressed in postnatal retinal endothelial cells upon Cre-mediated activation and predicted endothelial cell cycle status. We developed a semi-automated zonation program to define endothelial cell cycle status in spatially defined and developmentally distinct retinal areas and found predicted cell cycle stage differences in arteries, veins, and remodeled and angiogenic capillaries. Surprisingly, the predicted dearth of S-phase proliferative tip cells relative to stalk cells at the vascular front was accompanied by an unexpected enrichment for endothelial tip and stalk cells in G2, suggesting G2 stalling as a contribution to tip-cell arrest and dynamics at the front. Thus, this improved reporter precisely defines endothelial cell cycle status in vivo and reveals novel G2 regulation that may contribute to unique aspects of blood vessel network expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqing Liu
- Department of Biology, CB 3280, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Natalie T Tanke
- Curriculum in Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Alexandra Neal
- Department of Biology, CB 3280, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Tianji Yu
- Department of Biology, CB 3280, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Tershona Branch
- Department of Biology, CB 3280, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Arya Sharma
- Department of Biology, CB 3280, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jean G Cook
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Victoria L Bautch
- Department of Biology, CB 3280, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Curriculum in Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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5
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Farber G, Dong Y, Wang Q, Rathod M, Wang H, Dixit M, Keepers B, Xie Y, Butz K, Polacheck WJ, Liu J, Qian L. Direct conversion of cardiac fibroblasts into endothelial-like cells using Sox17 and Erg. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4170. [PMID: 38755186 PMCID: PMC11098819 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48354-6] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells are a heterogeneous population with various organ-specific and conserved functions that are critical to organ development, function, and regeneration. Here we report a Sox17-Erg direct reprogramming approach that uses cardiac fibroblasts to create differentiated endothelial cells that demonstrate endothelial-like molecular and physiological functions in vitro and in vivo. Injection of these induced endothelial cells into myocardial infarct sites after injury results in improved vascular perfusion of the scar region. Furthermore, we use genomic analyses to illustrate that Sox17-Erg reprogramming instructs cardiac fibroblasts toward an arterial-like identity. This results in a more efficient direct conversion of fibroblasts into endothelial-like cells when compared to traditional Etv2-based reprogramming. Overall, this Sox17-Erg direct reprogramming strategy offers a robust tool to generate endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo, and has the potential to be used in repairing injured tissue.
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Grants
- R01 HL139880 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R01HL139880 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- P30 CA016086 NCI NIH HHS
- R35HL155656 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL139976 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- AHA20EIA35320128 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- R01 HL139976 NHLBI NIH HHS
- P30 ES010126 NIEHS NIH HHS
- AHA20EIA35310348 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- F30 HL154659 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R35 HL155656 NHLBI NIH HHS
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Farber
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yanhan Dong
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Qiaozi Wang
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mitesh Rathod
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, NC, USA
- University of North Carolina Kidney Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Haofei Wang
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Michelle Dixit
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Benjamin Keepers
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yifang Xie
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kendall Butz
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - William J Polacheck
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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6
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Lin Y, Gahn J, Banerjee K, Dobreva G, Singhal M, Dubrac A, Ola R. Role of endothelial PDGFB in arterio-venous malformations pathogenesis. Angiogenesis 2024; 27:193-209. [PMID: 38070064 PMCID: PMC11021264 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-023-09900-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Arterial-venous malformations (AVMs) are direct connections between arteries and veins without an intervening capillary bed. Either familial inherited or sporadically occurring, localized pericytes (PCs) drop is among the AVMs' hallmarks. Whether impaired PC coverage triggers AVMs or it is a secondary event is unclear. Here we evaluated the role of the master regulator of PC recruitment, Platelet derived growth factor B (PDGFB) in AVM pathogenesis. Using tamoxifen-inducible deletion of Pdgfb in endothelial cells (ECs), we show that disruption of EC Pdgfb-mediated PC recruitment and maintenance leads to capillary enlargement and organotypic AVM-like structures. These vascular lesions contain non-proliferative hyperplastic, hypertrophic and miss-oriented capillary ECs with an altered capillary EC fate identity. Mechanistically, we propose that PDGFB maintains capillary EC size and caliber to limit hemodynamic changes, thus restricting expression of Krüppel like factor 4 and activation of Bone morphogenic protein, Transforming growth factor β and NOTCH signaling in ECs. Furthermore, our study emphasizes that inducing or activating PDGFB signaling may be a viable therapeutic approach for treating vascular malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhu Lin
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM), European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Johannes Gahn
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM), European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Kuheli Banerjee
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM), European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gergana Dobreva
- Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mahak Singhal
- Laboratory of AngioRhythms, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alexandre Dubrac
- Centre de Recherche, CHU St. Justine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
- Département de Pathologie et Biologie Cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Roxana Ola
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM), European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
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7
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Stewen J, Kruse K, Godoi-Filip AT, Zenia, Jeong HW, Adams S, Berkenfeld F, Stehling M, Red-Horse K, Adams RH, Pitulescu ME. Eph-ephrin signaling couples endothelial cell sorting and arterial specification. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2539. [PMID: 38570531 PMCID: PMC10991410 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46300-0] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell segregation allows the compartmentalization of cells with similar fates during morphogenesis, which can be enhanced by cell fate plasticity in response to local molecular and biomechanical cues. Endothelial tip cells in the growing retina, which lead vessel sprouts, give rise to arterial endothelial cells and thereby mediate arterial growth. Here, we have combined cell type-specific and inducible mouse genetics, flow experiments in vitro, single-cell RNA sequencing and biochemistry to show that the balance between ephrin-B2 and its receptor EphB4 is critical for arterial specification, cell sorting and arteriovenous patterning. At the molecular level, elevated ephrin-B2 function after loss of EphB4 enhances signaling responses by the Notch pathway, VEGF and the transcription factor Dach1, which is influenced by endothelial shear stress. Our findings reveal how Eph-ephrin interactions integrate cell segregation and arteriovenous specification in the vasculature, which has potential relevance for human vascular malformations caused by EPHB4 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Stewen
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Kai Kruse
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- Bioinformatics Service Unit, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Anca T Godoi-Filip
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Zenia
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Hyun-Woo Jeong
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- Sequencing Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Susanne Adams
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Frank Berkenfeld
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Stehling
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Kristy Red-Horse
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ralf H Adams
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany.
