1
|
Yang S, Zhao Y, Cao S, Liu X, Feng M, Chen Y, Ma C, Zhan T, Zhang Q, Jia H, Zhao Y, Tong M, Yu Y, Liu X, Yang B, Zhang Y. Kanglexin counters vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation and associated arteriosclerosis through inhibiting PDGFR. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 130:155704. [PMID: 38759316 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function leads to a variety of diseases such as atherosclerosis and hyperplasia after injury. However, antiproliferative drug targeting VSMC exhibits poor specificity. Therefore, there is an urgent to develop highly specific antiproliferative drugs to prevention and treatment VSMC dedifferentiation associated arteriosclerosis. Kanglexin (KLX), a new anthraquinone compound designed by our team, has potential to regulate VSMC phenotype according to the physicochemical properties. PURPOSE This project aims to evaluate the therapeutic role of KLX in VSMC dedifferentiation and atherosclerosis, neointimal formation and illustrates the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS In vivo, the ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for a duration of 13 weeks to establish the atherosclerotic model. And rat carotid artery injury model was performed to establish the neointimal formation model. In vitro, PDGF-BB was used to induce VSMC dedifferentiation. RESULTS We found that KLX ameliorated the atherosclerotic progression including atherosclerotic lesion formation, lipid deposition and collagen deposition in aorta and aortic sinus in atherosclerotic mouse model. In addition, The administration of KLX effectively ameliorated neointimal formation in the carotid artery following balloon injury in SD rats. The findings derived from molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments unequivocally demonstrate that KLX had potential to bind PDGFR-β. Mechanism research work proved that KLX prevented VSMC proliferation, migration and dedifferentiation via activating the PDGFR-β-MEK -ERK-ELK-1/KLF4 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Collectively, we demonstrated that KLX effectively attenuated the progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice and carotid arterial neointimal formation in SD rats by inhibiting VSMC phenotypic conversion via PDGFR-β-MEK-ERK-ELK-1/KLF4 signaling. KLX exhibits promising potential as a viable therapeutic agent for the treatment of VSMC phenotype conversion associated arteriosclerosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yixiu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Shifeng Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xinxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Min Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Chunyue Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Tingting Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Honglin Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Ming Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Baofeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mangum KD, Li Q, Bauer TM, Wolf SJ, Shadiow J, Moon JY, Barrett EC, Joshi AD, Ahmed Z, Wasikowski R, Boyer K, Obi AT, Davis FM, Chang L, Tsoi LC, Gudjonsson J, Gallagher KA. Epigenetic Alteration of Smooth Muscle Cells Regulates Endothelin-Dependent Blood Pressure and Hypertensive Arterial Remodeling. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.07.09.24310178. [PMID: 39040193 PMCID: PMC11261912 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.09.24310178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Long-standing hypertension (HTN) affects multiple organ systems and leads to pathologic arterial remodeling, which is driven largely by smooth muscle cell (SMC) plasticity. Although genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous variants associated with changes in blood pressure in humans, only a small percentage of these variants actually cause HTN. In order to identify relevant genes important in SMC function in HTN, we screened three separate human GWAS and Mendelian randomization studies to identify SNPs located within non-coding gene regions, focusing on genes encoding epigenetic enzymes, as these have been recently identified to control SMC fate in cardiovascular disease. We identified SNPs rs62059712 and rs74480102 in the promoter of the human JMJD3 gene and show that the minor C allele increases JMJD3 transcription in SMCs via increased SP1 binding to the JMJD3 promoter. Using our novel SMC-specific Jmjd3-deficient murine model ( Jmjd3 flox/flox Myh11 CreERT ), we show that loss of Jmjd3 in SMCs results in HTN, mechanistically, due to decreased EDNRB expression and a compensatory increase in EDNRA expression. As a translational corollary, through single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of human arteries, we found strong correlation between JMJD3 and EDNRB expression in SMCs. Further, we identified that JMJD3 is required for SMC-specific gene expression, and loss of JMJD3 in SMCs in the setting of HTN results in increased arterial remodeling by promoting the SMC synthetic phenotype. Our findings link a HTN-associated human DNA variant with regulation of SMC plasticity, revealing therapeutic targets that may be used in the screening and/or personalized treatment of HTN.
Collapse
|
3
|
Pathak AS, Stouffer GA. Differential responses to thrombospondin-1 and PDGF-BB in smooth muscle cells from atherosclerotic coronary arteries and internal thoracic arteries. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15847. [PMID: 38982274 PMCID: PMC11233497 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66860-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is rare in internal thoracic arteries (ITA) even in patients with severe atherosclerotic coronary artery (ACA) disease. To explore cellular differences, ITA SMC from 3 distinct donors and ACA SMC from 3 distinct donors were grown to sub-confluence and growth arrested for 48 h. Proliferation and thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) production were determined using standard techniques. ITA SMC were larger, grew more slowly and survived more passages than ACA SMC. ACA SMC had a more pronounced proliferative response to 10% serum than ITA SMC. Both ACA SMC and ITA SMC proliferated in response to exogenous TSP1 (12.5 µg/ml and 25 µg/ml) and platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB; 20 ng/ml) but TSP1- and PDGF-BB-induced proliferation were partially inhibited by anti-TSP1 antibody A4.1, microRNA-21(miR-21)-3p inhibitors and miR-21-5p inhibitors in each of the 3 ACA SMC lines, but not in any of the ITA SMC lines. PDGF-BB stimulated TSP1 production in ACA SMC but not in ITA SMC but there was no increase in TSP1 levels in conditioned media in either SMC type. In summary, there are significant differences in morphology, proliferative capacity and in responses to TSP1 and PDGF-BB in SMC derived from ITA compared to SMC derived from ACA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alokkumar S Pathak
- Division of Cardiology and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7075, USA
| | - George A Stouffer
- Division of Cardiology and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7075, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Arévalo-Martinez M, Ede J, van der Have O, Ritsvall O, Zetterberg FR, Nilsson UJ, Leffler H, Holmberg J, Albinsson S. Myocardin related transcription factor and galectin-3 drive lipid accumulation in human blood vessels. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 156:107383. [PMID: 38830455 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diabetes and hypertension are important risk factors for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis. A driving factor in this process is lipid accumulation in smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall. The glucose- and mechano-sensitive transcriptional coactivator, myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A/MKL1) can promote lipid accumulation in cultured human smooth muscle cells and contribute to the formation of smooth muscle-derived foam cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if intact human blood vessels ex vivo can be used to evaluate lipid accumulation in the vascular wall, and if this process is dependent on MRTF and/or galectin-3/LGALS3. Galectin-3 is an early marker of smooth muscle transdifferentiation and a potential mediator for foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS Human mammary arteries and saphenous veins were exposed to altered cholesterol and glucose levels in an organ culture model. Accumulation of lipids, quantified by Oil Red O, was increased by cholesterol loading and elevated glucose concentrations. Pharmacological inhibition of MRTF with CCG-203971 decreased lipid accumulation, whereas adenoviral-mediated overexpression of MRTF-A had the opposite effect. Cholesterol-induced expression of galectin-3 was decreased after inhibition of MRTF. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of galectin-3 with GB1107 reduced lipid accumulation in the vascular wall after cholesterol loading. CONCLUSION Ex vivo organ culture of human arteries and veins can be used to evaluate lipid accumulation in the intact vascular wall, as well as adenoviral transduction and pharmacological inhibition. Although MRTF and galectin-3 may have beneficial, anti-inflammatory effects under certain circumstances, our results, which demonstrate a significant decrease in lipid accumulation, support further evaluation of MRTF- and galectin-3-inhibitors for therapeutic intervention against atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marycarmen Arévalo-Martinez
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jacob Ede
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oscar van der Have
- Vessel Wall Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Olivia Ritsvall
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Fredrik R Zetterberg
- Galecto Biotech AB, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Medicinaregatan 8 A, SE-413 46 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ulf J Nilsson
- Galecto Biotech AB, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Medicinaregatan 8 A, SE-413 46 Lund, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hakon Leffler
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section MIG, Lund University BMC-C1228b, Klinikgatan 28, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Holmberg
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Albinsson
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Trinh J, Shin J, Rai V, Agrawal DK. Therapeutic Potential of Targeting p27 kip1 in Plaque Vulnerability. ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE RESEARCH 2024; 7:73-79. [PMID: 38737892 PMCID: PMC11087066 DOI: 10.26502/aimr.0167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, a critical contributor to coronary artery diseases, involves the accumulation of cholesterol, fibrin, and lipids within arterial walls, inciting inflammatory reactions culminating in plaque formation. This multifaceted interplay encompasses excessive fibrosis, fatty plaque development, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, and leukocyte migration in response to inflammatory pathways. While stable plaques demonstrate resilience against complications, vulnerable ones, with lipid-rich cores, necrosis, and thin fibrous caps, lead to thrombosis, myocardial infarction, stroke, and acute cerebrovascular accidents. The nuanced phenotypes of VSMCs, modulated by gene regulation and environmental cues, remain pivotal. Essential markers like alpha-SMA, myosin heavy chain, and calponin regulate VSMC migration and contraction, exhibiting diminished expression during VSMC de-differentiation and proliferation. p27kip, a CDK inhibitor, shows promise in regulating VSMC proliferation and appears associated with TNF-α-induced pathways impacting unstable plaques. Oncostatin M (OSM), an IL-6 family cytokine, correlates with MMP upregulation and foam cell formation, influencing plaque development. Efforts targeting mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibition, notably using rapamycin and its analogs, demonstrate potential but pose challenges due to associated adverse effects. Exploration of the impact of p27kip impact on plaque macrophages presents promising avenues, yet its complete therapeutic potential remains untapped. Similarly, while OSM has exhibited potential in inducing cell cycle arrest via p27kip, direct links necessitate further investigation. This critical review discusses the role of mTOR, p27kip, and OSM in VSMC proliferation and differentiation followed by the therapeutic potential of targeting these mediators in atherosclerosis to attenuate plaque vulnerability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Trinh
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA 91766, USA
| | - Jennifer Shin
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA 91766, USA
| | - Vikrant Rai
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA 91766, USA
| | - Devendra K Agrawal
