1
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Rodrigues-Diez R, Ballesteros-Martinez C, Moreno-Carriles RM, Nistal F, Díaz Del Campo LS, Cachofeiro V, Dalli J, García-Redondo AB, Redondo JM, Salaices M, Briones AM. Resolvin D2 prevents vascular remodeling, hypercontractility and endothelial dysfunction in obese hypertensive mice through modulation of vascular and proinflammatory factors. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116564. [PMID: 38608525 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
During resolution of inflammation, specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs), including resolvins, are produced to restore tissue homeostasis. We hypothesized that there might be a dysregulation of SPMs pathways in pathological vascular remodeling and that resolvin D2 (RvD2) might prevent vascular remodeling and contractile and endothelial dysfunction in a model of obesity and hypertension. In aortic samples of patients with or without abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), we evaluated gene expression of enzymes involved in SPMs synthesis (ALOXs), SPMs receptors and pro-inflammatory genes. In an experimental model of aortic dilation induced by high fat diet (HFD, 60%, eighteen weeks) and angiotensin II (AngII) infusion (four weeks), we studied the effect of RvD2 administration in aorta and small mesenteric arteries structure and function and markers of inflammation. In human macrophages we evaluated the effects of AngII and RvD2 in macrophages function and SPMs profile. In patients, we found positive correlations between AAA and obesity, and between AAA and expression of ALOX15, RvD2 receptor GPR18, and pro-inflammatory genes. There was an inverse correlation between the expression of aortic ALOX15 and AAA growth rate. In the mice model, RvD2 partially prevented the HFD plus AngII-induced obesity and adipose tissue inflammation, hypertension, aortic and mesenteric arteries remodeling, hypercontratility and endothelial dysfunction, and the expression of vascular proinflammatory markers and cell apoptosis. In human macrophages, RvD2 prevented AngII-induced impaired efferocytosis and switched SPMs profile. RvD2 might represent a novel protective strategy in preventing vascular damage associated to hypertension and obesity likely through effects in vascular and immune cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Male
- Humans
- Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacology
- Hypertension/metabolism
- Hypertension/drug therapy
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Obesity/complications
- Obesity/metabolism
- Vascular Remodeling/drug effects
- Mice
- Endothelium, Vascular/drug effects
- Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism
- Endothelium, Vascular/pathology
- Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects
- Angiotensin II
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/pathology
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/metabolism
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/drug therapy
- Inflammation Mediators/metabolism
- Mice, Obese
- Vasoconstriction/drug effects
- Inflammation/pathology
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Macrophages/drug effects
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Rodrigues-Diez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
| | - Constanza Ballesteros-Martinez
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Nistal
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Cirugía Cardiovascular. Hospital Universitario "Marqués de Valdecilla", IDIVAL, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Lucía S Díaz Del Campo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain
| | - Victoria Cachofeiro
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesmond Dalli
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Inflammation and Therapeutic Innovation, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ana B García-Redondo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan M Redondo
- CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain; Grupo de Regulación Génica en remodelado cardiovascular e inflamación, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain; Cell-cell communication & inflammation unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Salaices
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain
| | - Ana M Briones
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Instituto de Investigación Hospital Universitario La Paz (IdiPaz), Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Spain.
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2
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Haidar H, Kapahnke S, Frese JP, Omran S, Mueller V, Hinterseher I, Sommerfeld M, Kaschina E, Konietschke F, Greiner A, Buerger M. Risk factors for elective and urgent open conversion after EVAR-a retrospective observational study. Vascular 2024; 32:243-253. [PMID: 36413465 PMCID: PMC11129523 DOI: 10.1177/17085381221141118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the standard procedure for treating infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Various associated complications can lead to open conversion (OC). Thorough follow-up after the procedure is mandatory for the early detection of complications. Persisting perfusion of the aneurysm, a so-called endoleak (EL), paired with structural instability because of aortic wall atrophy and impaired cell functionality induced by EVAR, results in a high risk for aortic rupture. PURPOSE The goal of this study was to detect the risk factors for elective and urgent OC as a result of EVAR-induced pathophysiological changes inside the aortic wall. RESEARCH DESIGN Retrospective data analysis was performed on all open aortic repairs from January 2016 to December 2020. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Fifty patients were identified as treated by OC for failure of an infrarenal EVAR. The patients were divided into two subgroups, here depending on the urgency of surgery. Statistical analysis of patient characteristics and outcomes was performed. RESULTS The most common indications for OC were various types of EL (74%), resulting in an aortic rupture in 15 patients. Patients with insufficient or absent follow-up were treated more frequently in an emergency setting (16% vs. 63%). The mortality rate was higher in cases of emergency OC (3% vs. 26%). CONCLUSIONS Particularly in cases of insufficient or absent follow-up, complications such as EL pose an enormous risk for fatal aortic rupture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidar Haidar
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kapahnke
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan P Frese
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Safwan Omran
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Mueller
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Irene Hinterseher
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane, Neuruppin, Germany
| | - Manuela Sommerfeld
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Elena Kaschina
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Konietschke
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Biometrics and Clinical Epidemiology and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Greiner
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Buerger
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Shu T, Zhou Y, Yan C. The perspective of cAMP/cGMP signaling and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in aortic aneurysm and dissection. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 154:107278. [PMID: 38262506 PMCID: PMC10939884 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107278] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Aortic aneurysm (AA) and dissection (AD) are aortic diseases caused primarily by medial layer degeneration and perivascular inflammation. They are lethal when the rupture happens. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play critical roles in the pathogenesis of medial degeneration, characterized by SMC loss and elastin fiber degradation. Many molecular pathways, including cyclic nucleotide signaling, have been reported in regulating vascular SMC functions, matrix remodeling, and vascular structure integrity. Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) are second messengers that mediate intracellular signaling transduction through activating effectors, such as protein kinase A (PKA) and PKG, respectively. cAMP and cGMP are synthesized by adenylyl cyclase (AC) and guanylyl cyclase (GC), respectively, and degraded by cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). In this review, we will discuss the roles and mechanisms of cAMP/cGMP signaling and PDEs in AA/AD formation and progression and the potential of PDE inhibitors in AA/AD, whether they are beneficial or detrimental. We also performed database analysis and summarized the results showing PDEs with significant expression changes under AA/AD, which should provide rationales for future research on PDEs in AA/AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shu
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, New York, United States
| | - Yitian Zhou
- Peking Union Medical College, MD Program, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Yan
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, New York, United States.
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4
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Yap C, Wanga S, Wüst RCI, van Os BW, Pijls MME, Keijzer S, van Zanten E, Koolbergen DR, Driessen AHG, Balm R, Yeung KK, de Vries CJM, Houtkooper RH, Lindeman JHN, de Waard V. Doxycycline induces mitochondrial dysfunction in aortic smooth muscle cells. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 154:107279. [PMID: 38272196 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The antibiotic doxycycline is known to inhibit inflammation and was therefore considered as a therapeutic to prevent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth. Yet mitochondrial dysfunction is a key-characteristic of clinical AAA disease. We hypothesize that doxycycline impairs mitochondrial function in the aorta and aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Doxycycline induced mitonuclear imbalance, reduced proliferation and diminished expression of typical contractile smooth muscle cell (SMC) proteins. To understand the underlying mechanism, we studied krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). The expression of this transcription factor was enhanced in SMCs after doxycycline treatment. Knockdown of KLF4, however, did not affect the doxycycline-induced SMC phenotypic changes. Then we used the bioenergetics drug elamipretide (SS-31). Doxycycline-induced loss of SMC contractility markers was not rescued, but mitochondrial genes and mitochondrial connectivity improved upon elamipretide. Thus while doxycycline is anti-inflammatory, it also induces mitochondrial dysfunction in aortic SMCs and causes SMC phenotypic switching, potentially contributing to aortic aneurysm pathology. The drug elamipretide helps mitigate the harmful effects of doxycycline on mitochondrial function in aortic SMC, and may be of interest for treatment of aneurysm diseases with pre-existing mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Yap
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Shaynah Wanga
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Cardiology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rob C I Wüst
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Myology, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bram W van Os
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maud M E Pijls
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sofie Keijzer
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva van Zanten
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David R Koolbergen
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Antoine H G Driessen
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ron Balm
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Vascular Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kak Khee Yeung
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Vascular Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Physiology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carlie J M de Vries
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Riekelt H Houtkooper
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan H N Lindeman
- Leiden University Medical Center, Vascular Surgery, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Vivian de Waard
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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5
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Zhu J, Wang Y, Rivett A, Yang G. H 2S regulation of iron homeostasis by IRP1 improves vascular smooth muscle cell functions. Cell Signal 2023; 110:110826. [PMID: 37487913 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Either H2S or iron is essential for cellular processes. Abnormal metabolism of H2S and iron has increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the present study is to examine the mutual interplay of iron and H2S signals in regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) functions. Here we found that deficiency of cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE, a major H2S-producing enzyme in vascular system) induced but NaHS (a H2S donor) administration attenuated iron accumulation in aortic tissues from angiotensin II-infused mice. In vitro, iron overload induced labile iron levels, promoted cell proliferation, disrupted F-actin filaments, and inhibited protein expressions of SMC-specific markers (αSMA and calponin) more significantly in SMCs from CSE knockout mice (KO-SMCs) than the cells from wild-type mice (WT-SMCs), which could be reversed by exogenously applied NaHS. In contrast, KO-SMCs were more vulnerable to iron starvation-induced cell death. Either iron overload or NaHS did not affect elastin level and gelatinolytic activity. We further found that H2S induced more aconitase activity of iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) but inhibited its RNA binding activity accompanied with increased protein levels of ferritin and ferriportin, which would contribute to the lower level of labile iron level inside the cells. In addition, iron was able to suppress CSE-derived H2S generation, while iron also non-enzymatically induced H2S release from cysteine. This study reveals the mutual interaction between iron and H2S signals in regulating SMC phenotypes and functions; CSE/H2S system would be a target for preventing iron metabolic disorder-related vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiechun Zhu
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Unit, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
| | - Yuehong Wang
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Unit, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
| | - Alexis Rivett
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Unit, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada
| | - Guangdong Yang
- School of Natural Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Unit, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada.
