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Dubourg V, Schwerdt G, Schreier B, Kopf M, Mildenberger S, Benndorf RA, Gekle M. EGFR activation differentially affects the inflammatory profiles of female human aortic and coronary artery endothelial cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22827. [PMID: 38129563 PMCID: PMC10739936 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50148-7] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (EC) are key players in vascular function, homeostasis and inflammation. EC show substantial heterogeneity due to inter-individual variability (e.g. sex-differences) and intra-individual differences as they originate from different organs or vessels. This variability may lead to different responsiveness to external stimuli. Here we compared the responsiveness of female human primary EC from the aorta (HAoEC) and coronary arteries (HCAEC) to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) activation. EGFR is an important signal integration hub for vascular active substances with physiological and pathophysiological relevance. Our transcriptomic analysis suggested that EGFR activation differentially affects the inflammatory profiles of HAoEC and HCAEC, particularly by inducing a HCAEC-driven leukocyte attraction but a downregulation of adhesion molecule and chemoattractant expression in HAoEC. Experimental assessments of selected inflammation markers were performed to validate these predictions and the results confirmed a dual role of EGFR in these cells: its activation initiated an anti-inflammatory response in HAoEC but a pro-inflammatory one in HCAEC. Our study highlights that, although they are both arterial EC, female HAoEC and HCAEC are distinguishable with regard to the role of EGFR and its involvement in inflammation regulation, what may be relevant for vascular maintenance but also the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Dubourg
- Julius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 6, 06112, Halle, Germany.
| | - Gerald Schwerdt
- Julius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 6, 06112, Halle, Germany
| | - Barbara Schreier
- Julius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 6, 06112, Halle, Germany
| | - Michael Kopf
- Julius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 6, 06112, Halle, Germany
| | - Sigrid Mildenberger
- Julius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 6, 06112, Halle, Germany
| | - Ralf A Benndorf
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Michael Gekle
- Julius-Bernstein-Institute of Physiology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 6, 06112, Halle, Germany
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2
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Madonna R. Unvealing organ-specific endothelial heterogeneity and its dysfunction. Vascul Pharmacol 2023; 153:107248. [PMID: 38043759 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
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3
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Finch NC, Neal CR, Welsh GI, Foster RR, Satchell SC. The unique structural and functional characteristics of glomerular endothelial cell fenestrations and their potential as a therapeutic target in kidney disease. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2023; 325:F465-F478. [PMID: 37471420 PMCID: PMC10639027 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00036.2023] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glomerular endothelial cell (GEnC) fenestrations are a critical component of the glomerular filtration barrier. Their unique nondiaphragmed structure is key to their function in glomerular hydraulic permeability, and their aberration in disease can contribute to loss of glomerular filtration function. This review provides a comprehensive update of current understanding of the regulation and biogenesis of fenestrae. We consider diseases in which GEnC fenestration loss is recognized or may play a role and discuss methods with potential to facilitate the study of these critical structures. Literature is drawn from GEnCs as well as other fenestrated cell types such as liver sinusoidal endothelial cells that most closely parallel GEnCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C Finch
- Bristol Renal, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
- Langford Vets, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Chris R Neal
- Bristol Renal, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin I Welsh
- Bristol Renal, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
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4
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Afshar Y, Ma F, Quach A, Jeong A, Sunshine HL, Freitas V, Jami-Alahmadi Y, Helaers R, Li X, Pellegrini M, Wohlschlegel JA, Romanoski CE, Vikkula M, Iruela-Arispe ML. Transcriptional drifts associated with environmental changes in endothelial cells. eLife 2023; 12:e81370. [PMID: 36971339 PMCID: PMC10168696 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental cues, such as physical forces and heterotypic cell interactions play a critical role in cell function, yet their collective contributions to transcriptional changes are unclear. Focusing on human endothelial cells, we performed broad individual sample analysis to identify transcriptional drifts associated with environmental changes that were independent of genetic background. Global gene expression profiling by RNA sequencing and protein expression by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry directed proteomics distinguished endothelial cells in vivo from genetically matched culture (in vitro) samples. Over 43% of the transcriptome was significantly changed by the in vitro environment. Subjecting cultured cells to long-term shear stress significantly rescued the expression of approximately 17% of genes. Inclusion of heterotypic interactions by co-culture of endothelial cells with smooth muscle cells normalized approximately 9% of the original in vivo signature. We also identified novel flow dependent genes, as well as genes that necessitate heterotypic cell interactions to mimic the in vivo transcriptome. Our findings highlight specific genes and pathways that rely on contextual information for adequate expression from those that are agnostic of such environmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalda Afshar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Feyiang Ma
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Austin Quach
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Anhyo Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Hannah L Sunshine
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoUnited States
| | - Vanessa Freitas
- Departament of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of Sao PauloLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Yasaman Jami-Alahmadi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Raphael Helaers
- Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, University of LouvainBrusselsBelgium
| | - Xinmin Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
| | - James A Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of CaliforniaLos AngelesUnited States
| | - Casey E Romanoski
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Miikka Vikkula
- Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, University of LouvainBrusselsBelgium
- WELBIO department, WEL Research InstituteWavreBelgium
| | - M Luisa Iruela-Arispe
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los AngelesLos AngelesUnited States
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicagoUnited States
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5
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Wilcox EC, Edelman ER. Substratum interactions modulate interplay between endothelial cell, epithelial cell, and fibroblast phenotype and immunomodulatory function. Biomaterials 2022; 289:121785. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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6
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Wilcox EC, Edelman ER. Substratum interactions determine immune response to allogeneic transplants of endothelial cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:946794. [PMID: 36003373 PMCID: PMC9393654 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.946794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) are central to vascular health but also interact with and regulate the immune system. Changes in endothelial state enable immune cells to migrate into the tissue to facilitate repair and fight infection. ECs modulate the function of immune cells through the expression of adhesion molecules, chemokines, major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and an array of co-stimulatory and inhibitor molecules. These interactions allow ECs to act as antigen presenting cells (APCs) and influence the outcome of immune recognition. This study elucidates how EC microenvironment, vascular cell biology, and immune response are not only connected but interdependent. More specifically, we explored how cell-substratum interactions influence EC antigen presentation and co-stimulation, and how these differences affect allorecognition in animal models of cell transplantation. Investigation of EC state was carried out using RNA sequencing while assessment of the allogeneic response includes measurements of immune cell cytotoxic ability, T cell proliferation, cytokine release, serum antibodies, and histological staining. Differences in substratum led to divergent EC phenotypes which in turn influenced immune response to transplanted cells, both due to the physical barrier of matrix-adhesion and differences in expression of surface markers. ECs grown in 2D on tissue culture plastic or in 3D on collagen scaffolds had significantly different basal levels of MHC expression, co-stimulatory and adhesion molecules. When treated with cytokines to mimic an inflammatory state, ECs did not converge to a single phenotype but rather responded differently based on their substratum. Generally, 3D ECs were more responsive to inflammatory stimuli than 2D ECs. These unique expression patterns measured in vitro also influence immune recognition in vivo. ECs grown in 2D were more likely to provoke a cytotoxic response while 3D ECs induced T cell proliferation. ECs are uniquely configured to sense not only local flow and mechanical forces but a range of markers related to systemic state, including immune function. ECs interact with immune cells with differing results depending on the environment in which the EC-lymphocyte interaction occurs. Therefore, understanding this relationship is essential to predicting and modifying the outcome of EC-immune interacts. We specifically examined the relationship between EC substratum and allorecognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise C. Wilcox
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Elise C. Wilcox,
| | - Elazer R. Edelman
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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7
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Proteomic profiling of concurrently isolated primary microvascular endothelial cells, pericytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells from adult mouse heart. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8835. [PMID: 35614104 PMCID: PMC9132906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12749-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The microcirculation serves crucial functions in adult heart, distinct from those carried out by epicardial vessels. Microvessels are governed by unique regulatory mechanisms, impairment of which leads to microvessel-specific pathology. There are few treatment options for patients with microvascular heart disease, primarily due to limited understanding of underlying pathology. High throughput mRNA sequencing and protein expression profiling in specific cells can improve our understanding of microvessel biology and disease at the molecular level. Understanding responses of individual microvascular cells to the same physiological or pathophysiological stimuli requires the ability to isolate the specific cell types that comprise the functional units of the microcirculation in the heart, preferably from the same heart, to ensure that different cells have been exposed to the same in-vivo conditions. We developed an integrated process for simultaneous isolation and culture of the main cell types comprising the microcirculation in adult mouse heart: endothelial cells, pericytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells. These cell types were characterized with isobaric labeling quantitative proteomics and mRNA sequencing. We defined microvascular cell proteomes, identified novel protein markers, and confirmed established cell-specific markers. Our results allow identification of unique markers and regulatory proteins that govern microvascular physiology and pathology.
