Jagged1 intracellular domain-mediated inhibition of Notch1 signalling regulates cardiac homeostasis in the postnatal heart

Cancer-wide in silico analyses using differentially expressed genes demonstrate the functions and clinical relevance of JAG, DLL, and NOTCH

Notch ligands [jagged (JAG) and, delta-like (DLL) families] and receptors [NOTCH family] are key regulators of Notch signaling. NOTCH signaling contributes to vascular development, tissue homeostasis, angiogenesis, and cancer progression. To elucidate the universal functions of the JAG, DLL, and NOTCH families and their connections with various biological functions, we examined 15 types of cancer using The Cancer Genome Atlas clinical database. We selected the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were positively correlated to the JAG, DLL, and NOTCH families in each cancer. We selected positive and negative hallmark signatures across cancer types. These indicated biological features associated with angiogenesis, hypoxia, KRAS signaling, cell cycle, and MYC targets by gene ontology and gene set enrichment analyses using DEGs. Furthermore, we analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data to examine the expression of JAG, DLL, and NOTCH families and enrichment of hallmark signatures. Positive signatures identified using DEGs, such as KRAS signaling and hypoxia, were enriched in clusters with high expression of JAG, DLL, and NOTCH families. We subsequently validated the correlation between the JAG, DLL, and NOTCH families and clinical stages, including treatment response, metastasis, and recurrence. In addition, we performed survival analysis to identify hallmark signatures that critically affect patient survival when combining the expression of JAG, DLL, and NOTCH families. By combining the DEG enrichment and hallmark signature enrichment in survival analysis, we suggested unexplored regulatory functions and synergistic effects causing synthetic lethality. Taken together, our observations demonstrate the functions of JAG, DLL, and NOTCH families in cancer malignancy and provide insights into their molecular regulatory mechanisms.

Omentin-1 drives cardiomyocyte cell cycle arrest and metabolic maturation by interacting with BMP7

Mammalian cardiomyocytes (CMs) undergo maturation during postnatal heart development to meet the increased demands of growth. Here, we found that omentin-1, an adipokine, facilitates CM cell cycle arrest and metabolic maturation. Deletion of omentin-1 causes mouse heart enlargement and dysfunction in adulthood and CM maturation retardation in juveniles, including delayed cell cycle arrest and reduced fatty acid oxidation. Through RNA sequencing, molecular docking analysis, and proximity ligation assays, we found that omentin-1 regulates CM maturation by interacting directly with bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7). Omentin-1 prevents BMP7 from binding to activin type II receptor B (ActRIIB), subsequently decreasing the downstream pathways mothers against DPP homolog 1 (SMAD1)/Yes-associated protein (YAP) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). In addition, omentin-1 is required and sufficient for the maturation of human embryonic stem cell-derived CMs. Together, our findings reveal that omentin-1 is a pro-maturation factor for CMs that is essential for postnatal heart development and cardiac function maintenance.

JAG1 Intracellular Domain Enhances AR Expression and Signaling and Promotes Stem-like Properties in Prostate Cancer Cells

JAG1 expression is upregulated in high-grade metastatic prostate carcinomas and associated with poor disease-free survival of patients with prostate cancer. Intriguingly, all JAG1-positive prostate carcinomas express JICD although JICD function in prostate cancer (PC) cells is poorly understood. In this study, we found that JICD overexpression increased the expression levels of AR, especially AR-Vs, in PC cell lines and significantly enhanced androgen-independent and androgen-dependent function of ARs. Interestingly, JICD overexpression upregulated the expression of the PCSC marker CD133 in PC cells as the expression of self-renewal markers; namely, NANOG and OCT3/4 increased. In addition, JICD overexpression highly increased the expression of anti-apoptotic BCL-XL protein, while it little affected the expression of apoptotic BIM protein. In 3D cell culture assays, the spheres formed by JICD-overexpressing PC subline cells (C4-2 and CWR22Rv1) were larger than those formed by control (EV) subline cells with undifferentiated morphology. Although JICD overexpression caused quiescence in cell proliferation, it activated the expression of components in PCSC-related signaling pathways, increased PC cell mobility, and promoted in vivo xenograft mouse tumorigenesis. Therefore, JICD may play a crucial role in enhancing androgen independence and promoting stem-like properties in PC cells and should be considered a novel target for CRPC and PCSC diagnostic therapy.