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6
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Bharadhwaj RA, Kumarswamy R. Long noncoding RNA TUG1 regulates smooth muscle cell differentiation via KLF4-myocardin axis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C940-C950. [PMID: 37642238 PMCID: PMC10635660 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00275.2023] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are asymptomatic vascular diseases that have life-threatening outcomes. Smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction plays an important role in AAA development. The contribution of non-coding genome, specifically the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in SMC dysfunction, is relatively unexplored. We investigated the role of lncRNA TUG1 in SMC dysfunction. To identify potential lncRNAs relevant to SMC functionality, lncRNA profiling was performed in angiotensin-II-treated SMCs. AAA was induced by angiotensin-II treatment in mice. Transcriptional regulation of TUG1 was studied using promoter luciferase and chromatin-immuno-precipitation experiments. Gain-or-loss-of-function experiments were performed in vitro to investigate TUG1-mediated regulation of SMC function. Immunoprecipitation experiments were conducted to elucidate the mechanism underlying TUG1-mediated SMC dysfunction. TUG1 was upregulated in SMCs following angiotensin-II treatment. Similarly, TUG1 levels were elevated in abdominal aorta in a mouse model of angiotensin-II-induced AAA. Further investigations showed that angiotensin-II-induced TUG1 expression could be suppressed by inhibiting Notch-signaling pathway, both in vitro and in mouse AAA model and that TUG1 is a direct transcriptional target of the Notch pathway. In aneurysmal tissues, TUG1 expression was inversely correlated with the expression of SMC contractile genes. Overexpression of TUG1 repressed SMC differentiation in vitro, whereas siRNA/shRNA-mediated TUG1 knockdown showed an opposite effect. Mechanistically, TUG1 interacts with transcriptional repressor KLF4 and facilitates its recruitment to myocardin promoter ultimately leading to the repression of SMC differentiation. In summary, our study uncovers a novel role for the lncRNA TUG1 wherein it modulates SMC differentiation via the KLF4-myocardin axis, which may have potential implications in AAA development.NEW & NOTEWORTHY TUG1 is an angiotensin-II-induced long noncoding RNA that mediates smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction through interaction with transcriptional repressor KLF4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Abishek Bharadhwaj
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Telangana, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Regalla Kumarswamy
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Telangana, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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7
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Karkhaneh Yousefi AA, Petit C, Ben Hassine A, Avril S. Stiffness sensing by smooth muscle cells: Continuum mechanics modeling of the acto-myosin role. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 144:105990. [PMID: 37385127 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.105990] [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: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the aorta by sensing and responding to mechanical stimuli. However, the mechanisms that underlie the ability of SMCs to sense and respond to stiffness change in their environment are still partially unclear. In this study, we focus on the role of acto-myosin contractility in stiffness sensing and introduce a novel continuum mechanics approach based on the principles of thermal strains. Each stress fiber satisfies a universal stress-strain relationship driven by a Young's modulus, a contraction coefficient scaling the fictitious thermal strain, a maximum contraction stress and a softening parameter describing the sliding effects between actin and myosin filaments. To account for the inherent variability of cellular responses, large populations of SMCs are modeled with the finite-element method, each cell having a random number and a random arrangement of stress fibers. Moreover, the level of myosin activation in each stress fiber satisfies a Weibull probability density function. Model predictions are compared to traction force measurements on different SMC lineages. It is demonstrated that the model not only predicts well the effects of substrate stiffness on cellular traction, but it can also successfully approximate the statistical variations of cellular tractions induced by intercellular variability. Finally, stresses in the nuclear envelope and in the nucleus are computed with the model, showing that the variations of cytoskeletal forces induced by substrate stiffness directly induce deformations of the nucleus which can potentially alter gene expression. The predictability of the model combined to its relative simplicity are promising assets for further investigation of stiffness sensing in 3D environments. Eventually, this could contribute to decipher the effects of mechanosensitivity impairment, which are known to be at the root of aortic aneurysms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudie Petit
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Université Jean Monnet, INSERM, U1059 SAINBIOSE, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Amira Ben Hassine
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Université Jean Monnet, INSERM, U1059 SAINBIOSE, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Stéphane Avril
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Université Jean Monnet, INSERM, U1059 SAINBIOSE, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France.
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8
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Tedjawirja VN, Mieremet A, Rombouts KB, Yap C, Neele AE, Northoff BH, Chen HJ, Vos M, Klaver D, Yeung KK, Balm R, de Waard V. Exploring the expression and potential function of follicle stimulating hormone receptor in extragonadal cells related to abdominal aortic aneurysm. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285607. [PMID: 37228156 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is identified to play a role in postmenopausal disease and hypothesized to affect abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) onset/progression in postmenopausal women. We aimed to detect FSHR gene expression in AAA tissue and cell types involved in AAA formation. METHODS FSH stimulation of human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs), smooth muscle cells (HUCs) and PMA-differentiated macrophages to assess gene expression of FSHR and various markers. Human macrophages activated with various stimuli were assessed for FSHR gene expression. AAA dataset, AAA tissue samples and AAA-derived smooth muscle cells (SMC) obtained from elderly female donors were assessed for FSHR gene expression. AAA-SMCs were stimulated with FSH to assess its effect on gene expression. Lastly, oxidized low-density-lipoprotein (ox-LDL) uptake and abundance of cell surface protein markers were assessed by flow cytometry after FSH stimulation of human monocytes. RESULTS FSH stimulation showed similar levels of gene expression in HUVECs and HUCs. Only ACTA2 was downregulated in HUCs. In PMA-differentiated macrophages, gene expression of inflammation markers was unchanged after FSH stimulation. FSHR gene expression was found to be low in the AAA datasets. Female AAA-SMCs show occasional FSHR gene expression at a very low level, yet stimulation with FSH did not affect gene expression of SMC- or inflammation markers. FSH stimulation did not impact ox-LDL uptake or alter cell surface protein expression in monocytes. While FSHR gene expression was detected in human testis tissue, it was below quantification level in all other investigated cell types, even upon activation of macrophages with various stimuli. CONCLUSION Despite previous reports, we did not detect FSHR gene expression in various extragonadal cell types, except in occasional female AAA-SMCs. No clear effect on cell activation was observed upon FSH stimulation in any cell type. Our data suggest that a direct effect of FSH in AAA-related extragonadal cells is unlikely to influence AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- V N Tedjawirja
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Mieremet
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K B Rombouts
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C Yap
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A E Neele
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B H Northoff
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - H J Chen
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Vos
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Klaver
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K K Yeung
- Department of Surgery and Physiology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Balm
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - V de Waard
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Liu L, Jouve C, Henry J, Berrandou TE, Hulot JS, Georges A, Bouatia-Naji N. Genomic, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Depiction of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Smooth Muscle Cells As Emerging Cellular Models for Arterial Diseases. Hypertension 2023; 80:740-753. [PMID: 36655574 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.19733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plasticity is a central mechanism in cardiovascular health and disease. We aimed at providing cellular phenotyping, epigenomic and proteomic depiction of SMCs derived from induced pluripotent stem cells and evaluating their potential as cellular models in the context of complex diseases. METHODS Human induced pluripotent stem cell lines were differentiated using RepSox (R-SMCs) or PDGF-BB (platelet-derived growth factor-BB) and TGF-β (transforming growth factor beta; TP-SMCs), during a 24-day long protocol. RNA-Seq and assay for transposase accessible chromatin-Seq were performed at 6 time points of differentiation, and mass spectrometry was used to quantify proteins. RESULTS Both induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation protocols generated SMCs with positive expression of SMC markers. TP-SMCs exhibited greater proliferation capacity, migration and lower calcium release in response to contractile stimuli, compared with R-SMCs. Genes involved in the contractile function of arteries were highly expressed in R-SMCs compared with TP-SMCs or primary SMCs. R-SMCs and coronary artery transcriptomic profiles were highly similar, characterized by high expression of genes involved in blood pressure regulation and coronary artery disease. We identified FOXF1 and HAND1 as key drivers of RepSox specific program. Extracellular matrix content contained more proteins involved in wound repair in TP-SMCs and higher secretion of basal membrane constituents in R-SMCs. Open chromatin regions of R-SMCs and TP-SMCs were significantly enriched for variants associated with blood pressure and coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS Both induced pluripotent stem cell-derived SMCs models present complementary cellular phenotypes of high relevance to SMC plasticity. These cellular models present high potential to study functional regulation at genetic risk loci of main arterial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France (L.L., C.J., J.H., T.-E.B., J.-S.H., A.G., N.B.-N.)
| | - Charlène Jouve
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France (L.L., C.J., J.H., T.-E.B., J.-S.H., A.G., N.B.-N.)
| | - Joséphine Henry
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France (L.L., C.J., J.H., T.-E.B., J.-S.H., A.G., N.B.-N.)
| | - Takiy-Eddine Berrandou
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France (L.L., C.J., J.H., T.-E.B., J.-S.H., A.G., N.B.-N.)
| | - Jean-Sébastien Hulot
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France (L.L., C.J., J.H., T.-E.B., J.-S.H., A.G., N.B.-N.)
| | - Adrien Georges
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France (L.L., C.J., J.H., T.-E.B., J.-S.H., A.G., N.B.-N.)
| | - Nabila Bouatia-Naji
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, PARCC, Paris, France (L.L., C.J., J.H., T.-E.B., J.-S.H., A.G., N.B.-N.)