| | - Mara E Pitulescu
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, D-48149, Münster, Germany.
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8
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Genet G, Genet N, Paila U, Cain SR, Cwiek A, Chavkin NW, Serbulea V, Figueras A, Cerdà P, McDonnell SP, Sankaranarayanan D, Huba M, Nelson EA, Riera-Mestre A, Hirschi KK. Induced Endothelial Cell Cycle Arrest Prevents Arteriovenous Malformations in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. Circulation 2024; 149:944-962. [PMID: 38126211 PMCID: PMC10954087 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.062952] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Distinct endothelial cell cycle states (early G1 versus late G1) provide different "windows of opportunity" to enable the differential expression of genes that regulate venous versus arterial specification, respectively. Endothelial cell cycle control and arteriovenous identities are disrupted in vascular malformations including arteriovenous shunts, the hallmark of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). To date, the mechanistic link between endothelial cell cycle regulation and the development of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in HHT is not known. METHODS We used BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) 9/10 blocking antibodies and endothelial-specific deletion of activin A receptor like type 1 (Alk1) to induce HHT in Fucci (fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator) 2 mice to assess endothelial cell cycle states in AVMs. We also assessed the therapeutic potential of inducing endothelial cell cycle G1 state in HHT to prevent AVMs by repurposing the Food and Drug Administration-approved CDK (cyclin-dependent kinase) 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) palbociclib. RESULTS We found that endothelial cell cycle state and associated gene expressions are dysregulated during the pathogenesis of vascular malformations in HHT. We also showed that palbociclib treatment prevented AVM development induced by BMP9/10 inhibition and Alk1 genetic deletion. Mechanistically, endothelial cell late G1 state induced by palbociclib modulates the expression of genes regulating arteriovenous identity, endothelial cell migration, metabolism, and VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A) and BMP9 signaling that collectively contribute to the prevention of vascular malformations. CONCLUSIONS This study provides new insights into molecular mechanisms leading to HHT by defining how endothelial cell cycle is dysregulated in AVMs because of BMP9/10 and Alk1 signaling deficiencies, and how restoration of endothelial cell cycle control may be used to treat AVMs in patients with HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gael Genet
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Nafiisha Genet
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Umadevi Paila
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Shelby R Cain
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Aleksandra Cwiek
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Nicholas W Chavkin
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (N.W.C., V.S., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Vlad Serbulea
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (N.W.C., V.S., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Agnès Figueras
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance, Institut Catala d'Oncologia, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain (A.F.)
- Oncobell Program (A.F.), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Cerdà
- (P.C., A.R.-M.), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- HHT Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain (P.C., A.R.-M.)
| | - Stephanie P McDonnell
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Danya Sankaranarayanan
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Mahalia Huba
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Elizabeth A Nelson
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | - Antoni Riera-Mestre
- (P.C., A.R.-M.), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
- HHT Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain (P.C., A.R.-M.)
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain (A.R.-M.)
| | - Karen K Hirschi
- Department of Cell Biology (G.G., N.G., U.P., S.R.C., A.C., S.P.M., D.S., M.H., E.A.N., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center (N.W.C., V.S., K.K.H.), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
- Department of Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (K.K.H.)