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8
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Gifre-Renom L, Daems M, Luttun A, Jones EAV. Organ-Specific Endothelial Cell Differentiation and Impact of Microenvironmental Cues on Endothelial Heterogeneity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031477. [PMID: 35163400 PMCID: PMC8836165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells throughout the body are heterogeneous, and this is tightly linked to the specific functions of organs and tissues. Heterogeneity is already determined from development onwards and ranges from arterial/venous specification to microvascular fate determination in organ-specific differentiation. Acknowledging the different phenotypes of endothelial cells and the implications of this diversity is key for the development of more specialized tissue engineering and vascular repair approaches. However, although novel technologies in transcriptomics and proteomics are facilitating the unraveling of vascular bed-specific endothelial cell signatures, still much research is based on the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells. Endothelial cells are not only heterogeneous, but their specialized phenotypes are also dynamic and adapt to changes in their microenvironment. During the last decades, strong collaborations between molecular biology, mechanobiology, and computational disciplines have led to a better understanding of how endothelial cells are modulated by their mechanical and biochemical contexts. Yet, because of the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells, there is still a huge lack of knowledge in how tissue-specific biomechanical factors determine organ-specific phenotypes. With this review, we want to put the focus on how organ-specific endothelial cell signatures are determined from development onwards and conditioned by their microenvironments during adulthood. We discuss the latest research performed on endothelial cells, pointing out the important implications of mimicking tissue-specific biomechanical cues in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Gifre-Renom
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Margo Daems
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Elizabeth A. V. Jones
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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9
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Vanchin B, Sol M, Gjaltema RAF, Brinker M, Kiers B, Pereira AC, Harmsen MC, Moonen JRAJ, Krenning G. Reciprocal regulation of endothelial-mesenchymal transition by MAPK7 and EZH2 in intimal hyperplasia and coronary artery disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17764. [PMID: 34493753 PMCID: PMC8423795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a form of endothelial dysfunction wherein endothelial cells acquire a mesenchymal phenotype and lose endothelial functions, which contributes to the pathogenesis of intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. The mitogen activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK7) inhibits EndMT and decreases the expression of the histone methyltransferase Enhancer-of-Zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), thereby maintaining endothelial quiescence. EZH2 is the catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 that methylates lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3). It is elusive how the crosstalk between MAPK7 and EZH2 is regulated in the endothelium and if the balance between MAPK7 and EZH2 is disturbed in vascular disease. In human coronary artery disease, we assessed the expression levels of MAPK7 and EZH2 and found that with increasing intima/media thickness ratio, MAPK7 expression decreased, whereas EZH2 expression increased. In vitro, MAPK7 activation decreased EZH2 expression, whereas endothelial cells deficient of EZH2 had increased MAPK7 activity. MAPK7 activation results in increased expression of microRNA (miR)-101, a repressor of EZH2. This loss of EZH2 in turn results in the increased expression of the miR-200 family, culminating in decreased expression of the dual-specificity phosphatases 1 and 6 who may repress MAPK7 activity. Transfection of endothelial cells with miR-200 family members decreased the endothelial sensitivity to TGFβ1-induced EndMT. In endothelial cells there is reciprocity between MAPK7 signaling and EZH2 expression and disturbances in this reciprocal signaling associate with the induction of EndMT and severity of human coronary artery disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byambasuren Vanchin
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Jamyan St 3, Ulaanbaatar, 14210, Mongolia
| | - Marloes Sol
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger A F Gjaltema
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marja Brinker
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca Kiers
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LIM13), Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Eneas C. Aguiar 44, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Alexandre C Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LIM13), Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Eneas C. Aguiar 44, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Martin C Harmsen
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan-Renier A J Moonen
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (CA40), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guido Krenning
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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10
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Dawson A, Wang Y, Li Y, LeMaire SA, Shen YH. New Technologies With Increased Precision Improve Understanding of Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity in Cardiovascular Health and Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:679995. [PMID: 34513826 PMCID: PMC8430032 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.679995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) are vital for blood vessel integrity and have roles in maintaining normal vascular function, healing after injury, and vascular dysfunction. Extensive phenotypic heterogeneity has been observed among ECs of different types of blood vessels in the normal and diseased vascular wall. Although ECs with different phenotypes can share common functions, each has unique features that may dictate a fine-tuned role in vascular health and disease. Recent studies performed with single-cell technology have generated powerful information that has significantly improved our understanding of EC biology. Here, we summarize a variety of EC types, states, and phenotypes recently identified by using new, increasingly precise techniques in transcriptome analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Dawson
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yidan Wang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yanming Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Scott A. LeMaire
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ying H. Shen
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, United States
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11
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Vega-Tapia F, Peñaloza E, Krause BJ. Specific arterio-venous transcriptomic and ncRNA-RNA interactions in human umbilical endothelial cells: A meta-analysis. iScience 2021; 24:102675. [PMID: 34222842 PMCID: PMC8243012 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Whether arterial-venous differences of primary endothelial cells commonly used for vascular research are preserved in vitro remains under debate. To address this issue, a meta-analysis of Affymetrix transcriptomic data sets from human umbilical artery (HUAECs) and vein (HUVEC) endothelial cells was performed. The meta-analysis showed 2,742 transcripts differentially expressed (false discovery rate <0.05), of which 78% were downregulated in HUVECs. Comparisons with RNA-seq data sets showed high levels of agreement and correlation (p < 0.0001), identifying 84 arterial-venous identity markers. Functional analysis revealed enrichment of key vascular processes in HUAECs/HUVECs, including nitric oxide- (NO) and hypoxia-related genes, as well as differences in miRNA- and ncRNA-mRNA interaction profiles. A proof of concept of these findings in primary cells exposed to hypoxia in vitro and in vivo confirmed the arterial-venous differences in NO-related genes and miRNAs. Altogether, these data defined a cross-platform arterial-venous transcript profile for cultured HUAEC-HUVEC and support a preserved identity involving key vascular pathways post-transcriptionally regulated in vitro. Transcriptional differences among HUAEC and HUVEC are preserved in culture These differences occur even after correcting for experimental conditions The heterogenous regulation affects NO- and hypoxia-related genes Cell-specific ncRNA/mRNA interactions are found
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Vega-Tapia
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de O'Higgins, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 611, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Estefania Peñaloza
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de O'Higgins, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 611, Rancagua, Chile
| | - Bernardo J Krause
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de O'Higgins, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 611, Rancagua, Chile
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12
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Hoopes EK, Berube FR, D'Agata MN, Patterson F, Farquhar WB, Edwards DG, Witman MAH. Sleep duration regularity, but not sleep duration, is associated with microvascular function in college students. Sleep 2021; 44:5903410. [PMID: 32905591 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Vascular dysfunction is a hypothesized mechanism linking poor sleep habits to an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the vascular profile associated with free-living sleep duration and sleep regularity has not been well elucidated, particularly in young adults. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the associations between mean sleep duration, regularity in sleep duration, and peripheral vascular function in young adult college students. METHODS Fifty-one healthy undergraduate students (20 ± 1 years) completed 14 days of 24-hour wrist actigraphy and subsequent vascular assessments. Macrovascular function was measured using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) while microvascular function was measured via passive leg movement (PLM). RESULTS Mean sleep duration was unrelated to FMD and PLM. Conversely, more irregular sleep duration (14-day sleep duration standard deviation [SD]) was unfavorably associated with all three measures of PLM-induced hyperemia (peak leg blood flow [LBF], p = 0.01; change in LBF from baseline to peak, p < 0.01; LBF area under the curve, p < 0.01), and remained significant in regression models which adjusted for sex, body mass index, blood pressure, physical activity, alcohol and caffeine consumption, and sleep duration (all p < 0.05). When using a median split to dichotomize "low" and "high" sleep duration SD groups, those demonstrating high variability in sleep duration exhibited ~45% lower PLM responses compared with those demonstrating low variability. CONCLUSIONS Irregular sleep duration is associated with poorer microvascular function as early as young adulthood. These findings support the growing body of evidence that irregular sleep patterns may be an independent and modifiable risk factor for CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa K Hoopes
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Felicia R Berube
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Michele N D'Agata
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Freda Patterson
- Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - William B Farquhar
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - David G Edwards
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
| | - Melissa A H Witman
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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13
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Endothelial Cells as Tools to Model Tissue Microenvironment in Hypoxia-Dependent Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020520. [PMID: 33430201 PMCID: PMC7825710 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) lining the blood vessels are important players in many biological phenomena but are crucial in hypoxia-dependent diseases where their deregulation contributes to pathology. On the other hand, processes mediated by ECs, such as angiogenesis, vessel permeability, interactions with cells and factors circulating in the blood, maintain homeostasis of the organism. Understanding the diversity and heterogeneity of ECs in different tissues and during various biological processes is crucial in biomedical research to properly develop our knowledge on many diseases, including cancer. Here, we review the most important aspects related to ECs’ heterogeneity and list the available in vitro tools to study different angiogenesis-related pathologies. We focus on the relationship between functions of ECs and their organo-specificity but also point to how the microenvironment, mainly hypoxia, shapes their activity. We believe that taking into account the specific features of ECs that are relevant to the object of the study (organ or disease state), especially in a simplified in vitro setting, is important to truly depict the biology of endothelium and its consequences. This is possible in many instances with the use of proper in vitro tools as alternative methods to animal testing.