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10
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Agrafiotis E, Mayer C, Grabenwöger M, Zimpfer D, Regitnig P, Mächler H, Holzapfel GA. Global and local stiffening of ex vivo-perfused stented human thoracic aortas: A mock circulation study. Acta Biomater 2023; 161:170-183. [PMID: 36849029 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The effects of thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) on the biomechanical properties of aortic tissue have not been adequately studied. Understanding these features is important for the management of endograft-triggered complications of a biomechanical nature. This study aims to examine how stent-graft implantation affects the elastomechanical behavior of the aorta. Non-pathological human thoracic aortas (n=10) were subjected to long-standing perfusion (8h) within a mock circulation loop under physiological conditions. To quantify compliance and its mismatch in the test periods without and with a stent, the aortic pressure and the proximal cyclic circumferential displacement were measured. After perfusion, biaxial tension tests (stress-stretch) were carried out to examine the stiffness profiles between non-stented and stented tissue, followed by a histological assessment. Experimental evidence shows: (i) a significant reduction in aortic distensibility after TEVAR, indicating aortic stiffening and compliance mismatch, (ii) a stiffer behavior of the stented samples compared to the non-stented samples with an earlier entry into the nonlinear part of the stress-stretch curve and (iii) strut-induced histological remodeling of the aortic wall. The biomechanical and histological comparison of the non-stented and stented aortas provides new insights into the interaction between the stent-graft and the aortic wall. The knowledge gained could refine the stent-graft design to minimize the stent-induced impacts on the aortic wall and the resulting complications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Stent-related cardiovascular complications occur the moment the stent-graft expands on the human aortic wall. Clinicians base their diagnosis on the anatomical morphology of CT scans while neglecting the endograft-triggered biomechanical events that compromise aortic compliance and wall mechanotransduction. Experimental replication of endovascular repair in cadaver aortas within a mock circulation loop may have a catalytic effect on biomechanical and histological findings without an ethical barrier. Demonstrating interactions between the stent and the wall can help clinicians make a broader diagnosis such as ECG-triggered oversizing and stent-graft characteristics based on patient-specific anatomical location and age. In addition, the results can be used to optimize towards more aortophilic stent grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Mayer
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Martin Grabenwöger
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinic Floridsdorf, Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Zimpfer
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Peter Regitnig
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Heinrich Mächler
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Gerhard A Holzapfel
- Institute of Biomechanics, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; Department of Structural Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
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11
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Zhang C, Li Y, Chakraborty A, Li Y, Rebello KR, Ren P, Luo W, Zhang L, Lu HS, Cassis LA, Coselli JS, Daugherty A, LeMaire SA, Shen YH. Aortic Stress Activates an Adaptive Program in Thoracic Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells That Maintains Aortic Strength and Protects Against Aneurysm and Dissection in Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:234-252. [PMID: 36579645 PMCID: PMC9877188 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND When aortic cells are under stress, such as increased hemodynamic pressure, they adapt to the environment by modifying their functions, allowing the aorta to maintain its strength. To understand the regulation of this adaptive response, we examined transcriptomic and epigenomic programs in aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during the adaptive response to AngII (angiotensin II) infusion and determined its importance in protecting against aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD). METHODS We performed single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (scATAC-seq) analyses in a mouse model of sporadic AAD induced by AngII infusion. We also examined the direct effects of YAP (yes-associated protein) on the SMC adaptive response in vitro. The role of YAP in AAD development was further evaluated in AngII-infused mice with SMC-specific Yap deletion. RESULTS In wild-type mice, AngII infusion increased medial thickness in the thoracic aorta. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed an adaptive response in thoracic SMCs characterized by upregulated genes with roles in wound healing, elastin and collagen production, proliferation, migration, cytoskeleton organization, cell-matrix focal adhesion, and PI3K-PKB/Akt (phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B/Akt) and TGF-β (transforming growth factor beta) signaling. ScATAC-seq analysis showed increased chromatin accessibility at regulatory regions of adaptive genes and revealed the mechanical sensor YAP/transcriptional enhanced associate domains as a top candidate transcription complex driving the expression of these genes (eg, Lox, Col5a2, Tgfb2). In cultured human aortic SMCs, cyclic stretch activated YAP, which directly bound to adaptive gene regulatory regions (eg, Lox) and increased their transcript abundance. SMC-specific Yap deletion in mice compromised this adaptive response in SMCs, leading to an increased AAD incidence. CONCLUSIONS Aortic stress triggers the systemic epigenetic induction of an adaptive response (eg, wound healing, proliferation, matrix organization) in thoracic aortic SMCs that depends on functional biomechanical signal transduction (eg, YAP signaling). Our study highlights the importance of the adaptive response in maintaining aortic homeostasis and preventing AAD in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Yanming Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Abhijit Chakraborty
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Yang Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Kimberly R Rebello
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Pingping Ren
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Wei Luo
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Lin Zhang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Hong S Lu
- Saha Cardiovascular Research Center (H.S.L., A.D.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
- Department of Physiology (H.S.L., A.D.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Lisa A Cassis
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (L.A.C.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Joseph S Coselli
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.S.)
| | - Alan Daugherty
- Saha Cardiovascular Research Center (H.S.L., A.D.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
- Department of Physiology (H.S.L., A.D.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Scott A LeMaire
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.S.)
| | - Ying H Shen
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z., Y.L., A.C., Y.L., K.R.R., P.R., W.L., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.)
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.S.)
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12
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Wang J, Tian X, Yan C, Wu H, Bu Y, Li J, Liu D, Han Y. TCF7L1 Accelerates Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Aggravates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2023; 8:155-170. [PMID: 36908661 PMCID: PMC9998605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells is a central process in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathology. We found that knockdown TCF7L1 (transcription factor 7-like 1), a member of the TCF/LEF (T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor) family of transcription factors, inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation. This study hints at potential interventions to maintain a normal, differentiated smooth muscle cell state, thereby eliminating the pathogenesis of AAA. In addition, our study provides insights into the potential use of TCF7L1 as a biomarker for AAA.
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Key Words
- AAA, abdominal aortic aneurysm
- AAV, adeno-associated virus
- Ang II, angiotensin II
- CVF, collagen volume fraction
- MMP, matrix metalloproteinase
- PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- SM22α, smooth muscle protein 22-α
- SMA, smooth muscle actin
- SRF, serum response factor
- TCF7L1
- TCF7L1, transcription factor 7-like 1
- VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell
- abdominal aortic aneurysms
- cDNA, complementary DNA
- mRNA, messenger RNA
- phenotypic switching
- siRNA, small interfering RNA
- smooth muscle cell
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Tian
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Chenghui Yan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Hanlin Wu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuxin Bu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Jia Li
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Yaling Han
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
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13
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van der Velden J, Asselbergs FW, Bakkers J, Batkai S, Bertrand L, Bezzina CR, Bot I, Brundel BJJM, Carrier L, Chamuleau S, Ciccarelli M, Dawson D, Davidson SM, Dendorfer A, Duncker DJ, Eschenhagen T, Fabritz L, Falcão-Pires I, Ferdinandy P, Giacca M, Girao H, Gollmann-Tepeköylü C, Gyongyosi M, Guzik TJ, Hamdani N, Heymans S, Hilfiker A, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Hoekstra AG, Hulot JS, Kuster DWD, van Laake LW, Lecour S, Leiner T, Linke WA, Lumens J, Lutgens E, Madonna R, Maegdefessel L, Mayr M, van der Meer P, Passier R, Perbellini F, Perrino C, Pesce M, Priori S, Remme CA, Rosenhahn B, Schotten U, Schulz R, Sipido KR, Sluijter JPG, van Steenbeek F, Steffens S, Terracciano CM, Tocchetti CG, Vlasman P, Yeung KK, Zacchigna S, Zwaagman D, Thum T. Animal models and animal-free innovations for cardiovascular research: current status and routes to be explored. Consensus document of the ESC Working Group on Myocardial Function and the ESC Working Group on Cellular Biology of the Heart. Cardiovasc Res 2022; 118:3016-3051. [PMID: 34999816 PMCID: PMC9732557 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality, necessitating research to improve diagnostics, and to discover and test novel preventive and curative therapies, all of which warrant experimental models that recapitulate human disease. The translation of basic science results to clinical practice is a challenging task, in particular for complex conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, which often result from multiple risk factors and comorbidities. This difficulty might lead some individuals to question the value of animal research, citing the translational 'valley of death', which largely reflects the fact that studies in rodents are difficult to translate to humans. This is also influenced by the fact that new, human-derived in vitro models can recapitulate aspects of disease processes. However, it would be a mistake to think that animal models do not represent a vital step in the translational pathway as they do provide important pathophysiological insights into disease mechanisms particularly on an organ and systemic level. While stem cell-derived human models have the potential to become key in testing toxicity and effectiveness of new drugs, we need to be realistic, and carefully validate all new human-like disease models. In this position paper, we highlight recent advances in trying to reduce the number of animals for cardiovascular research ranging from stem cell-derived models to in situ modelling of heart properties, bioinformatic models based on large datasets, and state-of-the-art animal models, which show clinically relevant characteristics observed in patients with a cardiovascular disease. We aim to provide a guide to help researchers in their experimental design to translate bench findings to clinical routine taking the replacement, reduction, and refinement (3R) as a guiding concept.