Assemblies of JAG1 and JAG2 determine tracheobronchial cell fate in mucosecretory lung disease

Mucosecretory lung disease compromises airway epithelial function and is characterized by goblet cell hyperplasia and ciliated cell hypoplasia. Goblet and ciliated cell types are derived from tracheobronchial stem/progenitor cells via a Notch-dependent mechanism. Although specific arrays of Notch receptors regulate cell fate determination, the function of the ligands Jagged1 (JAG1) and JAG2 is unclear. This study examined JAG1 and JAG2 function using human air-liquid-interface cultures that were treated with γ-secretase complex (GSC) inhibitors, neutralizing peptides/antibodies, or WNT/β-catenin pathway antagonists/agonists. These experiments revealed that JAG1 and JAG2 regulated cell fate determination in the tracheobronchial epithelium; however, their roles did not adhere to simple necessity and sufficiency rules. Biochemical studies indicated that JAG1 and JAG2 underwent posttranslational modifications that resulted in generation of a JAG1 C-terminal peptide and regulated the abundance of full-length JAG2 on the cell surface. GSC and glycogen synthase kinase 3 were implicated in these posttranslational events, but WNT agonist/antagonist studies and RNA-Seq indicated a WNT-independent mechanism. Collectively, these data suggest that posttranslational modifications create distinct assemblies of JAG1 and JAG2, which regulate Notch signal strength and determine the fate of tracheobronchial stem/progenitor cells.

Reversible and bidirectional signaling of notch ligands

The Notch signaling pathway is a direct cell-cell communication system involved in a wide variety of biological processes, and its disruption is observed in several pathologies. The pathway is comprised of a ligand-expressing (sender) cell and a receptor-expressing (receiver) cell. The canonical ligands are members of the Delta/Serrate/Lag-1 (DSL) family of proteins. Their binding to a Notch receptor in a neighboring cell induces a conformational change in the receptor, which will undergo regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP), liberating the Notch intracellular domain (NICD). The NICD is translocated to the nucleus and promotes gene transcription. It has been demonstrated that the ligands can also undergo RIP and nuclear translocation, suggesting a function for the ligands in the sender cell and possible bidirectionality of the Notch pathway. Although the complete mechanism of ligand processing is not entirely understood, and its dependence on Notch receptors has not been ruled out. Also, ligands have autonomous functions beyond Notch activation. Here we review the concepts of reverse and bidirectional signalization of DSL proteins and discuss the characteristics that make them more than just ligands of the Notch pathway.

Strength of interactions in the Notch gene regulatory network determines patterning and fate in the notochord

Development of multicellular organisms requires the generation of gene expression patterns that determines cell fate and organ shape. Groups of genetic interactions known as Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) play a key role in the generation of such patterns. However, how the topology and parameters of GRNs determine patterning in vivo remains unclear due to the complexity of most experimental systems. To address this, we use the zebrafish notochord, an organ where coin-shaped precursor cells are initially arranged in a simple unidimensional geometry. These cells then differentiate into vacuolated and sheath cells. Using newly developed transgenic tools together with in vivo imaging, we identify jag1a and her6/her9 as the main components of a Notch GRN that generates a lateral inhibition pattern and determines cell fate. Making use of this experimental system and mathematical modeling we show that lateral inhibition patterning is promoted when ligand-receptor interactions are stronger within the same cell than in neighboring cells. Altogether, we establish the zebrafish notochord as an experimental system to study pattern generation, and identify and characterize how the properties of GRNs determine self-organization of gene patterning and cell fate.

