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Chatterjee P, Martin KA. A Concept of "Athero-Oncology": Tumor-Like Smooth Muscle Cells Drive Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2024; 149:1899-1902. [PMID: 38857330 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.124.069446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Payel Chatterjee
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Kathleen A Martin
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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2
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Pan H, Ho SE, Xue C, Cui J, Johanson QS, Sachs N, Ross LS, Li F, Solomon RA, Connolly ES, Patel VI, Maegdefessel L, Zhang H, Reilly MP. Atherosclerosis Is a Smooth Muscle Cell-Driven Tumor-Like Disease. Circulation 2024; 149:1885-1898. [PMID: 38686559 PMCID: PMC11164647 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.067587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atherosclerosis, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, involves the pathological activation of various cell types, including immunocytes (eg, macrophages and T cells), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and endothelial cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that transition of SMCs to other cell types, known as phenotypic switching, plays a central role in atherosclerosis development and complications. However, the characteristics of SMC-derived cells and the underlying mechanisms of SMC transition in disease pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Our objective is to characterize tumor cell-like behaviors of SMC-derived cells in atherosclerosis, with the ultimate goal of developing interventions targeting SMC transition for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. METHODS We used SMC lineage tracing mice and human tissues and applied a range of methods, including molecular, cellular, histological, computational, human genetics, and pharmacological approaches, to investigate the features of SMC-derived cells in atherosclerosis. RESULTS SMC-derived cells in mouse and human atherosclerosis exhibit multiple tumor cell-like characteristics, including genomic instability, evasion of senescence, hyperproliferation, resistance to cell death, invasiveness, and activation of comprehensive cancer-associated gene regulatory networks. Specific expression of the oncogenic mutant KrasG12D in SMCs accelerates phenotypic switching and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we provide proof of concept that niraparib, an anticancer drug targeting DNA damage repair, attenuates atherosclerosis progression and induces regression of lesions in advanced disease in mouse models. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that atherosclerosis is an SMC-driven tumor-like disease, advancing our understanding of its pathogenesis and opening prospects for innovative precision molecular strategies aimed at preventing and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huize Pan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Sebastian E. Ho
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Chenyi Xue
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jian Cui
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Quinian S. Johanson
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Nadja Sachs
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, partner site: Munich Heart Alliance, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Leila S. Ross
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Fang Li
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Robert A. Solomon
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - E. Sander Connolly
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Virendra I. Patel
- Section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Interventions, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lars Maegdefessel
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, partner site: Munich Heart Alliance, 10785 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanrui Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Muredach P. Reilly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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3
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Lipscomb M, Walis S, Marinello M, Mena HA, MacNamara KC, Spite M, Fredman G. Resolvin D2 limits atherosclerosis progression via myeloid cell-GPR18. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23555. [PMID: 38498346 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302336rr] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulated inflammation-resolution programs are associated with atherosclerosis progression. Resolvins, in part, mediate inflammation-resolution programs. Indeed, Resolvin D2 (RvD2) activates GPR18, a G-protein-coupled receptor, and limits plaque progression, though the cellular targets of RvD2 remain unknown. Here, we developed a humanized GPR18 floxed ("fl/fl") and a myeloid (Lysozyme M Cre) GPR18 knockout (mKO) mouse. We functionally validated this model by assessing efferocytosis in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and found that RvD2 enhanced efferocytosis in the fl/fl, but not in the mKO BMDMs. To understand the functions of RvD2-GPR18 in atherosclerosis, we performed a bone marrow transfer of fl/fl or mKO bone marrow into Ldlr-/- recipients. For these experiments, we treated each genotype with either Vehicle/PBS or RvD2 (25 ng/mouse, 3 times/week for 3 weeks). Myeloid loss of GPR18 resulted in significantly more necrosis, increased cleaved caspase-3+ cells and decreased percentage of Arginase-1+ -Mac2+ cells without a change in overall Mac2+ plaque macrophages, compared with fl/fl➔Ldlr-/- transplanted mice. RvD2 treatment decreased plaque necrosis, the percent of cleaved caspase-3+ cells and increased the percent of Arginase-1+ -Mac2+ cells in fl/fl➔Ldlr-/- mice, but not in the mKO➔Ldlr-/- transplanted mice. These results suggest that GPR18 plays a causal role in limiting atherosclerosis progression and that RvD2's ability to limit plaque necrosis is in part dependent on myeloid GRP18.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masharh Lipscomb
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Sean Walis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Michael Marinello
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Hebe Agustina Mena
- Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katherine C MacNamara
- The Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Matthew Spite
- Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gabrielle Fredman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