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Grants
- R01 HL150359 NHLBI NIH HHS
- RG/16/14/32397 British Heart Foundation
- FS/18/37/33642 British Heart Foundation
- PG/17/64/33205 British Heart Foundation
- PG/15/88/31780 British Heart Foundation
- FS/RTF/20/30009, NH/19/1/34595, PG/18/35/33786, CS/17/4/32960, PG/15/88/31780, and PG/17/64/33205 British Heart Foundation
- NC/T001488/1 National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research
- PG/18/44/33790 British Heart Foundation
- CH/16/3/32406 British Heart Foundation
- FS/RTF/20/30009 British Heart Foundation
- NWO-ZonMW
- ZonMW and Heart Foundation for the translational research program
- Dutch Cardiovascular Alliance (DCVA)
- Leducq Foundation
- Dutch Research Council
- Association of Collaborating Health Foundations (SGF)
- UCL Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and the DCVA
- Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative CVON
- Stichting Hartekind and the Dutch Research Counsel (NWO) (OCENW.GROOT.2019.029)
- National Fund for Scientific Research, Belgium and Action de Recherche Concertée de la Communauté Wallonie-Bruxelles, Belgium
- Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative CVON (PREDICT2 and CONCOR-genes projects), the Leducq Foundation
- ERA PerMed (PROCEED study)
- Netherlands Cardiovascular Research Initiative
- Dutch Heart Foundation
- German Centre of Cardiovascular Research (DZHH)
- Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
- Tenovus Scotland
- Friends of Anchor and Grampian NHS-Endowments
- National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research
- European Research Council (ERC-AG IndivuHeart), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- European Union Horizon 2020 (REANIMA and TRAINHEART)
- German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
- Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
- European Union Horizon 2020
- DFG
- National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary
- Research Excellence Program—TKP; National Heart Program
- Austrian Science Fund
- European Union Commission’s Seventh Framework programme
- CVON2016-Early HFPEF
- CVON She-PREDICTS
- CVON Arena-PRIME
- European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Volkswagenstiftung
- French National Research Agency
- ERA-Net-CVD
- Fédération Française de Cardiologie, the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale
- French PIA Project
- University Research Federation against heart failure
- Netherlands Heart Foundation
- Dekker Senior Clinical Scientist
- Health Holland TKI-LSH
- TUe/UMCU/UU Alliance Fund
- south African National Foundation
- Cancer Association of South Africa and Winetech
- Netherlands Heart Foundation/Applied & Engineering Sciences
- Dutch Technology Foundation
- Pie Medical Imaging
- Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
- Dr. Dekker Program
- Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative: the Dutch Heart Foundation
- Dutch Federation of University Medical Centres
- Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences for the GENIUS-II project
- Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (VICI grant); the European Research Council
- Incyte s.r.l. and from Ministero dell’Istruzione, Università e Ricerca Scientifica
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (Junior Research Group & Translational Research Project), the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant NORVAS),
- Swedish Heart-Lung-Foundation
- Swedish Research Council
- National Institutes of Health
- Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care through the research project DigiMed Bayern
- ERC
- ERA-CVD
- Dutch Heart Foundation, ZonMw
- the NWO Gravitation project
- Ministero dell'Istruzione, Università e Ricerca Scientifica
- Regione Lombardia
- Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
- ITN Network Personalize AF: Personalized Therapies for Atrial Fibrillation: a translational network
- MAESTRIA: Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Early Detection Stroke Atrial Fibrillation
- REPAIR: Restoring cardiac mechanical function by polymeric artificial muscular tissue
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)
- European Union H2020 program to the project TECHNOBEAT
- EVICARE
- BRAV3
- ZonMw
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
- British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiac Regeneration
- British Heart Foundation studentship
- NC3Rs
- Interreg ITA-AUS project InCARDIO
- Italian Association for Cancer Research
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda van der Velden
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Heart Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Folkert W Asselbergs
- Division Heart & Lungs, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Faculty of Population Health Sciences, Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jeroen Bakkers
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandor Batkai
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
| | - Luc Bertrand
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
| | - Connie R Bezzina
- Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ilze Bot
- Heart Center, Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca J J M Brundel
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie Carrier
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Steven Chamuleau
- Amsterdam UMC, Heart Center, Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michele Ciccarelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Odontology, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Dana Dawson
- Department of Cardiology, Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Sean M Davidson
- The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London, 67 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Andreas Dendorfer
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk J Duncker
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
- University Center of Cardiovascular Sciences and Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Hamburg, Germany and Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Ines Falcão-Pires
- UnIC - Cardiovascular Research and Development Centre, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Cardiometabolic Research Group and MTA-SE System Pharmacology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mauro Giacca
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences and Cardiovascular Department, Centre for Translational Cardiology, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Henrique Girao
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Mariann Gyongyosi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomasz J Guzik
- Instutute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, Kraków, Poland
| | - Nazha Hamdani
- Division Cardiology, Molecular and Experimental Cardiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephane Heymans
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andres Hilfiker
- Department for Cardiothoracic, Transplant, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner
- Department for Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Cardiovascular Complications in Pregnancy and in Oncologic Therapies, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany
| | - Alfons G Hoekstra
- Computational Science Lab, Informatics Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Sébastien Hulot
- Université de Paris, INSERM, PARCC, F-75015 Paris, France
- CIC1418 and DMU CARTE, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Diederik W D Kuster
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Linda W van Laake
- Division Heart & Lungs, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sandrine Lecour
- Department of Medicine, Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa and Cape Heart Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tim Leiner
- Department of Radiology, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang A Linke
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Muenster, Robert-Koch-Str. 27B, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Joost Lumens
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Esther Lutgens
- Experimental Vascular Biology Division, Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
- DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Rosalinda Madonna
- Department of Pathology, Cardiology Division, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Division, University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lars Maegdefessel
- DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Manuel Mayr
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Peter van der Meer
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Passier
- Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Filippo Perbellini
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cinzia Perrino
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pesce
- Unità di Ingegneria Tissutale Cardiovascolare, Centro cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Priori
- Molecular Cardiology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Pavia, Italy
- University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carol Ann Remme
- Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bodo Rosenhahn
- Institute for information Processing, Leibniz University of Hanover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rainer Schulz
- Institute of Physiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Karin R Sipido
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost P G Sluijter
- Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Circulatory Health Laboratory, Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank van Steenbeek
- Division Heart & Lungs, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Steffens
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
- DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Carlo Gabriele Tocchetti
- Cardio-Oncology Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), Interdepartmental Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CIRCET), Interdepartmental Hypertension Research Center (CIRIAPA), Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Patricia Vlasman
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kak Khee Yeung
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Surgery, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences and Cardiovascular Department, Centre for Translational Cardiology, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Dayenne Zwaagman
- Amsterdam UMC, Heart Center, Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Thum
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany
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14
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Linking single nucleotide polymorphisms to signaling blueprints in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20990. [PMID: 36470918 PMCID: PMC9722707 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25144-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is a multifactorial complex disease with life-threatening consequences. While Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the genome of individuals with AAA, the link between SNPs with the associated pathological signals, the influence of risk factors on their distribution and their combined analysis is not fully understood. We integrated 86 AAA SNPs from GWAS and clinical cohorts from the literature to determine their phenotypical vulnerabilities and association with AAA risk factors. The SNPs were annotated using snpXplorer AnnotateMe tool to identify their chromosomal position, minor allele frequency, CADD (Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion), annotation-based pathogenicity score, variant consequence, and their associated gene. Gene enrichment analysis was performed using Gene Ontology and clustered using REVIGO. The plug-in GeneMANIA in Cytoscape was applied to identify network integration with associated genes and functions. 15 SNPs affecting 20 genes with a CADD score above ten were identified. AAA SNPs were predominantly located on chromosome 3 and 9. Stop-gained rs5516 SNP obtained high frequency in AAA and associated with proinflammatory and vascular remodeling phenotypes. SNPs presence positively correlated with hypertension, dyslipidemia and smoking history. GO showed that AAA SNPs and their associated genes could regulate lipid metabolism, extracellular matrix organization, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and oxidative stress, suggesting that part of these AAA traits could stem from genetic abnormalities. We show a library of inborn SNPs and associated genes that manifest in AAA. We uncover their pathological signaling trajectories that likely fuel AAA development.
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15
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Zhao G, Zhao Y, Lu H, Chang Z, Liu H, Wang H, Liang W, Liu Y, Zhu T, Rom O, Guo Y, Chang L, Yang B, Garcia-Barrio MT, Lin JD, Chen YE, Zhang J. BAF60c prevents abdominal aortic aneurysm formation through epigenetic control of vascular smooth muscle cell homeostasis. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e158309. [PMID: 36066968 PMCID: PMC9621131 DOI: 10.1172/jci158309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease. BAF60c, a unique subunit of the SWItch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex, is critical for cardiac and skeletal myogenesis, yet little is known about its function in the vasculature and, specifically, in AAA pathogenesis. Here, we found that BAF60c was downregulated in human and mouse AAA tissues, with primary staining to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), confirmed by single-cell RNA-sequencing. In vivo studies revealed that VSMC-specific knockout of Baf60c significantly aggravated both angiotensin II- (Ang II-) and elastase-induced AAA formation in mice, with a significant increase in elastin degradation, inflammatory cell infiltration, VSMC phenotypic switch, and apoptosis. In vitro studies showed that BAF60c knockdown in VSMCs resulted in loss of contractile phenotype, increased VSMC inflammation, and apoptosis. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that BAF60c preserved VSMC contractile phenotype by strengthening serum response factor (SRF) association with its coactivator P300 and the SWI/SNF complex and suppressing VSMC inflammation by promoting a repressive chromatin state of NF-κB target genes as well as preventing VSMC apoptosis through transcriptional activation of KLF5-dependent B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) expression. Our identification of the essential role of BAF60c in preserving VSMC homeostasis expands its therapeutic potential in preventing and treating AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guizhen Zhao
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yang Zhao
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Haocheng Lu
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ziyi Chang
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Hongyu Liu
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Huilun Wang
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Wenying Liang
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yuhao Liu
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Tianqing Zhu
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Oren Rom
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center–Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
| | - Yanhong Guo
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lin Chang
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Minerva T. Garcia-Barrio
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jiandie D. Lin
- Life Sciences Institute and Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Y. Eugene Chen
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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16
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Vascular smooth muscle RhoA counteracts abdominal aortic aneurysm formation by modulating MAP4K4 activity. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1071. [PMID: 36207400 PMCID: PMC9546906 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04042-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether a small GTPase RhoA plays a role in the pathology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has not been determined. We show here that RhoA expression is reduced in human AAA lesions, compared with normal areas. Furthermore, incidence of AAA formation is increased in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-specific RhoA conditional knockout (cKO) mice. The contractility of the aortic rings and VSMCs from RhoA cKO mice is reduced, and expression of genes related to the VSMC contractility is attenuated by loss of RhoA. RhoA depletion activates the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling, including MAP4K4, in the aorta and VSMCs. Inhibition of MAP4K4 activity by DMX-5804 decreases AAA formation. Set, a binding protein to active RhoA, functions as an activator of MAP4K4 by sequestering PP2A, an inhibitor of MAP4K4, in the absence of RhoA. In conclusion, RhoA counteracts AAA formation through inhibition of MAP4K4 in cooperation with Set.