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona CA 91766, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Matniyaz Y, Luo YX, Jiang Y, Zhang KY, Wang WZ, Pan T, Wang DJ, Xue YX. Short- and Long-term survival prediction in patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing open surgery. J Cardiothorac Surg 2024; 19:171. [PMID: 38566106 PMCID: PMC10988835 DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02687-x] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease associated with high mortality rates, where surgical intervention remains the primary life-saving treatment. However, the mortality rate for ATAAD operations continues to be alarmingly high. To address this critical issue, our study aimed to assess the correlation between preoperative laboratory examination, clinical imaging data, and postoperative mortality in ATAAD patients. Additionally, we sought to establish a reliable prediction model for evaluating the risk of postoperative death. METHODS In this study, a total of 384 patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) who were admitted to the emergency department for surgical treatment were included. Based on preoperative laboratory examination and clinical imaging data of ATAAD patients, logistic analysis was used to obtain independent risk factors for postoperative in-hospital death. The survival prediction model was based on cox regression analysis and displayed as a nomogram. RESULTS Logistic analysis identified several independent risk factors for postoperative in-hospital death, including Marfan syndrome, previous cardiac surgery history, previous renal dialysis history, direct bilirubin, serum phosphorus, D-dimer, white blood cell, multiple aortic ruptures and age. A survival prediction model based on cox regression analysis was established and presented as a nomogram. The model exhibited good discrimination and significantly improved the prediction of death risk in ATAAD patients. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we developed a novel survival prediction model for acute type A aortic dissection based on preoperative clinical features. The model demonstrated good discriminatory power and improved accuracy in predicting the risk of death in ATAAD patients undergoing open surgery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yusanjan Matniyaz
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Yuan-Xi Luo
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Ke-Yin Zhang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Wen-Zhe Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China
| | - Tuo Pan
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
| | - Dong-Jin Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
| | - Yun-Xing Xue
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Number 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu H, Zhao Y, Zhao G, Deng Y, Chen YE, Zhang J. SWI/SNF Complex in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Its Implications in Cardiovascular Pathologies. Cells 2024; 13:168. [PMID: 38247859 PMCID: PMC10814623 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020168] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mature vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) exhibit a remarkable degree of plasticity, a characteristic that has intrigued cardiovascular researchers for decades. Recently, it has become increasingly evident that the chromatin remodeler SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex plays a pivotal role in orchestrating chromatin conformation, which is critical for gene regulation. In this review, we provide a summary of research related to the involvement of the SWI/SNF complexes in VSMC and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), integrating these discoveries into the current landscape of epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in VSMC. These novel discoveries shed light on our understanding of VSMC biology and pave the way for developing innovative therapeutic strategies in CVD treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Guizhen Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yongjie Deng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Y. Eugene Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Leng Y, Zhang Z, Yao N, Fu X, Xie H, Gao H, Xie C. Chinese herbal medicine Shenqi compound for early intervention in patients at high cardiovascular risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: the protocol of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 10:1290240. [PMID: 38259322 PMCID: PMC10800938 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1290240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Reducing multiple cardiovascular risk factors is a key link and a challenging clinical problem to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications and death in patients with diabetes. Currently, there is a lack of clinical studies on patients with diabetes combined with multiple risk factors. Traditional Chinese medicine is believed to have therapeutic effects that contribute to the comprehensive control of multiple cardiovascular factors. This study aims to provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of Shenqi compound (SQC) for early intervention in diabetic patients at high cardiovascular risk. Methods and analysis This study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 120 diabetic patients with high cardiovascular risk were enrolled in five research centers. After a 2-week run-in period, the intervention group received basic treatment and SQC granules, and the control group received basic treatment and placebo granules for a total of 24 weeks, with a 24-week follow-up. The endpoint outcomes are major adverse cardiovascular events and renal-related and peripheral vascular disease events. The primary efficacy outcome is carotid intima-media thickness, and the secondary efficacy outcomes are carotid shear stress, indicators of glucose and lipid metabolism, pancreatic islets function, hemorheology, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, and quality of life scale. Safety indicators and adverse events were used to assess the safety of SQC. Discussion This study comprehensively evaluated the efficacy and safety of SQC for early intervention in diabetic patients at high cardiovascular risk from the aspects of overall metabolic level, structure, and function of blood vessels, quality of life, and long-term follow-up of endpoint events, providing evidence-based evidence for the short-term efficacy and long-term benefits of early treatment to reduce the risk of diabetic cardiovascular complications.Trial Registration: This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on March 9, 2023, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=192803 (No. ChiCTR2300069219).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Leng
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zehua Zhang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Nairong Yao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoxu Fu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongyan Xie
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Gao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chunguang Xie
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Carrillo Diaz de Leon M, Keane K, Roizes S, Liao S, von der Weid PY, Stephens M. Not just fibrotic: endothelial-derived TGFβ maintains contractile function and lymphatic muscle phenotype during homeostasis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 326:C269-C281. [PMID: 38047303 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00327.2023] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Cell-cell communication within the lymphatic vasculature during homeostasis is incompletely detailed. Although many discoveries highlight the pathological roles of transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) in chronic vascular inflammation and associated fibrosis, only a small amount is known surrounding the role of TGFβ-signaling in homeostatic lymphatic function. Here, we discovered that pharmacological blockade of TGFβ receptor 1 (TGFβR1) negatively impacts rat mesenteric lymphatic vessel pumping, significantly reducing vessel contractility and surrounding lymphatic muscle coverage. We have identified mesenteric lymphatic endothelial cells themselves as a source of endogenous vascular TGFβ and that TGFβ production is significantly increased in these cells via activation of a number of functional pattern recognition receptors they express. We show that a continuous supply of TGFβ is essential to maintain the contractile phenotype of neighboring lymphatic muscle cells and support this conclusion through in vitro analysis of primary isolated lymphatic muscle cells that undergo synthetic differentiation during 2-D cell culture, a phenomenon that could be effectively rescued by supplementation with recombinant TGFβ. Finally, we demonstrate that lymphatic endothelial production of TGFβ is regulated, in part, by nitric oxide in a manner we propose is essential to counteract the pathological over-production of TGFβ. Taken together, these data highlight the essential role of homeostatic TGFβ signaling in the maintenance of lymphatic vascular function and highlight possible deleterious consequences of its inhibition.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The growth factor TGFβ is commonly associated with its pathological overproduction during tissue fibrosis rather than its homeostatic functions. We expose the lymphatic endothelium as a source of endogenous TGFβ, the impact of its production on the maintenance of surrounding lymphatic muscle cell phenotype, and internally regulated mechanisms of its production. Overall, these results highlight the intricate balance of TGFβ-signaling as an essential component of maintaining lymphatic contractile function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Carrillo Diaz de Leon
- Inflammation Research Network, Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Keith Keane
- Inflammation Research Network, Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Simon Roizes
- Inflammation Research Network, Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Shan Liao
- Inflammation Research Network, Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pierre-Yves von der Weid
- Inflammation Research Network, Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Matthew Stephens
- Inflammation Research Network, Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang F, Yu Y, He G, Ren Z, Xu S. Downregulation of miR-4284 can Inhibit the Apoptosis of Human Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells (HASMCs) in Arteriosclerosis Obliterans (ASO). Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2024; 27:1140-1148. [PMID: 37594113 DOI: 10.2174/1386207326666230818092922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The disease arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) affects the lower extremities. ASO's mechanism involves the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The miR-4284 is involved in several biological processes of the cardiovascular system, including VSMC proliferation, migration, and death. However, it is unknown if the miR-4284 gene is involved in the control of ASO. Furthermore, the molecular processes behind the contribution of human arterial smooth muscle cells (HASMCs), one of the most significant components of the arterial wall, to arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) pathogenesis remain unknown. Previously, we explored the alterations of miRNAs in the blood of ASO patients, and now we wanted to test further whether these changes also take place in the HASMCs that are responsible for the pathogenesis of ASO. METHODS The expression levels of miR-29a in arterial walls were analyzed via a real-time polymerase chain reaction. An ASO cell model was established to investigate the expression of miR- 4284 on HASMCs. The Transwell system and CCK-8 detection were used to assess the migration and proliferation of HASMCs. The proportion of apoptotic cells as well as the concentrations of apoptotic signal protein production were assessed using flow cytometry. A Western blot technique was used to identify B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2), Bcl2-associated X protein (BAX), as well as Xlinked inhibitors of apoptosis protein (XIAP). RESULTS The results showed that PCR confirmed that the qualified production or expression of miR-4284 was significantly reduced in HASMCs after they were cultured without FBS and in an atmosphere of 1% O2 + 5% CO2 + 94% N2 and that glucose had no effect on its expression. MiR- 4284 has no effect on migration and proliferation, but downregulation of miR-4284 can decrease the apoptotic rate of HASMCs, as revealed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, western blot experiments showed that the expression of BAX was low, while the expression of the other two proteins, viz., Bcl2 and XIAP, was over-expressed. CONCLUSION We found that miR-4284 downregulation enhanced Bcl2, as well as XIAP, and decreased Bax. This shows that downregulated miR-4284 regulates apoptosis-related protein expression in HASMCs. The mechanism is not clear, and we need further study to confirm it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guang'an People's Hospital, No. 1, Section 4, Sichuan University, Binhe Road, Guangan City, Sichuan Province, 638500, China
| | - Yinghong Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guang'an People's Hospital, No. 1, Section 4, Sichuan University, Binhe Road, Guangan City, Sichuan Province, 638500, China
| | - Gongjian He
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guang'an People's Hospital, No. 1, Section 4, Sichuan University, Binhe Road, Guangan City, Sichuan Province, 638500, China
| | - Zhangxia Ren
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guang'an People's Hospital, No. 1, Section 4, Sichuan University, Binhe Road, Guangan City, Sichuan Province, 638500, China
