1
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Ebrahim T, Ebrahim AS, Kandouz M. Diversity of Intercellular Communication Modes: A Cancer Biology Perspective. Cells 2024; 13:495. [PMID: 38534339 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060495] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
From the moment a cell is on the path to malignant transformation, its interaction with other cells from the microenvironment becomes altered. The flow of molecular information is at the heart of the cellular and systemic fate in tumors, and various processes participate in conveying key molecular information from or to certain cancer cells. For instance, the loss of tight junction molecules is part of the signal sent to cancer cells so that they are no longer bound to the primary tumors and are thus free to travel and metastasize. Upon the targeting of a single cell by a therapeutic drug, gap junctions are able to communicate death information to by-standing cells. The discovery of the importance of novel modes of cell-cell communication such as different types of extracellular vesicles or tunneling nanotubes is changing the way scientists look at these processes. However, are they all actively involved in different contexts at the same time or are they recruited to fulfill specific tasks? What does the multiplicity of modes mean for the overall progression of the disease? Here, we extend an open invitation to think about the overall significance of these questions, rather than engage in an elusive attempt at a systematic repertory of the mechanisms at play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanzeela Ebrahim
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Abdul Shukkur Ebrahim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Mustapha Kandouz
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
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2
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Sykora M, Andelova K, Szeiffova Bacova B, Egan Benova T, Martiskova A, Knezl V, Tribulova N. Hypertension Induces Pro-arrhythmic Cardiac Connexome Disorders: Protective Effects of Treatment. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020330. [PMID: 36830700 PMCID: PMC9953310 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged population aging and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the progressive prevalence of arterial hypertension. This is accompanied by low-grade inflammation and over time results in heart dysfunction and failure. Hypertension-induced myocardial structural and ion channel remodeling facilitates the development of both atrial and ventricular fibrillation, and these increase the risk of stroke and sudden death. Herein, we elucidate hypertension-induced impairment of "connexome" cardiomyocyte junctions. This complex ensures cell-to-cell adhesion and coupling for electrical and molecular signal propagation. Connexome dysfunction can be a key factor in promoting the occurrence of both cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. However, the available literature indicates that arterial hypertension treatment can hamper myocardial structural remodeling, hypertrophy and/or fibrosis, and preserve connexome function. This suggests the pleiotropic effects of antihypertensive agents, including anti-inflammatory. Therefore, further research is required to identify specific molecular targets and pathways that will protect connexomes, and it is also necessary to develop new approaches to maintain heart function in patients suffering from primary or pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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3
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Wang J, Wang XC, Gu ZH, Ren GW, Zhao XH, Qu XK, Xu YJ, Yang YQ. A novel GJA5 variant associated with increased risk of essential hypertension. Am J Transl Res 2023; 15:1259-1270. [PMID: 36915790 PMCID: PMC10006783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gap junction protein alpha 5 (GJA5), also termed connexin 40 (Cx40), exerts a pivotal role in the mediation of vascular wall tone and two closely-linked polymorphisms in the GJA5 promoter (-44G>A and +71A>G) have been associated with enhanced susceptibility to essential hypertension (EH) in men. The present investigation aimed to ascertain whether a novel common polymorphism within the upstream regulatory region of GJA5 (transcript 1B), -26A>G (rs10465885), confers an increased risk of EH. METHODS For this investigation, 380 unrelated patients with EH and 396 unrelated normotensive individuals employed as control persons were enrolled from the Chinese Han-ethnicity population, and their GJA5 genotypes and plasma renin concentrations were determined by Sanger sequencing and an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay, respectively. The functional effect of the GJA5 variant was explored in cultured murine cardiomyocytes by dual-light reporter gene analysis. RESULTS The GJA5 variant conferred a significantly increased risk for EH (OR: 2.156; 95% CL: 1.661-2.797, P < 0.0001), and significantly increased plasma renin levels were measured in patients with EH in comparison with control individuals (46.3±7.2 vs 37.4±6.9, P < 0.0001). A promoter-luciferase analysis revealed significantly diminished activity of the promoter harboring the minor allele for this variation in comparison with its wild-type counterpart (165.67±16.85 vs 61.53±8.67, P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the novel variant upstream of the GJA5 gene (-26A>G) confers a significantly increased vulnerability of EH in humans, suggesting potential clinical implications for precisive prophylaxis and treatment of EH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Xue-Cheng Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Zhao-Hua Gu
- Sanlin Community Health Service Center Pudong New District, Shanghai 200124, China
| | - Guang-Wei Ren
- Sanlin Community Health Service Center Pudong New District, Shanghai 200124, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Zhao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Xin-Kai Qu
- Department of Cardiology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Ying-Jia Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yi-Qing Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200240, China.,Department of Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200240, China.,Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 200240, China
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Targeting Endothelial Connexin37 Reduces Angiogenesis and Decreases Tumor Growth. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23062930. [PMID: 35328350 PMCID: PMC8948817 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23062930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexin37 (Cx37) and Cx40 form intercellular channels between endothelial cells (EC), which contribute to the regulation of the functions of vessels. We previously documented the participation of both Cx in developmental angiogenesis and have further shown that loss of Cx40 decreases the growth of different tumors. Here, we report that loss of Cx37 reduces (1) the in vitro proliferation of primary human EC; (2) the vascularization of subcutaneously implanted matrigel plugs in Cx37−/− mice or in WT using matrigel plugs supplemented with a peptide targeting Cx37 channels; (3) tumor angiogenesis; and (4) the growth of TC-1 and B16 tumors, resulting in a longer mice survival. We further document that Cx37 and Cx40 function in a collaborative manner to promote tumor growth, inasmuch as the injection of a peptide targeting Cx40 into Cx37−/− mice decreased the growth of TC-1 tumors to a larger extent than after loss of Cx37. This loss did not alter vessel perfusion, mural cells coverage and tumor hypoxia compared to tumors grown in WT mice. The data show that Cx37 is relevant for the control of EC proliferation and growth in different tumor models, suggesting that it may be a target, alone or in combination with Cx40, in the development of anti-tumoral treatments.
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Ling X, Peng S, Xu Y, Chu F. Beneficial effect of simvastatin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells gap junctions induced by TNF-α. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2022; 26:10-18. [PMID: 35308127 PMCID: PMC8928848 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2021.2023037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Although simvastatin has been shown to inhibit vascular permeability, which might be amplified via gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC), the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of simvastatin on endothelial cells GJIC. Specifically, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with TNF-α (10 ng/mL) alone or in combination with simvastatin (5 µM), and their effects on vascular endothelial cell GJIC tested via the scrape loading/dye transfer (SL/DT) assay. Next, we performed immunofluorescence, real-time PCR and western blot assays to analyze expression of Cx37, Cx40 and Cx43 in HUVECs. Results showed that GJIC activity in HUVECs was markedly elevated in HUVECs treated with TNF-α in combination with simvastatin. In addition, simvastatin treatment significantly upregulated expression of Cx37 and Cx40 but downregulated Cx43 mRNAs and proteins. Taken together, these marked changes indicated that simvastatin exerts its regulatory effects on gap junction function by upregulating Cx37 and Cx40 and downregulating Cx43 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiwen Ling
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Siyuan Peng
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaqin Xu
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fujiang Chu
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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SB203580-A Potent p38 MAPK Inhibitor Reduces the Profibrotic Bronchial Fibroblasts Transition Associated with Asthma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312790. [PMID: 34884593 PMCID: PMC8657816 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Subepithelial fibrosis is a component of the remodeling observed in the bronchial wall of patients diagnosed with asthma. In this process, human bronchial fibroblasts (HBFs) drive the fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) in response to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which activates the canonical Smad-dependent signaling. However, the pleiotropic properties of TGF-β1 also promote the activation of non-canonical signaling pathways which can affect the FMT. In this study we investigated the effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibition by SB203580 on the FMT potential of HBFs derived from asthmatic patients using immunocytofluorescence, real-time PCR and Western blotting methods. Our results demonstrate for the first time the strong effect of p38 MAPK inhibition on the TGF-β1-induced FMT potential throughout the strong attenuation of myofibroblast-related markers: α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, fibronectin and connexin 43 in HBFs. We suggest the pleiotropic mechanism of SB203580 on FMT impairment in HBF populations by the diminishing of TGF-β/Smad signaling activation and disturbances in the actin cytoskeleton architecture along with the maturation of focal adhesion sites. These observations justify future research on the role of p38 kinase in FMT efficiency and bronchial wall remodeling in asthma.