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17
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Identification of the Key Genes and Potential Therapeutic Compounds for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Based on a Weighted Correlation Network Analysis. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051052. [PMID: 35625787 PMCID: PMC9138830 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There is still an unmet need for therapeutic drugs for patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), especially for candidates unsuitable for surgical or interventional repair. Therefore, the purpose of this in silico study is to identify significant genes and regulatory mechanisms in AAA patients to predicate the potential therapeutic compounds for significant genes. Methods: The GSE57691 dataset was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). The biological function of DEGs was determined using gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). AAA-related genes were obtained from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) using the keywords: aortic aneurysm and abdominal. The hub genes in AAA were obtained by overlapping DEGs, WGCNA-based hub genes, and CTD-based genes. The diagnostic values of hub genes were determined using ROC curve analysis. Hereby, a TF-miRNA-hub gene network was constructed based on the miRnet database. Using these data, potential therapeutic compounds for the therapy of AAA were predicted based on the Drug Gene Interaction Database (DGIdb). Results: A total of 218 DEGs (17 upregulated and 201 downregulated) and their biological function were explored; 4093 AAA-related genes were derived by text mining. Three hub modules and 144 hub genes were identified by WGCNA. asparagine synthetase (ASNS), axin-related protein 2 (AXIN2), melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), and the testis-specific Y-encoded-like protein 1 (TSPYL1) were obtained as intersecting hub genes and the diagnostic values were confirmed with ROC curves. As potential compounds targeting the hub genes, asparaginase was identified as the target compound for ASNS. Prednisolone and abiraterone were identified as compounds targeting TSPYL1. For MCAM and TSPYL1, no potential therapeutic compound could be predicted. Conclusion: Using WGCNA analysis and text mining, pre-existing gene expression data were used to provide novel insight into potential AAA-related protein targets. For two of these targets, compounds could be predicted.
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18
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Zhou Y, Zha L, Wu J, Wang M, Zhou M, Wu G, Cheng X, Huang Z, Xie Q, Tu X. MED12 Regulates Smooth Muscle Cell Functions and Participates in the Development of Aortic Dissection. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13040692. [PMID: 35456498 PMCID: PMC9027749 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening disease with high morbidity and mortality, and effective pharmacotherapeutic remedies for it are lacking. Therefore, AD’s molecular pathogenesis and etiology must be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism of mediator complex subunit 12 (human: MED12, mouse: Med12)involvement in AD. Firstly, we examined the expression of MED12 protein (human: MED12, mouse: Med12) in the aortic tissues of AD patients and AD mice. Subsequently, Med12 gene silencing was accomplished with RNA interference (siRNA). The effects of Med12 on AD and the possible biological mechanisms were investigated based on the proliferation, senescence, phenotypic transformation, and its involved signal pathway of mouse aortic smooth muscle cells (MOVAS), s. The results show that the expression of MED12 in the aortae of AD patients and AD mice was decreased. Moreover, the downregulation of Med12 inhibited the proliferation of MOVAS and promoted senescence. Further research found that Med12, as an inhibitor of the TGFβ1 signaling pathway, reduced the expression of Med12 and enhanced the activity of the TGFβ1 nonclassical signaling pathway, while TGFβ1 inhibited the phenotype transformation and proliferation of MOVAS by inhibiting Med12 synthesis. In conclusion, Med12 affected the phenotype, proliferation, and senescence of MOVAS through the TGFβ signaling pathway. This study provides a potential new target for the prevention and treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchao Zhou
- Heart Center, Qingdao Women and Children’s Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266034, China;
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Center for Human Genome Research, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (J.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Lingfeng Zha
- Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; (L.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.C.)
| | - Jianfei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Center for Human Genome Research, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (J.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Mengru Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Center for Human Genome Research, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (J.W.); (M.W.)
| | - Mengchen Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; (L.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.C.)
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China;
| | - Xiang Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; (L.Z.); (M.Z.); (X.C.)
| | - Zhengrong Huang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China;
| | - Qiang Xie
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China;
- Correspondence: (Q.X.); (X.T.)
| | - Xin Tu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Center for Human Genome Research, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (J.W.); (M.W.)
- Correspondence: (Q.X.); (X.T.)
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19
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Rombouts KB, van Merrienboer TAR, Ket JCF, Bogunovic N, van der Velden J, Yeung KK. The role of vascular smooth muscle cells in the development of aortic aneurysms and dissections. Eur J Clin Invest 2022; 52:e13697. [PMID: 34698377 PMCID: PMC9285394 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aortic aneurysms (AA) are pathological dilations of the aorta, associated with an overall mortality rate up to 90% in case of rupture. In addition to dilation, the aortic layers can separate by a tear within the layers, defined as aortic dissections (AD). Vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) are the predominant cell type within the aortic wall and dysregulation of vSMC functions contributes to AA and AD development and progression. However, since the exact underlying mechanism is poorly understood, finding potential therapeutic targets for AA and AD is challenging and surgery remains the only treatment option. METHODS In this review, we summarize current knowledge about vSMC functions within the aortic wall and give an overview of how vSMC functions are altered in AA and AD pathogenesis, organized per anatomical location (abdominal or thoracic aorta). RESULTS Important functions of vSMC in healthy or diseased conditions are apoptosis, phenotypic switch, extracellular matrix regeneration and degradation, proliferation and contractility. Stressors within the aortic wall, including inflammatory cell infiltration and (epi)genetic changes, modulate vSMC functions and cause disturbance of processes within vSMC, such as changes in TGF-β signalling and regulatory RNA expression. CONCLUSION This review underscores a central role of vSMC dysfunction in abdominal and thoracic AA and AD development and progression. Further research focused on vSMC dysfunction in the aortic wall is necessary to find potential targets for noninvasive AA and AD treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlijn B Rombouts
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tara A R van Merrienboer
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Natalija Bogunovic
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda van der Velden
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kak Khee Yeung
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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20
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Riches-Suman K, Hussain A. Identifying and targeting the molecular signature of smooth muscle cells undergoing early vascular ageing. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166403. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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21
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Zhang C, Mohan A, Shi H, Yan C. Sildenafil (Viagra) Aggravates the Development of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e023053. [PMID: 34984916 PMCID: PMC9238513 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.023053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background cGMP‐hydrolyzing phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) regulates vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) contraction by antagonizing cGMP‐dependent protein kinase I (PKGI)–dependent SMC relaxation. SMC contractile dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm. PDE5 inhibitors have been used for treating erectile dysfunction, such as drug Viagra (sildenafil). However, a few clinical cases have reported the association of Viagra usage with aortic dissection, and reduced PDE5A expression was found in human aortic aneurysm tissues. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of sildenafil on experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), the most common form of aortic aneurysm in elderly men. Methods and Results AAA was induced in C57BL/6J male mice by periaortic elastase in combination with blocking elastin/collagen formation via 3‐aminopropionitrile fumarate salt for 35 days. PDE5A protein levels detected by immunostaining were significantly reduced in mouse AAA. Sildenafil application in drinking water significantly aggravated aortic wall dilation and elastin degradation with pre‐existing moderate AAA. The phosphorylation level of myosin light chain 2 at Ser19, a biochemical marker of SMC contraction, was significantly reduced by sildenafil in AAA. Proximity ligation assay further revealed that the interaction between cGMP and PKGI was significantly increased by sildenafil in AAA, suggesting an elevation of PKGI activation in AAA. Conclusions Sildenafil treatment aggravated the degradation of elastin fibers and progression of experimental AAA by dysregulating cGMP and contractile signaling in SMCs. Our findings may raise the caution of clinical usage of Viagra in aneurysmal patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongyang Zhang
- School of Medicine and Dentistry Aab Cardiovascular Research InstituteUniversity of Rochester Rochester NY.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology School of Medicine and Dentistry University of Rochester Rochester NY
| | - Amy Mohan
- School of Medicine and Dentistry Aab Cardiovascular Research InstituteUniversity of Rochester Rochester NY
| | - Hangchuan Shi
- Department of Clinical & Translational Research University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester NY.,Department of Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester NY
| | - Chen Yan
- School of Medicine and Dentistry Aab Cardiovascular Research InstituteUniversity of Rochester Rochester NY
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22
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Sunderland K, Jiang J, Zhao F. Disturbed flow's impact on cellular changes indicative of vascular aneurysm initiation, expansion, and rupture: A pathological and methodological review. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:278-300. [PMID: 34486114 PMCID: PMC8810685 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Aneurysms are malformations within the arterial vasculature brought on by the structural breakdown of the microarchitecture of the vessel wall, with aneurysms posing serious health risks in the event of their rupture. Blood flow within vessels is generally laminar with high, unidirectional wall shear stressors that modulate vascular endothelial cell functionality and regulate vascular smooth muscle cells. However, altered vascular geometry induced by bifurcations, significant curvature, stenosis, or clinical interventions can alter the flow, generating low stressor disturbed flow patterns. Disturbed flow is associated with altered cellular morphology, upregulated expression of proteins modulating inflammation, decreased regulation of vascular permeability, degraded extracellular matrix, and heightened cellular apoptosis. The understanding of the effects disturbed flow has on the cellular cascades which initiate aneurysms and promote their subsequent growth can further elucidate the nature of this complex pathology. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the disturbed flow and its relation to aneurysm pathology, the methods used to investigate these relations, as well as how such knowledge has impacted clinical treatment methodologies. This information can contribute to the understanding of the development, growth, and rupture of aneurysms and help develop novel research and aneurysmal treatment techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Sunderland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931
| | - Jingfeng Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931,Corresponding Authors: Feng Zhao, 101 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843-312, Tel : 979-458-1239, , Jingfeng Jiang, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931, Tel: 906-487-1943