| | - Sizhe Xu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Guang'an People's Hospital, No. 1, Section 4, Sichuan University, Binhe Road, Guangan City, Sichuan Province, 638500, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cullen AE, Centner AM, Deitado R, Ismaeel A, Koutakis P, Muller-Delp J, Salazar G. AKT Mediates Adiponectin-Dependent Regulation of VSMC Phenotype. Cells 2023; 12:2493. [PMID: 37887338 PMCID: PMC10605922 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Adiponectin (adipoq), the most abundant hormone in circulation, has many beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, in part by preserving the contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the lack of adiponectin or its receptor and treatment with recombinant adiponectin have shown contradictory effects on plaque in mice. RNA sequence of Adipoq+/+ and adipoq-/- VSMCs from male aortas identified a critical role for adiponectin in AKT signaling, the extracellular matrix (ECM), and TGF-β signaling. Upregulation of AKT activity mediated proliferation and migration of adipoq-/- cells. Activation of AMPK with metformin or AdipoRon reduced AKT-dependent proliferation and migration of adipoq-/- cells but did not improve the expression of contractile genes. Adiponectin deficiency impaired oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), increased expression of glycolytic enzymes, and elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) (superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide). Anti-atherogenic mechanisms targeted the ECM in adipoq-/- cells, downregulating MMP2 and 9 and upregulating decorin (DCN) and elastin (ELN). In vivo, the main sex differences in protein expression in aortas involved a more robust upregulation of MMP3 in females than males. Females also showed a reduction in DCN, which was not affected in males. Our study uncovered the AKT/MAPK/TGF-β network as a central regulator of VSMC phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail E. Cullen
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (A.E.C.); (A.M.C.); (R.D.)
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Ann M. Centner
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (A.E.C.); (A.M.C.); (R.D.)
| | - Riley Deitado
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (A.E.C.); (A.M.C.); (R.D.)
| | - Ahmed Ismaeel
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA;
| | | | - Judy Muller-Delp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
| | - Gloria Salazar
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA; (A.E.C.); (A.M.C.); (R.D.)
- Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging (CAENRA), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ma W, Wei D, Li X, Shan L, Fan H, Jin H, Song B, Zhang B. CircPCNX Promotes PDGF-BB-Induced Proliferation and Migration of Human Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Through Regulating miR-1278/DNMT1 Axis. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2023; 37:877-889. [PMID: 35670983 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-022-07342-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs) play vital roles in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to regulate the biological functions of HA-VSMCs. In this study, the functions of circRNA pecanex homolog (circPCNX) in platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced HA-VSMCs were investigated. METHODS Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to determine the expression of circPCNX, DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), and microRNA-1278 (miR-1278). 5'-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, flow cytometry analysis, wound healing assay, and transwell assay were used to examine cell proliferation, cell cycle, and migration. Western blot assay was utilized to measure protein levels. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, RNA pull down assay, and dual-luciferase reporter assay were adopted to analyze the relationships among circPCNX, miR-1278, and DNMT1. RESULTS CircPCNX was upregulated in PDGF-BB-treated HA-VSMCs in a dose- or time-dependent manner. CircPCNX knockdown alleviated PDGF-BB-induced cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and migration in HA-VSMCs. CircPCNX knockdown could reverse PDGF-BB-induced HA-VSMC progression by regulating DNMT1. Moreover, circPCNX was identified to regulate DNMT1 expression by sponging miR-1278. Inhibition of miR-1278 reversed circPCNX knockdown-mediated effects on cell proliferation and migration in PDGF-BB-induced HA-VSMCs. MiR-1278 overexpression suppressed PDGF-BB-stimulated HA-VSMC proliferation and migration by targeting DNMT1. CONCLUSION CircPCNX promoted PDGF-BB-induced HA-VSMC proliferation and migration by elevating DNMT1 expression through sponging miR-1278.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Ma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Dongmei Wei
- Department of Traditional Chinese Geriatric Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xinying Li
- Department of Internal Medicine-Digestive, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lina Shan
- Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, The Fourth Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Office, 10th Floor, Building 5, South Hospital of Qiqihar First Hospital, 700 Bukui South Street, Longsha District, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hua Fan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Huixin Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Binghui Song
- Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, The Fourth Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Office, 10th Floor, Building 5, South Hospital of Qiqihar First Hospital, 700 Bukui South Street, Longsha District, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Ben Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular, The First Hospital of Qiqihar/Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University, The Fourth Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Office, 10th Floor, Building 5, South Hospital of Qiqihar First Hospital, 700 Bukui South Street, Longsha District, Qiqihar, 161005, Heilongjiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Hu Y, Cai Z, He B. Smooth Muscle Heterogeneity and Plasticity in Health and Aortic Aneurysmal Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11701. [PMID: 37511460 PMCID: PMC10380637 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in the medial layer of the aorta, which plays a critical role in the maintenance of aortic wall integrity. VSMCs have been suggested to have contractile and synthetic phenotypes and undergo phenotypic switching to contribute to the deteriorating aortic wall structure. Recently, the unprecedented heterogeneity and diversity of VSMCs and their complex relationship to aortic aneurysms (AAs) have been revealed by high-resolution research methods, such as lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing. The aortic wall consists of VSMCs from different embryonic origins that respond unevenly to genetic defects that directly or indirectly regulate VSMC contractile phenotype. This difference predisposes to hereditary AAs in the aortic root and ascending aorta. Several VSMC phenotypes with different functions, for example, secreting VSMCs, proliferative VSMCs, mesenchymal stem cell-like VSMCs, immune-related VSMCs, proinflammatory VSMCs, senescent VSMCs, and stressed VSMCs are identified in non-hereditary AAs. The transformation of VSMCs into different phenotypes is an adaptive response to deleterious stimuli but can also trigger pathological remodeling that exacerbates the pathogenesis and development of AAs. This review is intended to contribute to the understanding of VSMC diversity in health and aneurysmal diseases. Papers that give an update on VSMC phenotype diversity in health and aneurysmal disease are summarized and recent insights on the role of VSMCs in AAs are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunwen Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Zhaohua Cai
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Ben He
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li K, Li B, Zhang D, Du T, Zhou H, Dai G, Yan Y, Gao N, Zhuang X, Liao X, Liu C, Dong Y, Chen D, Qu LH, Ou J, Yang JH, Huang ZP. The translational landscape of human vascular smooth muscle cells identifies novel short open reading frame-encoded peptide regulators for phenotype alteration. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:1763-1779. [PMID: 36943764 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) enables them to alter phenotypes under various physiological and pathological stimuli. The alteration of VSMC phenotype is a key step in vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Although the transcriptome shift during VSMC phenotype alteration has been intensively investigated, uncovering multiple key regulatory signalling pathways, the translatome dynamics in this cellular process, remain largely unknown. Here, we explored the genome-wide regulation at the translational level of human VSMCs during phenotype alteration. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated nucleotide-resolution translatome and transcriptome data from human VSMCs undergoing phenotype alteration. Deep sequencing of ribosome-protected fragments (Ribo-seq) revealed alterations in protein synthesis independent of changes in messenger ribonucleicacid levels. Increased translational efficiency of many translational machinery components, including ribosomal proteins, eukaryotic translation elongation factors and initiation factors were observed during the phenotype alteration of VSMCs. In addition, hundreds of candidates for short open reading frame-encoded polypeptides (SEPs), a class of peptides containing 200 amino acids or less, were identified in a combined analysis of translatome and transcriptome data with a high positive rate in validating their coding capability. Three evolutionarily conserved SEPs were further detected endogenously by customized antibodies and suggested to participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by analysing the transcriptome and single cell RNA-seq data from patient atherosclerotic artery samples. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in human VSMCs and genetically engineered mice showed that these SEPs modulate the alteration of VSMC phenotype through different signalling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and p53 pathway. CONCLUSION Our study indicates that an increase in the capacity of translation, which is attributable to an increased quantity of translational machinery components, mainly controls alterations of VSMC phenotype at the level of translational regulation. In addition, SEPs could function as important regulators in the phenotype alteration of human VSMCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kang Li
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Bin Li
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Dihua Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Tailai Du
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Huimin Zhou
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Gang Dai
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Youchen Yan
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Nailin Gao
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhuang
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xinxue Liao
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chen Liu
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yugang Dong
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Demeng Chen
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Liang-Hu Qu
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jingsong Ou
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- National-Guangdong Joint Engineering Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jian-Hua Yang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhan-Peng Huang
- 1Department of Cardiology, Center for Translational Medicine, Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
- National-Guangdong Joint Engineering Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases (Sun Yat-sen University), 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Woo SH, Kim DY, Choi JH. Roles of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerotic Calcification. J Lipid Atheroscler 2023; 12:106-118. [PMID: 37265849 PMCID: PMC10232217 DOI: 10.12997/jla.2023.12.2.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of calcium in atherosclerotic plaques is a prominent feature of advanced atherosclerosis, and it has a strong positive correlation with the total burden of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic calcification usually appears first at the necrotic core, indicating that cell death and inflammatory processes are involved in calcification. During atherosclerotic inflammation, various cell types, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, nascent resident pericytes, circulating stem cells, or adventitial cells, have been assumed to differentiate into osteoblastic cells, which lead to vascular calcification. Among these cell types, vascular smooth muscle cells are considered a major contributor to osteochondrogenic cells in the atherosclerotic milieu. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying the osteochondrogenic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Ho Woo