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14
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Souilhol C, Gauci I, Feng S, Tardajos Ayllon B, Mahmoud M, Canham L, Fragiadaki M, Serbanovic-Canic J, Ridger V, Evans PC. Homeobox B9 integrates bone morphogenic protein 4 with inflammation at atheroprone sites. Cardiovasc Res 2020; 116:1300-1310. [PMID: 31504243 PMCID: PMC7243277 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvz235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Atherosclerosis develops near branches and bends of arteries that are exposed to disturbed blood flow which exerts low wall shear stress (WSS). These mechanical conditions alter endothelial cells (EC) by priming them for inflammation and by inducing turnover. Homeobox (Hox) genes are developmental genes involved in the patterning of embryos along their anterior-posterior and proximal-distal axes. Here we identified Hox genes that are regulated by WSS and investigated their functions in adult arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS EC were isolated from inner (low WSS) and outer (high WSS) regions of the porcine aorta and the expression of Hox genes was analysed by quantitative real-time PCR. Several Hox genes (HoxA10, HoxB4, HoxB7, HoxB9, HoxD8, HoxD9) were significantly enriched at the low WSS compared to the high WSS region. Similarly, studies of cultured human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) or porcine aortic EC revealed that the expression of multiple Hox genes (HoxA10, HoxB9, HoxD8, HoxD9) was enhanced under low (4 dyn/cm2) compared to high (13 dyn/cm2) WSS conditions. Gene silencing studies identified Hox genes (HoxB9, HoxD8, HoxD9) that are positive regulators of inflammatory molecule expression in EC exposed to low WSS, and others (HoxB9, HoxB7, HoxB4) that regulated EC turnover. We subsequently focused on HoxB9 because it was strongly up-regulated by low WSS and, uniquely, was a driver of both inflammation and proliferation. At a mechanistic level, we demonstrate using cultured EC and murine models that bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) is an upstream regulator of HoxB9 which elicits inflammation via induction of numerous inflammatory mediators including TNF and downstream NF-κB activation. Moreover, the BMP4-HoxB9-TNF pathway was potentiated by hypercholesterolaemic conditions. CONCLUSIONS Low WSS induces multiple Hox genes that control the activation state and turnover of EC. Notably, low WSS activates a BMP4-HoxB9-TNF signalling pathway to initiate focal arterial inflammation, thereby demonstrating integration of the BMP and Hox systems in vascular pathophysiology.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Aorta, Thoracic/metabolism
- Aorta, Thoracic/pathology
- Aorta, Thoracic/physiopathology
- Aortic Diseases/genetics
- Aortic Diseases/metabolism
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/physiopathology
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Atherosclerosis/physiopathology
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/genetics
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Disease Models, Animal
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/pathology
- Humans
- Inflammation/genetics
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Inflammation/pathology
- Inflammation/physiopathology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic
- Regional Blood Flow
- Signal Transduction
- Stress, Mechanical
- Sus scrofa
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Souilhol
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Ismael Gauci
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Shuang Feng
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Blanca Tardajos Ayllon
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Marwa Mahmoud
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Lindsay Canham
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Maria Fragiadaki
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Jovana Serbanovic-Canic
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Victoria Ridger
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Paul Charles Evans
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
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15
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Expression profiles of the internal jugular and saphenous veins: Focus on hemostasis genes. Thromb Res 2020; 191:113-124. [PMID: 32438216 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2020.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Venous bed specificity could contribute to differential vulnerability to thrombus formation, and is potentially reflected in mRNA profiles. MATERIALS AND METHODS Microarray-based transcriptome analysis in wall and valve specimens from internal jugular (IJV) and saphenous (SV) veins collected during IJV surgical reconstruction in patients with impaired brain outflow. Multiplex antigenic assay in paired jugular and peripheral plasma samples. RESULTS Most of the top differentially expressed transcripts have been previously associated with both vascular and neurological disorders. Large expression differences of HOX genes, organ patterning regulators, pinpointed the vein positional identity. The "complement and coagulation cascade" emerged among enriched pathways. In IJV, upregulation of genes for coagulation inhibitors (TFPI, PROS1), activated protein C pathway receptors (THBD, PROCR), fibrinolysis activators (PLAT, PLAUR), and downregulation of the fibrinolysis inhibitor (SERPINE1) and of contact/amplification pathway genes (F11, F12), would be compatible with a thromboprotective profile in respect to SV. Further, in SV valve the prothrombinase complex genes (F5, F2) were up-regulated and the VWF showed the highest expression. Differential expression of several VWF regulators (ABO, ST3GAL4, SCARA5, CLEC4M) was also observed. Among other differentially expressed hemostasis-related genes, heparanase (HPSE)/heparanase inhibitor (HPSE2) were up-/down-regulated in IJV, which might support procoagulant features and disease conditions. The jugular plasma levels of several proteins, encoded by differentially expressed genes, were lower and highly correlated with peripheral levels. CONCLUSIONS The IJV and SV rely on differential expression of many hemostasis and hemostasis-related genes to balance local hemostasis, potentially related to differences in vulnerability to thrombosis.
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16
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Minami T, Muramatsu M, Kume T. Organ/Tissue-Specific Vascular Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity in Health and Disease. Biol Pharm Bull 2020; 42:1609-1619. [PMID: 31582649 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The vascular system forms the largest surface in our body, serving as a critical interface between blood circulation and our diverse organ/tissue environments. Thus, the vascular system performs a gatekeeper function for organ/tissue homeostasis and the body's adjustment to pathological challenges. The endothelium, as the most inner layer of the vasculature, regulates the tissue microenvironment, which is critical for development, hemostatic balance, inflammation, and angiogenesis, with a role as well in tumor malignancy and metastasis. These multitudinous functions are primarily mediated by organ/tissue-specifically differentiated endothelial cells, in which heterogeneity has long been recognized at the molecular and histological level. Based on these general principles of vascular-bed heterogeneity and characterization, this review largely covers landmark discoveries regarding organ/tissue microenvironment-governed endothelial cell phenotypic changes. These involve the physical features of continuous, discontinuous, fenestrated, and sinusoidal endothelial cells, in addition to the more specialized endothelial cell layers of the lymphatic system, glomerulus, tumors, and the blood brain barrier (BBB). Major signal pathways of endothelial specification are outlined, including Notch as a key factor of tip/stalk- and arterial-endothelial cell differentiation. We also denote the shear stress sensing machinery used to convey blood flow-mediated biophysical forces that are indispensable to maintaining inert and mature endothelial phenotypes. Since our circulatory system is among the most fundamental and emergent targets of study in pharmacology from the viewpoint of drug metabolism and delivery, a better molecular understanding of organ vasculature-bed heterogeneity may lead to better strategies for novel vascular-targeted treatments to fight against hitherto intractable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Minami
- Div. of Molecular and Vascular Biology, IRDA, Kumamoto University
| | | | - Tsutomu Kume
- Div. of Molecular and Vascular Biology, IRDA, Kumamoto University.,Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute, Northwestern University School of Medicine
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17
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Endothelial cells are of great importance in many types of diseases including the coronary artery diseases in heart and stroke in brain. In this review, we explore the heterogeneity among endothelial cells from an organism-wide, organ-specific, and healthy versus disease perspective. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies addressing the cellular heterogeneity between arterial versus venous endothelial cells (ECs) have revealed that arterial ECs have tighter junctions, a decreased immune response, anticoagulant properties while veins have both anticoagulant and procoagulant properties. Blood and lymphatic ECs are quite distinct from each other as well, with the lymphatic ECs being more involved in the immune response and lymphangiogenesis while blood vessel ECs being involved in angiogenesis and maintenance of perfusion throughout the body. ECs from various organs such as the heart, the lung, and especially the brain are quite heterogeneous and provide barriers that prevent small particles to pass through the endothelium when compared with the endothelium of the liver and the kidney that are quite porous. The heart ECs have higher angiogenesis and metabolic rates (oxidation and glycolysis) than lung, liver, and kidney ECs. Ex vivo liver and kidney ECs grow at a moderate pace, while the lung and brain ECs grow very slowly. ECs from within a tumor have fenestrae and large intracellular gaps and junctions leading to increased permeability and tumor cell overgrowth. There is a large degree of heterogeneity among organism-wide and organ-specific ECs as well as between healthy and disease-specific ECs. We believe this review will help highlight the EC heterogeneity and further advance our ability to treat cardiovascular disease and other conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Przysinda
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Wei Feng
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA
| | - Guang Li
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201, USA.