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843,Corresponding Authors: Feng Zhao, 101 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843-312, Tel : 979-458-1239, , Jingfeng Jiang, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931, Tel: 906-487-1943
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23
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Buerger M, Klein O, Kapahnke S, Mueller V, Frese JP, Omran S, Greiner A, Sommerfeld M, Kaschina E, Jannasch A, Dittfeld C, Mahlmann A, Hinterseher I. Use of MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging to Identify Proteomic Signatures in Aortic Aneurysms after Endovascular Repair. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9091088. [PMID: 34572274 PMCID: PMC8465851 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endovascular repair (EVAR) has become the standard procedure in treating thoracic (TAA) or abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Not entirely free of complications, a persisting perfusion of the aneurysm after EVAR, called Endoleak (EL), leads to reintervention and risk of secondary rupture. How the aortic wall responds to the implantation of a stentgraft and EL is mostly uncertain. We present a pilot study to identify peptide signatures and gain new insights in pathophysiological alterations of the aortic wall after EVAR using matrix-assisted laser desorption or ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). In course of or accompanying an open aortic repair, tissue sections from 15 patients (TAA = 5, AAA = 5, EVAR = 5) were collected. Regions of interest (tunica media and tunica adventitia) were defined and univariate (receiver operating characteristic analysis) statistical analysis for subgroup comparison was used. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that MALDI-MSI is feasible to identify discriminatory peptide signatures separating TAA, AAA and EVAR. Decreased intensity distributions for actin, tropomyosin, and troponin after EVAR suggest impaired contractility in vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, inability to provide energy caused by impaired respiratory chain function and continuous degradation of extracellular matrix components (collagen) might support aortic wall destabilization. In case of EL after EVAR, this mechanism may result in a weakened aortic wall with lacking ability to react on reinstating pulsatile blood flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Buerger
- Berlin Institute of Health, Vascular Surgery Clinic, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.K.); (V.M.); (J.P.F.); (S.O.); (A.G.)
| | - Oliver Klein
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies BCRT, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Sebastian Kapahnke
- Berlin Institute of Health, Vascular Surgery Clinic, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.K.); (V.M.); (J.P.F.); (S.O.); (A.G.)
| | - Verena Mueller
- Berlin Institute of Health, Vascular Surgery Clinic, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.K.); (V.M.); (J.P.F.); (S.O.); (A.G.)
| | - Jan Paul Frese
- Berlin Institute of Health, Vascular Surgery Clinic, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.K.); (V.M.); (J.P.F.); (S.O.); (A.G.)
| | - Safwan Omran
- Berlin Institute of Health, Vascular Surgery Clinic, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.K.); (V.M.); (J.P.F.); (S.O.); (A.G.)
| | - Andreas Greiner
- Berlin Institute of Health, Vascular Surgery Clinic, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.K.); (V.M.); (J.P.F.); (S.O.); (A.G.)
| | - Manuela Sommerfeld
- Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Institute of Pharmacology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany; (M.S.); (E.K.)
| | - Elena Kaschina
- Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Institute of Pharmacology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany; (M.S.); (E.K.)
| | - Anett Jannasch
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Herzzentrum Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (A.J.); (C.D.)
| | - Claudia Dittfeld
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Herzzentrum Dresden, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (A.J.); (C.D.)
| | - Adrian Mahlmann
- University Center for Vascular Medicine, Department of Medicine—Section Angiology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, 01307 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Irene Hinterseher
- Berlin Institute of Health, Vascular Surgery Clinic, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.K.); (V.M.); (J.P.F.); (S.O.); (A.G.)
- Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theordor Fontane, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-450-522725
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24
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Bogunovic N, Meekel JP, Majolée J, Hekhuis M, Pyszkowski J, Jockenhövel S, Kruse M, Riesebos E, Micha D, Blankensteijn JD, Hordijk PL, Ghazanfari S, Yeung KK. Patient-Specific 3-Dimensional Model of Smooth Muscle Cell and Extracellular Matrix Dysfunction for the Study of Aortic Aneurysms. J Endovasc Ther 2021; 28:604-613. [PMID: 33902345 PMCID: PMC8276336 DOI: 10.1177/15266028211009272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are associated with overall high mortality in case of rupture. Since the pathophysiology is unclear, no adequate pharmacological therapy exists. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) dysfunction and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation have been proposed as underlying causes. We investigated SMC spatial organization and SMC-ECM interactions in our novel 3-dimensional (3D) vascular model. We validated our model for future use by comparing it to existing 2-dimensional (2D) cell culture. Our model can be used for translational studies of SMC and their role in AAA pathophysiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS SMC isolated from the medial layer of were the aortic wall of controls and AAA patients seeded on electrospun poly-lactide-co-glycolide scaffolds and cultured for 5 weeks, after which endothelial cells (EC) are added. Cell morphology, orientation, mechanical properties and ECM production were quantified for validation and comparison between controls and patients. RESULTS We show that cultured SMC proliferate into multiple layers after 5 weeks in culture and produce ECM proteins, mimicking their behavior in the medial aortic layer. EC attach to multilayered SMC, mimicking layer interactions. The novel SMC model exhibits viscoelastic properties comparable to biological vessels; cytoskeletal organization increases during the 5 weeks in culture; increased cytoskeletal alignment and decreased ECM production indicate different organization of AAA patients' cells compared with control. CONCLUSION We present a valuable preclinical model of AAA constructed with patient specific cells with applications in both translational research and therapeutic developments. We observed SMC spatial reorganization in a time course of 5 weeks in our robust, patient-specific model of SMC-EC organization and ECM production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalija Bogunovic
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jorn P. Meekel
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jisca Majolée
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marije Hekhuis
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Stefan Jockenhövel
- Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Geleen, The Netherlands
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (Biotex), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Magnus Kruse
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (Biotex), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Elise Riesebos
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dimitra Micha
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan D. Blankensteijn
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter L. Hordijk
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Samaneh Ghazanfari
- Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Geleen, The Netherlands
- Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles (Biotex), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kak K. Yeung
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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25
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Burger J, Bogunovic N, de Wagenaar NP, Liu H, Vliet N, IJpma A, Maugeri A, Micha D, Verhagen HJM, Ten Hagen TLM, Majoor-Krakauer D, Pluijm I, Essers J, Yeung KK. Molecular phenotyping and functional assessment of smooth muscle like-cells with pathogenic variants in aneurysm genes ACTA2, MYH11, SMAD3 and FBN1. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:2286-2299. [PMID: 34244757 PMCID: PMC8600030 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic aneurysms (AAs) are pathological dilatations of the aorta. Pathogenic variants in genes encoding for proteins of the contractile machinery of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), genes encoding proteins of the transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway and extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis play a role in the weakening of the aortic wall. These variants affect the functioning of VSMC, the predominant cell type in the aorta. Many variants have unknown clinical significance, with unknown consequences on VSMC function and AA development. Our goal was to develop functional assays that show the effects of pathogenic variants in aneurysm-related genes. We used a previously developed fibroblast transdifferentiation protocol to induce VSMC-like cells, which are used for all assays. We compared transdifferentiated VSMC-like cells of patients with a pathogenic variant in genes encoding for components of VSMC contraction (ACTA2, MYH11), transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling (SMAD3) and a dominant negative (DN) and two haploinsufficient variants in the ECM elastic laminae (FBN1) to those of healthy controls. The transdifferentiation efficiency, structural integrity of the cytoskeleton, TGFβ signaling profile, migration velocity and maximum contraction were measured. Transdifferentiation efficiency was strongly reduced in SMAD3 and FBN1 DN patients. ACTA2 and FBN1 DN cells showed a decrease in SMAD2 phosphorylation. Migration velocity was impaired for ACTA2 and MYH11 cells. ACTA2 cells showed reduced contractility. In conclusion, these assays for showing effects of pathogenic variants may be promising tools to help reclassification of variants of unknown clinical significance in AA-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Burger
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natalija Bogunovic
- Department of Surgery, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, MOVE Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nathalie P de Wagenaar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole Vliet
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arne IJpma
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandra Maugeri
- Department of Clinical Genetics, MOVE Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dimitra Micha
- Department of Clinical Genetics, MOVE Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hence J M Verhagen
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Timo L M Ten Hagen
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ingrid Pluijm
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Essers
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Vascular Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kak K Yeung
- Department of Surgery, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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26
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Circular RNA Expression: Its Potential Regulation and Function in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:9934951. [PMID: 34306317 PMCID: PMC8263248 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9934951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have posed a great threat to human life, and the necessity of its monitoring and treatment is decided by symptomatology and/or the aneurysm size. Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) contribute a part to the pathogenesis of AAAs. circRNAs are novel single-stranded RNAs with a closed loop structure and high stability, having become the candidate biomarkers for numerous kinds of human disorders. Besides, circRNAs act as molecular "sponge" in organisms, capable of regulating the transcription level. Here, we characterize that the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of circRNAs in AAA development were further elucidated. In the present work, studies on the biosynthesis, bibliometrics, and mechanisms of action of circRNAs were aims comprehensively reviewed, the role of circRNAs in the AAA pathogenic mechanism was illustrated, and their potential in diagnosing AAAs was examined. Moreover, the current evidence about the effects of circRNAs on AAA development through modulating endothelial cells (ECs), macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was summarized. Through thorough investigation, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of circRNAs in AAA development were further elucidated. The results demonstrated that circRNAs had the application potential in the diagnosis and prevention of AAAs in clinical practice. The study of circRNA regulatory pathways would be of great assistance to the etiologic research of AAAs.