Inhibition of the NOTCH1 Pathway in the Stressed Heart Limits Fibrosis and Promotes Recruitment of Non-Myocyte Cells into the Cardiomyocyte Fate

Cardiac pathologies lead to an acute or gradual loss of cardiomyocytes. Because of the limited regenerative capacity of the mammalian heart, cardiomyocytes are only replaced by fibrotic tissue. Excessive fibrosis contributes to the deterioration of cardiac function and the transition to heart failure, which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, no treatments can promote replenishment of the injured heart with newly formed cardiomyocytes. In this context, regenerative strategies explore the possibility to promote recovery through induction of cardiomyocyte production from pre-existing cardiomyocytes. On the other hand, cardiac non-myocyte cells can be directly reprogrammed into induced cardiac precursor cells and cardiomyocytes, suggesting that these cells could be exploited to produce cardiomyocytes in vivo. Here, we provide evidence that the sequential activation and inhibition of the NOTCH1 signaling pathway in the stressed heart decreases fibrosis and improves cardiac function in the stressed heart. This is accompanied by the emergence of new cardiomyocytes from non-myocyte origin. Overall, our data show how a developmental pathway such as the NOTCH pathway can be manipulated to provide therapeutic benefit in the damaged heart.

CircHIPK3 Plays Vital Roles in Cardiovascular Disease

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed RNAs that function in various physiological and pathological processes. CircRNAs are widely involved in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. CircHIPK3 is generated from the second exon of the HIPK3 gene, a corepressor of homeodomain transcription factors. As an exonic circRNA (ecRNA), circHIPK3 is produced through intron-pairing driven circularization facilitated by Alu elements. In the past 5 years, a growing number of studies have revealed the multifunctional roles of circHIPK3 in different diseases, such as cancer and CVD. CircHIPK3 mainly participates in CVD pathogenesis through interacting with miRNAs. This paper summarizes the current literature on the biogenesis and functions of circHIPK3, elucidates the role of circHIPK3 in different CVD patterns, and explores future perspectives.

Cleaved Delta like 1 intracellular domain regulates neural development via Notch signal-dependent and -independent pathways

Notch-Delta signaling regulates many developmental processes, including tissue homeostasis and maintenance of stem cells. Upon interaction of juxtaposed cells via Notch and Delta proteins, intracellular domains of both transmembrane proteins are cleaved and translocate to the nucleus. Notch intracellular domain activates target gene expression; however, the role of the Delta intracellular domain remains elusive. Here, we show the biological function of Delta like 1 intracellular domain (D1ICD) by modulating its production. We find that the sustained production of D1ICD abrogates cell proliferation but enhances neurogenesis in the developing dorsal root ganglia (DRG), whereas inhibition of D1ICD production promotes cell proliferation and gliogenesis. D1ICD acts as an integral component of lateral inhibition mechanism by inhibiting Notch activity. In addition, D1ICD promotes neurogenesis in a Notch signaling-independent manner. We show that D1ICD binds to Erk1/2 in neural crest stem cells and inhibits the phosphorylation of Erk1/2. In summary, our results indicate that D1ICD regulates DRG development by modulating not only Notch signaling but also the MAP kinase pathway.

Elabela gene therapy promotes angiogenesis after myocardial infarction

This study was aimed at investigating whether Elabela (ELA) gene therapy can promote angiogenesis in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). The fusion expression plasmid pAAV-3 × Flag/ELA-32 was successfully constructed using molecular cloning technique. The model of acute MI was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery in mice. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) was injected into the surrounding myocardium and tail vein immediately after the model was established. AAV was injected again from the tail vein one week later. Compared with the MI+PBS (control) group, the serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration, and the values of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVDs) of the MI+AAV-ELA (gene therapy) group were significantly decreased, while the value of left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased at 2 and 4 weeks after operation. Compared with the control group, the expression of CD105 and vWF and the percentage of CD31- and Ki67-co-positive cells were significantly increased in the gene therapy group. Moreover, the expressions of apelin peptide jejunum (APJ) receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGFR2, Jagged1 and Notch3 in the heart tissue around the infarction were up-regulated in mice with gene therapy. The results suggest that ELA activates VEFG/VEGFR2 and Jagged1/Notch3 pathways through APJ to promote angiogenesis after myocardial infarction. ELA gene therapy may be used in the treatment of ischaemic cardiomyopathy in future.