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dae-Yong Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Hoon Choi
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Khanal S, Bhavnani N, Mathias A, Lallo J, Gupta S, Ohanyan V, Ferrell JM, Raman P. Deletion of Smooth Muscle O-GlcNAc Transferase Prevents Development of Atherosclerosis in Western Diet-Fed Hyperglycemic ApoE -/- Mice In Vivo. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7899. [PMID: 37175604 PMCID: PMC10178779 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097899] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence highlights protein O-GlcNAcylation as a putative pathogenic contributor of diabetic vascular complications. We previously reported that elevated protein O-GlcNAcylation correlates with increased atherosclerotic lesion formation and VSMC proliferation in response to hyperglycemia. However, the role of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), regulator of O-GlcNAc signaling, in the evolution of diabetic atherosclerosis remains elusive. The goal of this study was to determine whether smooth muscle OGT (smOGT) plays a direct role in hyperglycemia-induced atherosclerotic lesion formation and SMC de-differentiation. Using tamoxifen-inducible Myh11-CreERT2 and Ogtfl/fl mice, we generated smOGTWT and smOGTKO mice, with and without ApoE-null backgrounds. Following STZ-induced hyperglycemia, smOGTWT and smOGTKO mice were kept on a standard laboratory diet for the study duration. In a parallel study, smOGTWTApoE-/- and smOGTKOApoE-/- were initiated on Western diet at 8-wks-age. Animals harvested at 14-16-wks-age were used for plasma and tissue collection. Loss of smOGT augmented SM contractile marker expression in aortic vessels of STZ-induced hyperglycemic smOGTKO mice. Consistently, smOGT deletion attenuated atherosclerotic lesion lipid burden (Oil red O), plaque area (H&E), leukocyte (CD45) and smooth muscle cell (ACTA2) abundance in Western diet-fed hyperglycemic smOGTKOApoE-/- mice. This was accompanied by increased SM contractile markers and reduced inflammatory and proliferative marker expression. Further, smOGT deletion attenuated YY1 and SRF expression (transcriptional regulators of SM contractile genes) in hyperglycemic smOGTKOApoE-/- and smOGTKO mice. These data uncover an athero-protective outcome of smOGT loss-of-function and suggest a direct regulatory role of OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation in VSMC de-differentiation in hyperglycemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saugat Khanal
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Neha Bhavnani
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Amy Mathias
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
| | - Jason Lallo
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
| | - Shreya Gupta
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Vahagn Ohanyan
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Jessica M. Ferrell
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Priya Raman
- Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA; (S.K.)
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Davis MJ, Earley S, Li YS, Chien S. Vascular mechanotransduction. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:1247-1421. [PMID: 36603156 PMCID: PMC9942936 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00053.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review aims to survey the current state of mechanotransduction in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs), including their sensing of mechanical stimuli and transduction of mechanical signals that result in the acute functional modulation and longer-term transcriptomic and epigenetic regulation of blood vessels. The mechanosensors discussed include ion channels, plasma membrane-associated structures and receptors, and junction proteins. The mechanosignaling pathways presented include the cytoskeleton, integrins, extracellular matrix, and intracellular signaling molecules. These are followed by discussions on mechanical regulation of transcriptome and epigenetics, relevance of mechanotransduction to health and disease, and interactions between VSMCs and ECs. Throughout this review, we offer suggestions for specific topics that require further understanding. In the closing section on conclusions and perspectives, we summarize what is known and point out the need to treat the vasculature as a system, including not only VSMCs and ECs but also the extracellular matrix and other types of cells such as resident macrophages and pericytes, so that we can fully understand the physiology and pathophysiology of the blood vessel as a whole, thus enhancing the comprehension, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of vascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Davis
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Scott Earley
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
| | - Yi-Shuan Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Shu Chien
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California
- Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wang Z, Quan Y, Hu M, Xu Y, Chen Y, Jin P, Ma J, Chen X, Fan J, Fan X, Gong Y, Li M, Wang Y. VGLL4-TEAD1 promotes vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells via TET2. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 176:21-32. [PMID: 36657637 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The Hippo signaling pathway plays a critical role in cardiovascular development and stem cell differentiation. Using microarray profiling, we found that the Hippo pathway components vestigial-like family member 4 (VGLL4) and TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) were upregulated during vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation from H1 ESCs (H1 embryonic stem cells). To further explore the role and molecular mechanisms of VGLL4 in regulating VSMC differentiation, we generated a VGLL4-knockdown H1 ESC line (heterozygous knockout) using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and found that VGLL4 knockdown inhibited VSMC specification. In contrast, overexpression of VGLL4 using the PiggyBac transposon system facilitated VSMC differentiation. We confirmed that this effect was mediated via TEAD1 and VGLL4 interaction. In addition, bioinformatics analysis revealed that Ten-eleven-translocation 2 (TET2), a DNA dioxygenase, is a target of TEAD1, and a luciferase assay further verified that TET2 is the target of the VGLL4-TEAD1 complex. Indeed, TET2 overexpression promoted VSMC marker gene expression and countered the VGLL4 knockdown-mediated inhibitory effects on VSMC differentiation. In summary, we revealed a novel role of VGLL4 in promoting VSMC differentiation from hESCs and identified TET2 as a new target of the VGLL4-TEAD1 complex, which may demethylate VSMC marker genes and facilitate VSMC differentiation. This study provides new insights into the VGLL4-TEAD1-TET2 axis in VSMC differentiation and vascular development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zuxuan Wang
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yingyi Quan
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minjie Hu
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yubin Xu
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuhao Chen
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peifeng Jin
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianshe Ma
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiufang Chen
- Cardiac Regeneration Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junming Fan
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaofang Fan
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongsheng Gong
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ming Li
- Cardiac Regeneration Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongyu Wang
- Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China; Cardiac Regeneration Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325015, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Grewal N, Dolmaci O, Jansen E, Klautz R, Driessen A, Poelmann RE. Thoracic aortopathy in Marfan syndrome overlaps with mechanisms seen in bicuspid aortic valve disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1018167. [PMID: 36844720 PMCID: PMC9949376 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1018167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Thoracic aortopathy is a serious complication which is more often seen in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) than in individuals with a tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). The identification of common pathological mechanisms leading to aortic complications in non-syndromic and syndromic diseases would significantly improve the field of personalized medicine. Objective This study sought to compare thoracic aortopathy between MFS, BAV, and TAV individuals. Materials and methods Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV; n = 36), TAV (n = 23), and MFS (n = 8) patients were included. Ascending aortic wall specimen were studied for general histologic features, apoptosis, markers of cardiovascular ageing, expression of synthetic and contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), and fibrillin-1 expression. Results The MFS group showed many similarities with the dilated BAV. Both patient groups showed a thinner intima (p < 0.0005), a lower expression of contractile VSMCs (p < 0.05), more elastic fiber thinning (p < 0.001), lack of inflammation (p < 0.001), and a decreased progerin expression (p < 0.05) as compared to the TAV. Other features of cardiovascular ageing differed between the BAV and MFS. Dilated BAV patients demonstrated less medial degeneration (p < 0.0001), VSMC nuclei loss (p < 0.0001), apoptosis of the vessel wall (p < 0.03), and elastic fiber fragmentation and disorganization (p < 0.001), as compared to the MFS and dilated TAV. Conclusion This study showed important similarities in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysms in BAV and MFS. These common mechanisms can be further investigated to personalize treatment strategies in non-syndromic and syndromic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nimrat Grewal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands,Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Nimrat Grewal,
| | - Onur Dolmaci
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Evert Jansen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Robert Klautz
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Antoine Driessen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Robert E. Poelmann
- Institute of Biology, Animal Sciences and Health, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands,Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Xie Y, Gao R, Gao Y, Dong Z, Ge J. 11S Proteasome Activator REGγ Promotes Aortic Dissection by Inhibiting RBM3 (RNA Binding Motif Protein 3) Pathway. Hypertension 2023; 80:125-137. [PMID: 36330811 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.19618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular disorder with high mortality and lacking underlying mechanisms or effective treatments. REGγ, the 11S proteasome activator known to promote the degradation of cellular proteins in a ubiquitin- and ATP-independent manner, emerges as a new regulator in the cardiovascular system. METHODS Using β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN)-subjected REGγ knockout AD mice and Ang II (angiotensin II)-treated REGγ deficiency vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to explore the effect of REGγ in AD progression. RESULTS REGγ was upregulated in mouse aorta of β-aminopropionitrile-induced AD model in vivo and Ang II-treated VSMCs in vitro. REGγ deficiency ameliorated AD progression in β-aminopropionitrile-induced mice by protecting against the switch in VSMCs from contractile to synthetic phenotype through suppressing RBM3 (RNA-binding motif protein 3) decay. Mechanically, REGγ interacted with and degraded the RNA-binding protein RBM3 directly, leading to decreased mRNA stability, lowered expression and transcriptional activity of transcription factor SRF (serum response factor), subsequently reduced transcription of VSMCs-specific contractile genes, α-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin) and SM22α (smooth muscle 22 alpha), caused the switch in VSMCs from contractile to synthetic phenotype and associated AD progression. Ablation of endogenous SRF or RBM3, or overexpressing exogenous RBM3 in VSMCs significantly blocked or reestablished the REGγ-dependent action on VSMCs phenotypic switch of Ang II stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, exogenously introducing RBM3 improved the switch in VSMCs from contractile to synthetic phenotype and associated AD features caused by REGγ in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that REGγ promoted the switch in VSMCs from contractile to synthetic phenotype and AD progression by inhibiting RBM3-SRF pathway, indicated that modulating REGγ-proteasome activity may be a potential therapeutic approach for AD-associated cardiovascular dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Xie
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.).,Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases' Shanghai' China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.).,Institutes of Biomedical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Y.X., J.G.)