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9
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Zhao Y, Yang Y, Wu X, Zhang L, Cai X, Ji J, Chen S, Vera A, Boström KI, Yao Y. CDK1 inhibition reduces osteogenesis in endothelial cells in vascular calcification. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e176065. [PMID: 38456502 PMCID: PMC10972591 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.176065] [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: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular calcification is a severe complication of cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies demonstrated that endothelial lineage cells transitioned into osteoblast-like cells and contributed to vascular calcification. Here, we found that inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) prevented endothelial lineage cells from transitioning to osteoblast-like cells and reduced vascular calcification. We identified a robust induction of CDK1 in endothelial cells (ECs) in calcified arteries and showed that EC-specific gene deletion of CDK1 decreased the calcification. We found that limiting CDK1 induced E-twenty-six specific sequence variant 2 (ETV2), which was responsible for blocking endothelial lineage cells from undergoing osteoblast differentiation. We also found that inhibition of CDK1 reduced vascular calcification in a diabetic mouse model. Together, the results highlight the importance of CDK1 suppression and suggest CDK1 inhibition as a potential option for treating vascular calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yang Yang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xiuju Wu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xinjiang Cai
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jaden Ji
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sydney Chen
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Abigail Vera
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kristina I. Boström
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- The Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yucheng Yao
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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10
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Furtado J, Eichmann A. Vascular development, remodeling and maturation. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 159:344-370. [PMID: 38729681 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.02.001] [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] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The development of the vascular system is crucial in supporting the growth and health of all other organs in the body, and vascular system dysfunction is the major cause of human morbidity and mortality. This chapter discusses three successive processes that govern vascular system development, starting with the differentiation of the primitive vascular system in early embryonic development, followed by its remodeling into a functional circulatory system composed of arteries and veins, and its final maturation and acquisition of an organ specific semi-permeable barrier that controls nutrient uptake into tissues and hence controls organ physiology. Along these steps, endothelial cells forming the inner lining of all blood vessels acquire extensive heterogeneity in terms of gene expression patterns and function, that we are only beginning to understand. These advances contribute to overall knowledge of vascular biology and are predicted to unlock the unprecedented therapeutic potential of the endothelium as an avenue for treatment of diseases associated with dysfunctional vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Furtado
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Anne Eichmann
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Paris Cardiovascular Research Center, Inserm U970, Université Paris, Paris, France.
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11
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McCracken IR, Smart N. Control of coronary vascular cell fate in development and regeneration. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 155:50-61. [PMID: 37714806 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.08.005] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
The coronary vasculature consists of a complex hierarchal network of arteries, veins, and capillaries which collectively function to perfuse the myocardium. However, the pathways controlling the temporally and spatially restricted mechanisms underlying the formation of this vascular network remain poorly understood. In recent years, the increasing use and refinement of transgenic mouse models has played an instrumental role in offering new insights into the cellular origins of the coronary vasculature, as well as identifying a continuum of transitioning cell states preceding the full maturation of the coronary vasculature. Coupled with the emergence of single cell RNA sequencing platforms, these technologies have begun to uncover the key regulatory factors mediating the convergence of distinct cellular origins to ensure the formation of a collectively functional, yet phenotypically diverse, vascular network. Furthermore, improved understanding of the key regulatory factors governing coronary vessel formation in the embryo may provide crucial clues into future therapeutic strategies to reactivate these developmentally functional mechanisms to drive the revascularisation of the ischaemic adult heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R McCracken
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Smart
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, United Kingdom.
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12
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Chen J, Zhang X, DeLaughter DM, Trembley MA, Saifee S, Xiao F, Chen J, Zhou P, Seidman CE, Seidman JG, Pu WT. Molecular and Spatial Signatures of Mouse Embryonic Endothelial Cells at Single-Cell Resolution. Circ Res 2024; 134:529-546. [PMID: 38348657 PMCID: PMC10906678 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323956] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mature endothelial cells (ECs) are heterogeneous, with subtypes defined by tissue origin and position within the vascular bed (ie, artery, capillary, vein, and lymphatic). How this heterogeneity is established during the development of the vascular system, especially arteriovenous specification of ECs, remains incompletely characterized. METHODS We used droplet-based single-cell RNA sequencing and multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization to define EC and EC progenitor subtypes from E9.5, E12.5, and E15.5 mouse embryos. We used trajectory inference to analyze the specification of arterial ECs (aECs) and venous ECs (vECs) from EC progenitors. Network analysis identified candidate transcriptional regulators of arteriovenous differentiation, which we tested by CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) loss of function in human-induced pluripotent stem cells undergoing directed differentiation to aECs or vECs (human-induced pluripotent stem cell-aECs or human-induced pluripotent stem cell-vECs). RESULTS From the single-cell transcriptomes of 7682 E9.5 to E15.5 ECs, we identified 19 EC subtypes, including Etv2+Bnip3+ EC progenitors. Spatial transcriptomic analysis of 15 448 ECs provided orthogonal validation of these EC subtypes and established their spatial distribution. Most embryonic ECs were grouped by their vascular-bed types, while ECs from the brain, heart, liver, and lung were grouped by their tissue origins. Arterial (Eln, Dkk2, Vegfc, and Egfl8), venous (Fam174b and Clec14a), and capillary (Kcne3) marker genes were identified. Compared with aECs, embryonic vECs and capillary ECs shared fewer markers than their adult counterparts. Early capillary ECs with venous characteristics functioned as a branch point for differentiation of aEC and vEC lineages. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide a spatiotemporal map of embryonic EC heterogeneity at single-cell resolution and demonstrate that the diversity of ECs in the embryo arises from both tissue origin and vascular-bed position. Developing aECs and vECs share common venous-featured capillary precursors and are regulated by distinct transcriptional regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoran Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Shaila Saifee
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiehui Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pingzhu Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine E. Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | | | - William T. Pu
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
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13
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Shin YJ, Lee JH. Exploring the Molecular and Developmental Dynamics of Endothelial Cell Differentiation. Int J Stem Cells 2024; 17:15-29. [PMID: 37879853 PMCID: PMC10899884 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc23086] [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: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The development and differentiation of endothelial cells (ECs) are fundamental processes with significant implications for both health and disease. ECs, which are found in all organs and blood vessels, play a crucial role in facilitating nutrient and waste exchange and maintaining proper vessel function. Understanding the intricate signaling pathways involved in EC development holds great promise for enhancing vascularization, tissue engineering, and vascular regeneration. Hematopoietic stem cells originating from hemogenic ECs, give rise to diverse immune cell populations, and the interaction between ECs and immune cells is vital for maintaining vascular integrity and regulating immune responses. Dysregulation of vascular development pathways can lead to various diseases, including cancer, where tumor-specific ECs promote tumor growth through angiogenesis. Recent advancements in single-cell genomics and in vivo genetic labeling have shed light on EC development, plasticity, and heterogeneity, uncovering tissue-specific gene expression and crucial signaling pathways. This review explores the potential of ECs in various applications, presenting novel opportunities for advancing vascular medicine and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jung Shin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jung Hyun Lee
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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14
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Sunshine HL, Cicchetto AC, Kaczor-Urbanowicz KE, Ma F, Pi D, Symons C, Turner M, Shukla V, Christofk HR, Vallim TA, Iruela-Arispe ML. Endothelial Jagged1 levels and distribution are post-transcriptionally controlled by ZFP36 decay proteins. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113627. [PMID: 38157296 PMCID: PMC10884959 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113627] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular morphogenesis requires a delicate gradient of Notch signaling controlled, in part, by the distribution of ligands (Dll4 and Jagged1). How Jagged1 (JAG1) expression is compartmentalized in the vascular plexus remains unclear. Here, we show that Jag1 mRNA is a direct target of zinc-finger protein 36 (ZFP36), an RNA-binding protein involved in mRNA decay that we find robustly induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Endothelial cells lacking ZFP36 display high levels of JAG1 and increase angiogenic sprouting in vitro. Furthermore, mice lacking Zfp36 in endothelial cells display mispatterned and increased levels of JAG1 in the developing retinal vascular plexus. Abnormal levels of JAG1 at the sprouting front alters NOTCH1 signaling, increasing the number of tip cells, a phenotype that is rescued by imposing haploinsufficiency of Jag1. Our findings reveal an important feedforward loop whereby VEGF stimulates ZFP36, consequently suppressing Jag1 to enable adequate levels of Notch signaling during sprouting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Sunshine
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Cell and Development Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Andrew C Cicchetto
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Karolina Elżbieta Kaczor-Urbanowicz
- Center for Oral and Head/Neck Oncology Research, UCLA Biosystems & Function, UCLA School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668, USA; UCLA Section of Orthodontics, UCLA School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; UCLA Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Feiyang Ma
- Department of Cell and Development Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Danielle Pi
- Department of Cell and Development Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Chloe Symons
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Martin Turner
- Immunology Programme, The Babraham Institute, CB22 3AT Cambridge, UK
| | - Vipul Shukla
- Department of Cell and Development Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Center for Human Immunobiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Heather R Christofk
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Thomas A Vallim
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - M Luisa Iruela-Arispe
- Department of Cell and Development Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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15
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Liu Z, Tanke NT, Neal A, Yu T, Branch T, Cook JG, Bautch VL. Differential endothelial cell cycle status in postnatal retinal vessels revealed using a novel PIP-FUCCI reporter and zonation analysis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.04.574239. [PMID: 38249517 PMCID: PMC10798646 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.04.574239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Cell cycle regulation is critical to blood vessel formation and function, but how the endothelial cell cycle integrates with vascular regulation is not well-understood, and available dynamic cell cycle reporters do not precisely distinguish all cell cycle stage transitions in vivo. Here we characterized a recently developed improved cell cycle reporter (PIP-FUCCI) that precisely delineates S phase and the S/G2 transition. Live image analysis of primary endothelial cells revealed predicted temporal changes and well-defined stage transitions. A new inducible mouse cell cycle reporter allele was selectively expressed in postnatal retinal endothelial cells upon Cre-mediated activation and predicted endothelial cell cycle status. We developed a semi-automated zonation program to define endothelial cell cycle status in spatially defined and developmentally distinct retinal areas and found predicted cell cycle stage differences in arteries, veins, and remodeled and angiogenic capillaries. Surprisingly, the predicted dearth of proliferative tip cells at the vascular front was accompanied by an unexpected enrichment for endothelial tip cells in G2, suggesting G2 stalling as a contribution to tip-cell arrest. Thus, this improved reporter precisely defines endothelial cell cycle status in vivo and reveals novel G2 regulation that may contribute to unique aspects of blood vessel network expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqing Liu