Hepatocyte TLR4 triggers inter-hepatocyte Jagged1/Notch signaling to determine NASH-induced fibrosis

Aberrant hepatocyte Notch activity is critical to the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-induced liver fibrosis, but mechanisms underlying Notch reactivation in developed liver are unclear. Here, we identified that increased expression of the Notch ligand Jagged1 (JAG1) tracked with Notch activation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS) in human liver biopsy specimens and mouse NASH models. The increase in Jag1 was mediated by hepatocyte Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling in pericentral hepatocytes. Hepatocyte-specific Jag1 overexpression exacerbated fibrosis in mice fed a high-fat diet or a NASH-provoking diet rich in palmitate, cholesterol, and sucrose and reversed the protection afforded by hepatocyte-specific TLR4 deletion, whereas hepatocyte-specific Jag1 knockout mice were protected from NASH-induced liver fibrosis. To test therapeutic potential of this biology, we designed a Jag1-directed antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and a hepatocyte-specific N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-modified siRNA, both of which reduced NASH diet-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Overall, these data demonstrate that increased hepatocyte Jagged1 is the proximal hit for Notch-induced liver fibrosis in mice and suggest translational potential of Jagged1 inhibitors in patients with NASH.

To Be, or Notch to Be: Mediating Cell Fate from Embryogenesis to Lymphopoiesis

Notch signaling forms an evolutionarily conserved juxtacrine pathway crucial for cellular development. Initially identified in Drosophila wing morphogenesis, Notch signaling has since been demonstrated to play pivotal roles in governing mammalian cellular development in a large variety of cell types. Indeed, abolishing Notch constituents in mouse models result in embryonic lethality, demonstrating that Notch signaling is critical for development and differentiation. In this review, we focus on the crucial role of Notch signaling in governing embryogenesis and differentiation of multiple progenitor cell types. Using hematopoiesis as a diverse cellular model, we highlight the role of Notch in regulating the cell fate of common lymphoid progenitors. Additionally, the influence of Notch through microenvironment interplay with lymphoid cells and how dysregulation influences disease processes is explored. Furthermore, bi-directional and lateral Notch signaling between ligand expressing source cells and target cells are investigated, indicating potentially novel therapeutic options for treatment of Notch-mediated diseases. Finally, we discuss the role of cis-inhibition in regulating Notch signaling in mammalian development.

Jagged1 intracellular domain modulates steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells

Leydig cells represent the steroidogenic lineage of mammalian testis, which produces testosterone. Genetic evidence indicates the requirement of Notch signaling in maintaining a balance between differentiated Leydig cells and their progenitors during fetal development. In primary Leydig cells, Notch1 expression decreases with testicular development, while the expression of its ligand, Jagged1, remains relatively unchanged, suggesting that the roles of Jagged1 extend beyond Notch signaling. In addition, Jagged1 is known to be processed into its intracellular domain, which then translocate to the nucleus. In this study, we investigated the effect of Jagged1 intracellular domain (JICD) on steroidogenesis in Leydig cells. The independent overexpression of JICD in MA-10 Leydig cells was found to inhibit the activity of cAMP-induced Nur77 promoter. In addition, JICD suppressed Nur77 transactivation of the promoter of steroidogenic genes such as P450scc, P450c17, StAR, and 3β-HSD. Further, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of JICD in primary Leydig cells repressed the expression of steroidogenic genes, consequently lowering testosterone production. These results collectively suggest that steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells, which is regulated by LH/cAMP signaling, is fine-tuned by Jagged1 during testis development.

circRNA Hipk3 Induces Cardiac Regeneration after Myocardial Infarction in Mice by Binding to Notch1 and miR-133a

The synergism between cardiomyogenesis and angiogenesis is essential for cardiac regeneration. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in cell growth and angiogenesis, but their functions in cardiac regeneration are not yet known. In this study, we investigated the role and underlying mechanisms of circRNA Hipk3 (circHipk3) in both cardiomyogenesis and angiogenesis during cardiac regeneration. We found that circHipk3 was overexpressed in the fetal or neonatal heart of mice. The transcription factor Gata4 bound to the circHipk3 promoter and increased circHipk3 expression. Cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation in vitro and in vivo was inhibited by circHipk3 knockdown and increased by circHipk3 overexpression. Moreover, circHipk3 overexpression promoted coronary vessel endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube-forming capacity and subsequent angiogenesis. More importantly, circHipk3 overexpression attenuated cardiac dysfunction and decreased fibrotic area after myocardial infarction (MI). Mechanistically, circHipk3 promoted CM proliferation by increasing Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) acetylation, thereby increasing N1ICD stability and preventing its degradation. In addition, circHipk3 acted as a sponge for microRNA (miR)-133a to promote connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression, which activated endothelial cells. Our findings suggested that circHipk3 might be a novel therapeutic target for preventing heart failure post-MI.