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7
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Okamoto T, Park EJ, Kawamoto E, Usuda H, Wada K, Taguchi A, Shimaoka M. Endothelial connexin-integrin crosstalk in vascular inflammation. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2021; 1867:166168. [PMID: 33991620 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases including blood vessel disorders represent a major cause of death globally. The essential roles played by local and systemic vascular inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases have been increasingly recognized. Vascular inflammation triggers the aberrant activation of endothelial cells, which leads to the functional and structural abnormalities in vascular vessels. In addition to humoral mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins, the alteration of physical and mechanical microenvironment - including vascular stiffness and shear stress - modify the gene expression profiles and metabolic profiles of endothelial cells via mechano-transduction pathways, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of vessel disorders. Notably, connexins and integrins crosstalk each other in response to the mechanical stress, and, thereby, play an important role in regulating the mechano-transduction of endothelial cells. Here, we provide an overview on how the inter-play between connexins and integrins in endothelial cells unfold during the mechano-transduction in vascular inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Okamoto
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo-city, Shimane 693-8501, Japan.
| | - Eun Jeong Park
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology and Cell Adhesion Biology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-city, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Eiji Kawamoto
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology and Cell Adhesion Biology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-city, Mie 514-8507, Japan; Department of Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-city, Mie 514-8507, Japan
| | - Haruki Usuda
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo-city, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
| | - Koichiro Wada
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo-city, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
| | - Akihiko Taguchi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine Research, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, 2-2 Minatojima-Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Motomu Shimaoka
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology and Cell Adhesion Biology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu-city, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
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8
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Schmidt K, de Wit C. Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor and Myoendothelial Coupling: The in vivo Perspective. Front Physiol 2021; 11:602930. [PMID: 33424626 PMCID: PMC7786115 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.602930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelium controls vascular tone adopting blood flow to tissue needs. It releases chemical mediators [e.g., nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PG)] and exerts appreciable dilation through smooth muscle hyperpolarization, thus termed endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH). Initially, EDH was attributed to release of a factor, but later it was suggested that smooth muscle hyperpolarization might be derived from radial spread of an initial endothelial hyperpolarization through heterocellular channels coupling these vascular cells. The channels are indeed present and formed by connexins that enrich in gap junctions (GJ). In vitro data suggest that myoendothelial coupling underlies EDH-type dilations as evidenced by blocking experiments as well as simultaneous, merely identical membrane potential changes in endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), which is indicative of coupling through ohmic resistors. However, connexin-deficient animals do not display any attenuation of EDH-type dilations in vivo, and endothelial and SMCs exhibit distinct and barely superimposable membrane potential changes exerted by different means in vivo. Even if studied in the exact same artery EDH-type dilation exhibits distinct features in vitro and in vivo: in isometrically mounted vessels, it is rather weak and depends on myoendothelial coupling through connexin40 (Cx40), whereas in vivo as well as in vitro under isobaric conditions it is powerful and independent of myoendothelial coupling through Cx40. It is concluded that EDH-type dilations are distinct and a significant dependence on myoendothelial coupling in vitro does not reflect the situation under physiologic conditions in vivo. Myoendothelial coupling may act as a backup mechanism that is uncovered in the absence of the powerful EDH-type response and possibly reflects a situation in a pathophysiologic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjestine Schmidt
- Institut für Physiologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK) e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Cor de Wit
- Institut für Physiologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK) e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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9
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Boycott HE, Nguyen MN, Vrellaku B, Gehmlich K, Robinson P. Nitric Oxide and Mechano-Electrical Transduction in Cardiomyocytes. Front Physiol 2020; 11:606740. [PMID: 33384614 PMCID: PMC7770138 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.606740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability§ of the heart to adapt to changes in the mechanical environment is critical for normal cardiac physiology. The role of nitric oxide is increasingly recognized as a mediator of mechanical signaling. Produced in the heart by nitric oxide synthases, nitric oxide affects almost all mechano-transduction pathways within the cardiomyocyte, with roles mediating mechano-sensing, mechano-electric feedback (via modulation of ion channel activity), and calcium handling. As more precise experimental techniques for applying mechanical stresses to cells are developed, the role of these forces in cardiomyocyte function can be further understood. Furthermore, specific inhibitors of different nitric oxide synthase isoforms are now available to elucidate the role of these enzymes in mediating mechano-electrical signaling. Understanding of the links between nitric oxide production and mechano-electrical signaling is incomplete, particularly whether mechanically sensitive ion channels are regulated by nitric oxide, and how this affects the cardiac action potential. This is of particular relevance to conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart failure, in which nitric oxide production is reduced. Dysfunction of the nitric oxide/mechano-electrical signaling pathways are likely to be a feature of cardiac pathology (e.g., atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure) and a better understanding of the importance of nitric oxide signaling and its links to mechanical regulation of heart function may advance our understanding of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah E. Boycott
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - My-Nhan Nguyen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Besarte Vrellaku
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Katja Gehmlich
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Robinson
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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10
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Le QA, Kim JC, Kim KH, Van Vu AT, Woo SH. Distinct shear-induced Ca 2+ signaling in the left and right atrial myocytes: Role of P2 receptor context. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2020; 143:38-50. [PMID: 32305361 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Atrial myocytes are continuously exposed to shear stress during cardiac cycles. Previous reports have shown that shear stress induces two different types of global Ca2+ signaling in atrial myocytes-longitudinal Ca2+ waves (L-waves) and action potential-involved transverse waves (T-waves), and suggested an underlying role of the autocrine activation of P2 receptors. We explored the correlations between ATP release and Ca2+ wave generation in atrial myocytes and investigated why the cells develop two Ca2+-wave types during the same shear force. We examined whether ATP release correlates with different shear-stress (~16 dyn/cm2)-mediated Ca2+ signaling by simultaneous measurement of local Ca2+ and ATP release in individual atrial myocytes using two-dimensional confocal imaging and sniffer patch techniques, respectively. Functional P2X7-receptor-expressing HEK293 cells were established as sniffer cells, which generated currents in real time in response to ATP released from a closely positioned atrial myocyte. Both shear-stress-induced L- and T-waves were preceded by sniffer currents with no difference in the current magnitude. Left atrial (LA) myocytes had two- to three-fold larger sniffer currents than right atrial (RA) cells, as was confirmed by ATP chemiluminescence assay. Shear-stress-induced ATP release was eliminated by connexin (Cx) 43 hemichannel inhibition using La3+, Gap19, or knock-down of Cx43 expression. The level of phosphorylated Cx43 at Ser386 (p-Cx43Ser368), but not total Cx43, was higher in LA versus RA myocytes. Most LA cells (~70%) developed L-waves, whereas most RA myocytes (~80%) presented T-waves. Shear-stress-induced T-waves were completely removed by inhibition of P2X4R, which were most abundant in rat atrial cells. Expression of P2X4R was higher in RA than LA myocytes, whereas expression of P2Y1R, the mediator of L-waves, was higher in LA than RA myocytes. ATP release mainly triggers L-waves in LA myocytes and T-waves in RA myocytes under the same shear force, partly because of the differential expression of P2Y1R and P2X4R between LA and RA myocytes. Higher ATP release in LA myocytes under shear stress may not contribute to determination of the wave pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qui Anh Le
- Laboratory of Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Joon-Chul Kim
- Laboratory of Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Kyeong-Hee Kim
- Laboratory of Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Anh Thi Van Vu
- Laboratory of Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Woo
- Laboratory of Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea.