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18
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Sabbagh MF, Nathans J. A genome-wide view of the de-differentiation of central nervous system endothelial cells in culture. eLife 2020; 9:e51276. [PMID: 31913116 PMCID: PMC6948952 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) derived from the central nervous system (CNS) variably lose their unique barrier properties during in vitro culture, hindering the development of robust assays for blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, including drug permeability and extrusion assays. In previous work (Sabbagh et al., 2018) we characterized transcriptional and accessible chromatin landscapes of acutely isolated mouse CNS ECs. In this report, we compare transcriptional and accessible chromatin landscapes of acutely isolated mouse CNS ECs versus mouse CNS ECs in short-term in vitro culture. We observe that standard culture conditions are associated with a rapid and selective loss of BBB transcripts and chromatin features, as well as a greatly reduced level of beta-catenin signaling. Interestingly, forced expression of a stabilized derivative of beta-catenin, which in vivo leads to a partial conversion of non-BBB CNS ECs to a BBB-like state, has little or no effect on gene expression or chromatin accessibility in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Sabbagh
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
| | - Jeremy Nathans
- Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of NeuroscienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Department of OphthalmologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreUnited States
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19
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Thakore P, Earley S. Transient Receptor Potential Channels and Endothelial Cell Calcium Signaling. Compr Physiol 2019; 9:1249-1277. [PMID: 31187891 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c180034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The vascular endothelium is a broadly distributed and highly specialized organ. The endothelium has a number of functions including the control of blood vessels diameter through the production and release of potent vasoactive substances or direct electrical communication with underlying smooth muscle cells, regulates the permeability of the vascular barrier, stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, and influences inflammatory and thrombotic processes. Endothelial cells that make up the endothelium express a variety of cell-surface receptors and ion channels on the plasma membrane that are capable of detecting circulating hormones, neurotransmitters, oxygen tension, and shear stress across the vascular wall. Changes in these stimuli activate signaling cascades that initiate an appropriate physiological response. Increases in the global intracellular Ca2+ concentration and localized Ca2+ signals that occur within specialized subcellular microdomains are fundamentally important components of many signaling pathways in the endothelium. The transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are a superfamily of cation-permeable ion channels that act as a primary means of increasing cytosolic Ca2+ in endothelial cells. Consequently, TRP channels are vitally important for the major functions of the endothelium. In this review, we provide an in-depth discussion of Ca2+ -permeable TRP channels in the endothelium and their role in vascular regulation. © 2019 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 9:1249-1277, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratish Thakore
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Scott Earley
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Cardiovascular Research, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, USA
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20
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Kalluri AS, Vellarikkal SK, Edelman ER, Nguyen L, Subramanian A, Ellinor PT, Regev A, Kathiresan S, Gupta RM. Single-Cell Analysis of the Normal Mouse Aorta Reveals Functionally Distinct Endothelial Cell Populations. Circulation 2019; 140:147-163. [PMID: 31146585 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.118.038362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cells that form the arterial wall contribute to multiple vascular diseases. The extent of cellular heterogeneity within these populations has not been fully characterized. Recent advances in single-cell RNA-sequencing make it possible to identify and characterize cellular subpopulations. METHODS We validate a method for generating a droplet-based single-cell atlas of gene expression in a normal blood vessel. Enzymatic dissociation of 4 whole mouse aortas was followed by single-cell sequencing of >10 000 cells. RESULTS Clustering analysis of gene expression from aortic cells identified 10 populations of cells representing each of the main arterial cell types: fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells (ECs), and immune cells, including monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes. The most significant cellular heterogeneity was seen in the 3 distinct EC populations. Gene set enrichment analysis of these EC subpopulations identified a lymphatic EC cluster and 2 other populations more specialized in lipoprotein handling, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix production. These subpopulations persist and exhibit similar changes in gene expression in response to a Western diet. Immunofluorescence for Vcam1 and Cd36 demonstrates regional heterogeneity in EC populations throughout the aorta. CONCLUSIONS We present a comprehensive single-cell atlas of all cells in the aorta. By integrating expression from >1900 genes per cell, we are better able to characterize cellular heterogeneity compared with conventional approaches. Gene expression signatures identify cell subpopulations with vascular disease-relevant functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya S Kalluri
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.).,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (A.S.K., E.R.E.)
| | - Shamsudheen K Vellarikkal
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.).,Center for Genomic Medicine (S.K.V., S.K., R.M.G.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Elazer R Edelman
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (A.S.K., E.R.E.).,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine (E.R.E., R.M.G.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston MA
| | - Lan Nguyen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.)
| | - Ayshwarya Subramanian
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.)
| | - Patrick T Ellinor
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.).,Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (P.T.E., S.K.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Aviv Regev
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.)
| | - Sekar Kathiresan
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.).,Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine (P.T.E., S.K.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Center for Genomic Medicine (S.K.V., S.K., R.M.G.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Rajat M Gupta
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (A.S.K., S.K.V., L.N., A.S., P.T.E., A.R., S.K., R.M.G.).,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine (E.R.E., R.M.G.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston MA.,Division of Genetics (R.M.G.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston MA.,Center for Genomic Medicine (S.K.V., S.K., R.M.G.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
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21
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Alfranca A, Campanero MR, Redondo JM. New Methods for Disease Modeling Using Lentiviral Vectors. Trends Mol Med 2018; 24:825-837. [PMID: 30213701 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) transduce quiescent cells and provide stable integration to maintain transgene expression. Several approaches have been adopted to optimize LV safety profiles. Similarly, LV targeting has been tailored through strategies including the modification of envelope components, the use of specific regulatory elements, and the selection of appropriate administration routes. Models of aortic disease based on a single injection of pleiotropic LVs have been developed that efficiently transduce the three aorta layers in wild type mice. This approach allows the dissection of pathways involved in aortic aneurysm formation and the identification of targets for gene therapy in aortic diseases. LVs provide a fast, efficient, and affordable alternative to genetically modified mice to study disease mechanisms and develop therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arantzazu Alfranca
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain; CIBERCV, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Miguel R Campanero
- Department of Cancer Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain; CIBERCV, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Miguel Redondo
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain; CIBERCV, Madrid, Spain.
