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Li Y, Girard R, Srinath A, Cruz DV, Ciszewski C, Chen C, Lightle R, Romanos S, Sone JY, Moore T, DeBiasse D, Stadnik A, Lee JJ, Shenkar R, Koskimäki J, Lopez-Ramirez MA, Marchuk DA, Ginsberg MH, Kahn ML, Shi C, Awad IA. Transcriptomic signatures of individual cell types in cerebral cavernous malformation. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:23. [PMID: 38195510 PMCID: PMC10775676 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01301-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a hemorrhagic neurovascular disease with no currently available therapeutics. Prior evidence suggests that different cell types may play a role in CCM pathogenesis. The contribution of each cell type to the dysfunctional cellular crosstalk remains unclear. Herein, RNA-seq was performed on fluorescence-activated cell sorted endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes, and neuroglia from CCM lesions and non-lesional brain tissue controls. Differentially Expressed Gene (DEG), pathway and Ligand-Receptor (LR) analyses were performed to characterize the dysfunctional genes of respective cell types within CCMs. Common DEGs among all three cell types were related to inflammation and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). DEG and pathway analyses supported a role of lesional ECs in dysregulated angiogenesis and increased permeability. VEGFA was particularly upregulated in pericytes. Further pathway and LR analyses identified vascular endothelial growth factor A/ vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling in lesional ECs and pericytes that would result in increased angiogenesis. Moreover, lesional pericytes and neuroglia predominantly showed DEGs and pathways mediating the immune response. Further analyses of cell specific gene alterations in CCM endorsed potential contribution to EndMT, coagulation, and a hypoxic microenvironment. Taken together, these findings motivate mechanistic hypotheses regarding non-endothelial contributions to lesion pathobiology and may lead to novel therapeutic targets. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Romuald Girard
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Abhinav Srinath
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Diana Vera Cruz
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Cezary Ciszewski
- Human Disease and Immune Discovery Core, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chang Chen
- Center for Research Informatics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rhonda Lightle
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sharbel Romanos
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Je Yeong Sone
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas Moore
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dorothy DeBiasse
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Agnieszka Stadnik
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Justine J Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Robert Shenkar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Janne Koskimäki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oulu University Hospital, Neurocenter, Oulu, Finland
| | - Miguel A Lopez-Ramirez
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Douglas A Marchuk
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mark H Ginsberg
- Department of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mark L Kahn
- Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Changbin Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Issam A Awad
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Neurovascular Surgery Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S Maryland, MC3026/Neurosurgery J341, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
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Endothelial LRP1-ICD Accelerates Cognition-Associated Alpha-Synuclein Pathology and Neurodegeneration through PARP1 Activation in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:979-1003. [PMID: 36394710 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03119-4] [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: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein (αSyn) into Lewy bodies. In addition to motor impairment, PD commonly presents with cognitive impairment, a non-motor symptom with poor outcome. Cortical αSyn pathology correlates closely with vascular risk factors and vascular degeneration in cognitive impairment. However, how the brain microvasculature regulates αSyn pathology and neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, we constructed a rapidly progressive PD model by injecting alpha-synuclein preformed fibrils (αSyn PFFs) into the cerebral cortex and striatum. Brain capillaries in mice with cognitive impairment showed a reduction in diameter and length after 6 months, along with string vessel formation. The intracellular domain of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1-ICD) was upregulated in brain microvascular endothelium. LRP1-ICD promoted αSyn PFF uptake and exacerbated endothelial damage and neuronal apoptosis. Then, we overexpressed LRP1-ICD in brain capillaries using an adeno-associated virus carrying an endothelial-specific promoter. Endothelial LRP1-ICD worsened αSyn PFF-induced vascular damage, αSyn pathology, or neuron death in the cortex and hippocampus, resulting in severe motor and cognitive impairment. LRP1-ICD increased the synthesis of poly(adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribose) (PAR) in the presence of αSyn PFFs. Inhibition of PAR polymerase 1 (PARP1) prevented vascular-derived injury, as did loss of PARP1 in the endothelium, which was further implicated in endothelial cell proliferation and inflammation. Together, we demonstrate a novel vascular mechanism of cognitive impairment in PD. These findings support a role for endothelial LRP1-ICD/PARP1 in αSyn pathology and neurodegeneration, and provide evidence for vascular protection strategies in PD therapy.
