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Egu DT, Schmitt T, Ernst N, Ludwig RJ, Fuchs M, Hiermaier M, Moztarzadeh S, Morón CS, Schmidt E, Beyersdorfer V, Spindler V, Steinert LS, Vielmuth F, Sigmund AM, Waschke J. EGFR Inhibition by Erlotinib Rescues Desmosome Ultrastructure and Keratin Anchorage and Protects against Pemphigus Vulgaris IgG-Induced Acantholysis in Human Epidermis. J Invest Dermatol 2024:S0022-202X(24)00301-4. [PMID: 38642796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2024.03.040] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Pemphigus is a severe blistering disease caused by autoantibodies primarily against the desmosomal cadherins desmoglein (DSG)1 and DSG3, which impair desmosome integrity. Especially for the acute phase, additional treatment options allowing to reduce corticosteroids would fulfill an unmet medical need. In this study, we provide evidence that EGFR inhibition by erlotinib ameliorates pemphigus vulgaris IgG-induced acantholysis in intact human epidermis. Pemphigus vulgaris IgG caused phosphorylation of EGFR (Y845) and Rous sarcoma-related kinase in human epidermis. In line with this, a phosphotyrosine kinome analysis revealed a robust response associated with EGFR and Rous sarcoma-related kinase family kinase signaling in response to pemphigus vulgaris IgG but not to pemphigus foliaceus autoantibodies. Erlotinib inhibited pemphigus vulgaris IgG-induced epidermal blistering and EGFR phosphorylation, loss of desmosomes, as well as ultrastructural alterations of desmosome size, plaque symmetry, and keratin filament insertion and restored the desmosome midline considered as hallmark of mature desmosomes. Erlotinib enhanced both single-molecule DSG3-binding frequency and strength and delayed DSG3 fluorescence recovery, supporting that EGFR inhibition increases DSG3 availability and cytoskeletal anchorage. Our data indicate that EGFR is a promising target for pemphigus therapy owing to its link to several signaling pathways known to be involved in pemphigus pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desalegn Tadesse Egu
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nancy Ernst
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ralf Joachim Ludwig
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Michael Fuchs
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Hiermaier
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sina Moztarzadeh
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Carla Sebastià Morón
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enno Schmidt
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Vivien Beyersdorfer
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Volker Spindler
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Letyfee Sarah Steinert
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Franziska Vielmuth
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Magdalena Sigmund
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Moztarzadeh S, Sepic S, Hamad I, Waschke J, Radeva MY, García-Ponce A. Cortactin is in a complex with VE-cadherin and is required for endothelial adherens junction stability through Rap1/Rac1 activation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1218. [PMID: 38216638 PMCID: PMC10786853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51269-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular permeability is mediated by Cortactin (Cttn) and regulated by several molecules including cyclic-adenosine-monophosphate, small Rho family GTPases and the actin cytoskeleton. However, it is unclear whether Cttn directly interacts with any of the junctional components or if Cttn intervenes with signaling pathways affecting the intercellular contacts and the cytoskeleton. To address these questions, we employed immortalized microvascular myocardial endothelial cells derived from wild-type and Cttn-knock-out mice. We found that lack of Cttn compromised barrier integrity due to fragmented membrane distribution of different junctional proteins. Moreover, immunoprecipitations revealed that Cttn is within the VE-cadherin-based adherens junction complex. In addition, lack of Cttn slowed-down barrier recovery after Ca2+ repletion. The role of Cttn for cAMP-mediated endothelial barrier regulation was analyzed using Forskolin/Rolipram. In contrast to Cttn-KO, WT cells reacted with increased transendothelial electrical resistance. Absence of Cttn disturbed Rap1 and Rac1 activation in Cttn-depleted cells. Surprisingly, despite the absence of Cttn, direct activation of Rac1/Cdc42/RhoA by CN04 increased barrier resistance and induced well-defined cortical actin and intracellular actin bundles. In summary, our data show that Cttn is required for basal barrier integrity by allowing proper membrane distribution of junctional proteins and for cAMP-mediated activation of the Rap1/Rac1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Moztarzadeh
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 11, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Sara Sepic
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 11, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Ibrahim Hamad
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 11, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Waschke
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 11, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Mariya Y Radeva
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 11, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander García-Ponce
- Chair of Vegetative Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Pettenkoferstraße 11, 80336, Munich, Germany.
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Lymperopoulos A. Clinical pharmacology of cardiac cyclic AMP in human heart failure: too much or too little? Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2023; 16:623-630. [PMID: 37403791 PMCID: PMC10529896 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2023.2233891] [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: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cyclic 3', 5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a major signaling hub in cardiac physiology. Although cAMP signaling has been extensively studied in cardiac cells and animal models of heart failure (HF), not much is known about its actual amount present inside human failing or non-failing cardiomyocytes. Since many drugs used in HF work via cAMP, it is crucial to determine the status of its intracellular levels in failing vs. normal human hearts. AREAS COVERED Only studies performed on explanted/excised cardiac tissues from patients were examined. Studies that contained no data from human hearts or no data on cAMP levels per se were excluded from this perspective's analysis. EXPERT OPINION Currently, there is no consensus on the status of cAMP levels in human failing vs. non-failing hearts. Several studies on animal models may suggest maladaptive (e.g. pro-apoptotic) effects of cAMP on HF, advocating for cAMP lowering for therapy, but human studies almost universally indicate that myocardial cAMP levels are deficient in human failing hearts. It is the expert opinion of this perspective that intracellular cAMP levels are too low in human failing hearts, contributing to the disease. Strategies to increase (restore), not decrease, these levels should be pursued in human HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Lymperopoulos
- Laboratory for the Study of Neurohormonal Control of the Circulation, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nova Southeastern University Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
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