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Lin A, Brittan M, Baker AH, Dimmeler S, Fisher EA, Sluimer JC, Misra A. Clonal Expansion in Cardiovascular Pathology. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2024; 9:120-144. [PMID: 38362345 PMCID: PMC10864919 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Clonal expansion refers to the proliferation and selection of advantageous "clones" that are better suited for survival in a Darwinian manner. In recent years, we have greatly enhanced our understanding of cell clonality in the cardiovascular context. However, our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms behind this clonal selection is still severely limited. There is a transpiring pattern of clonal expansion of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells-and, in some cases, macrophages-in numerous cardiovascular diseases irrespective of their differing microenvironments. These findings indirectly suggest the possible existence of stem-like vascular cells which are primed to respond during disease. Subsequent clones may undergo further phenotypic changes to adopt either protective or detrimental roles. By investigating these clone-forming vascular cells, we may be able to harness this inherent clonal nature for future therapeutic intervention. This review comprehensively discusses what is currently known about clonal expansion across the cardiovascular field. Comparisons of the clonal nature of vascular cells in atherosclerosis (including clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential), pulmonary hypertension, aneurysm, blood vessel injury, ischemia- and tumor-induced angiogenesis, and cerebral cavernous malformations are evaluated. Finally, we discuss the potential clinical implications of these findings and propose that proper understanding and specific targeting of these clonal cells may provide unique therapeutic options for the treatment of these cardiovascular conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Lin
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mairi Brittan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew H. Baker
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Stefanie Dimmeler
- Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Berlin, Germany
- Cardiopulmonary Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Edward A. Fisher
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Judith C. Sluimer
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ashish Misra
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Pløen GG, Sørensen CB, Bentzon JF. Severe arterial injury heals with a complex clonal structure involving a large fraction of surviving smooth muscle cells. Atherosclerosis 2023; 387:117341. [PMID: 37940399 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.117341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Smooth muscle cell (SMC) lineage cells in atherosclerosis and flow cessation-induced neointima are oligoclonal, being recruited from a tiny fraction of medial SMCs that modulate and proliferate. The present study aimed to investigate the clonal structure of SMC lineage cells healing more severe arterial injury. METHODS Arterial injury (wire, stretch, and partial ligation) was inflicted on the right carotid artery in mice with homozygous, SMC-restricted, stochastically recombining reporter transgenes that produced mosaic expression of 10 distinguishable fluorescent phenotypes for clonal tracking. Healed arteries and contra-lateral controls were analyzed after 3 weeks. Additional analysis of cell death and proliferation after injury was performed in wildtype mice. RESULTS The total number of SMC lineage cells in healed arteries was comparable to normal arteries but comprised significantly fewer fluorescent phenotypes. The population had a complex, intermixed, clonal structure. By statistical analysis of expected versus observed fractions of fluorescent phenotypes and visual inspection of coherent groups of same-colored cells, we concluded that >98% of SMC lineage cells in healed arteries belonged to a detectable clone, indicating that nearly all surviving SMCs after severe injury at some point undergo proliferation. This was consistent with serial observations in the first week after injury, which showed severe loss of medial cells followed by widespread proliferation. CONCLUSIONS After severe arterial injury, many surviving SMCs proliferate to repair the media and form a neointima. This indicates that the fraction of medial SMCs that are mobilized to repair arteries increases with the level of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jacob Fog Bentzon
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, Spain.
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Kawai K, Sakamoto A, Mokry M, Ghosh SKB, Kawakami R, Xu W, Guo L, Fuller DT, Tanaka T, Shah P, Cornelissen A, Sato Y, Mori M, Konishi T, Vozenilek AE, Dhingra R, Virmani R, Pasterkamp G, Finn AV. Clonal Proliferation Within Smooth Muscle Cells in Unstable Human Atherosclerotic Lesions. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:2333-2347. [PMID: 37881937 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies in humans and mice using the expression of an X-linked gene or lineage tracing, respectively, have suggested that clones of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exist in human atherosclerotic lesions but are limited by either spatial resolution or translatability of the model. METHODS Phenotypic clonality can be detected by X-chromosome inactivation patterns. We investigated whether clones of SMCs exist in unstable human atheroma using RNA in situ hybridization (BaseScope) to identify a naturally occurring 24-nucleotide deletion in the 3'UTR of the X-linked BGN (biglycan) gene, a proteoglycan highly expressed by SMCs. BGN-specific BaseScope probes were designed to target the wild-type or deletion mRNA. Three different coronary artery plaque types (erosion, rupture, and adaptive intimal thickening) were selected from heterozygous females for the deletion BGN. Hybridization of target RNA-specific probes was used to visualize the spatial distribution of mutants. A clonality index was calculated from the percentage of each probe in each region of interest. Spatial transcriptomics were used to identify differentially expressed transcripts within clonal and nonclonal regions. RESULTS Less than one-half of regions of interest in the intimal plaque were considered clonal with the mean percent regions of interest with clonality higher in the intimal plaque than in the media. This was consistent for all plaque types. The relationship of the dominant clone in the intimal plaque and media showed significant concordance. In comparison with the nonclonal lesions, the regions with SMC clonality had lower expression of genes encoding cell growth suppressors such as CD74, SERF-2 (small EDRK-rich factor 2), CTSB (cathepsin B), and HLA-DPA1 (major histocompatibility complex, class II, DP alpha 1), among others. CONCLUSIONS Our novel approach to examine clonality suggests atherosclerosis is primarily a disease of polyclonally and to a lesser extent clonally expanded SMCs and may have implications for the development of antiatherosclerotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Kawai
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Atsushi Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Michal Mokry
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands (M. Mokry, G.P.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands (M. Mokry)
| | - Saikat Kumar B Ghosh
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Rika Kawakami
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Weili Xu
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Liang Guo
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Daniela T Fuller
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Takamasa Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Palak Shah
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Anne Cornelissen
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Yu Sato
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Masayuki Mori
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Takao Konishi
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Aimee E Vozenilek
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Roma Dhingra
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Renu Virmani
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands (M. Mokry, G.P.)