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Rath M, Schwefel K, Malinverno M, Skowronek D, Leopoldi A, Pilz RA, Biedenweg D, Bekeschus S, Penninger JM, Dejana E, Felbor U. Contact-dependent signaling triggers tumor-like proliferation of CCM3 knockout endothelial cells in co-culture with wild-type cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:340. [PMID: 35661927 PMCID: PMC9166869 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04355-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are low-flow vascular lesions prone to cause severe hemorrhage-associated neurological complications. Pathogenic germline variants in CCM1, CCM2, or CCM3 can be identified in nearly 100% of CCM patients with a positive family history. In line with the concept that tumor-like mechanisms are involved in CCM formation and growth, we here demonstrate an abnormally increased proliferation rate of CCM3-deficient endothelial cells in co-culture with wild-type cells and in mosaic human iPSC-derived vascular organoids. The observation that NSC59984, an anticancer drug, blocked the abnormal proliferation of mutant endothelial cells further supports this intriguing concept. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and RNA sequencing revealed that co-culture induces upregulation of proangiogenic chemokine genes in wild-type endothelial cells. Furthermore, genes known to be significantly downregulated in CCM3−/− endothelial cell mono-cultures were upregulated back to normal levels in co-culture with wild-type cells. These results support the hypothesis that wild-type ECs facilitate the formation of a niche that promotes abnormal proliferation of mutant ECs. Thus, targeting the cancer-like features of CCMs is a promising new direction for drug development.
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Skowronek D, Pilz RA, Schwefel K, Much CD, Felbor U, Rath M. Bringing CCM into a dish: cell culture models for cerebral cavernous malformations. MED GENET-BERLIN 2021; 33:251-259. [PMID: 38835694 PMCID: PMC11006332 DOI: 10.1515/medgen-2021-2091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular lesions that can cause severe neurological complications due to intracranial hemorrhage. Although the CCM disease genes, CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3, have been known for more than 15 years now, our understanding of CCM pathogenesis is still incomplete. CCM research currently focuses on three main disease mechanisms: (1) clonal expansion of endothelial cells with biallelic inactivation of CCM1, CCM2, or CCM3, (2) recruitment of cells with preserved CCM protein expression into the growing lesion, and (3) disruption of endothelial cell-cell junctions in CCMs. We here describe novel CRISPR/Cas9-based in vitro models of CCM and discuss their strengths and limitations in the context of high-throughput drug screening and repurposing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariush Skowronek
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Robin A Pilz
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Konrad Schwefel
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christiane D Much
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ute Felbor
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Rath
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 43, D-17475 Greifswald, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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Much CD, Sendtner BS, Schwefel K, Freund E, Bekeschus S, Otto O, Pagenstecher A, Felbor U, Rath M, Spiegler S. Inactivation of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Genes Results in Accumulation of von Willebrand Factor and Redistribution of Weibel-Palade Bodies in Endothelial Cells. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:622547. [PMID: 34307446 PMCID: PMC8298835 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.622547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformations are slow-flow thrombi-containing vessels induced by two-step inactivation of the CCM1, CCM2 or CCM3 gene within endothelial cells. They predispose to intracerebral bleedings and focal neurological deficits. Our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that trigger endothelial dysfunction in cavernous malformations is still incomplete. To model both, hereditary and sporadic CCM disease, blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) with a heterozygous CCM1 germline mutation and immortalized wild-type human umbilical vein endothelial cells were subjected to CRISPR/Cas9-mediated CCM1 gene disruption. CCM1 -/- BOECs demonstrated alterations in cell morphology, actin cytoskeleton dynamics, tube formation, and expression of the transcription factors KLF2 and KLF4. Furthermore, high VWF immunoreactivity was observed in CCM1 -/- BOECs, in immortalized umbilical vein endothelial cells upon CRISPR/Cas9-induced inactivation of either CCM1, CCM2 or CCM3 as well as in CCM tissue samples of familial cases. Observer-independent high-content imaging revealed a striking reduction of perinuclear Weibel-Palade bodies in unstimulated CCM1 -/- BOECs which was observed in CCM1 +/- BOECs only after stimulation with PMA or histamine. Our results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing is a powerful tool to model different aspects of CCM disease in vitro and that CCM1 inactivation induces high-level expression of VWF and redistribution of Weibel-Palade bodies within endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane D. Much
- Department of Human Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Barbara S. Sendtner
- Department of Human Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Konrad Schwefel
- Department of Human Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Eric Freund
- Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sander Bekeschus
- Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) plasmatis, Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Oliver Otto
- Centre for Innovation Competence (ZIK) ‐ Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Axel Pagenstecher
- Department of Neuropathology, Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), University Hospital Giessen and MarburgMarburg, Germany
| | - Ute Felbor
- Department of Human Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Rath
- Department of Human Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefanie Spiegler
- Department of Human Genetics, Interfaculty Institute of Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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