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11
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Looft-Wilson RC, Billig JE, Sessa WC. Shear Stress Attenuates Inward Remodeling in Cultured Mouse Thoracodorsal Arteries in an eNOS-Dependent, but Not Hemodynamic Manner, and Increases Cx37 Expression. J Vasc Res 2019; 56:284-295. [PMID: 31574503 PMCID: PMC6908748 DOI: 10.1159/000502690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arteries chronically constricted in culture remodel to smaller diameters. Conversely, elevated luminal shear stress (SS) promotes outward remodeling of arteries in vivo and prevents inward remodeling in culture in a nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent manner. OBJECTIVES To determine whether SS-induced prevention of inward remodeling in cultured arteries is specifically eNOS-dependent and requires dilation, and whether SS alters the expression of eNOS and other genes potentially involved in remodeling. METHODS Female mouse thoracodorsal arteries were cannulated, pressurized to 80 mm Hg, and cultured for 2 days with low SS (<7 dyn/cm2), high SS (≥15 dyn/cm2), high SS + L-NAME (NOS inhibitor, 10-4 M), or high SS in arteries from eNOS-/- mice. In separate arteries cultured 1 day with low or high SS, eNOS and connexin (Cx) 37, Cx40, and Cx43 mRNA were assessed with real-time PCR. RESULTS High SS caused little change in passive diameters after culture (-4.7 ± 2.0%), which was less than low SS (-18.9 ± 1.4%; p < 0.0001), high SS eNOS-/- (-18.0 ± 1.5; p < 0.001), or high SS + L-NAME (-12.0 ± 0.6%; nonsignificant) despite similar constriction during culture. Cx37 mRNA expression was increased (p < 0.05) with high SS, but other gene levels were not different. CONCLUSIONS eNOS is involved in SS-induced prevention of inward remodeling in cultured small arteries. This effect does not require NO-mediated dilation. SS increased Cx37.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin C Looft-Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA,
- Department of Cardiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA,
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA,
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA,
| | - Janelle E Billig
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
| | - William C Sessa
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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12
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Li Z, Solomonidis EG, Meloni M, Taylor RS, Duffin R, Dobie R, Magalhaes MS, Henderson BEP, Louwe PA, D’Amico G, Hodivala-Dilke KM, Shah AM, Mills NL, Simons BD, Gray GA, Henderson NC, Baker AH, Brittan M. Single-cell transcriptome analyses reveal novel targets modulating cardiac neovascularization by resident endothelial cells following myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J 2019; 40:2507-2520. [PMID: 31162546 PMCID: PMC6685329 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS A better understanding of the pathways that regulate regeneration of the coronary vasculature is of fundamental importance for the advancement of strategies to treat patients with heart disease. Here, we aimed to investigate the origin and clonal dynamics of endothelial cells (ECs) associated with neovascularization in the adult mouse heart following myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore, we sought to define murine cardiac endothelial heterogeneity and to characterize the transcriptional profiles of pro-angiogenic resident ECs in the adult mouse heart, at single-cell resolution. METHODS AND RESULTS An EC-specific multispectral lineage-tracing mouse (Pdgfb-iCreERT2-R26R-Brainbow2.1) was used to demonstrate that structural integrity of adult cardiac endothelium following MI was maintained through clonal proliferation by resident ECs in the infarct border region, without significant contributions from bone marrow cells or endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Ten transcriptionally discrete heterogeneous EC states, as well as the pathways through which each endothelial state is likely to enhance neovasculogenesis and tissue regeneration following ischaemic injury were defined. Plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein (Plvap) was selected for further study, which showed an endothelial-specific and increased expression in both the ischaemic mouse and human heart, and played a direct role in regulating human endothelial proliferation in vitro. CONCLUSION We present a single-cell gene expression atlas of cardiac specific resident ECs, and the transcriptional hierarchy underpinning endogenous vascular repair following MI. These data provide a rich resource that could assist in the development of new therapeutic interventions to augment endogenous myocardial perfusion and enhance regeneration in the injured heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwen Li
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Emmanouil G Solomonidis
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marco Meloni
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Richard S Taylor
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rodger Duffin
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ross Dobie
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marlene S Magalhaes
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Beth E P Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Pieter A Louwe
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gabriela D’Amico
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, CRUK-Barts Centre, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
| | - Kairbaan M Hodivala-Dilke
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, CRUK-Barts Centre, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
| | - Ajay M Shah
- Department for Cardiovascular Sciences, King’s College London British Heart Foundation Centre, School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, London, UK
| | - Nicholas L Mills
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Benjamin D Simons
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, UK
- The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gillian A Gray
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew H Baker
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mairi Brittan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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13
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The Functional Implications of Endothelial Gap Junctions and Cellular Mechanics in Vascular Angiogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11020237. [PMID: 30781714 PMCID: PMC6406946 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis—the sprouting and growth of new blood vessels from the existing vasculature—is an important contributor to tumor development, since it facilitates the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells. Endothelial cells are critically affected during the angiogenic process as their proliferation, motility, and morphology are modulated by pro-angiogenic and environmental factors associated with tumor tissues and cancer cells. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed that the gap junctions of endothelial cells also participate in the promotion of angiogenesis. Pro-angiogenic factors modulate gap junction function and connexin expression in endothelial cells, whereas endothelial connexins are involved in angiogenic tube formation and in the cell migration of endothelial cells. Several mechanisms, including gap junction function-dependent or -independent pathways, have been proposed. In particular, connexins might have the potential to regulate cell mechanics such as cell morphology, cell migration, and cellular stiffness that are dynamically changed during the angiogenic processes. Here, we review the implication for endothelial gap junctions and cellular mechanics in vascular angiogenesis.
