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Duess JW, Gosemann JH, Kaskova Gheorghescu A, Puri P, Thompson J. Y-27632 Impairs Angiogenesis on Extra-Embryonic Vasculature in Post-Gastrulation Chick Embryos. TOXICS 2023; 11:134. [PMID: 36851009 PMCID: PMC9962381 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11020134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Y-27632 inhibits Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) signaling, which is involved in various embryonic developmental processes, including angiogenesis, by controlling actin cytoskeleton assembly and cell contractility. Administration of Y-27632 impairs cytoskeletal arrangements in post-gastrulation chick embryos, leading to ventral body wall defects (VBWDs). Impaired angiogenesis has been hypothesized to contribute to VBWDs. ROCK is essential in transmitting signals downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF-mediated angiogenesis induces gene expressions and alterations of the actin cytoskeleton upon binding to VEGF receptors (VEGFRs). The aim of this study was to investigate effects of Y-27632 on angiogenesis in post-gastrulation chick embryos during early embryogenesis. After 60 h incubation, embryos in shell-less culture were treated with Y-27632 or vehicle for controls. Y-27632-treated embryos showed reduced extra-embryonic blood vessel formation with impaired circulation of the yolk sac, confirmed by fractal analysis. Western blot confirmed impaired ROCK downstream signaling by decreased expression of phosphorylated myosin light chain. Interestingly, RT-PCR demonstrated increased gene expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 1 h post-treatment. Protein levels of VEGF were higher in Y-27632-treated embryos at 8 h following treatment, whereas no difference was seen in membranes. We hypothesize that administration of Y-27632 impairs vessel formation during angiogenesis, which may contribute to failure of VWB closure, causing VBWDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes W. Duess
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- National Children’s Research Centre, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, 12 Dublin, Ireland
- School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, 4 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jan-Hendrik Gosemann
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- National Children’s Research Centre, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, 12 Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Prem Puri
- National Children’s Research Centre, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, 12 Dublin, Ireland
- School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, 4 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jennifer Thompson
- National Children’s Research Centre, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, 12 Dublin, Ireland
- School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, 4 Dublin, Ireland
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Possible cooption of a VEGF-driven tubulogenesis program for biomineralization in echinoderms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:12353-12362. [PMID: 31152134 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1902126116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomineralization is the process by which living organisms use minerals to form hard structures that protect and support them. Biomineralization is believed to have evolved rapidly and independently in different phyla utilizing preexisting components. The mechanistic understanding of the regulatory networks that drive biomineralization and their evolution is far from clear. Sea urchin skeletogenesis is an excellent model system for studying both gene regulation and mineral uptake and deposition. The sea urchin calcite spicules are formed within a tubular cavity generated by the skeletogenic cells controlled by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. The VEGF pathway is essential for biomineralization in echinoderms, while in many other phyla, across metazoans, it controls tubulogenesis and vascularization. Despite the critical role of VEGF signaling in sea urchin spiculogenesis, the downstream program it activates was largely unknown. Here we study the cellular and molecular machinery activated by the VEGF pathway during sea urchin spiculogenesis and reveal multiple parallels to the regulation of vertebrate vascularization. Human VEGF rescues sea urchin VEGF knockdown, vesicle deposition into an internal cavity plays a significant role in both systems, and sea urchin VEGF signaling activates hundreds of genes, including biomineralization and interestingly, vascularization genes. Moreover, five upstream transcription factors and three signaling genes that drive spiculogenesis are homologous to vertebrate factors that control vascularization. Overall, our findings suggest that sea urchin spiculogenesis and vertebrate vascularization diverged from a common ancestral tubulogenesis program, broadly adapted for vascularization and specifically coopted for biomineralization in the echinoderm phylum.
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Effects of ripasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, on retinal edema and nonperfusion area in a retinal vein occlusion murine model. J Pharmacol Sci 2018; 137:129-136. [PMID: 29983234 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors are used to treat glaucoma patients and have protective effects on ischemic states. However, it is poorly understood how the ROCK pathway affects the pathological signs of retinal vein occlusion (RVO). In this study, we evaluated the effects of ripasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, on a murine RVO model. In vivo, RVO was induced by retinal vein laser irradiation in mice, and evaluated with ripasudil. In vitro, the effects of ripasudil were examined on tight junction protein integrity in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs). Moreover, we investigated the expression level of the phosphorylated myosin phosphatase target protein (MYPT)-1 after administration of ripasudil. Ripasudil significantly prevented deterioration, such as retinal edema, reduced the size of the nonperfusion area, and improved retinal blood flow. Ripasudil treatment inhibited disintegration of ZO-1 in HRMECs. Administration of ripasudil suppressed retinal phosphorylation of MYPT-1 in a murine RVO model. These findings indicate that ripasudil might be as a possible therapeutic agent for RVO.