Association of Jagged1 expression with malignancy and prognosis in human pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers. Preclinical and clinical data indicate that Notch 1 ligand jagged1 (JAG1) plays a pro-oncogenic role in several malignant cancers. As yet, however, the role of JAG1 in pancreatic cancer is poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to investigate JAG1 as a therapeutic target in human pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

Expression levels of Notch signaling molecules were assessed using GEO datasets and Western blot analysis, respectively. Anti-tumor effects following JAG1 silencing were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo assays. Prognostic implications were assessed using GEO datasets.

RESULTS

Using GEO datasets and Western blot analysis we detected significantly higher JAG1 mRNA and protein expression levels in pancreatic cancer compared to normal pancreatic tissues. JAG1 silencing significantly restrained the growth, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis and blockade of various kinases independent of the Notch1 pathway. Combined JAG1 silencing and gemcitabine treatment showed synergistic anti-viability effects in human pancreatic cancer cells. JAG1 silencing also resulted in significant anti-cancer effects in vivo and high JAG1 expression was found to be associated with an adverse prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

From our data we conclude that JAG1 may be a promising therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.

Ligand-Induced Cis-Inhibition of Notch Signaling: The Role of an Extracellular Region of Serrate

Cellular development can be controlled by communication between adjacent cells mediated by the highly conserved Notch signaling system. A cell expressing the Notch receptor on one cell can be activated in trans by ligands on an adjacent cell leading to alteration of transcription and cellular fate. Ligands also have the ability to inhibit Notch signaling, and this can be accomplished when both receptor and ligands are coexpressed in cis on the same cell. The manner in which cis-inhibition is accomplished is not entirely clear but it is known to involve several different protein domains of the ligands and the receptor. Some of the protein domains involved in trans-activation are also used for cis-inhibition, but some are used uniquely for each process. In this work, the involvement of various ligand regions and the receptor are discussed in relation to their contributions to Notch signaling.

The Notch pathway: a novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases?

Introduction: The Notch pathway is involved in determining cell fate during development and postnatally in continuously renewing tissues, such as the endothelium, the epithelium, and in the stem cells pool. The dysregulation of the Notch pathway is one of the causes of limited response, or resistance, to available cancer treatments and novel therapeutic strategies based on Notch inhibition are being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies in oncology. A large body of evidence now shows that the dysregulation of the Notch pathway is also involved in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Areas covered: This review discusses the molecular mechanisms involving Notch which underlie heart failure, aortic valve calcification, and aortic aneurysm. Expert opinion: Despite the existence of preventive, pharmacological and surgical interventions approaches, CVDs are the first causes of mortality worldwide. The Notch pathway is becoming increasingly recognized as being involved in heart failure, aortic aneurysm and aortic valve calcification, which are among the most common global causes of mortality due to CVDs. As already shown in cancer, the dissection of the biological processes and molecular mechanisms involving Notch should pave the way for new strategies to prevent and cure these diseases.

Jagged1 protein processing in the developing mammalian lens

Notch signaling regulates a multitude of cellular processes. During ocular lens development this pathway is required for lens progenitor growth, differentiation and maintenance of the transition zone. After ligand-receptor binding, the receptor proteins are processed, first by ADAM proteases, then by γ-secretase cleavage. This results in the release of a Notch intracellular domain (N-ICD), which is recruited into a nuclear transcription factor complex that activates Notch target genes. Previous in vitro studies showed that the Delta-like and Jagged ligand proteins can also be cleaved by the γ-secretase complex, but it remains unknown whether such processing occurs during in vivo vertebrate development. Here we show that mouse and human lens progenitor cells endogenously express multiple Jagged1 protein isoforms, including a Jagged1 intracellular domain. We also found that pharmacologic blockage of γ-secretase activity in vitro resulted in an accumulation of Jagged1 polypeptide intermediates. Finally, overexpression of an epitope-tagged Jagged1 intracellular domain displayed nuclear localization and induced the upregulation of endogenous JAG1 mRNA expression. These findings support the idea that along with its classical role as a Notch pathway ligand, Jagged1 is regulated post-translationally, to produce multiple active protein isoforms.