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22
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Haynes BA, Huyck RW, James AJ, Carter ME, Gaafar OU, Day M, Pinto A, Dobrian AD. Isolation, Expansion, and Adipogenic Induction of CD34+CD31+ Endothelial Cells from Human Omental and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue. J Vis Exp 2018. [PMID: 30080200 DOI: 10.3791/57804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity is accompanied by an extensive remodeling of adipose tissue primarily via adipocyte hypertrophy. Extreme adipocyte growth results in a poor response to insulin, local hypoxia, and inflammation. By stimulating the differentiation of functional white adipocytes from progenitors, radical hypertrophy of the adipocyte population can be prevented and, consequently, the metabolic health of adipose tissue can be improved along with a reduction of inflammation. Also, by stimulating a differentiation of beige/brown adipocytes, the total body energy expenditure can be increased, resulting in weight loss. This approach could prevent the development of obesity co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This paper describes the isolation, expansion, and differentiation of white and beige adipocytes from a subset of human adipose tissue endothelial cells that co-express the CD31 and CD34 markers. The method is relatively cheap and is not labor-intensive. It requires access to human adipose tissue and the subcutaneous depot is suitable for sampling. For this protocol, fresh adipose tissue samples from morbidly obese subjects [body mass index (BMI) >35] are collected during bariatric surgery procedures. Using a sequential immunoseparation from the stromal vascular fraction, enough cells are produced from as little as 2-3 g of fat. These cells can be expanded in culture over 10-14 days, can be cryopreserved, and retain their adipogenic properties with passaging up to passage 5-6. The cells are treated for 14 days with an adipogenic cocktail using a combination of human insulin and the PPARγ agonist-rosiglitazone. This methodology can be used for obtaining proof of concept experiments on molecular mechanisms that drive adipogenic responses in adipose endothelial cells, or for screening new drugs that can enhance the adipogenic response directed either towards white or beige/brown adipocyte differentiation. Using small subcutaneous biopsies, this methodology can be used to screen out non-responder subjects for clinical trials aimed to stimulate beige/brown and white adipocytes for the treatment of obesity and co-morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronson A Haynes
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Ryan W Huyck
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Ashley J James
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Meghan E Carter
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Omnia U Gaafar
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Marjorie Day
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Avennette Pinto
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School
| | - Anca D Dobrian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School;
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23
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Marcu R, Choi YJ, Xue J, Fortin CL, Wang Y, Nagao RJ, Xu J, MacDonald JW, Bammler TK, Murry CE, Muczynski K, Stevens KR, Himmelfarb J, Schwartz SM, Zheng Y. Human Organ-Specific Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity. iScience 2018; 4:20-35. [PMID: 30240741 PMCID: PMC6147238 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelium first forms in the blood islands in the extra-embryonic yolk sac and then throughout the embryo to establish circulatory networks that further acquire organ-specific properties during development to support diverse organ functions. Here, we investigated the properties of endothelial cells (ECs), isolated from four human major organs-the heart, lung, liver, and kidneys-in individual fetal tissues at three months' gestation, at gene expression, and at cellular function levels. We showed that organ-specific ECs have distinct expression patterns of gene clusters, which support their specific organ development and functions. These ECs displayed distinct barrier properties, angiogenic potential, and metabolic rate and support specific organ functions. Our findings showed the link between human EC heterogeneity and organ development and can be exploited therapeutically to contribute in organ regeneration, disease modeling, as well as guiding differentiation of tissue-specific ECs from human pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Marcu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yoon Jung Choi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jun Xue
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chelsea L Fortin
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yuliang Wang
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan J Nagao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James W MacDonald
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Theo K Bammler
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Charles E Murry
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Kelly R Stevens
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jonathan Himmelfarb
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Ying Zheng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Kidney Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Circulating metabolites of strawberry mediate reductions in vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice. Int J Cardiol 2018; 263:111-117. [PMID: 29681407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is 2-4-fold more prevalent in patients with diabetes. Human studies support the cardiovascular benefits of strawberry consumption but the effects of strawberry on diabetic vasculature are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that dietary strawberry supplementation attenuates vascular inflammation and dysfunction in diabetic mice. METHODS Seven-week-old diabetic db/db mice that consumed standard diet (db/db) or diet supplemented with 2.35% freeze-dried strawberry (db/db + SB) for ten weeks were compared to non-diabetic control mice (db/+). Indices of vascular inflammation and dysfunction were measured. Endothelial cells (ECs) were isolated from the vasculature to determine the influence of strawberry on them. The effect of metabolites of strawberry on endothelial inflammation was determined by incubating mouse aortic ECs (MAECs) with ±5% serum, obtained from strawberry fed mice (metabolites serum) or standard diet fed mice (control serum) ± 25 mM glucose and 100 μM palmitate. RESULTS db/db mice exhibited an increased monocyte binding to vessel, elevated blood pressure, and reduced endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation compared with db/+ mice but each defect was attenuated in db/db + SB mice. The elevation of inflammatory molecules, NOX2 and inhibitor-κB kinase observed in ECs from db/db vs. db/+ mice was suppressed in db/db + SB mice. Glucose and palmitate increased endothelial inflammation in MAECs but were normalized by co-incubation with metabolites serum. CONCLUSIONS Dietary supplementation of strawberry attenuates indices of vascular inflammation and dysfunction in diabetic db/db mice. The effect of strawberry on vasculature is endothelial-dependent and possibly mediated through their circulating metabolites. Strawberry might complement conventional therapies to improve vascular complications in diabetics.
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25
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Kapopara P, Felden JV, Soehnlein O, Wang Y, Napp LC, Sonnenschein K, Wollert K, Schieffer B, Gaestel M, Bauersachs J, Bavendiek U. Deficiency of MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) prevents adverse remodelling and promotes endothelial healing after arterial injury. Thromb Haemost 2017; 112:1264-76. [DOI: 10.1160/th14-02-0174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
SummaryMaladaptive remodelling of the arterial wall after mechanical injury (e. g. angioplasty) is characterised by inflammation, neointima formation and media hypertrophy, resulting in narrowing of the affected artery. Moreover, mechanical injury of the arterial wall causes loss of the vessel protecting endothelial cell monolayer. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2), a major downstream target of p38 MAPK, regulates inflammation, cell migration and proliferation, essential processes for vascular remodelling and reendothelialisation. Therefore, we investigated the role of MK2 in remodelling and reendothelialisation after arterial injury in genetically modified mice in vivo. Hypercholesterolaemic low-densitylipoprotein- receptor-deficient mice (ldlr-/- ) were subjected to wire injury of the common carotid artery. MK2-deficiency (ldlr-/-/mk2-/- ) nearly completely prevented neointima formation, media hypertrophy, and lumen loss after injury. This was accompanied by reduced proliferation and migration of MK2-deficient smooth muscle cells. In addition, MK2-deficiency severely reduced monocyte adhesion to the arterial wall (day 3 after injury, intravital microscopy), which may be attributed to reduced expression of the chemokine ligands CCL2 and CCL5. In line, MK2-deficiency significantly reduced the content of monocytes, neutrophiles and lymphocytes of the arterial wall (day 7 after injury, flow cytometry). In conclusion, in a model of endothelial injury (electric injury), MK2-deficiency strongly increased proliferation of endothelial cells and improved reendothelialisation of the arterial wall after injury. Deficiency of MK2 prevents adverse remodelling and promotes endothelial healing of the arterial wall after injury, suggesting that MK2-inhibition is a very attractive intervention to prevent restenosis after percutaneous therapeutic angioplasty.
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26
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Goktas S, Uslu FE, Kowalski WJ, Ermek E, Keller BB, Pekkan K. Time-Series Interactions of Gene Expression, Vascular Growth and Hemodynamics during Early Embryonic Arterial Development. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161611. [PMID: 27552150 PMCID: PMC4994943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of hemodynamic forces within the embryo as biomechanical regulators for cardiovascular morphogenesis, growth, and remodeling is well supported through the experimental studies. Furthermore, clinical experience suggests that perturbed flow disrupts the normal vascular growth process as one etiology for congenital heart diseases (CHD) and for fetal adaptation to CHD. However, the relationships between hemodynamics, gene expression and embryonic vascular growth are poorly defined due to the lack of concurrent, sequential in vivo data. In this study, a long-term, time-lapse optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging campaign was conducted to acquire simultaneous blood velocity, pulsatile micro-pressure and morphometric data for 3 consecutive early embryonic stages in the chick embryo. In conjunction with the in vivo growth and hemodynamics data, in vitro reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed to track changes in transcript expression relevant to histogenesis and remodeling of the embryonic arterial wall. Our non-invasive extended OCT imaging technique for the microstructural data showed continuous vessel growth. OCT data coupled with the PIV technique revealed significant but intermitted increases in wall shear stress (WSS) between first and second assigned stages and a noticeable decrease afterwards. Growth rate, however, did not vary significantly throughout the embryonic period. Among all the genes studied, only the MMP-2 and CASP-3 expression levels remained unchanged during the time course. Concurrent relationships were obtained among the transcriptional modulation of the genes, vascular growth and hemodynamics-related changes. Further studies are indicated to determine cause and effect relationships and reversibility between mechanical and molecular regulation of vasculogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selda Goktas
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fazil E. Uslu
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - William J. Kowalski
- Kosair Charities Pediatric Heart Research Program, Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States of America
| | - Erhan Ermek
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bradley B. Keller
- Kosair Charities Pediatric Heart Research Program, Cardiovascular Innovation Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States of America
| | - Kerem Pekkan
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
- * E-mail:
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Pfaltzgraff ER, Bader DM. Heterogeneity in vascular smooth muscle cell embryonic origin in relation to adult structure, physiology, and disease. Dev Dyn 2015; 244:410-6. [PMID: 25546231 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Regional differences in vascular physiology and disease response exist throughout the vascular tree. While these differences in physiology and disease correspond to regional vascular environmental conditions, there is also compelling evidence that the embryonic origins of the smooth muscle inherent to the vessels may play a role. Here, we review what is known regarding the role of embryonic origin of vascular smooth muscle cells during vascular development. The focus of this review is to highlight the heterogeneity in the origins of vascular smooth muscle cells and the resulting regional physiologies of the vessels. Our goal is to stimulate future investigation into this area and provide a better understanding of vascular organogenesis and disease. .