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Hollanders K, Hove IV, Sergeys J, Bergen TV, Lefevere E, Kindt N, Castermans K, Vandewalle E, van Pelt J, Moons L, Stalmans I. AMA0428, A Potent Rock Inhibitor, Attenuates Early and Late Experimental Diabetic Retinopathy. Curr Eye Res 2016; 42:260-272. [PMID: 27399806 DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2016.1183030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is characterized by an early stage of inflammation and vessel leakage, and an advanced vasoproliferative stage. Also, neurodegeneration might play an important role in disease pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, AMA0428, on these processes. METHODS The response to ROCK inhibition by AMA0428 (1 µg) was studied in vivo using the murine model for streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, focusing on early non-proliferative DR features and the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model to investigate proliferative DR. Intravitreal (IVT) administration of AMA0428 was compared with murine anti-VEGF-R2 antibody (DC101, 6.2 µg) and placebo (H2O/PEG; 1C8). Outcome was assessed by analyzing leukostasis using fluorescein isothiocyanate coupled concanavalin A (FITC-ConA) and vessel leakage (bovine serum albumin conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate; FITC-BSA)/neovascularization and neurodegeneration by immunohistological approaches (hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), Brn3a). ELISA and Western blotting were employed to unravel the consequences of ROCK inhibition (1 µM AMA0428) on myosin phosphatase target protein (MYPT)-1 phosphorylation, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in retinas of diabetic mice, on NF-κβ activity and ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells (ECs). RESULTS In vivo, AMA0428 significantly reduced vessel leakage and neovascularization, respectively, in the STZ and OIR model, comparable to DC101 therapy. Additionally, the ROCK inhibitor decreased neurodegeneration in both models and inhibited leukostasis by 30% (p < 0.05) in the STZ model (p < 0.05), while DC101 had no positive effect on the outcome of these latter processes. ROCK activity was upregulated in the diabetic retina and AMA0428 administration resulted in decreased phospho-MYPT-1, enhanced phospho-eNOS, and reduced VEGF levels. In vitro, AMA0428 interfered with NF-κβ activity, thereby inhibiting ICAM-1 expression in ECs. CONCLUSIONS Targeting ROCK with AMA0428 effectively attenuated outcome in an early DR model (STZ) and a late vasoproliferative retinopathy model (OIR). These findings make AMA0428 a promising candidate with an additional anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefit for DR patients, as compared with anti-VEGF treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolien Hollanders
- a Department of Ophthalmology , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.,b Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospitals Ghent , Ghent , Belgium
| | - Inge Van Hove
- a Department of Ophthalmology , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.,c Department of Biology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Jurgen Sergeys
- a Department of Ophthalmology , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.,c Department of Biology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Tine Van Bergen
- a Department of Ophthalmology , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Evy Lefevere
- a Department of Ophthalmology , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.,c Department of Biology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | | | | | - Evelien Vandewalle
- a Department of Ophthalmology , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.,e Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Jos van Pelt
- f Department of Hepatology , University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- c Department of Biology, KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Stalmans
- a Department of Ophthalmology , KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.,e Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven-University of Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
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Abstract
Understanding the forces controlling vascular network properties and morphology can enhance in vitro tissue vascularization and graft integration prospects. This work assessed the effect of uniaxial cell-induced and externally applied tensile forces on the morphology of vascular networks formed within fibroblast and endothelial cell-embedded 3D polymeric constructs. Force intensity correlated with network quality, as verified by inhibition of force and of angiogenesis-related regulators. Tensile forces during vessel formation resulted in parallel vessel orientation under static stretching and diagonal orientation under cyclic stretching, supported by angiogenic factors secreted in response to each stretch protocol. Implantation of scaffolds bearing network orientations matching those of host abdominal muscle tissue improved graft integration and the mechanical properties of the implantation site, a critical factor in repair of defects in this area. This study demonstrates the regulatory role of forces in angiogenesis and their capacities in vessel structure manipulation, which can be exploited to improve scaffolds for tissue repair.