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Natalie T Tanke
- Curriculum in Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Alexandra Neal
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Tianji Yu
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Tershona Branch
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Jean G Cook
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Victoria L Bautch
- Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
- Curriculum in Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC USA
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16
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Tzani A, Haemmig S, Cheng HS, Perez-Cremades D, Augusto Heuschkel M, Jamaiyar A, Singh S, Aikawa M, Yu P, Wang T, Ye S, Feinberg MW, Plutzky J. FAM222A, Part of the BET-Regulated Basal Endothelial Transcriptome, Is a Novel Determinant of Endothelial Biology and Angiogenesis-Brief Report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:143-155. [PMID: 37942611 PMCID: PMC10840377 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319909] [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: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND BETs (bromodomain and extraterminal domain-containing epigenetic reader proteins), including BRD4 (bromodomain-containing protein 4), orchestrate transcriptional programs induced by pathogenic stimuli, as intensively studied in cardiovascular disease and elsewhere. In endothelial cells (ECs), BRD4 directs induced proinflammatory, proatherosclerotic transcriptional responses; BET inhibitors, like JQ1, repress these effects and decrease atherosclerosis. While BET effects in pathogenic conditions have prompted therapeutic BET inhibitor development, BET action under basal conditions, including ECs, has remained understudied. To understand BET action in basal endothelial transcriptional programs, we first analyzed EC RNA-Seq data in the absence versus presence of JQ1 before using BET regulation to identify novel determinants of EC biology and function. METHODS RNA-Seq datasets of human umbilical vein ECs without and with JQ1 treatment were analyzed. After identifying C12orf34, also known as FAM222A (family with sequence similarity 222 member A), as a previously unreported, basally expressed, potently JQ1-induced EC gene, FAM222A was studied in endothelial and angiogenic responses in vitro using small-interference RNA silencing and lentiviral overexpression, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, including aortic sprouting, matrigel plug assays, and murine neonatal oxygen-induced retinopathy. RESULTS Resting EC RNA-Seq data indicate BETs direct transcriptional programs underlying core endothelial properties including migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis. BET inhibition in resting ECs also significantly induced a subset of mRNAs, including FAM222A-a unique BRD4-regulated gene with no reported EC role. Silencing endothelial FAM222A significantly decreased cellular proliferation, migration, network formation, aorta sprouting, and Matrigel plug vascularization through coordinated modulation of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and NOTCH mediator expression in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo; lentiviral FAM222A overexpression had opposite effects. In vivo, siFAM222A significantly repressed retinal revascularization in neonatal murine oxygen-induced retinopathy through similar angiogenic signaling modulation. CONCLUSIONS BET control over the basal endothelial transcriptome includes FAM222A, a novel, BRD4-regulated, key determinant of endothelial biology and angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aspasia Tzani
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Stefan Haemmig
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Henry S. Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Daniel Perez-Cremades
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Marina Augusto Heuschkel
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Anurag Jamaiyar
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Sasha Singh
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Masanori Aikawa
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Paul Yu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Tianxi Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Sun Ye
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Mark W. Feinberg
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jorge Plutzky
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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17
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Cuervo H, Mühleder S, García-Gónzalez I, Benedito R. Notch-mediated cellular interactions between vascular cells. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 85:102254. [PMID: 37832167 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Vessel formation and differentiation to a proper hierarchical vasculature requires a coordinated effort from endothelial and mural cells. Over the last decade Notch was identified as a key player in this process by promoting vascular arterialization and modulating endothelial tip-stalk phenotypes. Recent work has identified that Notch fine-tunes the diverse endothelial phenotypes through regulation of canonical cell-cycle and metabolism regulators, such as ERK and Myc. During arterialization, Notch signaling inhibits the cell-cycle and metabolism of endothelial cells which coincides with the acquisition of arterial identity. During angiogenesis, the same molecular machinery prevents the hypermitogenic arrest and excessive sprouting of vessels. Notch also signals in pericytes and smooth muscle cells promoting vascular coverage and maturation. Here, we will review the latest findings on how Notch signals regulate the differentiation and interactions among vascular cells during organ development and homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henar Cuervo
- Molecular Genetics of Angiogenesis Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Severin Mühleder
- Molecular Genetics of Angiogenesis Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Irene García-Gónzalez
- Molecular Genetics of Angiogenesis Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Rui Benedito
- Molecular Genetics of Angiogenesis Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P), Madrid 28029, Spain.