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise R Pfaltzgraff
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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28
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Xiao L, McCann JV, Dudley AC. Isolation and Culture Expansion of Tumor-specific Endothelial Cells. J Vis Exp 2015:e53072. [PMID: 26554446 DOI: 10.3791/53072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Freshly isolated tumor-specific endothelial cells (TEC) can be used to explore molecular mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis and serve as an in vitro model for developing new angiogenesis inhibitors for cancer. However, long-term in vitro expansion of murine endothelial cells (EC) is challenging due to phenotypic drift in culture (endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition) and contamination with non-EC. This is especially true for TEC which are readily outcompeted by co-purified fibroblasts or tumor cells in culture. Here, a high fidelity isolation method that takes advantage of immunomagnetic enrichment coupled with colony selection and in vitro expansion is described. This approach generates pure EC fractions that are entirely free of contaminating stromal or tumor cells. It is also shown that lineage-traced Cdh5(cre):ZsGreen(l/s/l) reporter mice, used with the protocol described herein, are a valuable tool to verify cell purity as the isolated EC colonies from these mice show durable and brilliant ZsGreen fluorescence in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xiao
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - James V McCann
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Andrew C Dudley
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
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29
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Xiao L, Harrell JC, Perou CM, Dudley AC. Identification of a stable molecular signature in mammary tumor endothelial cells that persists in vitro. Angiogenesis 2013; 17:511-8. [PMID: 24257808 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-013-9409-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Long-term, in vitro propagation of tumor-specific endothelial cells (TEC) allows for functional studies and genome-wide expression profiling of clonally derived, well-characterized subpopulations. Using a genetically engineered mouse model of mammary adenocarcinoma, we have optimized an isolation procedure and defined growth conditions for long-term propagation of mammary TEC. The isolated TEC maintain their endothelial specification and phenotype in culture. Furthermore, gene expression profiling of multiple TEC subpopulations revealed striking, persistent overexpression of several candidate genes including Irx2 and Zfp503 (transcription factors), Alcam and Cd133 (cell surface markers), Ccl4 and neurotensin (Nts) (angiocrine factors), and Gpr182 and Cnr2 (G protein-coupled receptors). Taken together, we have developed an effective method for isolating and culture-expanding mammary TEC, and uncovered several new TEC-selective genes whose overexpression persists even after long-term in vitro culture. These results suggest that the tumor microenvironment may induce changes in vascular endothelium in vivo that are stably transmittable in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Xiao
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3340C Medical Biomolecular Research Building, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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30
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Fessner A, Esser JS, Bluhm F, Grundmann S, Zhou Q, Patterson C, Bode C, Moser M. The transcription factor HoxB5 stimulates vascular remodelling in a cytokine-dependent manner. Cardiovasc Res 2013; 101:247-55. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvt244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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31
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Using advanced noninvasive imaging techniques to probe the links between regional coronary artery endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2013; 24:149-56. [PMID: 24296299 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2013.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death in the US annually. The development in recent years of imaging strategies that can identify coronary endothelial dysfunction noninvasively provides new information about the early presence and local spatial heterogeneity of endothelial function in patients with, and those at risk for, coronary artery disease. In this article, we will briefly review the mechanisms relating endothelial function and atherosclerosis, contemporary imaging strategies now able to quantify coronary endothelial function noninvasively, and recent insights on human coronary endothelial function.
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32
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Bahls M, Bidwell CA, Hu J, Tellez A, Kaluza GL, Granada JF, Krueger CG, Reed JD, Laughlin MH, Van Alstine WG, Newcomer SC. Gene expression differences during the heterogeneous progression of peripheral atherosclerosis in familial hypercholesterolemic swine. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:443. [PMID: 23822099 PMCID: PMC3716534 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The heterogeneous progression of atherosclerotic disease in the peripheral arteries is currently not well understood. In humans, artery specific disease progression is partly attributed to the local hemodynamic environments. However, despite similar hemodynamic environments, porcine brachial arteries are protected while femoral arteries are highly susceptible to advanced lesion formation. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether artery specific gene expression patterns contribute to the uneven distribution of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Rapacz Familial-Hypercholesterolemic (FHC) swine. RESULTS Histological results confirmed rapid atherosclerotic disease progression in femoral but not brachial arteries. A total of 18,922 probe sets had sufficient signal abundance. A main effect for age and artery was observed for 1784 and 1256 probe sets, respectively. A significant age x artery interaction was found for 184 probe sets. Furthermore, comparison between arteries found a decrease from 714 to 370 differentially expressed transcripts from nine months to two years of age. Gene ontology analysis of the 56 genes with a main effect for artery and an age x artery interaction identified vascular smooth muscle contraction as enhanced biological signaling pathway. CONCLUSION This is the first investigation to report that the total number of differential genes decreases with diverging atherosclerotic disease pattern between porcine brachial and femoral arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Bahls
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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Abstract
The endothelial lining of blood vessels shows remarkable heterogeneity in structure and function, in time and space, and in health and disease. An understanding of the molecular basis for phenotypic heterogeneity may provide important insights into vascular bed-specific therapies. First, we review the scope of endothelial heterogeneity and discuss its proximate and evolutionary mechanisms. Second, we apply these principles, together with their therapeutic implications, to a representative vascular bed in disease, namely, tumor endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Aird
- Department of Medicine, Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
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34
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Trigueros-Motos L, González-Granado JM, Cheung C, Fernández P, Sánchez-Cabo F, Dopazo A, Sinha S, Andrés V. Embryological-origin-dependent differences in homeobox expression in adult aorta: role in regional phenotypic variability and regulation of NF-κB activity. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2013; 33:1248-56. [PMID: 23448971 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.112.300539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Different vascular beds show differing susceptibility to the development of atherosclerosis, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences are incompletely understood. This study aims to identify factors that contribute to the phenotypic heterogeneity of distinct regions of the adult vasculature. APPROACH AND RESULTS High-throughput mRNA profiling in adult mice reveals higher expression of the homeobox paralogous genes 6 to 10 (Hox6-10) in the athero-resistant thoracic aorta (TA) than in the athero-susceptible aortic arch (AA). Higher homeobox gene expression also occurs in rat and porcine TA, and is maintained in primary smooth muscle cells isolated from TA (TA-SMCs) compared with cells from AA (AA-SMCs). This region-specific homeobox gene expression pattern is also observed in human embryonic stem cells differentiated into neuroectoderm-SMCs and paraxial mesoderm-SMCs, which give rise to AA-SMCs and TA-SMCs, respectively. We also find that, compared with AA and AA-SMCs, TA and TA-SMCs have lower activity of the proinflammatory and proatherogenic nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and lower expression of NF-κB target genes, at least in part attributable to HOXA9-dependent inhibition. Conversely, NF-κB inhibits HOXA9 promoter activity and mRNA expression in SMCs. CONCLUSION Our findings support a model of Hox6-10-specified positional identity in the adult vasculature that is established by embryonic cues independently of environmental factors and is conserved in different mammalian species. Differential homeobox gene expression contributes to maintaining phenotypic differences between SMCs from athero-resistant and athero-susceptible regions, at least in part through feedback regulatory mechanisms involving inflammatory mediators, for example, reciprocal inhibition between HOXA9 and NF-κB.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Animals
- Aorta/embryology
- Aorta, Thoracic/embryology
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Atherosclerosis/physiopathology
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cells, Cultured
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Genes, Homeobox/genetics
- Humans
- Mice
- Models, Animal
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/cytology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- NF-kappa B/genetics
- Phenotype
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats
- Species Specificity
- Swine
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Trigueros-Motos
- Departamento de Epidemiología, Aterotrombosis e Imagen, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
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35