Summary: The Notch pathway ligand protein Jagged1 undergoes multiple catalytic cleavages, regulated by Adam proteases and the gamma-secretase complex, during mammalian lens development, similar to Notch receptor proteins.

3D bioprinted functional and contractile cardiac tissue constructs

Bioengineering of a functional cardiac tissue composed of primary cardiomyocytes has great potential for myocardial regeneration and in vitro tissue modeling. However, its applications remain limited because the cardiac tissue is a highly organized structure with unique physiologic, biomechanical, and electrical properties. In this study, we undertook a proof-of-concept study to develop a contractile cardiac tissue with cellular organization, uniformity, and scalability by using three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting strategy. Primary cardiomyocytes were isolated from infant rat hearts and suspended in a fibrin-based bioink to determine the priting capability for cardiac tissue engineering. This cell-laden hydrogel was sequentially printed with a sacrificial hydrogel and a supporting polymeric frame through a 300-µm nozzle by pressured air. Bioprinted cardiac tissue constructs had a spontaneous synchronous contraction in culture, implying in vitro cardiac tissue development and maturation. Progressive cardiac tissue development was confirmed by immunostaining for α-actinin and connexin 43, indicating that cardiac tissues were formed with uniformly aligned, dense, and electromechanically coupled cardiac cells. These constructs exhibited physiologic responses to known cardiac drugs regarding beating frequency and contraction forces. In addition, Notch signaling blockade significantly accelerated development and maturation of bioprinted cardiac tissues. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of bioprinting functional cardiac tissues that could be used for tissue engineering applications and pharmaceutical purposes.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death in the United States and a major health-care burden. Myocardial infarction (MI) is a main cause of death in cardiovascular diseases. MI occurs as a consequence of sudden blocking of blood vessels supplying the heart. When occlusions in the coronary arteries occur, an immediate decrease in nutrient and oxygen supply to the cardiac muscle, resulting in permanent cardiac cell death. Eventually, scar tissue formed in the damaged cardiac muscle that cannot conduct electrical or mechanical stimuli thus leading to a reduction in the pumping efficiency of the heart. The therapeutic options available for end-stage heart failure is to undergo heart transplantation or the use of mechanical ventricular assist devices (VADs). However, many patients die while being on a waiting list, due to the organ shortage and limitation of VADs, such as surgical complications, infection, thrombogenesis, and failure of the electrical motor and hemolysis. Ultimately, 3D bioprinting strategy aims to create clinically applicable tissue constructs that can be immediately implanted in the body. To date, the focus on replicating complex and heterogeneous tissue constructs continues to increase as 3D bioprinting technologies advance. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of 3D bioprinting strategy to bioengineer the functional cardiac tissue that possesses a highly organized structure with unique physiological and biomechanical properties similar to native cardiac tissue. This bioprinting strategy has great potential to precisely generate functional cardiac tissues for use in pharmaceutical and regenerative medicine applications.

Extracellular vesicle-carried Jagged-1 inhibits HUVEC sprouting in a 3D microenvironment

NOTCH signalling is an evolutionarily conserved juxtacrine signalling pathway that is essential in development. Jagged1 (JAG1) and Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) are transmembrane NOTCH ligands that regulate angiogenesis by controlling endothelial cell (EC) differentiation, vascular development and maturation. In addition, DLL4 could bypass its canonical cell-cell contact-dependent signalling to influence NOTCH signalling and angiogenesis at a distance when it is packaged into extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, it is not clear whether JAG1 could also be packaged into EVs to influence NOTCH signalling and angiogenesis. In this work, we demonstrate that JAG1 is also packaged into EVs. We present evidence that JAG1-EVs inhibit NOTCH signalling and regulate EC behaviour and function. JAG1-EVs inhibited VEGF-induced HUVEC proliferation and migration in 2D culture condition and suppressed sprouting in a 3D microfluidic microenvironment. JAG1-EV treatment of HUVECs leads to a reduction of Notch1 intracellular domain (N1-ICD), and the proteasome and the intracellular domain of JAG1 (JAG1-ICD) are both required for this reduction to occur. These findings reveal a novel mechanism of JAG1 function in NOTCH signalling and ECs through EVs.