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27
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Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are prevalent among older adults and can cause significant morbidity and mortality if not addressed in a timely fashion. Their etiology remains the topic of continued investigation. Known causes include trauma, infection, and inflammatory disorders. Risk factors include cigarette smoking, advanced age, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The pathophysiology of the disease is related to an initial arterial insult causing a cascade of inflammation and extracellular matrix protein breakdown by proteinases leading to arterial wall weakening. When identified early, aneurysms must be monitored for size, growth rate, and other factors which could increase the risk of rupture. Factors predisposing to rupture include size, active smoking, rate of growth, aberrant biomechanical properties of the aneurysmal sac, and female sex. Medical management includes the control of risk factors that may prevent growth, stabilize the aneurysm, and prevent rupture. Surgical management prevents rupture of high risk aneurysms, most commonly predicted by size. Less frequently, surgical management is required when the aneurysm has ruptured. Surgery involves a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the patient's risk profile and to develop an operative plan involving either an endovascular or an open surgical repair. The patient must be carefully monitored post-operatively for complications and, in the case of endovascular repairs, for endoleaks. AAA management has evolved rapidly in recent years. Technical and technological advances have transformed the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Anagnostakos
- Center for Vascular Research, University of Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brajesh K Lal
- Center for Vascular Research, University of Maryland, United States of America; University of Maryland, United States of America; Endovascular Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, United States of America; Baltimore VA Medical Center, United States of America.
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28
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Qin C, Yuan Q, Zhang S, He C, Wei X, Liu M, Jiang N, Huang L, Zhuang L, Wang P. Biomimetic in vitro respiratory system using smooth muscle cells on ECIS chips for anti-asthma TCMs screening. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1162:338452. [PMID: 33926702 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction is a major pathophysiological characteristic of asthma. Although β2-adrenoceptor (β2-AR) agonists are currently used as bronchodilators, they cause rapid effect and long-term agonist-induced desensitization. Thus, it is necessary to search for more effective and safer relaxant agents for ASM cells. In this work, bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) were demonstrated to be expressed in primary mouse ASM cells endogenously, and they were considered as new drug targets for asthma treatment. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) contained a wide range of TAS2R agonists and some of them had the efficacy of relieving cough and asthma with less toxic side effects. Then the electronic cell-substrate impedance sensor (ECIS) was used for the first time to establish a method to detect the contraction/relaxation effects of ASM cells. Therefore, we introduced a biomimetic in vitro respiratory system using ASM cells on ECIS chips to screen for potential TCMs against asthma. Quinine, nobiletin, and picfeltarraenin IA screened in this study could effectively inhibit the ASM contraction in a concentration-dependent manner, showing potential value as novel anti-asthma drugs. Furthermore, the effective screening of anti-asthma drugs was realized based on 3D ASM cell arrays and gel imaging system. Consistent results were found and the reliability of the biomimetic in vitro respiratory system for the screening of TCMs against asthma was further verified. The biomimetic system designed in this study has the advantages of operation simplicity, high throughput, non-invasive, real-time, and high sensitivity, and therefore provides a promising drug screening platform for asthma disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlian Qin
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Qunchen Yuan
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Saisai Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chuanjiang He
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xinwei Wei
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Mengxue Liu
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Liquan Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Liujing Zhuang
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
| | - Ping Wang
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
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29
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Regulation of SMC traction forces in human aortic thoracic aneurysms. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 20:717-731. [PMID: 33449277 PMCID: PMC7979631 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-020-01412-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) usually express a contractile phenotype in the healthy aorta. However, aortic SMCs have the ability to undergo profound changes in phenotype in response to changes in their extracellular environment, as occurs in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAA). Accordingly, there is a pressing need to quantify the mechanobiological effects of these changes at single cell level. To address this need, we applied Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) on 759 cells coming from three primary healthy (AoPrim) human SMC lineages and three primary aneurysmal (AnevPrim) human SMC lineages, from age and gender matched donors. We measured the basal traction forces applied by each of these cells onto compliant hydrogels of different stiffness (4, 8, 12, 25 kPa). Although the range of force generation by SMCs suggested some heterogeneity, we observed that: 1. the traction forces were significantly larger on substrates of larger stiffness; 2. traction forces in AnevPrim were significantly higher than in AoPrim cells. We modelled computationally the dynamic force generation process in SMCs using the motor-clutch model and found that it accounts well for the stiffness-dependent traction forces. The existence of larger traction forces in the AnevPrim SMCs were related to the larger size of cells in these lineages. We conclude that phenotype changes occurring in ATAA, which were previously known to reduce the expression of elongated and contractile SMCs (rendering SMCs less responsive to vasoactive agents), tend also to induce stronger SMCs. Future work aims at understanding the causes of this alteration process in aortic aneurysms.
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30
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Yuan Z, Heng Z, Lu Y, Wei J, Cai Z. The Protective Effect of Metformin on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:721213. [PMID: 34394010 PMCID: PMC8355809 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.721213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have a lower risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and its comorbidities, which might be associated with the usage of metformin. The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of metformin in the process of AAA development. METHOD PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched up to May 15th, 2021. We implemented several methods including the risk of bias graph, GRADE system and funnel plot to assess the quality and possible bias of this study. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were applied to address quality differences and validate the robustness of the final results. RESULT Ten articles were enrolled after screening 151 articles searched from databases. The pooled results showed that, compared with T2DM patients without metformin, metformin prescription was associated with a slower annual growth rate of the aneurysm (mean difference (MD) -0.67 cm [95% confidence interval (CI) -1.20 ~ -0.15 cm]). Besides, metformin exposure was associated with a lower frequency of AAA events (odds ratio (OR) 0.61 [95% CI 0.41-0.92]). CONCLUSION Metformin alleviated both annual expansion rate and aneurysm rupture frequency in AAA patients with T2DM. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO, identifier https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=217859 (CRD42020217859).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yuan
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhijian Heng
- Department of Oncology, Hospital of Chinese Medicine of Changxing County, Huzhou, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jia Wei
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhejun Cai, ; Jia Wei,
| | - Zhejun Cai
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhejun Cai, ; Jia Wei,
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31
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Gurung R, Choong AM, Woo CC, Foo R, Sorokin V. Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Modulation in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21176334. [PMID: 32878347 PMCID: PMC7504666 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) refers to the localized dilatation of the infra-renal aorta, in which the diameter exceeds 3.0 cm. Loss of vascular smooth muscle cells, degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), vascular inflammation, and oxidative stress are hallmarks of AAA pathogenesis and contribute to the progressive thinning of the media and adventitia of the aortic wall. With increasing AAA diameter, and left untreated, aortic rupture ensues with high mortality. Collective evidence of recent genetic and epigenetic studies has shown that phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) towards dedifferentiation and proliferative state, which associate with the ECM remodeling of the vascular wall and accompanied with increased cell senescence and inflammation, is seen in in vitro and in vivo models of the disease. This review critically analyses existing publications on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms implicated in the complex role of SMCs within the aortic wall in AAA formation and reflects the importance of SMCs plasticity in AAA formation. Although evidence from the wide variety of mouse models is convincing, how this knowledge is applied to human biology needs to be addressed urgently leveraging modern in vitro and in vivo experimental technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rijan Gurung
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, Singapore 119228, Singapore; (R.G.); (R.F.)
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, 60 Biopolis Street, Genome, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Andrew Mark Choong
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 8, Singapore 119228, Singapore; (A.M.C.); (C.C.W.)
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Chin Cheng Woo
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 8, Singapore 119228, Singapore; (A.M.C.); (C.C.W.)
| | - Roger Foo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, Singapore 119228, Singapore; (R.G.); (R.F.)
- Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, 60 Biopolis Street, Genome, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Vitaly Sorokin
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 8, Singapore 119228, Singapore; (A.M.C.); (C.C.W.)