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Verdugo RA, Zeller T, Rotival M, Wild PS, Münzel T, Lackner KJ, Weidmann H, Ninio E, Trégouët DA, Cambien F, Blankenberg S, Tiret L. Graphical modeling of gene expression in monocytes suggests molecular mechanisms explaining increased atherosclerosis in smokers. PLoS One 2013; 8:e50888. [PMID: 23372645 PMCID: PMC3553098 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 10/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Smoking is a risk factor for atherosclerosis with reported widespread effects on gene expression in circulating blood cells. We hypothesized that a molecular signature mediating the relation between smoking and atherosclerosis may be found in the transcriptome of circulating monocytes. Genome-wide expression profiles and counts of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries were collected in 248 smokers and 688 non-smokers from the general population. Patterns of co-expressed genes were identified by Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and network structure of the pattern-specific gene modules was inferred by the PC-algorithm. A likelihood-based causality test was implemented to select patterns that fit models containing a path “smoking→gene expression→plaques”. Robustness of the causal inference was assessed by bootstrapping. At a FDR ≤0.10, 3,368 genes were associated to smoking or plaques, of which 93% were associated to smoking only. SASH1 showed the strongest association to smoking and PPARG the strongest association to plaques. Twenty-nine gene patterns were identified by ICA. Modules containing SASH1 and PPARG did not show evidence for the “smoking→gene expression→plaques” causality model. Conversely, three modules had good support for causal effects and exhibited a network topology consistent with gene expression mediating the relation between smoking and plaques. The network with the strongest support for causal effects was connected to plaques through SLC39A8, a gene with known association to HDL-cholesterol and cellular uptake of cadmium from tobacco, while smoking was directly connected to GAS6, a gene reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in atherosclerosis and to be up-regulated in the placenta of women smoking during pregnancy. Our analysis of the transcriptome of monocytes recovered genes relevant for association to smoking and atherosclerosis, and connected genes that before, were only studied in separate contexts. Inspection of correlation structure revealed candidates that would be missed by expression-phenotype association analysis alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tanja Zeller
- University Heart Center Hamburg, Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maxime Rotival
- INSERM UMR_S 937, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France
| | - Philipp S. Wild
- Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Clinical Epidemiology, Center for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Karl J. Lackner
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Henri Weidmann
- INSERM UMR_S 937, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France
| | - Ewa Ninio
- INSERM UMR_S 937, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France
| | | | - François Cambien
- INSERM UMR_S 937, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France
| | - Stefan Blankenberg
- University Heart Center Hamburg, Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Laurence Tiret
- INSERM UMR_S 937, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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36
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Abstract
Endothelial cells display remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity. An important goal is to elucidate the scope and mechanisms of endothelial heterogeneity and to use this information to develop vascular bed-specific therapies. We reexamine our current understanding of the molecular basis of endothelial heterogeneity. We introduce multistability as a new explanatory framework in vascular biology. We draw on the field of nonlinear dynamics to propose a dynamical systems framework for modeling multistability and its derivative properties, including robustness, memory, and plasticity. Our perspective allows for both a conceptual and quantitative description of system-level features of endothelial regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erzsébet Ravasz Regan
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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38
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Simmons GH, Padilla J, Laughlin MH. Heterogeneity of endothelial cell phenotype within and amongst conduit vessels of the swine vasculature. Exp Physiol 2012; 97:1074-82. [PMID: 22542613 DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2011.064006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of endothelial cell phenotypic heterogeneity throughout the swine vasculature, with a focus on the conduit vessels of the arterial and venous circulations. We tested the hypothesis that atheroprone arteries exhibit higher expression of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress than do veins and atheroresistant arteries. The study sample included tissues from 79 castrated, male swine. Immediately after the animals were killed, endothelial cells were mechanically scraped from isolated segments of the thoracic and abdominal aorta, carotid, brachial, femoral and renal arteries, and the vein regionally associated with each of these vessels, as well as the internal mammary and right coronary arteries. Cells were also taken from two regions of the aortic arch contrasted by atheroprone versus atherosusceptible haemodynamics. Endothelial cell phenotype was assessed by either immunoblotting or quantitative real-time PCR for a host of both pro- and anti-atherogenic markers (e.g. endothelial nitric oxide synthase, p67phox, cyclo-oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase 1). Marked heterogeneity across the vasculature was observed in the expression of both pro- and anti-atherogenic markers, at both the protein and transcriptional levels. In particular, the coronary vascular endothelium expressed higher levels of the oxidative stress marker p67phox (P < 0.05 versus other arteries). In addition, differential expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and KLF4 was evident between atheroprone and atherosusceptible regions of the aorta, while expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, KLF2, KLF4 and cyclo-oxygenase-1 was lower in both areas of the aortic arch compared with the internal mammary artery. Conduit arteries typically expressed higher levels of both pro- and anti-atherogenic markers relative to their associated veins. We show, for the first time, that endothelial cell phenotype is variable within vessels, across six major vascular territories, and between the arterial and venous circulations. Importantly, even straight vessel segments from systemic conduit arteries (e.g. brachial and carotid arteries) exhibited regional phenotypic heterogeneity; a finding not expected on the basis of local haemodynamic forces alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant H Simmons
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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39
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Bandyopadhyay S, Harris DP, Adams GN, Lause GE, McHugh A, Tillmaand EG, Money A, Willard B, Fox PL, DiCorleto PE. HOXA9 methylation by PRMT5 is essential for endothelial cell expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules. Mol Cell Biol 2012; 32:1202-13. [PMID: 22269951 PMCID: PMC3302442 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.05977-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The induction of proinflammatory proteins in stimulated endothelial cells (EC) requires activation of multiple transcription programs. The homeobox transcription factor HOXA9 has an important regulatory role in cytokine induction of the EC-leukocyte adhesion molecules (ELAM) E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). However, the mechanism underlying stimulus-dependent activation of HOXA9 is completely unknown. Here, we elucidate the molecular mechanism of HOXA9 activation by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and show an unexpected requirement for arginine methylation by protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). PRMT5 was identified as a TNF-α-dependent binding partner of HOXA9 by mass spectrometry. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of PRMT5 abrogated stimulus-dependent HOXA9 methylation with concomitant loss in E-selectin or VCAM-1 induction. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that PRMT5 is recruited to the E-selectin promoter following transient HOXA9 binding to its cognate recognition sequence. PRMT5 induces symmetric dimethylation of Arg140 on HOXA9, an event essential for E-selectin induction. In summary, PRMT5 is a critical coactivator component in a newly defined, HOXA9-containing transcription complex. Moreover, stimulus-dependent methylation of HOXA9 is essential for ELAM expression during the EC inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smarajit Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Daniel P. Harris
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Gregory N. Adams
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Gregory E. Lause
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Anne McHugh
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Emily G. Tillmaand
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Angela Money
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Belinda Willard
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Paul L. Fox
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
| | - Paul E. DiCorleto
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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40
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Hewing B, Fisher EA. Preclinical mouse models and methods for the discovery of the causes and treatments of atherosclerosis. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2012; 7:207-16. [PMID: 22468952 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2012.660143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the Western world. Despite huge advances in understanding its pathophysiological mechanisms, current treatment is mostly based on 'traditional' risk factors. The introduction of statins more than 20 years ago reduced morbidity and mortality of atherosclerosis by 30%, leaving a residual cardiovascular risk. Therefore, efforts continue toward the development of novel therapies that can be added to established treatments. Besides targeting dyslipidemia, recent focus has been put on preventing or resolving inflammatory processes involved in atherosclerosis. AREAS COVERED The article discusses therapeutic and diagnostic targets in atherosclerosis and how they can be discovered and studied in preclinical animal models. The roles of immune cells, specifically macrophages and monocytes, in plaque inflammation are discussed. The article also describes current preclinical models of atherosclerosis, specifically the mouse, study designs (for progression and regression studies), basic and advanced methods of analysis of atherosclerotic lesions, and discusses the challenges of translating the findings to humans. EXPERT OPINION Advances in genomics, proteomics, lipidomics and the development of high-throughput screening techniques help to improve our understanding of atherosclerosis disease mechanisms immensely and facilitate the discovery of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Preclinical studies in animals are still indispensable to uncover pathways involved in atherosclerotic disease and to evaluate novel drug targets. The translation of these targets, however, from animal studies to humans remains challenging. There is a strong need for novel biomarkers that can be used to prove the concept of a new target in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Hewing