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18
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Kobialka P, Llena J, Deleyto-Seldas N, Munar-Gelabert M, Dengra JA, Villacampa P, Albinyà-Pedrós A, Muixi L, Andrade J, van Splunder H, Angulo-Urarte A, Potente M, Grego-Bessa J, Castillo SD, Vanhaesebroeck B, Efeyan A, Graupera M. PI3K-C2β limits mTORC1 signaling and angiogenic growth. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eadg1913. [PMID: 38015911 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adg1913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) phosphorylate intracellular inositol lipids to regulate signaling and intracellular vesicular trafficking. Mammals have eight PI3K isoforms, of which class I PI3Kα and class II PI3K-C2α are essential for vascular development. The class II PI3K-C2β is also abundant in endothelial cells. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we found that PI3K-C2β was a critical regulator of blood vessel growth by restricting endothelial mTORC1 signaling. Mice expressing a kinase-inactive form of PI3K-C2β displayed enlarged blood vessels without corresponding changes in endothelial cell proliferation or migration. Instead, inactivation of PI3K-C2β resulted in an increase in the size of endothelial cells, particularly in the sprouting zone of angiogenesis. Mechanistically, we showed that the aberrantly large size of PI3K-C2β mutant endothelial cells was caused by mTORC1 activation, which sustained growth in these cells. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 with rapamycin normalized vascular morphogenesis in PI3K-C2β mutant mice. Together, these results identify PI3K-C2β as a crucial determinant of endothelial signaling and illustrate the importance of mTORC1 regulation during angiogenic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Kobialka
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Judith Llena
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Nerea Deleyto-Seldas
- Metabolism and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Melchor Fernandez Almagro 3, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Margalida Munar-Gelabert
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jose A Dengra
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Pilar Villacampa
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alba Albinyà-Pedrós
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Laia Muixi
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jorge Andrade
- Angiogenesis & Metabolism Laboratory, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hielke van Splunder
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ana Angulo-Urarte
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Michael Potente
- Angiogenesis & Metabolism Laboratory, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joaquim Grego-Bessa
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sandra D Castillo
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Bart Vanhaesebroeck
- Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Alejo Efeyan
- Metabolism and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Melchor Fernandez Almagro 3, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Mariona Graupera
- Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av. de Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Deng H, Rukhlendo OS, Joshi D, Hu X, Junk P, Tuliakova A, Kholodenko BN, Schwartz MA. cSTAR analysis identifies endothelial cell cycle as a key regulator of flow-dependent artery remodeling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563764. [PMID: 37961694 PMCID: PMC10634797 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Fluid shear stress (FSS) from blood flow is sensed by vascular endothelial cells (ECs) to determine vessel stability, remodeling and susceptibility to atherosclerosis and other inflammatory diseases but the regulatory networks that govern these behaviors are only partially understood. We used cSTAR, a powerful new computational method, to define EC transcriptomic states under low shear stress (LSS) that triggers vessel inward remodeling, physiological shear stress (PSS) that stabilizes vessels, high shear stress (HSS) that triggers outward remodeling, and oscillatory shear stress (OSS) that confers disease susceptibility, all in comparison to cells under static conditions (STAT). We combined these results with the LINCS database where EC transcriptomic responses to drug treatments to define a preliminary regulatory network in which the cyclin-dependent kinases CDK1/2 play a central role in promoting vessel stability. Experimental analysis showed that PSS induced a strong late G1 cell cycle arrest in which CDK2 was activated. EC deletion of CDK2 in mice resulted in inward artery remodeling and both pulmonary and systemic hypertension. These results validate use of cSTAR to determine EC state and in vivo vessel behavior, reveal unexpected features of EC phenotype under different FSS conditions, and identify CDK2 as a key element within the EC regulatory network that governs artery remodeling.
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20
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Gomes I, Abreu C, Costa L, Casimiro S. The Evolving Pathways of the Efficacy of and Resistance to CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4835. [PMID: 37835528 PMCID: PMC10571967 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194835] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The approval of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) has remarkably improved the survival outcomes of patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC), becoming the new standard of care treatment in these patients. Despite the efficacy of this therapeutic combination, intrinsic and acquired resistance inevitably occurs and represents a major clinical challenge. Several mechanisms associated with resistance to CDK4/6i have been identified, including both cell cycle-related and cell cycle-nonspecific mechanisms. This review discusses new insights underlying the mechanisms of action of CDK4/6i, which are more far-reaching than initially thought, and the currently available evidence of the mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6i in BC. Finally, it highlights possible treatment strategies to improve CDK4/6i efficacy, summarizing the most relevant clinical data on novel combination therapies involving CDK4/6i.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Gomes
- Luis Costa Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Catarina Abreu
- Oncology Division, Hospital de Santa Maria—Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Luis Costa
- Luis Costa Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
- Oncology Division, Hospital de Santa Maria—Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Sandra Casimiro
- Luis Costa Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal;
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21
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McCracken IR, Baker AH, Smart N, De Val S. Transcriptional regulators of arterial and venous identity in the developing mammalian embryo. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 35:None. [PMID: 38328689 PMCID: PMC10844100 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The complex and hierarchical vascular network of arteries, veins, and capillaries features considerable endothelial heterogeneity, yet the regulatory pathways directing arteriovenous specification, differentiation, and identity are still not fully understood. Recent advances in analysis of endothelial-specific gene-regulatory elements, single-cell RNA sequencing, and cell lineage tracing have both emphasized the importance of transcriptional regulation in this process and shed considerable light on the mechanism and regulation of specification within the endothelium. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of how endothelial cells acquire arterial and venous identity and the role different transcription factors play in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R McCracken