| | - Rifeng Gao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.).,Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases' Shanghai' China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.)
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.).,Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases' Shanghai' China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.)
| | - Zheng Dong
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.).,Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases' Shanghai' China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.)
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.).,Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases' Shanghai' China (Y.X., R.G., Y.G., Z.D., J.G.).,Institutes of Biomedical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China (Y.X., J.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Barnhart MD, Yang Y, Nakagaki-Silva EE, Hammond TH, Pizzinga M, Gooding C, Stott K, Smith CWJ. Phosphorylation of the smooth muscle master splicing regulator RBPMS regulates its splicing activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:11895-11915. [PMID: 36408906 PMCID: PMC9723635 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified RBPMS as a master regulator of alternative splicing in differentiated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). RBPMS is transcriptionally downregulated during SMC dedifferentiation, but we hypothesized that RBPMS protein activity might be acutely downregulated by post-translational modifications. Publicly available phosphoproteomic datasets reveal that Thr113 and Thr118 immediately adjacent to the RRM domain are commonly both phosphorylated. An RBPMS T113/118 phosphomimetic T/E mutant showed decreased splicing regulatory activity both in transfected cells and in a cell-free in vitro assay, while a non-phosphorylatable T/A mutant retained full activity. Loss of splicing activity was associated with a modest reduction in RNA affinity but significantly reduced RNA binding in nuclear extract. A lower degree of oligomerization of the T/E mutant might cause lower avidity of multivalent RNA binding. However, NMR analysis also revealed that the T113/118E peptide acts as an RNA mimic which can loop back and antagonize RNA-binding by the RRM domain. Finally, we identified ERK2 as the most likely kinase responsible for phosphorylation at Thr113 and Thr118. Collectively, our data identify a potential mechanism for rapid modulation of the SMC splicing program in response to external signals during the vascular injury response and atherogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Barnhart
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | | | | | - Thomas H Hammond
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | | | - Clare Gooding
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Katherine Stott
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Hayes G, Pinto J, Sparks SN, Wang C, Suri S, Bulte DP. Vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction in neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1010164. [PMID: 36440263 PMCID: PMC9684644 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1010164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the key moderators of cerebrovascular dynamics in response to the brain's oxygen and nutrient demands. Crucially, VSMCs may provide a sensitive biomarker for neurodegenerative pathologies where vasculature is compromised. An increasing body of research suggests that VSMCs have remarkable plasticity and their pathophysiology may play a key role in the complex process of neurodegeneration. Furthermore, extrinsic risk factors, including environmental conditions and traumatic events can impact vascular function through changes in VSMC morphology. VSMC dysfunction can be characterised at the molecular level both preclinically, and clinically ex vivo. However the identification of VSMC dysfunction in living individuals is important to understand changes in vascular function at the onset and progression of neurological disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. A promising technique to identify changes in the state of cerebral smooth muscle is cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) which reflects the intrinsic dynamic response of blood vessels in the brain to vasoactive stimuli in order to modulate regional cerebral blood flow (CBF). In this work, we review the role of VSMCs in the most common neurodegenerative disorders and identify physiological systems that may contribute to VSMC dysfunction. The evidence collected here identifies VSMC dysfunction as a strong candidate for novel therapeutics to combat the development and progression of neurodegeneration, and highlights the need for more research on the role of VSMCs and cerebrovascular dynamics in healthy and diseased states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Hayes
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joana Pinto
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sierra N. Sparks
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Congxiyu Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sana Suri
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel P. Bulte
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Rho/SRF Inhibitor Modulates Mitochondrial Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911536. [PMID: 36232837 PMCID: PMC9570101 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
CCG-1423 is a Rho A pathway inhibitor that has been reported to inhibit Rho/SRF-mediated transcriptional regulation. Serum response factor and its cofactors, which include ternary complex factors and myocardin-related transcription factors, regulate various cellular functions. In this study, we observed that CCG-1423 modulates the mitochondrial functions. The effect of this small molecule drug was determined by measuring mitochondrial function using an XFe96 Analyzer and an Oxygraph 2k (O2k) high-resolution respirometer. CCG-1423 treatment significantly reduced oxidative phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. However, CCG-1423 increased the glycolytic rate. We also observed that histone 4 at lysine-16 underwent hyperacetylation with the treatment of this drug. Immunolabeling with F-actin and MitoTracker revealed the alteration in the actin cytoskeleton and mitochondria. Taken together, our findings highlight a critical role of CCG-1423 in inhibiting the transcription of SRF/p49 and PGC-1α, β, resulting in the downregulation of mitochondrial genes, leading to the repression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and overall ATP reduction. This study provides a better understanding of the effects of CCG-1423 on mitochondria, which may be useful for the assessment of the potential clinical application of CCG-1423 and its derivatives.