- NYU School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, NY 10016, USA
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Dolan JM, Sim FJ, Meng H, Kolega J. Endothelial cells express a unique transcriptional profile under very high wall shear stress known to induce expansive arterial remodeling. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2011; 302:C1109-18. [PMID: 22173868 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00369.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Chronic high flow can induce arterial remodeling, and this effect is mediated by endothelial cells (ECs) responding to wall shear stress (WSS). To assess how WSS above physiological normal levels affects ECs, we used DNA microarrays to profile EC gene expression under various flow conditions. Cultured bovine aortic ECs were exposed to no-flow (0 Pa), normal WSS (2 Pa), and very high WSS (10 Pa) for 24 h. Very high WSS induced a distinct expression profile compared with both no-flow and normal WSS. Gene ontology and biological pathway analysis revealed that high WSS modulated gene expression in ways that promote an anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, proliferative, and promatrix remodeling phenotype. A subset of characteristic genes was validated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction: very high WSS upregulated ADAMTS1 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif-1), PLAU (urokinase plasminogen activator), PLAT (tissue plasminogen activator), and TIMP3, all of which are involved in extracellular matrix processing, with PLAT and PLAU also contributing to fibrinolysis. Downregulated genes included CXCL5 and IL-8 and the adhesive glycoprotein THBS1 (thrombospondin-1). Expressions of ADAMTS1 and uPA proteins were assessed by immunhistochemistry in rabbit basilar arteries experiencing increased flow after bilateral carotid artery ligation. Both proteins were significantly increased when WSS was elevated compared with sham control animals. Our results indicate that very high WSS elicits a unique transcriptional profile in ECs that favors particular cell functions and pathways that are important in vessel homeostasis under increased flow. In addition, we identify specific molecular targets that are likely to contribute to adaptive remodeling under elevated flow conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Dolan
- Toshiba Stroke Research Center, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 14214, USA
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Thijssen DHJ, Rowley N, Padilla J, Simmons GH, Laughlin MH, Whyte G, Cable NT, Green DJ. Relationship between upper and lower limb conduit artery vasodilator function in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2011; 111:244-50. [PMID: 21512151 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00290.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a strong predictor of future cardiovascular disease and is believed to represent a "barometer" of systemic endothelial health. Although a recent study [Padilla et al. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 235: 1287-1291, 2010] in pigs confirmed a strong correlation between brachial and femoral artery endothelial function, it is unclear to what extent brachial artery FMD represents a systemic index of endothelial function in humans. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from our laboratory to evaluate relationships between the upper (i.e., brachial artery) vs. lower limb (superficial femoral n = 75; popliteal artery n = 32) endothelium-dependent FMD and endothelium-independent glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)-mediated dilation in young, healthy individuals. We also examined the relationship between FMD assessed in both brachial arteries (n = 42). There was no correlation between brachial and superficial femoral artery FMD (r(2) = 0.008; P = 0.46) or between brachial and popliteal artery FMD (r(2) = 0.003; P = 0.78). However, a correlation was observed in FMD between both brachial arteries (r(2) = 0.34; P < 0.001). Brachial and superficial femoral artery GTN were modestly correlated (r(2) = 0.13; P = 0.007), but brachial and popliteal artery GTN responses were not (r(2) = 0.08; P = 0.11). Collectively, these data indicate that conduit artery vasodilator function in the upper limbs (of healthy humans) is not predictive of that in the lower limbs, whereas measurement of FMD in one arm appears to be predictive of FMD in the other. These data do not support the hypothesis that brachial artery FMD in healthy humans represents a systemic index of endothelial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dick H J Thijssen
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Tom Reilly Bldg., Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom St., Liverpool L3 3AF, UK.
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Civelek M, Manduchi E, Riley RJ, Stoeckert CJ, Davies PF. Coronary artery endothelial transcriptome in vivo: identification of endoplasmic reticulum stress and enhanced reactive oxygen species by gene connectivity network analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 4:243-52. [PMID: 21493819 DOI: 10.1161/circgenetics.110.958926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial function is central to the localization of atherosclerosis. The in vivo endothelial phenotypic footprints of arterial bed identity and site-specific atherosusceptibility are addressed. METHODS AND RESULTS Ninety-eight endothelial cell samples from 13 discrete coronary and noncoronary arterial regions of varying susceptibilities to atherosclerosis were isolated from 76 normal swine. Transcript profiles were analyzed to determine the steady-state in vivo endothelial phenotypes. An unsupervised systems biology approach using weighted gene coexpression networks showed highly correlated endothelial genes. Connectivity network analysis identified 19 gene modules, 12 of which showed significant association with circulatory bed classification. Differential expression of 1300 genes between coronary and noncoronary artery endothelium suggested distinct coronary endothelial phenotypes, with highest significance expressed in gene modules enriched for biological functions related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein binding, regulation of transcription and translation, and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, within coronary arteries, comparison of endothelial transcript profiles of susceptible proximal regions to protected distal regions suggested the presence of ER stress conditions in susceptible sites. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species throughout coronary endothelium was greater than in noncoronary endothelium consistent with coronary artery ER stress and lower endothelial expression of antioxidant genes in coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS Gene connectivity analyses discriminated between coronary and noncoronary endothelial transcript profiles and identified differential transcript levels associated with increased ER and oxidative stress in coronary arteries consistent with enhanced susceptibility to atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mete Civelek
- Department of Bioengineering, Institute for Medicine and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Newcomer SC, Thijssen DHJ, Green DJ. Effects of exercise on endothelium and endothelium/smooth muscle cross talk: role of exercise-induced hemodynamics. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2011; 111:311-20. [PMID: 21436465 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00033.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Physical activity, exercise training, and fitness are associated with decreased cardiovascular risk. In the context that a risk factor "gap" exists in the explanation for the beneficial effects of exercise on cardiovascular disease, it has recently been proposed that exercise generates hemodynamic stimuli which exert direct effects on the vasculature that are antiatherogenic. In this review we briefly introduce some of the in vitro and in vivo evidence relating exercise hemodynamic modulation and vascular adaptation. In vitro data clearly demonstrate the importance of shear stress as a potential mechanism underlying vascular adaptations associated with exercise. Supporting this is in vivo human data demonstrating that exercise-mediated shear stress induces localized impacts on arterial function and diameter. Emerging evidence suggests that exercise-related changes in hemodynamic stimuli other than shear stress may also be associated with arterial remodeling. Taken together, in vitro and in vivo data strongly imply that hemodynamic influences combine to orchestrate a response to exercise and training that regulates wall stress and peripheral vascular resistance and contributes to the antiatherogenic impacts of physical activity, fitness, and training.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Newcomer
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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Siemianowicz K, Gminski J, Goss M, Francuz T, Likus W, Jurczak T, Garczorz W. Influence of elastin-derived peptides on metalloprotease production in endothelial cells. Exp Ther Med 2010; 1:1057-1060. [PMID: 22993640 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2010.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2010] [Accepted: 09/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade extracellular matrix proteins. MMP-1 and MMP-2 are produced by endothelial cells and are involved in specific vascular pathologies, including atherosclerosis and aortal aneurysm. One of the most important differences between these two metalloproteases is the possibility of hydrolysis of elastin and collagen type IV by MMP-2, but not by MMP-1. Elastin-derived peptides are generated as a result of the degradation of elastin fibers. The aim of our study was to compare the production of MMP-1 and MMP-2 in cultured human arterial endothelial cells derived from vascular pathologies localized at three different sites, the coronary artery, iliac artery and aorta, measured as their concentration in cell culture medium. The second aim was to evaluate the influence of κ-elastin (at concentrations 0.1, 0.4, 1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 μg/ml) on the production of the evaluated metalloproteases in three endothelial cell lines. The production of MMP-1 was statistically significantly greater in endothelial cells derived from the aorta compared to that in the endothelium obtained from the coronary and iliac arteries. There were no statistically significant differences in the production of MMP-2 among the endothelial cell lines tested. The addition of κ-elastin at all evaluated concentrations did not statistically significantly influence the concentration of MMP-1 in the cultured coronary artery endothelium. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed in the cultured iliac artery endothelium. In the cultured endothelium derived from the aorta, κ-elastin at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.4 μg/ml significantly increased the amount of MMP-1.
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