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14
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Ma R, Wu P, Shi Q, Song D, Fang H. Telocytes promote VEGF expression and alleviate ventilator-induced lung injury in mice. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2018; 50:817-825. [PMID: 29924305 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmy066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an important procedure for the treatment of patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome in a clinical setting; however, MV can lead to severe complications, including ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Telocytes (TCs) can promote tissue repair following injury in the heart, kidneys, and other organs. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TCs in VILI in mice and the associated mechanisms. By using in vivo studies in mice and in vitro studies in cells, we demonstrated that an airway injection of TCs can reduce the pulmonary inflammatory response and improve the lung function in mice with VILI and promote the proliferation of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells. We also demonstrated that the impact of TCs on VILI repair might partially due to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secreted by TCs upon VILI stimulation, and that VEGF could induce the proliferation of hemangioendothelioma endothelial cells (EOMA). Collectively, our results revealed novel functions of TCs in VILA repair and shed light on the complications that are caused by MV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pinwen Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Minhang Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiqing Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongli Song
- Biomedical Research Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Minhang Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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15
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Crassous PA, Shu P, Huang C, Gordan R, Brouckaert P, Lampe PD, Xie LH, Beuve A. Newly Identified NO-Sensor Guanylyl Cyclase/Connexin 43 Association Is Involved in Cardiac Electrical Function. J Am Heart Assoc 2017; 6:e006397. [PMID: 29269353 PMCID: PMC5778997 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.117.006397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guanylyl cyclase, a heme-containing α1β1 heterodimer (GC1), produces cGMP in response to Nitric oxide (NO) stimulation. The NO-GC1-cGMP pathway negatively regulates cardiomyocyte contractility and protects against cardiac hypertrophy-related remodeling. We recently reported that the β1 subunit of GC1 is detected at the intercalated disc with connexin 43 (Cx43). Cx43 forms gap junctions (GJs) at the intercalated disc that are responsible for electrical propagation. We sought to determine whether there is a functional association between GC1 and Cx43 and its role in cardiac homeostasis. METHODS AND RESULTS GC1 and Cx43 immunostaining at the intercalated disc and coimmunoprecipitation from membrane fraction indicate that GC1 and Cx43 are associated. Mice lacking the α subunit of GC1 (GCα1 knockout mice) displayed a significant decrease in GJ function (dye-spread assay) and Cx43 membrane lateralization. In a cardiac-hypertrophic model, angiotensin II treatment disrupted the GC1-Cx43 association and induced significant Cx43 membrane lateralization, which was exacerbated in GCα1 knockout mice. Cx43 lateralization correlated with decreased Cx43-containing GJs at the intercalated disc, predictors of electrical dysfunction. Accordingly, an ECG revealed that angiotensin II-treated GCα1 knockout mice had impaired ventricular electrical propagation. The phosphorylation level of Cx43 at serine 365, a protein-kinase A upregulated site involved in trafficking/assembly of GJs, was decreased in these models. CONCLUSIONS GC1 modulates ventricular Cx43 location, hence GJ function, and partially protects from electrical dysfunction in an angiotensin II hypertrophy model. Disruption of the NO-cGMP pathway is associated with cardiac electrical disturbance and abnormal Cx43 phosphorylation. This previously unknown NO/Cx43 signaling could be a protective mechanism against stress-induced arrhythmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Antoine Crassous
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, Newark, NJ
| | - Ping Shu
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, Newark, NJ
| | - Can Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, Newark, NJ
| | - Richard Gordan
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, Newark, NJ
| | - Peter Brouckaert
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paul D Lampe
- Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Lai-Hua Xie
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, Newark, NJ
| | - Annie Beuve
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School-Rutgers, Newark, NJ
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16
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Looft-Wilson RC, Goodell CR, Mutch CA, Mutchler SM, Miller KL, Guraya M. Increased myoendothelial feedback is associated with increased connexin37 and IK1 channel expression in mesenteric arteries of diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemic mice. Microcirculation 2017; 24. [PMID: 28857417 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previously, we found that diet-induced HHcy in mice caused decreased eNOS expression and signaling in mesenteric arteries, but greatly enhanced non-NOS, non-prostacyclin-dependent vasodilation, which involves MEJ communication. To further assess whether HHcy enhances MEJ communication, this study examined endothelium-dependent attenuation of phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction (myoendothelial feedback) and key molecules involved. METHODS Myoendothelial feedback was examined in isolated mouse mesenteric arteries, after 6-weeks diet-induced HHcy, using pressure myography. Gap junction (Cx37, Cx40, Cx43), NOS (eNOS, nNOS, iNOS), and potassium channel (IK1) protein expression were measured with immunoblots, and connexin mRNAs with real-time PCR. Contribution of nNOS + iNOS to vasomotor responses was assessed using the drug TRIM. RESULTS Myoendothelial feedback was significantly (P < .05) enhanced in HHcy arteries compared to control, coincident with significantly greater Cx37 and IK1 protein and Cx37 mRNA. Cx43 protein, but not mRNA, was significantly less in HHcy, and Cx40 was not different. eNOS protein was significantly less in HHcy. nNOS and iNOS were not different. TRIM had little effect on vasomotor function. CONCLUSIONS Diet-induced HHcy enhanced myoendothelial feedback, and increased Cx37 and IK1 expression may contribute. nNOS or iNOS did not upregulate to compensate for decreased eNOS, and they had little involvement in vasomotor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin C Looft-Wilson
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Cara R Goodell
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Christina A Mutch
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Stephanie M Mutchler
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Kayla L Miller
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
| | - Monique Guraya
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
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17
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Kim JC, Son MJ, Wang J, Woo SH. Regulation of cardiac Ca 2+ and ion channels by shear mechanotransduction. Arch Pharm Res 2017; 40:783-795. [PMID: 28702845 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-017-0929-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac contraction is controlled by a Ca2+ signaling sequence that includes L-type Ca2+ current-gated opening of Ca2+ release channels (ryanodine receptors) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Local Ca2+ signaling in the atrium differs from that in the ventricle because atrial myocytes lack transverse tubules and have more abundant corbular SR. Myocardium is subjected to a variety of forces with each contraction, such as stretch, shear stress, and afterload, and adapts to those mechanical stresses. These mechanical stimuli increase in heart failure, hypertension, and valvular heart diseases that are clinically implicated in atrial fibrillation and stroke. In the present review, we describe distinct responses of atrial and ventricular myocytes to shear stress and compare them with other mechanical responses in the context of local and global Ca2+ signaling and ion channel regulation. Recent evidence suggests that shear mechanotransduction in cardiac myocytes involves activation of gap junction hemichannels, purinergic signaling, and generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Significant alterations in Ca2+ signaling and ionic currents by shear stress may be implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmia and failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Chul Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea
| | - Min-Jeong Son
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea
| | - Jun Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Woo
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea.