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 9, Singapore 119228, Singapore
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +65-6779-5555
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32
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Khoury MK, Stranz AR, Liu B. Pathophysiology of Aortic Aneurysms: Insights from Animal Studies. CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE 2020; 4:498-514. [PMID: 32968712 PMCID: PMC7508467 DOI: 10.26502/fccm.92920146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Aortic aneurysms are defined as dilations of the aorta greater than 50 percent. Currently, the only effective treatment for aortic aneurysms is surgical repair, which is recommended only to those that meet criteria. There is no available pharmaceutical therapy to slow aneurysm growth and thus prevent lethal rupture. The development of a number of murine models has allowed in depth studies of various cellular and extracellular components of aneurysm pathophysiology. The identification of key therapeutic targets has resulted in several clinical trials evaluating pharmaceutical candidates to treat aneurysm progression. In this review, we focus on providing recent updates on developments in murine models of aortic aneurysm. In addition, we discuss recent studies of the various cellular and extracellular components of the aorta along with the abutting aortic structures that contribute to aneurysm development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitri K Khoury
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Amelia R Stranz
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, United States
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, United States
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Jana S, Chute M, Hu M, Winkelaar G, Owen CA, Oudit GY, Kassiri Z. ADAM (a Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase) 15 Deficiency Exacerbates Ang II (Angiotensin II)-Induced Aortic Remodeling Leading to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 40:1918-1934. [PMID: 32522006 PMCID: PMC7370975 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.120.314600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objective: ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) 15—a membrane-bound metalloprotease from the ADAM (disintegrin and metalloproteinase) family—has been linked to endothelial permeability, inflammation, and metastasis. However, its function in aortic aneurysm has not been explored. We aimed to determine the function of ADAM15 in the pathogenesis of aortic remodeling and aneurysm formation. Approach and Results: Male Adam15-deficient and WT (wild type) mice (10 weeks old), on standard laboratory diet, received Ang II (angiotensin II; 1.5 mg/kg per day) or saline (Alzet pump) for 2 or 4 weeks. Ang II increased ADAM15 in WT aorta, while Adam15-deficiency resulted in abdominal aortic aneurysm characterized by loss of medial smooth muscle cells (SMCs), elastin fragmentation, inflammation, but unaltered Ang II–mediated hypertension. In the abdominal aortic tissue and primary aortic SMCs culture, Adam15 deficiency decreased SMC proliferation, increased apoptosis, and reduced contractile properties along with F-actin depolymerization to G-actin. Ang II triggered a markedly greater increase in THBS (thrombospondin) 1 in Adam15-deficient aorta, primarily the medial layer in vivo, and in aortic SMC in vitro; increased SSH1 (slingshot homolog 1) phosphatase activity and cofilin dephosphorylation that promoted F-actin depolymerization and G-actin accumulation. rhTHBS1 (recombinant THBS1) alone was sufficient to activate the cofilin pathway, increase G-actin, and induce apoptosis of aortic SMCs, confirming the key role of THBS1 in this process. Further, in human abdominal aortic aneurysm specimens, decreased ADAM15 was associated with increased THBS1 levels and loss of medial SMCs. Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate a key role for ADAM15 in abdominal aortic aneurysm through regulating the SMC function, thereby placing ADAM15 in a critical position as a potential therapeutic target for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantan Jana
- From the Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center (S.J., M.C., M.H., G.Y.O., Z.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Michael Chute
- From the Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center (S.J., M.C., M.H., G.Y.O., Z.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Mei Hu
- From the Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center (S.J., M.C., M.H., G.Y.O., Z.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Gerrit Winkelaar
- Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Alberta and Northern Alberta Vascular Center, Grey Nuns Hospital, Edmonton, Canada (G.W.)
| | - Caroline A Owen
- Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (C.A.O.)
| | - Gavin Y Oudit
- From the Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center (S.J., M.C., M.H., G.Y.O., Z.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute (G.Y.O.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Zamaneh Kassiri
- From the Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Center (S.J., M.C., M.H., G.Y.O., Z.K.), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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34
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Cebull HL, Rayz VL, Goergen CJ. Recent Advances in Biomechanical Characterization of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:75. [PMID: 32478096 PMCID: PMC7235347 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a focal enlargement of the thoracic aorta, but the etiology of this disease is not fully understood. Previous work suggests that various genetic syndromes, congenital defects such as bicuspid aortic valve, hypertension, and age are associated with TAA formation. Though occurrence of TAAs is rare, they can be life-threatening when dissection or rupture occurs. Prevention of these adverse events often requires surgical intervention through full aortic root replacement or implantation of endovascular stent grafts. Currently, aneurysm diameters and expansion rates are used to determine if intervention is warranted. Unfortunately, this approach oversimplifies the complex aortopathy. Improving treatment of TAAs will likely require an increased understanding of the biological and biomechanical factors contributing to the disease. Past studies have substantially contributed to our knowledge of TAAs using various ex vivo, in vivo, and computational methods to biomechanically characterize the thoracic aorta. However, any singular approach typically focuses on only material properties of the aortic wall, intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics, or in vivo vessel dynamics, neglecting combinatorial factors that influence aneurysm development and progression. In this review, we briefly summarize the current understanding of TAA causes, treatment, and progression, before discussing recent advances in biomechanical studies of TAAs and possible future directions. We identify the need for comprehensive approaches that combine multiple characterization methods to study the mechanisms contributing to focal weakening and rupture. We hope this summary and analysis will inspire future studies leading to improved prediction of thoracic aneurysm progression and rupture, improving patient diagnoses and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L Cebull
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Vitaliy L Rayz
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Craig J Goergen
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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35
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Shen YH, LeMaire SA, Webb NR, Cassis LA, Daugherty A, Lu HS. Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections Series. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 40:e37-e46. [PMID: 32101472 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.120.313991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aortic wall is composed of highly dynamic cell populations and extracellular matrix. In response to changes in the biomechanical environment, aortic cells and extracellular matrix modulate their structure and functions to increase aortic wall strength and meet the hemodynamic demand. Compromise in the structural and functional integrity of aortic components leads to aortic degeneration, biomechanical failure, and the development of aortic aneurysms and dissections (AAD). A better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of AAD will facilitate the development of effective medications to treat these conditions. Here, we summarize recent findings on AAD published in ATVB. In this issue, we focus on the dynamics of aortic cells and extracellular matrix in AAD; in the next issue, we will focus on the role of signaling pathways in AAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying H Shen
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (Y.H.S., S.A.L.).,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Texas Heart Institute, Houston (Y.H.S., S.A.L.)
| | - Scott A LeMaire
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (Y.H.S., S.A.L.).,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Texas Heart Institute, Houston (Y.H.S., S.A.L.)
| | - Nancy R Webb
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (N.R.W., L.A.C.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Lisa A Cassis
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences (N.R.W., L.A.C.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Alan Daugherty
- Department of Physiology and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center (A.D., H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
| | - Hong S Lu
- Department of Physiology and Saha Cardiovascular Research Center (A.D., H.S.L.), University of Kentucky, Lexington
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36
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Harky A, Fan KS, Fan KH. The genetics and biomechanics of thoracic aortic diseases. VASCULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 1:R13-R25. [PMID: 32923967 PMCID: PMC7439919 DOI: 10.1530/vb-19-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) are highly fatal emergencies within cardiothoracic surgery. With increasing age, thoracic aneurysms become more prevalent and pose an even greater threat when they develop into aortic dissections. Both diseases are multifactorial and are influenced by a multitude of physiological and biomechanical processes. Structural stability of aorta can be disrupted by genes, such as those for extracellular matrix and contractile protein, as well as telomere dysfunction, which leads to senescence of smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Biomechanical changes such as increased luminal pressure imposed by hypertension are also very prevalent and lead to structural instability. Furthermore, ageing is associated with a pro-inflammatory state that exacerbates degeneration of vessel wall, facilitating the development of both aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection. This literature review provides an overview of the aetiology and pathophysiology of both thoracic aneurysms and aortic dissections. With an improved understanding, new therapeutic targets may eventually be identified to facilitate treatment and prevention of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amer Harky
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Liverpool Heart and Chest, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ka Siu Fan
- St. George's Medical School, University of London, London, UK
| | - Ka Hay Fan
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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37
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Meekel JP, Mattei G, Costache VS, Balm R, Blankensteijn JD, Yeung KK. A multilayer micromechanical elastic modulus measuring method in ex vivo human aneurysmal abdominal aortas. Acta Biomater 2019; 96:345-353. [PMID: 31306785 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are common and potentially life-threatening aortic dilatations, due to the effect of hemodynamic changes on the aortic wall. Previous research has shown a potential pathophysiological role for increased macroscopic aneurysmal wall stiffness; however, not investigating micromechanical stiffness. We aimed to compile a new protocol to examine micromechanical live aortic stiffness (elastic moduli), correlated to histological findings with quantitative immunofluorescence (QIF). Live AAA biopsies (n = 7) and non-dilated aortas (controls; n = 3) were sectioned. Local elastic moduli of aortic intima, media and adventitia were analysed in the direction towards the lumen and vice versa with nanoindentation. Smooth muscle cells (SMC), collagen and fibroblasts were examined using QIF. Nanoindentation of AAA vs. controls demonstrated a 4-fold decrease in elastic moduli (p = 0.022) for layers combined and a 26-fold decrease (p = 0.017) for media-to-intima direction. QIF of AAA vs. controls revealed a 4-, 3- and 6-fold decrease of SMC, collagen and fibroblasts, respectively (p = 0.036). Correlations were found between bidirectional intima and media measurements (ρ = 0.661, p = 0.038) and all QIF analyses (ρ = 0.857-0.905, p = 0.002-0.007). We present a novel protocol to analyse microscopic elastic moduli in live aortic tissues using nanoindentation. Hence, our preliminary findings of decreased elastic moduli and altered wall composition warrant further microscopic stiffness investigation to potentially clarify AAA pathophysiology and to explore potential treatment by wall strengthening. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Although extensive research on the pathophysiology of dilated abdominal aortas (aneurysms) has been performed, the exact underlying pathways are still largely unclear. Previously, the macroscopic stiffness of the pathologic and healthy aortic wall has been studied. This study however, for the first time, studied the microscopic stiffness changes in live tissue of dilated and non-dilated abdominal aortas. This new protocol provides a device to analyse the alterations on cellular level within their microenvironment, whereas previous studies studied the aorta as a whole. Outcomes of these measurements might help to better understand the underlying origin of the incidence and progression of aneurysms and other aortic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorn P Meekel
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giorgio Mattei
- Optics11 B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Biophotonics & Medical Imaging and LaserLaB, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Victor S Costache
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Polisano Medlife Hospital, University "L. Blaga" Sibiu, Sibiu, Romania
| | - Ron Balm
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan D Blankensteijn
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kak K Yeung
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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