Control of endothelial cell tube formation by Notch ligand intracellular domain interactions with activator protein 1 (AP-1)

Notch signaling is a ubiquitous signal transduction pathway found in most if not all metazoan cell types characterized to date. It is indispensable for cell differentiation as well as tissue growth, tissue remodeling, and apoptosis. Although the canonical Notch signaling pathway is well characterized, accumulating evidence points to the existence of multiple, less well-defined layers of regulation. In this study, we investigated the function of the intracellular domain (ICD) of the Notch ligand Delta-like 4 (DLL4). We provide evidence that the DLL4 ICD is required for normal DLL4 subcellular localization. We further show that it is cleaved and interacts with the JUN proto-oncogene, which forms part of the activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factor complex. Mechanistically, the DLL4 ICD inhibited JUN binding to DNA and thereby controlled the expression of JUN target genes, including DLL4 Our work further demonstrated that JUN strongly stimulates endothelial cell tube formation and that DLL4 constrains this process. These results raise the possibility that Notch/DLL4 signaling is bidirectional and suggest that the DLL4 ICD could represent a point of cross-talk between Notch and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling.

Signaling Pathways in Cardiac Myocyte Apoptosis

Cardiovascular diseases, the number 1 cause of death worldwide, are frequently associated with apoptotic death of cardiac myocytes. Since cardiomyocyte apoptosis is a highly regulated process, pharmacological intervention of apoptosis pathways may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for a number of cardiovascular diseases and disorders including myocardial infarction, ischemia/reperfusion injury, chemotherapy cardiotoxicity, and end-stage heart failure. Despite rapid growth of our knowledge in apoptosis signaling pathways, a clinically applicable treatment targeting this cellular process is currently unavailable. To help identify potential innovative directions for future research, it is necessary to have a full understanding of the apoptotic pathways currently known to be functional in cardiac myocytes. Here, we summarize recent progress in the regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis by multiple signaling molecules and pathways, with a focus on the involvement of these pathways in the pathogenesis of heart disease. In addition, we provide an update regarding bench to bedside translation of this knowledge and discuss unanswered questions that need further investigation.

Global phosphoproteomic profiling reveals perturbed signaling in a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy

Phospholamban (PLN) plays a central role in Ca²⁺ homeostasis in cardiac myocytes through regulation of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase 2A (SERCA2A) Ca²⁺ pump. An inherited mutation converting arginine residue 9 in PLN to cysteine (R9C) results in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans and transgenic mice, but the downstream signaling defects leading to decompensation and heart failure are poorly understood. Here we used precision mass spectrometry to study the global phosphorylation dynamics of 1,887 cardiac phosphoproteins in early affected heart tissue in a transgenic R9C mouse model of DCM compared with wild-type littermates. Dysregulated phosphorylation sites were quantified after affinity capture and identification of 3,908 phosphopeptides from fractionated whole-heart homogenates. Global statistical enrichment analysis of the differential phosphoprotein patterns revealed selective perturbation of signaling pathways regulating cardiovascular activity in early stages of DCM. Strikingly, dysregulated signaling through the Notch-1 receptor, recently linked to cardiomyogenesis and embryonic cardiac stem cell development and differentiation but never directly implicated in DCM before, was a prominently perturbed pathway. We verified alterations in Notch-1 downstream components in early symptomatic R9C transgenic mouse cardiomyocytes compared with wild type by immunoblot analysis and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy. These data reveal unexpected connections between stress-regulated cell signaling networks, specific protein kinases, and downstream effectors essential for proper cardiac function.