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18
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Hatzfeld M, Keil R, Magin TM. Desmosomes and Intermediate Filaments: Their Consequences for Tissue Mechanics. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2017; 9:a029157. [PMID: 28096266 PMCID: PMC5453391 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a029157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Adherens junctions (AJs) and desmosomes connect the actin and keratin filament networks of adjacent cells into a mechanical unit. Whereas AJs function in mechanosensing and in transducing mechanical forces between the plasma membrane and the actomyosin cytoskeleton, desmosomes and intermediate filaments (IFs) provide mechanical stability required to maintain tissue architecture and integrity when the tissues are exposed to mechanical stress. Desmosomes are essential for stable intercellular cohesion, whereas keratins determine cell mechanics but are not involved in generating tension. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the role of IFs and desmosomes in tissue mechanics and discuss whether the desmosome-keratin scaffold might be actively involved in mechanosensing and in the conversion of chemical signals into mechanical strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mechthild Hatzfeld
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Division of Pathobiochemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06114 Halle, Germany
| | - René Keil
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Division of Pathobiochemistry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06114 Halle, Germany
| | - Thomas M Magin
- Institute of Biology, Division of Cell and Developmental Biology and Saxonian Incubator for Clinical Translation (SIKT), University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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19
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Allagnat F, Dubuis C, Lambelet M, Le Gal L, Alonso F, Corpataux JM, Déglise S, Haefliger JA. Connexin37 reduces smooth muscle cell proliferation and intimal hyperplasia in a mouse model of carotid artery ligation. Cardiovasc Res 2017; 113:805-816. [PMID: 28449099 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvx079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is an abnormal response to vessel injury characterized by the dedifferentiation, migration, and proliferation of quiescent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to form a neointima layer. Vascular connexins (Cx) are involved in the pathophysiology of various vascular diseases, and Cx43, the main Cx expressed in VSMC, has been shown to promote VSMC proliferation and IH. The aim of this study was to investigate the participation of another Cx, namely Cx37, in the formation of the neointima layer. METHODS AND RESULTS Wild-type (WT) and Cx37-deficient (Cx37-/-) C57BL/6J mice were subjected to carotid artery ligation (CAL), a model of vessel injury and IH. The neointima developed linearly in WT until 28 days post surgery. In contrast, the neointima layer was almost absent 14 days after surgery in Cx37-/- mice, and twice as more developed after 28 days compared to WT mice. This large neointima formation correlated with a two-fold increase in cell proliferation in the media and neointima regions between 14 and 28 days in Cx37-/- mice compared to WT mice. The CAL triggered Cx43 overexpression in the media and neointima layers of ligated carotids in WT mice, and selectively up-regulated Cx37 expression in the media layer, but not in the neointima layer. The de novo expression of Cx37 in human primary VSMC reduced cell proliferation and P-Akt levels, in association with lower Cx43 levels, whereas Cx43 overexpression increased P-Akt levels. CONCLUSION The presence of Cx37 in the media layer of injured arteries restrains VSMC proliferation and limits the development of IH, presumably by interfering with the pro-proliferative effect of Cx43 and the Akt pathway.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Animals
- Carotid Arteries/metabolism
- Carotid Arteries/pathology
- Carotid Arteries/surgery
- Carotid Artery Injuries/genetics
- Carotid Artery Injuries/metabolism
- Carotid Artery Injuries/pathology
- Carotid Stenosis/genetics
- Carotid Stenosis/metabolism
- Carotid Stenosis/pathology
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Connexin 43/metabolism
- Connexins/deficiency
- Connexins/genetics
- Connexins/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Humans
- Hyperplasia
- Ligation
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Neointima
- Phosphorylation
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Time Factors
- Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Allagnat
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Céline Dubuis
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martine Lambelet
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Loïc Le Gal
- Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, c/o Department of Physiology, Bugnon 7a, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florian Alonso
- Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, c/o Department of Physiology, Bugnon 7a, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Marc Corpataux
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sébastien Déglise
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jacques-Antoine Haefliger
- Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, c/o Department of Physiology, Bugnon 7a, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
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20
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Wang LJ, Zhang WW, Zhang L, Shi WY, Wang YZ, Ma KT, Liu WD, Zhao L, Li L, Si JQ. Association of connexin gene polymorphism with essential hypertension in Kazak and Han Chinese in Xinjiang, China. JOURNAL OF HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MEDICAL SCIENCES = HUA ZHONG KE JI DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE YING DE WEN BAN = HUAZHONG KEJI DAXUE XUEBAO. YIXUE YINGDEWEN BAN 2017; 37:197-203. [PMID: 28397038 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-017-1715-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Essential hypertension (EH) is affected by both genetic and environmental factors. The polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes is found associated with the development of hypertension. However, the association of the polymorphism of Cxs with EH has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the association of the polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes Cx37, Cx40, and Cx43 with EH in Kazak and Han Chinese in Xinjiang, China. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to analyze the polymorphism of Cx genes in Kazak and Han EH patients as well as their normotensive controls. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of different three genotypes (A/A, A/G, and G/G) and A and G alleles of Cx40 rs35594137 and rs11552588 between EH patients and normotensive controls. However, in Kazak EH patients, the frequencies of three genotypes (A/A, A/G, and G/G) of Cx37 rs1630310 were 24.8%, 47.2% and 28.0%, respectively, which were significantly different from those in Han EH patients. In Han EH patients, the frequencies of the three genotypes (C/C, C/G and G/G) of Cx43 rs1925223 were 6.4%, 35.6% and 58.0%, respectively. Frequencies of the other four genotypes had no statistical differences among Kazak and Han EH patients and their normotensive controls. These results suggest polymorphisms of Cx37 rs1630310 and Cx43 rs1925223 genes may be associated with the pathogenesis of EH. Carrying Cx37 rs1630310-A or Cx43 rs1925223-G genotypes may protect against the development of EH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Jie Wang
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
- Department of ICU, First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, 832008, China
| | - Wen-Wen Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Wen-Yan Shi
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Ying-Zi Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Ke-Tao Ma
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Wei-Dong Liu
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China.
| | - Jun-Qiang Si
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Medical College of Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, China.
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Department of Physiology, Wuhan University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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21
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ŠEDA O, LIŠKA F, PRAVENEC M, VERNEROVÁ Z, KAZDOVÁ L, KŘENOVÁ D, ZÍDEK V, ŠEDOVÁ L, KRUPKOVÁ M, KŘEN V. Connexin 50 Mutation Lowers Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat. Physiol Res 2017; 66:15-28. [DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.933432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We assessed the effect of the previously uncovered gap junction protein alpha 8 (Gja8) mutation present in spontaneously hypertensive rat – dominant cataract (SHR-Dca) strain on blood pressure, metabolic profile, and heart and renal transcriptomes. Adult, standard chow-fed male rats of SHR and SHR-Dca strains were used. We found a significant, consistent 10-15 mmHg decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in SHR-Dca compared with SHR (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively; repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)). With immunohistochemistry, we were able to localize Gja8 in heart, kidney, aorta, liver, and lungs, mostly in endothelium; with no differences in expression between strains. SHR-Dca rats showed decreased body weight, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and basal insulin sensitivity in muscle. There were 21 transcripts common to the sets of 303 transcripts in kidney and 487 in heart showing >1.2-fold difference in expression between SHR and SHR-Dca. Tumor necrosis factor was the most significant upstream regulator and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family ligand-receptor interactions was the common enriched and downregulated canonical pathway both in heart and kidney of SHR-Dca. The connexin 50 mutation L7Q lowers blood pressure in the SHR-Dca strain, decreases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and leads to substantial transcriptome changes in heart and kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. ŠEDA
- Institute of Biology and Medical Genetics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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22
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Wang T, Gross C, Desai AA, Zemskov E, Wu X, Garcia AN, Jacobson JR, Yuan JXJ, Garcia JGN, Black SM. Endothelial cell signaling and ventilator-induced lung injury: molecular mechanisms, genomic analyses, and therapeutic targets. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2016; 312:L452-L476. [PMID: 27979857 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00231.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving intervention in critically ill patients with respiratory failure due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Paradoxically, mechanical ventilation also creates excessive mechanical stress that directly augments lung injury, a syndrome known as ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The pathobiology of VILI and ARDS shares many inflammatory features including increases in lung vascular permeability due to loss of endothelial cell barrier integrity resulting in alveolar flooding. While there have been advances in the understanding of certain elements of VILI and ARDS pathobiology, such as defining the importance of lung inflammatory leukocyte infiltration and highly induced cytokine expression, a deep understanding of the initiating and regulatory pathways involved in these inflammatory responses remains poorly understood. Prevailing evidence indicates that loss of endothelial barrier function plays a primary role in the development of VILI and ARDS. Thus this review will focus on the latest knowledge related to 1) the key role of the endothelium in the pathogenesis of VILI; 2) the transcription factors that relay the effects of excessive mechanical stress in the endothelium; 3) the mechanical stress-induced posttranslational modifications that influence key signaling pathways involved in VILI responses in the endothelium; 4) the genetic and epigenetic regulation of key target genes in the endothelium that are involved in VILI responses; and 5) the need for novel therapeutic strategies for VILI that can preserve endothelial barrier function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wang
- Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Christine Gross
- Vascular Biology Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Ankit A Desai
- Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Evgeny Zemskov
- Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Xiaomin Wu
- Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Alexander N Garcia
- Department of Pharmacology University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; and
| | - Jeffrey R Jacobson
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jason X-J Yuan
- Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Joe G N Garcia
- Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Stephen M Black
- Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona;
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Disruption and inactivation of the PP2A complex promotes the proliferation and angiogenesis of hemangioma endothelial cells through activating AKT and ERK. Oncotarget 2016; 6:25660-76. [PMID: 26308070 PMCID: PMC4694857 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemangioma is a benign vascular neoplasm of unknown etiology. In this study, we generated an endothelial-specific PyMT gene-expressing transgenic mouse model that spontaneously develops hemangioma. Based on this transgenic model, a specific binding between PyMT and the core AC dimer of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) was verified in hemangioma vascular endothelial cells. The binding between PyMT and the PP2A AC dimer resulted in dissociation of the B subunit from the PP2A complex and inactivation of PP2A phosphatases, which in turn activated AKT and ERK signaling and promoted cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Consistent with the in vitro findings, decreased PP2A phosphatase activity and disruption of the PP2A heterotrimeric complex were also observed in both primary transgene-positive TG(+) mouse hemangioma endothelial cells (TG(+) HEC cells) and human proliferating phase hemangioma endothelial (human HEC-P) cells, but not in transgene-negative TG(-) mouse normal vascular endothelial cells (TG(-) NEC cells) and human involuting phase hemangioma endothelial (human HEC-I) cells. Further, it was observed that in human hemangioma cells, endoglin could compete with the PP2A/A, C subunits for binding to the PP2A/B subunit, thereby resulting in dissociation of the B subunit from the PP2A complex. Treatment of Tie2/PyMT transgenic mice with the PP2A activator FTY720 significantly delayed the occurrence of hemangioma. Our data provide evidence of a previously unreported anti-proliferation and anti-angiogenesis effect of PP2A in vascular endothelial cells, and show the therapeutic value of PP2A activators in hemangioma.
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24
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Schmidt K, Windler R, de Wit C. Communication Through Gap Junctions in the Endothelium. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2016; 77:209-40. [PMID: 27451099 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A swarm of fish displays a collective behavior (swarm behavior) and moves "en masse" despite the huge number of individual animals. In analogy, organ function is supported by a huge number of cells that act in an orchestrated fashion and this applies also to vascular cells along the vessel length. It is obvious that communication is required to achieve this vital goal. Gap junctions with their modular bricks, connexins (Cxs), provide channels that interlink the cytosol of adjacent cells by a pore sealed against the extracellular space. This allows the transfer of ions and charge and thereby the travel of membrane potential changes along the vascular wall. The endothelium provides a low-resistance pathway that depends crucially on connexin40 which is required for long-distance conduction of dilator signals in the microcirculation. The experimental evidence for membrane potential changes synchronizing vascular behavior is manifold but the functional verification of a physiologic role is still open. Other molecules may also be exchanged that possibly contribute to the synchronization (eg, Ca(2+)). Recent data suggest that vascular Cxs have more functions than just facilitating communication. As pharmacological tools to modulate gap junctions are lacking, Cx-deficient mice provide currently the standard to unravel their vascular functions. These include arteriolar dilation during functional hyperemia, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, vascular collateralization after ischemia, and feedback inhibition on renin secretion in the kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Schmidt
- Institut für Physiologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK) e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - R Windler
- Institut für Physiologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK) e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - C de Wit
- Institut für Physiologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK) e.V. (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
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25
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Munger SJ, Geng X, Srinivasan RS, Witte MH, Paul DL, Simon AM. Segregated Foxc2, NFATc1 and Connexin expression at normal developing venous valves, and Connexin-specific differences in the valve phenotypes of Cx37, Cx43, and Cx47 knockout mice. Dev Biol 2016; 412:173-90. [PMID: 26953188 PMCID: PMC4826804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Venous valves (VVs) are critical for unidirectional blood flow from superficial and deep veins towards the heart. Congenital valve aplasia or agenesis may, in some cases, be a direct cause of vascular disease, motivating an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of VVs. Three gap junction proteins (Connexins), Cx37, Cx43, and Cx47, are specifically expressed at VVs in a highly polarized fashion. VVs are absent from adult mice lacking Cx37; however it is not known if Cx37 is required for the initial formation of valves. In addition, the requirement of Cx43 and Cx47 for VV development has not been studied. Here, we provide a detailed description of Cx37, Cx43, and Cx47 expression during mouse vein development and show by gene knockout that each Cx is necessary for normal valve development. The valve phenotypes in the knockout lines exhibit Cx-specific differences, however, including whether peripheral or central VVs are affected by gene inactivation. In addition, we show that a Cx47 null mutation impairs peripheral VV development but does not affect lymphatic valve formation, a finding of significance for understanding how some CX47 mutations cause inherited lymphedema in humans. Finally, we demonstrate a striking segregation of Foxc2 and NFATc1 transcription factor expression between the downstream and upstream faces, respectively, of developing VV leaflets and show that this segregation is closely associated with the highly polarized expression of Cx37, Cx43, and Cx47. The partition of Foxc2 and NFATc1 expression at VV leaflets makes it unlikely that these factors directly cooperate during the leaflet elongation stage of VV development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xin Geng
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - R Sathish Srinivasan
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Marlys H Witte
- Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
| | - David L Paul
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Alexander M Simon
- Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
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26
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Alonso F, Domingos-Pereira S, Le Gal L, Derré L, Meda P, Jichlinski P, Nardelli-Haefliger D, Haefliger JA. Targeting endothelial connexin40 inhibits tumor growth by reducing angiogenesis and improving vessel perfusion. Oncotarget 2016; 7:14015-28. [PMID: 26883111 PMCID: PMC4924695 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial connexin40 (Cx40) contributes to regulate the structure and function of vessels. We have examined whether the protein also modulates the altered growth of vessels in tumor models established in control mice (WT), mice lacking Cx40 (Cx40-/-), and mice expressing the protein solely in endothelial cells (Tie2-Cx40). Tumoral angiogenesis and growth were reduced, whereas vessel perfusion, smooth muscle cell (SMC) coverage and animal survival were increased in Cx40-/- but not Tie2-Cx40 mice, revealing a critical involvement of endothelial Cx40 in transformed tissues independently of the hypertensive status of Cx40-/- mice. As a result, Cx40-/- mice bearing tumors survived significantly longer than corresponding controls, including after a cytotoxic administration. Comparable observations were made in WT mice injected with a peptide targeting Cx40, supporting the Cx40 involvement. This involvement was further confirmed in the absence of Cx40 or by peptide-inhibition of this connexin in aorta-sprouting, matrigel plug and SMC migration assays, and associated with a decreased expression of the phosphorylated form of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The data identify Cx40 as a potential novel target in cancer treatment.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Aorta/pathology
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Blood Vessels/physiology
- Cell Proliferation
- Connexins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Connexins/metabolism
- Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism
- Endothelium, Vascular/pathology
- Female
- Humans
- Lung Neoplasms/blood supply
- Lung Neoplasms/pathology
- Lung Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Melanoma, Experimental/blood supply
- Melanoma, Experimental/pathology
- Melanoma, Experimental/prevention & control
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/prevention & control
- Perfusion
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/blood supply
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology
- Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Alonso
- Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Loïc Le Gal
- Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Derré
- Department of Urology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Meda
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrice Jichlinski
- Department of Urology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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27
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Sala G, Badalamenti S, Ponticelli C. The Renal Connexome and Possible Roles of Connexins in Kidney Diseases. Am J Kidney Dis 2015; 67:677-87. [PMID: 26613807 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Connexins are membrane-spanning proteins that allow for the formation of cell-to-cell channels and cell-to-extracellular space hemichannels. Many connexin subtypes are expressed in kidney cells. Some mutations in connexin genes have been linked to various human pathologies, including cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, lung, and skin diseases, but the exact role of connexins in kidney disease remains unclear. Some hypotheses about a connection between genetic mutations, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and the unfolded protein response (UPR) in kidney pathology have been explored. The potential relationship of kidney disease to abnormal production of connexin proteins, mutations in their genes together with ER stress, or the UPR is still a matter of debate. In this scenario, it is tantalizing to speculate about a possible role of connexins in the setting of kidney pathologies that are thought to be caused by a deregulated podocyte protein expression, the so-called podocytopathies. In this article, we give examples of the roles of connexins in kidney (patho)physiology and propose avenues for further research concerning connexins, ER stress, and UPR in podocytopathies that may ultimately help refine drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Sala
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Humanitas Clinical Research Center, Rozzano (Milano), Italy.