| | - Aloke V Finn
- Department of Pathology, CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD (K.K., A.S., S.K.B.G., R.K., W.X., L.G., D.T.F., T.T., P.S., A.C., Y.S., M. Mori, T.K., A.E.V., R.D., R.V., A.V.F.)
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore (A.V.F.)
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Luo L, Fu C, Bell CF, Wang Y, Leeper NJ. Role of vascular smooth muscle cell clonality in atherosclerosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1273596. [PMID: 38089777 PMCID: PMC10713728 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1273596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. While many cell types contribute to the growing atherosclerotic plaque, the vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) is a major contributor due in part to its remarkable plasticity and ability to undergo phenotype switching in response to injury. SMCs can migrate into the fibrous cap, presumably stabilizing the plaque, or accumulate within the lesional core, possibly accelerating vascular inflammation. How SMCs expand and react to disease stimuli has been a controversial topic for many decades. While early studies relying on X-chromosome inactivation were inconclusive due to low resolution and sensitivity, recent advances in multi-color lineage tracing models have revitalized the concept that SMCs likely expand in an oligoclonal fashion during atherogenesis. Current efforts are focused on determining whether all SMCs have equal capacity for clonal expansion or if a "stem-like" progenitor cell may exist, and to understand how constituents of the clone decide which phenotype they will ultimately adopt as the disease progresses. Mechanistic studies are also beginning to dissect the processes which confer cells with their overall survival advantage, test whether these properties are attributable to intrinsic features of the expanding clone, and define the role of cross-talk between proliferating SMCs and other plaque constituents such as neighboring macrophages. In this review, we aim to summarize the historical perspectives on SMC clonality, highlight unanswered questions, and identify translational issues which may need to be considered as therapeutics directed against SMC clonality are developed as a novel approach to targeting atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingfeng Luo
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Changhao Fu
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Caitlin F. Bell
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, United States
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nicholas J. Leeper
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, United States
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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8
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Abdellatif M, Rainer PP, Sedej S, Kroemer G. Hallmarks of cardiovascular ageing. Nat Rev Cardiol 2023; 20:754-777. [PMID: 37193857 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00881-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Normal circulatory function is a key determinant of disease-free life expectancy (healthspan). Indeed, pathologies affecting the cardiovascular system, which are growing in prevalence, are the leading cause of global morbidity, disability and mortality, whereas the maintenance of cardiovascular health is necessary to promote both organismal healthspan and lifespan. Therefore, cardiovascular ageing might precede or even underlie body-wide, age-related health deterioration. In this Review, we posit that eight molecular hallmarks are common denominators in cardiovascular ageing, namely disabled macroautophagy, loss of proteostasis, genomic instability (in particular, clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential), epigenetic alterations, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell senescence, dysregulated neurohormonal signalling and inflammation. We also propose a hierarchical order that distinguishes primary (upstream) from antagonistic and integrative (downstream) hallmarks of cardiovascular ageing. Finally, we discuss how targeting each of the eight hallmarks might be therapeutically exploited to attenuate residual cardiovascular risk in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Abdellatif
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France.
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
- BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - Peter P Rainer
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Simon Sedej
- Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed Graz, Graz, Austria
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Inserm U1138, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France.
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Department of Biology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.