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, United Kingdom
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew H Baker
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Smart
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah De Val
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, United Kingdom
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22
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Di J, Chen Z, Wang Z, He T, Wu D, Weng C, Deng J, Mai L, Wang K, He L, Rong L. Cartilage tissue from sites of weight bearing in patients with osteoarthritis exhibits a differential phenotype with distinct chondrocytes subests. RMD Open 2023; 9:e003255. [PMID: 37848267 PMCID: PMC10582868 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003255] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease associated with excessive mechanical loading. The aim here was to elucidate whether different subpopulations of chondrocytes exhibit distinct phenotypes in response to variations in loading conditions. Furthermore, we seek to investigate the transcriptional switches and cell crosstalk among these chondrocytes subsets. METHODS Proteomic analysis was performed on cartilage tissues isolated from weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing regions. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing was employed to identify different subsets of chondrocytes. For disease-specific cells, in vitro differentiation induction was performed, and their presence was confirmed in human cartilage tissue sections using immunofluorescence. The molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional changes in these cells were analysed through whole-transcriptome sequencing. RESULTS In the weight-bearing regions of OA cartilage tissue, a subpopulation of chondrocytes called OA hypertrophic chondrocytes (OAHCs) expressing the marker genes SLC39A14 and COL10A1 are present. These cells exhibit unique characteristics of active cellular interactions mediated by the TGFβ signalling pathway and express OA phenotypes, distinct from hypertrophic chondrocytes in healthy cartilage. OAHCs are mainly distributed in the superficial region of damaged cartilage in human OA tissue, and on TGFβ stimulation, exhibit activation of transcriptional expression of iron metabolism-related genes, along with enrichment of associated pathways. CONCLUSION This study identified and validated the existence of a subset of OAHCs in the weight-bearing area of OA cartilage tissue. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for targeting OAHCs to slow down the progression of OA and facilitate the repair of cartilage injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Di
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zihao Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Joint Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianwei He
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Depeng Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuanggui Weng
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiajun Deng
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lang Mai
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Joint Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Limin Rong
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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23
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Dinakaran S, Zhao H, Tang Y, Wang Z, Ruiz S, Nomura-Kitabayashi A, Blanc L, Faughnan ME, Marambaud P. CDK6-mediated endothelial cell cycle acceleration drives arteriovenous malformations in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.15.554413. [PMID: 37745444 PMCID: PMC10515892 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.15.554413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Increased endothelial cell (EC) proliferation is a hallmark of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The underlying mechanism and disease relevance of this abnormal cell proliferative state of the ECs remain unknown. Here, we report the identification of a CDK6-driven mechanism of cell cycle progression deregulation directly involved in EC proliferation and HHT vascular pathology. Specifically, HHT mouse liver ECs exhibited defects in their cell cycle control characterized by a G1/S checkpoint bypass and acceleration of cell cycle speed. Phosphorylated retinoblastoma (p-RB1)-a marker of G1/S transition through the restriction point-significantly accumulated in ECs of HHT mouse retinal AVMs and HHT patient skin telangiectasias. Mechanistically, ALK1 loss of function increased the expression of key restriction point mediators, and treatment with palbociclib or ribociclib, two CDK4/6 inhibitors, blocked p-RB1 increase and retinal AVMs in HHT mice. Palbociclib also improved vascular pathology in the brain and slowed down endothelial cell cycle speed and EC proliferation. Specific deletion of Cdk6 in ECs was sufficient to protect HHT mice from AVM pathology. Thus, CDK6-mediated endothelial cell cycle acceleration controls EC proliferation in AVMs and is a central determinant of HHT pathogenesis. We propose that clinically approved CDK4/6 inhibitors have repurposing potential in HHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajeth Dinakaran
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | - Haitian Zhao
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Yuefeng Tang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Santiago Ruiz
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Aya Nomura-Kitabayashi
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Lionel Blanc
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, USA
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
- Division of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA
| | - Marie E. Faughnan
- Toronto HHT Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Canada
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Philippe Marambaud
- Litwin-Zucker Alzheimer’s Research Center, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York, USA
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
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24
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Banerjee K, Lin Y, Gahn J, Cordero J, Gupta P, Mohamed I, Graupera M, Dobreva G, Schwartz MA, Ola R. SMAD4 maintains the fluid shear stress set point to protect against arterial-venous malformations. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e168352. [PMID: 37490341 PMCID: PMC10503796 DOI: 10.1172/jci168352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular networks form, remodel, and mature under the influence of both fluid shear stress (FSS) and soluble factors. Physiological FSS promotes and maintains vascular stability via synergy with bone morphogenic proteins 9 and 10 (BMP9 and BMP10). Conversely, mutation of the BMP receptors activin-like kinase 1 (ALK1), endoglin (ENG), or the downstream effector, SMAD family member 4 (SMAD4) leads to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), characterized by fragile and leaky arterial-venous malformations (AVMs). How endothelial cells (ECs) integrate FSS and BMP signals in vascular development and homeostasis and how mutations give rise to vascular malformations is not well understood. Here, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of synergy between FSS and SMAD signaling in vascular stability and how disruption of this synergy leads to AVMs. We found that loss of Smad4 increased the sensitivity of ECs to flow by lowering the FSS set point, with resulting AVMs exhibiting features of excessive flow-mediated morphological responses. Mechanistically, loss of SMAD4 disinhibits flow-mediated KLF4-TIE2-PI3K/Akt signaling, leading to cell cycle progression-mediated loss of arterial identity due to KLF4-mediated repression of cyclin dependent Kinase (CDK) inhibitors CDKN2A and CDKN2B. Thus, AVMs caused by Smad4 deletion are characterized by chronic high flow remodeling with excessive EC proliferation and loss of arterial identity as triggering events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yanzhu Lin