Collapse
|
24
|
Choe HM, Gao K, Paek HJ, Liu XY, Li ZY, Quan BH, Yin XJ. Silencing myostatin increases area fraction of smooth muscle in the corpus cavernosum of pigs. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 247:107077. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
25
|
Liu JX, Huang T, Xie D, Yu Q. Bves maintains vascular smooth muscle cell contractile phenotype and protects against transplant vasculopathy via Dusp1-dependent p38MAPK and ERK1/2 signaling. Atherosclerosis 2022; 357:20-32. [PMID: 36037759 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) plasticity is tightly associated with the pathological process of vasculopathy. Blood vessel epicardial substance (Bves) has emerged as an important regulator of intracardiac vasculogenesis and organ homeostasis. However, the involvement and role of Bves in VSMC plasticity and neointimal lesion development remain unclear. METHODS We used an in vivo rat model of graft arteriosclerosis and in vitro PDGF-treated VSMCs and identified the novel VSMC contractile phenotype-related gene Bves using a transcriptomic analysis and literature search. In vitro knockdown and overexpression approaches were used to investigate the mechanisms underlying VSMC phenotypic plasticity. In vivo, VSMC-specific Bves overexpression in rat aortic grafts was generated to assess the physiological function of Bves in neointimal lesion development. RESULTS Here, we found that Bves expression was negatively regulated in aortic allografts in vivo and PDGF-treated VSMCs in vitro. The genetic knockdown of Bves dramatically inhibited, whereas Bves overexpression markedly promoted, the VSMC contractile phenotype. Furthermore, RNA sequencing unraveled a positive correlation between Bves and dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (Dusp1) expression in VSMCs. We found that Bves knockdown restrained Dusp1 expression, but enhanced p38MAPK and ERK1/2 activation, resulting in the loss of the VSMC contractile phenotype. In vivo, an analysis of a rat graft model confirmed that VSMC-specific Bves and Dusp1 overexpression in aortic allografts significantly attenuated neointimal lesion formation. CONCLUSIONS Bves maintains the VSMC contractile phenotype through Dusp1-dependent p38MAPK and ERK1/2 signaling, and protects against neointimal formation, underscoring the important role of Bves in preventing transplant vasculopathy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Xin Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tong Huang
- The Eight Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dawei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qihong Yu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Clinical Medical Research Center of Hepatic Surgery at Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Kurz J, Weiss AC, Lüdtke THW, Deuper L, Trowe MO, Thiesler H, Hildebrandt H, Heineke J, Duncan SA, Kispert A. GATA6 is a crucial factor for Myocd expression in the visceral smooth muscle cell differentiation program of the murine ureter. Development 2022; 149:dev200522. [PMID: 35905011 PMCID: PMC10656427 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are a crucial component of the mesenchymal wall of the ureter, as they account for the efficient removal of the urine from the renal pelvis to the bladder by means of their contractile activity. Here, we show that the zinc-finger transcription factor gene Gata6 is expressed in mesenchymal precursors of ureteric SMCs under the control of BMP4 signaling. Mice with a conditional loss of Gata6 in these precursors exhibit a delayed onset and reduced level of SMC differentiation and peristaltic activity, as well as dilatation of the ureter and renal pelvis (hydroureternephrosis) at birth and at postnatal stages. Molecular profiling revealed a delayed and reduced expression of the myogenic driver gene Myocd, but the activation of signaling pathways and transcription factors previously implicated in activation of the visceral SMC program in the ureter was unchanged. Additional gain-of-function experiments suggest that GATA6 cooperates with FOXF1 in Myocd activation and SMC differentiation, possibly as pioneer and lineage-determining factors, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kurz
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna-Carina Weiss
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Timo H.-W. Lüdtke
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Lena Deuper
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Trowe
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hauke Thiesler
- Institut für Klinische Biochemie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Herbert Hildebrandt
- Institut für Klinische Biochemie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Joerg Heineke
- Abteilung für Kardiovaskuläre Physiologie, European Center for Angioscience, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephen A. Duncan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Andreas Kispert
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Galvão JGFM, Cavalcante-Silva LHA, de Almeida Lima É, Carvalho DC, Alves AF, Mascarenhas SR. Ouabain modulates airway remodeling caused by Th2-high asthma in mice. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 109:108808. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
28
|
Bachmann JC, Baumgart SJ, Uryga AK, Bosteen MH, Borghetti G, Nyberg M, Herum KM. Fibrotic Signaling in Cardiac Fibroblasts and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: The Dual Roles of Fibrosis in HFpEF and CAD. Cells 2022; 11:1657. [PMID: 35626694 PMCID: PMC9139546 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atherosclerosis-driven coronary artery disease (CAD) will have ongoing fibrotic remodeling both in the myocardium and in atherosclerotic plaques. However, the functional consequences of fibrosis differ for each location. Thus, cardiac fibrosis leads to myocardial stiffening, thereby compromising cardiac function, while fibrotic remodeling stabilizes the atherosclerotic plaque, thereby reducing the risk of plaque rupture. Although there are currently no drugs targeting cardiac fibrosis, it is a field under intense investigation, and future drugs must take these considerations into account. To explore similarities and differences of fibrotic remodeling at these two locations of the heart, we review the signaling pathways that are activated in the main extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing cells, namely human cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Although these signaling pathways are highly overlapping and context-dependent, effects on ECM remodeling mainly act through two core signaling cascades: TGF-β and Angiotensin II. We complete this by summarizing the knowledge gained from clinical trials targeting these two central fibrotic pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kate M. Herum
- Research and Early Development, Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk Park, 2760 Maaloev, Denmark; (J.C.B.); (S.J.B.); (A.K.U.); (M.H.B.); (G.B.); (M.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Li L, Liu S, Tan J, Wei L, Wu D, Gao S, Weng Y, Chen J. Recent advance in treatment of atherosclerosis: Key targets and plaque-positioned delivery strategies. J Tissue Eng 2022; 13:20417314221088509. [PMID: 35356091 PMCID: PMC8958685 DOI: 10.1177/20417314221088509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of vascular wall, is a progressive pathophysiological process with lipids oxidation/depositing initiation and innate/adaptive immune responses. The coordination of multi systems covering oxidative stress, dysfunctional endothelium, diseased lipid uptake, cell apoptosis, thrombotic and pro-inflammatory responding as well as switched SMCs contributes to plaque growth. In this circumstance, inevitably, targeting these processes is considered to be effective for treating atherosclerosis. Arriving, retention and working of payload candidates mediated by targets in lesion direct ultimate therapeutic outcomes. Accumulating a series of scientific studies and clinical practice in the past decades, lesion homing delivery strategies including stent/balloon/nanoparticle-based transportation worked as the potent promotor to ensure a therapeutic effect. The objective of this review is to achieve a very brief summary about the effective therapeutic methods cooperating specifical targets and positioning-delivery strategies in atherosclerosis for better outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Materials, Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Sainan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Materials, Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Jianying Tan
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Materials, Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Lai Wei
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Materials, Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Dimeng Wu
- Chengdu Daxan Innovative Medical Tech. Co., Ltd., Chengdu, PR China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Chengdu Daxan Innovative Medical Tech. Co., Ltd., Chengdu, PR China
| | - Yajun Weng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Materials, Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Junying Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology of Materials, Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Jebari-Benslaiman S, Galicia-García U, Larrea-Sebal A, Olaetxea JR, Alloza I, Vandenbroeck K, Benito-Vicente A, Martín C. Pathophysiology of Atherosclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063346. [PMID: 35328769 PMCID: PMC8954705 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 100.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Atherosclerosis is initiated by endothelium activation and, followed by a cascade of events (accumulation of lipids, fibrous elements, and calcification), triggers the vessel narrowing and activation of inflammatory pathways. The resultant atheroma plaque, along with these processes, results in cardiovascular complications. This review focuses on the different stages of atherosclerosis development, ranging from endothelial dysfunction to plaque rupture. In addition, the post-transcriptional regulation and modulation of atheroma plaque by microRNAs and lncRNAs, the role of microbiota, and the importance of sex as a crucial risk factor in atherosclerosis are covered here in order to provide a global view of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shifa Jebari-Benslaiman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (S.J.-B.); (I.A.); (K.V.)
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n., 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (U.G.-G.); (A.L.-S.)
| | - Unai Galicia-García
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n., 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (U.G.-G.); (A.L.-S.)
- Fundación Biofisika Bizkaia, Barrio Sarriena s/n., 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Asier Larrea-Sebal
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n., 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (U.G.-G.); (A.L.-S.)
- Fundación Biofisika Bizkaia, Barrio Sarriena s/n., 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | | | - Iraide Alloza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (S.J.-B.); (I.A.); (K.V.)
- Inflammation & Biomarkers Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Koen Vandenbroeck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (S.J.-B.); (I.A.); (K.V.)
- Inflammation & Biomarkers Group, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Asier Benito-Vicente
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (S.J.-B.); (I.A.); (K.V.)
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n., 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (U.G.-G.); (A.L.-S.)
- Correspondence: (A.B.-V.); (C.M.); Tel.: +34-946-01-2741 (C.M.)
| | - César Martín
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad del País Vasco UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (S.J.-B.); (I.A.); (K.V.)
- Biofisika Institute (UPV/EHU, CSIC), Barrio Sarriena s/n., 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain; (U.G.-G.); (A.L.-S.)