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9
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Alonso-Herranz L, Albarrán-Juárez J, Bentzon JF. Mechanisms of fibrous cap formation in atherosclerosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1254114. [PMID: 37671141 PMCID: PMC10475556 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1254114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The fibrous cap is formed by smooth muscle cells that accumulate beneath the plaque endothelium. Cap rupture is the main cause of coronary thrombosis, leading to infarction and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, the qualities of the cap are primary determinants of the clinical outcome of coronary and carotid atherosclerosis. In this mini-review, we discuss current knowledge about the formation of the fibrous cap, including cell recruitment, clonal expansion, and central molecular signaling pathways. We also examine the differences between mouse and human fibrous caps and explore the impact of anti-atherosclerotic therapies on the state of the fibrous cap. We propose that the cap should be understood as a neo-media to substitute for the original media that becomes separated from the surface endothelium during atherogenesis and that embryonic pathways involved in the development of the arteria media contribute to cap formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Alonso-Herranz
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Julián Albarrán-Juárez
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jacob Fog Bentzon
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus and Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Lipscomb M, Walis S, Marinello M, Mena HA, Spite M, Fredman G. Resolvin D2-GPR18 Signaling on Myeloid Cells Limits Plaque Necrosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.03.535493. [PMID: 37066358 PMCID: PMC10104042 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Introduction/Objective Dysregulated inflammation-resolution programs are associated with atherosclerosis progression. Inflammation-resolution is in part mediated by Resolvins, including Resolvin D2 (RvD2). RvD2, which activates a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) called GPR18, limits plaque progression. Cellular targets of RvD2 are not known. Approach and Results Here we developed humanized GPR18 floxed ("fl/fl") and a myeloid (Lysozyme M Cre) GPR18 knockout (mKO) mouse. We functionally validated this model by assessing efferocytosis in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) and found that RvD2 enhanced efferocytosis in the fl/fl, but not in the mKO BMDMs. We employed two different models to evaluate the role of GPR18 in atherosclerosis. We first used the PCSK9-gain of function approach and found increased necrosis in the plaques of the mKO mice compared with fl/fl mice. Next, we performed a bone marrow transfer of fl/fl or mKO bone marrow into Ldlr -/- recipients. For these experiments, we treated each genotype with either Veh or RvD2 (25 ng/mouse, 3 times/week for 3 weeks). Myeloid loss of GPR18 resulted in significantly more necrosis and cleaved caspase-3 + cells compared with fl/fl transplanted mice. RvD2 treatment decreased plaques necrosis and cleaved caspase-3 + cells in fl/fl, but not in the mKO transplanted mice. Conclusions These results are the first to suggest a causative role for endogenous RvD2 signaling on myeloid cells in limiting plaque necrosis. Moreover, these results provide a mechanistic basis for RvD2 as a therapy limiting plaque necrosis.
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Pan H, Ho SE, Xue C, Cui J, Ross LS, Li F, Solomon RA, Connolly ES, Reilly MP. Atherosclerosis is a smooth muscle cell-driven tumor-like disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.06.531330. [PMID: 36945644 PMCID: PMC10028828 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.06.531330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease involving pathological activation of multiple cell types, such as immunocytes (e.g., macrophage, T cells), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and endothelial cells. Multiple lines of evidence have suggested that SMC "phenotypic switching" plays a central role in atherosclerosis development and complications. Yet, SMC roles and mechanisms underlying the disease pathogenesis are poorly understood. Here, employing SMC lineage tracing mice, comprehensive molecular, cellular, histological, and computational profiling, coupled to genetic and pharmacological studies, we reveal that atherosclerosis, in terms of SMC behaviors, share extensive commonalities with tumors. SMC-derived cells in the disease show multiple characteristics of tumor cell biology, including genomic instability, replicative immortality, malignant proliferation, resistance to cell death, invasiveness, and activation of comprehensive cancer-associated gene regulatory networks. SMC-specific expression of oncogenic KrasG12D accelerates SMC phenotypic switching and exacerbates atherosclerosis. Moreover, we present a proof of concept showing that niraparib, an anti-cancer drug targeting DNA damage repair, attenuates atherosclerosis progression and induces regression of lesions in advanced disease in mouse models. Our work provides systematic evidence that atherosclerosis is a tumor-like disease, deepening the understanding of its pathogenesis and opening prospects for novel precision molecular strategies to prevent and treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huize Pan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sebastian E. Ho
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chenyi Xue
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jian Cui
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Leila S. Ross
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Fang Li
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Robert A. Solomon
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - E. Sander Connolly
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Muredach P. Reilly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
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12
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Serbulea V, Deaton RA, Owens GK. Old bones control smooth muscle clones. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:9-10. [PMID: 37118515 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-022-00346-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Serbulea
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Rebecca A Deaton
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gary K Owens
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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