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM) and
| | | | - Julio Cordero
- Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Mannheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Mariona Graupera
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Spain
| | - Gergana Dobreva
- Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martin A. Schwartz
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Roxana Ola
- Experimental Pharmacology Mannheim (EPM) and
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25
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Acharya BR, Fang JS, Jeffery ED, Chavkin NW, Genet G, Vasavada H, Nelson EA, Sheynkman GM, Humphries MJ, Hirschi KK. Connexin 37 sequestering of activated-ERK in the cytoplasm promotes p27-mediated endothelial cell cycle arrest. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201685. [PMID: 37197981 PMCID: PMC10192821 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Connexin37-mediated regulation of cell cycle modulators and, consequently, growth arrest lack mechanistic understanding. We previously showed that arterial shear stress up-regulates Cx37 in endothelial cells and activates a Notch/Cx37/p27 signaling axis to promote G1 cell cycle arrest, and this is required to enable arterial gene expression. However, how induced expression of a gap junction protein, Cx37, up-regulates cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 to enable endothelial growth suppression and arterial specification is unclear. Herein, we fill this knowledge gap by expressing wild-type and regulatory domain mutants of Cx37 in cultured endothelial cells expressing the Fucci cell cycle reporter. We determined that both the channel-forming and cytoplasmic tail domains of Cx37 are required for p27 up-regulation and late G1 arrest. Mechanistically, the cytoplasmic tail domain of Cx37 interacts with, and sequesters, activated ERK in the cytoplasm. This then stabilizes pERK nuclear target Foxo3a, which up-regulates p27 transcription. Consistent with previous studies, we found this Cx37/pERK/Foxo3a/p27 signaling axis functions downstream of arterial shear stress to promote endothelial late G1 state and enable up-regulation of arterial genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bipul R Acharya
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jennifer S Fang
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Erin D Jeffery
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Nicholas W Chavkin
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gael Genet
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Hema Vasavada
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Nelson
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gloria M Sheynkman
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Martin J Humphries
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Karen K Hirschi
- Department of Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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26
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Genet N, Genet G, Chavkin NW, Paila U, Fang JS, Vasavada HH, Goldberg JS, Acharya BR, Bhatt NS, Baker K, McDonnell SP, Huba M, Sankaranarayanan D, Ma GZM, Eichmann A, Thomas JL, Ffrench-Constant C, Hirschi KK. Connexin 43-mediated neurovascular interactions regulate neurogenesis in the adult brain subventricular zone. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112371. [PMID: 37043357 PMCID: PMC10564973 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112371] [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: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The subventricular zone (SVZ) is the largest neural stem cell (NSC) niche in the adult brain; herein, the blood-brain barrier is leaky, allowing direct interactions between NSCs and endothelial cells (ECs). Mechanisms by which direct NSC-EC interactions in the adult SVZ control NSC behavior are unclear. We found that Cx43 is highly expressed by SVZ NSCs and ECs, and its deletion in either leads to increased NSC proliferation and neuroblast generation, suggesting that Cx43-mediated NSC-EC interactions maintain NSC quiescence. This is further supported by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro studies showing that ECs control NSC proliferation by regulating expression of genes associated with NSC quiescence and/or activation in a Cx43-dependent manner. Cx43 mediates these effects in a channel-independent manner involving its cytoplasmic tail and ERK activation. Such insights inform adult NSC regulation and maintenance aimed at stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiisha Genet
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Gael Genet
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Nicholas W Chavkin
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Umadevi Paila
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jennifer S Fang
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Hema H Vasavada
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Joshua S Goldberg
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Bipul R Acharya
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Neha S Bhatt
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Kasey Baker
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Stephanie P McDonnell
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Mahalia Huba
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Danya Sankaranarayanan
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Gerry Z M Ma
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Anne Eichmann
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Jean-Leon Thomas
- Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Charles Ffrench-Constant
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Karen K Hirschi
- Department of Cell Biology, Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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Cooke JP, Lai L. Role of angiogenic transdifferentiation in vascular recovery. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1155835. [PMID: 37200975 PMCID: PMC10187761 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1155835] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue repair requires the orchestration of multiple processes involving a multiplicity of cellular effectors, signaling pathways, and cell-cell communication. The regeneration of the vasculature is a critical process for tissue repair and involves angiogenesis, adult vasculogenesis, and often arteriogenesis, which processes enable recovery of perfusion to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the repair or rebuild of the tissue. Endothelial cells play a major role in angiogenesis, whereas circulating angiogenic cells (primarily of hematopoietic origin) participate in adult vasculogenesis, and monocytes/macrophages have a defining role in the vascular remodeling that is necessary for arteriogenesis. Tissue fibroblasts participate in tissue repair by proliferating and generating the extracellular matrix as the structural scaffold for tissue regeneration. Heretofore, fibroblasts were not generally believed to be involved in vascular regeneration. However, we provide new data indicating that fibroblasts may undergo angiogenic transdifferentiation, to directly expand the microvasculature. Transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to endothelial cells is initiated by inflammatory signaling which increases DNA accessibility and cellular plasticity. In the environment of under-perfused tissue, the activated fibroblasts with increased DNA accessibility can now respond to angiogenic cytokines, which provide the transcriptional direction to induce fibroblasts to become endothelial cells. Periphery artery disease (PAD) involves the dysregulation of vascular repair and inflammation. Understanding the relationship between inflammation, transdifferentiation, and vascular regeneration may lead to a new therapeutic approach to PAD.
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