| | - Salvatore Badalamenti
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Humanitas Clinical Research Center, Rozzano (Milano), Italy
| | - Claudio Ponticelli
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Humanitas Clinical Research Center, Rozzano (Milano), Italy
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28
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Kim JC, Woo SH. Shear stress induces a longitudinal Ca(2+) wave via autocrine activation of P2Y1 purinergic signalling in rat atrial myocytes. J Physiol 2015; 593:5091-109. [PMID: 26377030 DOI: 10.1113/jp271016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial myocytes are exposed to shear stress during the cardiac cycle and haemodynamic disturbance. In response, they generate a longitudinally propagating global Ca(2+) wave. Here, we investigated the cellular mechanisms underlying the shear stress-mediated Ca(2+) wave, using two-dimensional confocal Ca(2+) imaging combined with a pressurized microflow system in single rat atrial myocytes. Shear stress of ∼16 dyn cm(-2) for 8 s induced ∼1.2 aperiodic longitudinal Ca(2+) waves (∼79 μm s(-1)) with a delay of 0.2-3 s. Pharmacological blockade of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3 Rs) abolished shear stress-induced Ca(2+) wave generation. Furthermore, in atrial myocytes from type 2 IP3R (IP3R2) knock-out mice, shear stress failed to induce longitudinal Ca(2+) waves. The phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, but not its inactive analogue U73343, abolished the shear-induced longitudinal Ca(2+) wave. However, pretreating atrial cells with blockers for stretch-activated channels, Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger, transient receptor potential melastatin subfamily 4, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase did not suppress wave generation under shear stress. The P2 purinoceptor inhibitor suramin, and the potent P2Y1 receptor antagonist MRS 2179, both suppressed the Ca(2+) wave, whereas the P2X receptor antagonist, iso-PPADS, did not alter it. Suppression of gap junction hemichannels permeable to ATP or extracellular application of ATP-metabolizing apyrase inhibited the wave. Removal of external Ca(2+) to enhance hemichannel opening facilitated the wave generation. Our data suggest that longitudinally propagating, regenerative Ca(2+) release through RyRs is triggered by P2Y1-PLC-IP3R2 signalling that is activated by gap junction hemichannel-mediated ATP release in atrial myocytes under shear stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon-Chul Kim
- Laboratory of Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Woo
- Laboratory of Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea
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29
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Longchamp A, Allagnat F, Alonso F, Kuppler C, Dubuis C, Ozaki CK, Mitchell JR, Berceli S, Corpataux JM, Déglise S, Haefliger JA. Connexin43 Inhibition Prevents Human Vein Grafts Intimal Hyperplasia. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138847. [PMID: 26398895 PMCID: PMC4580578 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Venous bypass grafts often fail following arterial implantation due to excessive smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation and consequent intimal hyperplasia (IH). Intercellular communication mediated by Connexins (Cx) regulates differentiation, growth and proliferation in various cell types. Microarray analysis of vein grafts in a model of bilateral rabbit jugular vein graft revealed Cx43 as an early upregulated gene. Additional experiments conducted using an ex-vivo human saphenous veins perfusion system (EVPS) confirmed that Cx43 was rapidly increased in human veins subjected ex-vivo to arterial hemodynamics. Cx43 knock-down by RNA interference, or adenoviral-mediated overexpression, respectively inhibited or stimulated the proliferation of primary human VSMC in vitro. Furthermore, Cx blockade with carbenoxolone or the specific Cx43 inhibitory peptide 43gap26 prevented the burst in myointimal proliferation and IH formation in human saphenous veins. Our data demonstrated that Cx43 controls proliferation and the formation of IH after arterial engraftment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alban Longchamp
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Florent Allagnat
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Florian Alonso
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Kuppler
- Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Céline Dubuis
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Charles-Keith Ozaki
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James R. Mitchell
- Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Scott Berceli
- Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jean-Marc Corpataux
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sébastien Déglise
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jacques-Antoine Haefliger
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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30
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Meens MJ, Kwak BR, Duffy HS. Role of connexins and pannexins in cardiovascular physiology. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:2779-92. [PMID: 26091747 PMCID: PMC11113959 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1959-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Connexins and pannexins form connexons, pannexons and membrane channels, which are critically involved in many aspects of cardiovascular physiology. For that reason, a vast number of studies have addressed the role of connexins and pannexins in the arterial and venous systems as well as in the heart. Moreover, a role for connexins in lymphatics has recently also been suggested. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the involvement of connexins and pannexins in cardiovascular physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merlijn J. Meens
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Specializations-Cardiology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Brenda R. Kwak
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Specializations-Cardiology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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31
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Le Gal L, Alonso F, Mazzolai L, Meda P, Haefliger JA. Interplay between connexin40 and nitric oxide signaling during hypertension. Hypertension 2015; 65:910-5. [PMID: 25712722 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.114.04775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Connexins (Cxs) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) contribute to the adaptation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells to hemodynamic changes. To decipher the in vivo interplay between these proteins, we studied Cx40-null mice, a model of renin-dependent hypertension which displays an altered endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta because of reduced eNOS levels. These mice, which were either untreated or subjected to the 1-kidney, 1-clip (1K1C) procedure, a model of volume-dependent hypertension, were compared with control mice submitted to either the 1K1C or the 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K1C) procedure, a model of renin-dependent hypertension. All operated mice became hypertensive and featured hypertrophy and altered Cx expression of the aorta. The combination of volume- and renin-dependent hypertension in Cx40-/- 1K1C mice raised blood pressure and cardiac weight index. Under these conditions, all aortas showed increased levels of Cx40 in endothelial cells and of both Cx37 and Cx45 in smooth muscle cells. In the wild-type 1K1C mice, the interactions between Cx40 and Cx37 with eNOS were enhanced, resulting in increased NO release. The Cx40-eNOS interaction could not be observed in mice lacking Cx40, which also featured decreased levels of eNOS. In these animals, the volume overload caused by the 1K1C procedure resulted in increased phosphorylation of eNOS and in a higher NO release. The findings provide evidence that Cx40 and Cx37 play an in vivo role in the regulation of eNOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc Le Gal
- From the Departments of Medicine (L.L.G., F.A., J.-A.H.) and Angiology (L.M.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland (P.M.)