- Correspondence: (A.B.-V.); (C.M.); Tel.: +34-946-01-2741 (C.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Establishment of a developmental toxicity assay based on human iPSC reporter to detect FGF signal disruption. iScience 2022; 25:103770. [PMID: 35146387 PMCID: PMC8819105 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of man-made chemicals has increased exponentially recently, and exposure to some of them can induce fetal malformations. Because complex and precisely programmed signaling pathways play important roles in developmental processes, their disruption by external chemicals often triggers developmental toxicity. However, highly accurate and high-throughput screening assays for potential developmental toxicants are currently lacking. In this study, we propose a reporter assay that utilizes human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to detect changes in fibroblast growth factor signaling, which is essential for limb morphogenesis. The dynamics of this signaling after exposure to a chemical were integrated to estimate the degree of signaling disruption, which afforded a good prediction of the capacity of chemicals listed in the ECVAM International Validation Study that induce limb malformations. This study presents an initial report of a human iPSC-based signaling disruption assay, which could be useful for the screening of potential developmental toxicants. Human iPSC-based FGF signal disruption reporter system was established FGF signal disruption was a good indicator of limb malformation-related toxicants Integration of dynamic FGF signal disruption results improved assay performance
Collapse
|
32
|
Kurz J, Weiss AC, Thiesler H, Qasrawi F, Deuper L, Kaur J, Rudat C, Lüdtke TH, Wojahn I, Hildebrandt H, Trowe MO, Kispert A. Notch signaling is a novel regulator of visceral smooth muscle cell differentiation in the murine ureter. Development 2022; 149:274136. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.199735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The contractile phenotype of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is transcriptionally controlled by a complex of the DNA-binding protein SRF and the transcriptional co-activator MYOCD. The pathways that activate expression of Myocd and of SMC structural genes in mesenchymal progenitors are diverse, reflecting different intrinsic and extrinsic signaling inputs. Taking the ureter as a model, we analyzed whether Notch signaling, a pathway previously implicated in vascular SMC development, also affects visceral SMC differentiation. We show that mice with a conditional deletion of the unique Notch mediator RBPJ in the undifferentiated ureteric mesenchyme exhibit altered ureter peristalsis with a delayed onset, and decreased contraction frequency and intensity at fetal stages. They also develop hydroureter 2 weeks after birth. Notch signaling is required for precise temporal activation of Myocd expression and, independently, for expression of a group of late SMC structural genes. Based on additional expression analyses, we suggest that a mesenchymal JAG1-NOTCH2/NOTCH3 module regulates visceral SMC differentiation in the ureter in a biphasic and bimodal manner, and that its molecular function differs from that in the vascular system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kurz
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna-Carina Weiss
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hauke Thiesler
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Fairouz Qasrawi
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Lena Deuper
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jaskiran Kaur
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Carsten Rudat
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Timo H. Lüdtke
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Irina Wojahn
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Herbert Hildebrandt
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Mark-Oliver Trowe
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Kispert
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
CDH18 is a fetal epicardial biomarker regulating differentiation towards vascular smooth muscle cells. NPJ Regen Med 2022; 7:14. [PMID: 35110584 PMCID: PMC8810917 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00207-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardium is a mesothelial layer covering the myocardium serving as a progenitor source during cardiac development. The epicardium reactivates upon cardiac injury supporting cardiac repair and regeneration. Fine-tuned balanced signaling regulates cell plasticity and cell-fate decisions of epicardial-derived cells (EPCDs) via epicardial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, powerful tools to investigate epicardial function, including markers with pivotal roles in developmental signaling, are still lacking. Here, we recapitulated epicardiogenesis using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and identified type II classical cadherin CDH18 as a biomarker defining lineage specification in human active epicardium. The loss of CDH18 led to the onset of EMT and specific differentiation towards cardiac smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, GATA4 regulated epicardial CDH18 expression. These results highlight the importance of tracing CDH18 expression in hiPSC-derived epicardial cells, providing a model for investigating epicardial function in human development and disease and enabling new possibilities for regenerative medicine.
Collapse
|
34
|
Liu C, Niu K, Xiao Q. Updated perspectives on vascular cell specification and pluripotent stem cell-derived vascular organoids for studying vasculopathies. Cardiovasc Res 2022; 118:97-114. [PMID: 33135070 PMCID: PMC8752356 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vasculopathy is a pathological process occurring in the blood vessel wall, which could affect the haemostasis and physiological functions of all the vital tissues/organs and is one of the main underlying causes for a variety of human diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Current pharmacological interventions aiming to either delay or stop progression of vasculopathies are suboptimal, thus searching novel, targeted, risk-reducing therapeutic agents, or vascular grafts with full regenerative potential for patients with vascular abnormalities are urgently needed. Since first reported, pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), particularly human-induced PSCs, have open new avenue in all research disciplines including cardiovascular regenerative medicine and disease remodelling. Assisting with recent technological breakthroughs in tissue engineering, in vitro construction of tissue organoid made a tremendous stride in the past decade. In this review, we provide an update of the main signal pathways involved in vascular cell differentiation from human PSCs and an extensive overview of PSC-derived tissue organoids, highlighting the most recent discoveries in the field of blood vessel organoids as well as vascularization of other complex tissue organoids, with the aim of discussing the key cellular and molecular players in generating vascular organoids.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Blood Vessels/metabolism
- Blood Vessels/pathology
- Blood Vessels/physiopathology
- Cell Culture Techniques
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Lineage
- Cells, Cultured
- Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Endothelial Cells/pathology
- Humans
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/physiopathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Neovascularization, Pathologic
- Neovascularization, Physiologic
- Organoids
- Phenotype
- Signal Transduction
- Vascular Diseases/metabolism
- Vascular Diseases/pathology
- Vascular Diseases/physiopathology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenxin Liu
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Heart Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Kaiyuan Niu
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Heart Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Qingzhong Xiao
- Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Heart Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases at The Second Affiliated Hospital
- Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Xinzao Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, China
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Facchinello N, Astone M, Audano M, Oberkersch RE, Spizzotin M, Calura E, Marques M, Crisan M, Mitro N, Santoro MM. Oxidative pentose phosphate pathway controls vascular mural cell coverage by regulating extracellular matrix composition. Nat Metab 2022; 4:123-140. [PMID: 35102339 PMCID: PMC7612297 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00514-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Vascular mural cells (vMCs) play an essential role in the development and maturation of the vasculature by promoting vessel stabilization through their interactions with endothelial cells. Whether endothelial metabolism influences mural cell recruitment and differentiation is unknown. Here, we show that the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (oxPPP) in endothelial cells is required for establishing vMC coverage of the dorsal aorta during early vertebrate development in zebrafish and mice. We demonstrate that laminar shear stress and blood flow maintain oxPPP activity, which in turn, promotes elastin expression in blood vessels through production of ribose-5-phosphate. Elastin is both necessary and sufficient to drive vMC recruitment and maintenance when the oxPPP is active. In summary, our work demonstrates that endothelial cell metabolism regulates blood vessel maturation by controlling vascular matrix composition and vMC recruitment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Facchinello
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, DiBio, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Astone
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, DiBio, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Audano
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roxana E Oberkersch
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, DiBio, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marianna Spizzotin
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, DiBio, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrica Calura
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Madalena Marques
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science and Centre for Regenerative Medicine/Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mihaela Crisan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science and Centre for Regenerative Medicine/Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nico Mitro
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo M Santoro
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, DiBio, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Trivlidis J, Aloufi N, Al-Habeeb F, Nair P, Azuelos I, Eidelman DH, Baglole CJ. HuR drives lung fibroblast differentiation but not metabolic reprogramming in response to TGF-β and hypoxia. Respir Res 2021; 22:323. [PMID: 34963461 PMCID: PMC8715577 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-021-01916-4] [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: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary fibrosis is thought to be driven by recurrent alveolar epithelial injury which leads to the differentiation of fibroblasts into α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-expressing myofibroblasts and subsequent deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) plays a key role in fibroblast differentiation, which we have recently shown involves human antigen R (HuR). HuR is an RNA binding protein that also increases the translation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1α) mRNA, a transcription factor critical for inducing a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation towards glycolysis. This metabolic shift may cause fibroblast differentiation. We hypothesized that under hypoxic conditions, HuR controls myofibroblast differentiation and glycolytic reprogramming in human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Methods Primary HLFs were cultured in the presence (or absence) of TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) under hypoxic (1% O2) or normoxic (21% O2) conditions. Evaluation included mRNA and protein expression of glycolytic and myofibroblast/ECM markers by qRT-PCR and western blot. Metabolic profiling was done by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H- NMR). Separate experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of HuR on metabolic reprogramming using siRNA-mediated knock-down. Results Hypoxia alone had no significant effect on fibroblast differentiation or metabolic reprogramming. While hypoxia- together with TGFβ1- increased mRNA levels of differentiation and glycolysis genes, such as ACTA2, LDHA, and HK2, protein levels of α-SMA and collagen 1 were significantly reduced. Hypoxia induced cytoplasmic translocation of HuR. Knockdown of HuR reduced features of fibroblast differentiation in response to TGF-β1 with and without hypoxia, including α-SMA and the ECM marker collagen I, but had no effect on lactate secretion. Conclusions Hypoxia reduced myofibroblasts differentiation and lactate secretion in conjunction with TGF-β. HuR is an important protein in the regulation of myofibroblast differentiation but does not control glycolysis in HLFs in response to hypoxia. More research is needed to understand the functional implications of HuR in IPF pathogenesis.