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Suehiro JI, Kanki Y, Makihara C, Schadler K, Miura M, Manabe Y, Aburatani H, Kodama T, Minami T. Genome-wide approaches reveal functional vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-inducible nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) c1 binding to angiogenesis-related genes in the endothelium. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:29044-59. [PMID: 25157100 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.555235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
VEGF is a key regulator of endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and inflammation, which leads to activation of several signaling cascades, including the calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) pathway. NFAT is not only important for immune responses but also for cardiovascular development and the pathogenesis of Down syndrome. By using Down syndrome model mice and clinical patient samples, we showed recently that the VEGF-calcineurin-NFAT signaling axis regulates tumor angiogenesis and tumor metastasis. However, the connection between genome-wide views of NFAT-mediated gene regulation and downstream gene function in the endothelium has not been studied extensively. Here we performed comprehensive mapping of genome-wide NFATc1 binding in VEGF-stimulated primary cultured endothelial cells and elucidated the functional consequences of VEGF-NFATc1-mediated phenotypic changes. A comparison of the NFATc1 ChIP sequence profile and epigenetic histone marks revealed that predominant NFATc1-occupied peaks overlapped with promoter-associated histone marks. Moreover, we identified two novel NFATc1 regulated genes, CXCR7 and RND1. CXCR7 knockdown abrogated SDF-1- and VEGF-mediated cell migration and tube formation. siRNA treatment of RND1 impaired vascular barrier function, caused RhoA hyperactivation, and further stimulated VEGF-mediated vascular outgrowth from aortic rings. Taken together, these findings suggest that dynamic NFATc1 binding to target genes is critical for VEGF-mediated endothelial cell activation. CXCR7 and RND1 are NFATc1 target genes with multiple functions, including regulation of cell migration, tube formation, and barrier formation in endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yasuharu Kanki
- From the Division of Vascular Biology, Systems Biology, The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-8904 Japan and
| | | | - Keri Schadler
- From the Division of Vascular Biology, the Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Mai Miura
- From the Division of Vascular Biology
| | | | | | - Tatsuhiko Kodama
- Systems Biology, The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-8904 Japan and
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Farber MJ, Rizaldy R, Hildebrand JD. Shroom2 regulates contractility to control endothelial morphogenesis. Mol Biol Cell 2011; 22:795-805. [PMID: 21248203 PMCID: PMC3057704 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e10-06-0505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic contractile, migratory, and adhesive properties of endothelial cells are central determinants in the formation of vascular networks seen in vertebrate organisms. Because Shroom2 (Shrm2) is expressed within the endothelium, is localized to cortical actin and cell-cell adhesions, and contains a conserved Rho kinase (Rock) binding domain, we hypothesized that Shrm2 may participate in the regulation of endothelial cell behavior during vascular morphogenesis. Consistent with this hypothesis, depletion of Shrm2 results in elevated branching and sprouting angiogenic behavior of endothelial cells. This is recapitulated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and in a vasculogenesis assay in which differentiated embryonic stem cells depleted for Shrm2 form a more highly branched endothelial network. Further analyses indicate that the altered behavior observed following Shrm2 depletion is due to aberrant cell contractility, as evidenced by decreased stress fiber organization and collagen contraction with an increase in cellular migration. Because Shrm2 directly interacts with Rock, and Shrm2 knockdown results in the loss of Rock and activated myosin II from sites of cell-cell adhesion, we conclude that Shrm2 facilitates the formation of a contractile network within endothelial cells, the loss of which leads to an increase in endothelial sprouting, migration, and angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Farber
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Gambardella L, Hemberger M, Hughes B, Zudaire E, Andrews S, Vermeren S. PI3K signaling through the dual GTPase-activating protein ARAP3 is essential for developmental angiogenesis. Sci Signal 2010; 3:ra76. [PMID: 20978237 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2001026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
One function of phosphoinositide 3-kinase α (PI3Kα), which generates the lipid second messenger phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)], is its regulation of angiogenesis in the developing embryo and in pathological situations. ARAP3 is a PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)- and Rap-activated guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-activating protein (GAP) for the small GTPases RhoA and Arf6. Here, we show that deleting Arap3 in the mouse caused embryonic death in mid-gestation due to an endothelial cell-autonomous defect in sprouting angiogenesis. Explants taken at a developmental stage at which no defect was yet present reproduced this phenotype ex vivo, demonstrating that the defect was not secondary to hypoxia, placental defects, or organ failure. In addition, knock-in mice expressing an ARAP3 point mutant that cannot be activated by PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3) had angiogenesis defects similar to those of Arap3(-/-) embryos. Our work delineates a previously unknown signaling pathway that controls angiogenesis immediately downstream of PI3Kα through ARAP3 to the Rho and Arf family of small GTPases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Gambardella
- Inositide Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
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