| | - Florian Alonso
- From the Departments of Medicine (L.L.G., F.A., J.-A.H.) and Angiology (L.M.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland (P.M.)
| | - Lucia Mazzolai
- From the Departments of Medicine (L.L.G., F.A., J.-A.H.) and Angiology (L.M.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland (P.M.)
| | - Paolo Meda
- From the Departments of Medicine (L.L.G., F.A., J.-A.H.) and Angiology (L.M.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland (P.M.)
| | - Jacques-Antoine Haefliger
- From the Departments of Medicine (L.L.G., F.A., J.-A.H.) and Angiology (L.M.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland (P.M.).
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32
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Franke WW, Rickelt S, Zimbelmann R, Dörflinger Y, Kuhn C, Frey N, Heid H, Rosin-Arbesfeld R. Striatins as plaque molecules of zonulae adhaerentes in simple epithelia, of tessellate junctions in stratified epithelia, of cardiac composite junctions and of various size classes of lateral adherens junctions in cultures of epithelia- and carcinoma-derived cells. Cell Tissue Res 2014; 359:779-97. [PMID: 25501894 PMCID: PMC4341017 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-014-2053-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Proteins of the striatin family (striatins 1–4; sizes ranging from 90 to 110 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) are highly homologous in their amino acid sequences but can differ in their cell-type-specific gene expression patterns and biological functions. In various cell types, we have found one, two or three polypeptides of this evolutionarily old and nearly ubiquitous family of proteins known to serve as scaffold proteins for diverse protein complexes. Light and electron microscopic immunolocalization methods have revealed striatins in mammalian cell-cell adherens junctions (AJs). In simple epithelia, we have localized striatins as constitutive components of the plaques of the subapical zonulae adhaerentes of cells, including intestinal, glandular, ductal and urothelial cells and hepatocytes. Striatins colocalize with E-cadherin or E–N-cadherin heterodimers and with the plaque proteins α- and β-catenin, p120 and p0071. In some epithelia and carcinomas and in cultured cells derived therefrom, striatins are also seen in lateral AJs. In stratified epithelia and in corresponding squamous cell carcinomas, striatins can be found in plaques of some forms of tessellate junctions. Moreover, striatins are major plaque proteins of composite junctions (CJs; areae compositae) in the intercalated disks connecting cardiomyocytes, colocalizing with other CJ molecules, including plectin and ankyrin-G. We discuss the “multimodulator” scaffold roles of striatins in the initiation and regulation of the formation of various complex particles and structures. We propose that striatins are included in the diagnostic candidate list of proteins that, in the CJs of human hearts, can occur in mutated forms in the pathogeneses of hereditary cardiomyopathies, as seen in some types of genetically determined heart damage in boxer dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner W Franke
- Helmholtz Group for Cell Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany,
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Fleming I. The Pharmacology of the Cytochrome P450 Epoxygenase/Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Axis in the Vasculature and Cardiovascular Disease. Pharmacol Rev 2014; 66:1106-40. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.113.007781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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Fedorchak GR, Kaminski A, Lammerding J. Cellular mechanosensing: getting to the nucleus of it all. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 115:76-92. [PMID: 25008017 PMCID: PMC4252489 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cells respond to mechanical forces by activating specific genes and signaling pathways that allow the cells to adapt to their physical environment. Examples include muscle growth in response to exercise, bone remodeling based on their mechanical load, or endothelial cells aligning under fluid shear stress. While the involved downstream signaling pathways and mechanoresponsive genes are generally well characterized, many of the molecular mechanisms of the initiating 'mechanosensing' remain still elusive. In this review, we discuss recent findings and accumulating evidence suggesting that the cell nucleus plays a crucial role in cellular mechanotransduction, including processing incoming mechanoresponsive signals and even directly responding to mechanical forces. Consequently, mutations in the involved proteins or changes in nuclear envelope composition can directly impact mechanotransduction signaling and contribute to the development and progression of a variety of human diseases, including muscular dystrophy, cancer, and the focus of this review, dilated cardiomyopathy. Improved insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying nuclear mechanotransduction, brought in part by the emergence of new technologies to study intracellular mechanics at high spatial and temporal resolution, will not only result in a better understanding of cellular mechanosensing in normal cells but may also lead to the development of novel therapies in the many diseases linked to defects in nuclear envelope proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory R Fedorchak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ashley Kaminski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Morel S. Multiple roles of connexins in atherosclerosis- and restenosis-induced vascular remodelling. J Vasc Res 2014; 51:149-61. [PMID: 24853725 DOI: 10.1159/000362122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial dysfunction is the initial step in atherosclerotic plaque development in large- and medium-sized arteries. This progressive disease, which starts during childhood, is characterized by the accumulation of lipids, macrophages, neutrophils, T lymphocytes and smooth muscle cells in the intima of the vessels. Erosion and rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque may induce myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular accidents, which are responsible for a large percentage of sudden deaths. The most common treatment for atherosclerosis is angioplasty and stent implantation, but these surgical interventions favour a vascular reaction called restenosis and the associated de-endothelialization increases the risk of thrombosis. This review provides an overview of the role of connexins, a large family of transmembrane proteins, in vascular remodelling associated with atherosclerosis and restenosis. The connexins expressed in the vascular wall are Cx37, Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45; their expressions vary with vascular territory and species. Connexins form hemichannels or gap junction channels, allowing the exchange of ions and small metabolites between the cytosol and extracellular space or between neighbouring cells, respectively. Connexins have important roles in vascular physiology; they support radial and longitudinal cell-to-cell communication in the vascular wall, and significant changes in their expression patterns have been described during atherosclerosis and restenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Morel
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Meens MJ, Sabine A, Petrova TV, Kwak BR. Connexins in lymphatic vessel physiology and disease. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:1271-7. [PMID: 24457200 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Connexins are transmembrane proteins that form gap junction- and hemi-channels. Once inserted into the membrane, hemi-channels (connexons) allow for diffusion of ions and small molecules (<1 kDa) between the extracellular space and the cytosol. Gap junction channels allow diffusion of similar molecules between the cytoplasms of adjacent cells. The expression and function of connexins in blood vessels has been intensely studied in the last few decades. In contrast, only a few studies paid attention to lymphatic vessels; convincing in vivo data with respect to expression patterns of lymphatic connexins and their functional roles have only recently begun to emerge. Interestingly, mutations in connexin genes have been linked to diseases of lymphatic vasculature, most notably primary and secondary lymphedema. This review summarizes the available data regarding lymphatic connexins. More specifically it addresses (i) early studies aimed at presence of gap junction-like structures in lymphatic vessels, (ii) more recent studies focusing on lymphatic connexins using genetically engineered mice, and (iii) results of clinical studies that have reported lymphedema-linked mutations in connexin genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merlijn J Meens
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Internal Medicine - Cardiology, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Amélie Sabine
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Tatiana V Petrova
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland; École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Brenda R Kwak
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Internal Medicine - Cardiology, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
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