Collapse
|
37
|
Chen L, Hassani Nia F, Stauber T. Ion Channels and Transporters in Muscle Cell Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13615. [PMID: 34948411 PMCID: PMC8703453 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigations on ion channels in muscle tissues have mainly focused on physiological muscle function and related disorders, but emerging evidence supports a critical role of ion channels and transporters in developmental processes, such as controlling the myogenic commitment of stem cells. In this review, we provide an overview of ion channels and transporters that influence skeletal muscle myoblast differentiation, cardiac differentiation from pluripotent stem cells, as well as vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation. We highlight examples of model organisms or patients with mutations in ion channels. Furthermore, a potential underlying molecular mechanism involving hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential and a series of calcium signaling is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lingye Chen
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany;
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Fatemeh Hassani Nia
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Tobias Stauber
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany;
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Orchard P, Manickam N, Ventresca C, Vadlamudi S, Varshney A, Rai V, Kaplan J, Lalancette C, Mohlke KL, Gallagher K, Burant CF, Parker SCJ. Human and rat skeletal muscle single-nuclei multi-omic integrative analyses nominate causal cell types, regulatory elements, and SNPs for complex traits. Genome Res 2021; 31:2258-2275. [PMID: 34815310 PMCID: PMC8647829 DOI: 10.1101/gr.268482.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle accounts for the largest proportion of human body mass, on average, and is a key tissue in complex diseases and mobility. It is composed of several different cell and muscle fiber types. Here, we optimize single-nucleus ATAC-seq (snATAC-seq) to map skeletal muscle cell-specific chromatin accessibility landscapes in frozen human and rat samples, and single-nucleus RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) to map cell-specific transcriptomes in human. We additionally perform multi-omics profiling (gene expression and chromatin accessibility) on human and rat muscle samples. We capture type I and type II muscle fiber signatures, which are generally missed by existing single-cell RNA-seq methods. We perform cross-modality and cross-species integrative analyses on 33,862 nuclei and identify seven cell types ranging in abundance from 59.6% to 1.0% of all nuclei. We introduce a regression-based approach to infer cell types by comparing transcription start site-distal ATAC-seq peaks to reference enhancer maps and show consistency with RNA-based marker gene cell type assignments. We find heterogeneity in enrichment of genetic variants linked to complex phenotypes from the UK Biobank and diabetes genome-wide association studies in cell-specific ATAC-seq peaks, with the most striking enrichment patterns in muscle mesenchymal stem cells (∼3.5% of nuclei). Finally, we overlay these chromatin accessibility maps on GWAS data to nominate causal cell types, SNPs, transcription factor motifs, and target genes for type 2 diabetes signals. These chromatin accessibility profiles for human and rat skeletal muscle cell types are a useful resource for nominating causal GWAS SNPs and cell types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Orchard
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Nandini Manickam
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Christa Ventresca
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Swarooparani Vadlamudi
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Arushi Varshney
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Vivek Rai
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Jeremy Kaplan
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Claudia Lalancette
- Epigenomics Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Karen L Mohlke
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Katherine Gallagher
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Charles F Burant
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Stephen C J Parker
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Liao KA, Rangarajan KV, Bai X, Taylor JM, Mack CP. The actin depolymerizing factor destrin serves as a negative feedback inhibitor of smooth muscle cell differentiation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 321:H893-H904. [PMID: 34559579 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00142.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that several components of the RhoA signaling pathway control smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotype by altering serum response factor (SRF)-dependent gene expression. Because our genome-wide analyses of chromatin structure and transcription factor binding suggested that the actin depolymerizing factor, destrin (DSTN), was regulated in a SMC-selective fashion, the goals of the current study were to identify the transcription mechanisms that control DSTN expression in SMC and to test whether it regulates SMC function. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed strong and at least partially SMC-selective expression of DSTN in many mouse tissues, a result consistent with human data from the genotype-tissue expression (GTEx) consortium. We identified several regulatory regions that control DSTN expression including a SMC-selective enhancer that was activated by myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A), recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin κ-J region (RBPJ), and the SMAD transcription factors. Indeed, enhancer activity and endogenous DSTN expression were upregulated by RhoA and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling and downregulated by inhibition of Notch cleavage. We also showed that DSTN expression was decreased in vivo by carotid artery injury and in cultured SMC cells by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) treatment. siRNA-mediated depletion of DSTN significantly enhanced MRTF-A nuclear localization and SMC differentiation marker gene expression, decreased SMC migration in scratch wound assays, and decreased SMC proliferation, as measured by cell number and cyclin-E expression. Taken together our data indicate that DSTN is a negative feedback inhibitor of RhoA/SRF-dependent gene expression in SMC that coordinately promotes SMC phenotypic modulation. Interventions that target DSTN expression or activity could serve as potential therapies for atherosclerosis and restenosis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY First, DSTN is selectively expressed in SMC in RhoA/SRF-dependent manner. Second, a SMC-selective enhancer just upstream of DSTN TSS harbors functional SRF, SMAD, and Notch/RBPJ binding elements. Third, DSTN depletion increased SRF-dependent SMC marker gene expression while inhibiting SMC migration and proliferation. Taken together, our data suggest that DSTN is a critical negative feedback inhibitor of SMC differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kuo An Liao
- Department of Pathology and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Krsna V Rangarajan
- Department of Pathology and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of Pathology and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Joan M Taylor
- Department of Pathology and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Christopher P Mack
- Department of Pathology and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Mohabeer AL, Kroetsch JT, McFadden M, Khosraviani N, Broekelmann TJ, Hou G, Zhang H, Zhou YQ, Wang M, Gramolini AO, Mecham RP, Heximer SP, Bolz SS, Bendeck MP. Deletion of type VIII collagen reduces blood pressure, increases carotid artery functional distensibility and promotes elastin deposition. Matrix Biol Plus 2021; 12:100085. [PMID: 34693248 PMCID: PMC8517381 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2021.100085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arterial stiffening is a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease development and mortality. In elastic arteries, stiffening refers to the loss and fragmentation of elastic fibers, with a progressive increase in collagen fibers. Type VIII collagen (Col-8) is highly expressed developmentally, and then once again dramatically upregulated in aged and diseased vessels characterized by arterial stiffening. Yet its biophysical impact on the vessel wall remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Col-8 functions as a matrix scaffold to maintain vessel integrity during extracellular matrix (ECM) development. These changes are predicted to persist into the adult vasculature, and we have tested this in our investigation. Through our in vivo and in vitro studies, we have determined a novel interaction between Col-8 and elastin. Mice deficient in Col-8 (Col8-/-) had reduced baseline blood pressure and increased arterial compliance, indicating an enhanced Windkessel effect in conducting arteries. Differences in both the ECM composition and VSMC activity resulted in Col8-/- carotid arteries that displayed increased crosslinked elastin and functional distensibility, but enhanced catecholamine-induced VSMC contractility. In vitro studies revealed that the absence of Col-8 dramatically increased tropoelastin mRNA and elastic fiber deposition in the ECM, which was decreased with exogenous Col-8 treatment. These findings suggest a causative role for Col-8 in reducing mRNA levels of tropoelastin and the presence of elastic fibers in the matrix. Moreover, we also found that Col-8 and elastin have opposing effects on VSMC phenotype, the former promoting a synthetic phenotype, whereas the latter confers quiescence. These studies further our understanding of Col-8 function and open a promising new area of investigation related to elastin biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Mohabeer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey T. Kroetsch
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Centre for Microvascular Medicine at TBEP, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meghan McFadden
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Negin Khosraviani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Thomas J. Broekelmann
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Guangpei Hou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hangjun Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yu-Qing Zhou
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Minyao Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anthony O. Gramolini
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert P. Mecham
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Scott P. Heximer
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Steffen-Sebastian Bolz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Centre for Microvascular Medicine at TBEP, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle P. Bendeck
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Corresponding author at: TBEP, University of Toronto, 661 University Ave, Rm. 1432, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Grootaert MOJ, Bennett MR. Vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis: time for a re-assessment. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 117:2326-2339. [PMID: 33576407 PMCID: PMC8479803 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are key participants in both early and late-stage atherosclerosis. VSMCs invade the early atherosclerotic lesion from the media, expanding lesions, but also forming a protective fibrous cap rich in extracellular matrix to cover the 'necrotic' core. Hence, VSMCs have been viewed as plaque-stabilizing, and decreased VSMC plaque content-often measured by expression of contractile markers-associated with increased plaque vulnerability. However, the emergence of lineage-tracing and transcriptomic studies has demonstrated that VSMCs comprise a much larger proportion of atherosclerotic plaques than originally thought, demonstrate multiple different phenotypes in vivo, and have roles that might be detrimental. VSMCs down-regulate contractile markers during atherosclerosis whilst adopting alternative phenotypes, including macrophage-like, foam cell-like, osteochondrogenic-like, myofibroblast-like, and mesenchymal stem cell-like. VSMC phenotypic switching can be studied in tissue culture, but also now in the media, fibrous cap and deep-core region, and markedly affects plaque formation and markers of stability. In this review, we describe the different VSMC plaque phenotypes and their presumed cellular and paracrine functions, the regulatory mechanisms that control VSMC plasticity, and their impact on atherogenesis and plaque stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mandy O J Grootaert
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, ACCI, Addenbrookes Hospital, CB2 0QQ Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin R Bennett
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, ACCI, Addenbrookes Hospital, CB2 0QQ Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Aguilar-Pineda JA, Vera-Lopez KJ, Shrivastava P, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Nieto-Montesinos R, Alvarez-Fernandez KL, Goyzueta Mamani LD, Davila Del-Carpio G, Gomez-Valdez B, Miller CL, Malhotra R, Lindsay ME, Lino Cardenas CL. Vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction contribute to neuroinflammation and Tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer disease. iScience 2021; 24:102993. [PMID: 34505007 PMCID: PMC8417400 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the emerging evidence implying early vascular contributions to neurodegenerative syndromes, the role of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) is still not well understood. Herein, we show that VSMCs in brains of patients with AD and animal models of the disease are deficient in multiple VSMC contractile markers which correlated with Tau accumulation in brain arterioles. Ex vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that VSMCs undergo dramatic phenotypic transitions under AD-like conditions, adopting pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Notably, these changes coincided with Tau hyperphosphorylation at residues Y18, T205, and S262. We also observed that VSMC dysfunction occurred in an age-dependent manner and that expression of Sm22α protein was inversely correlated with CD68 and Tau expression in brain arterioles of the 3xTg-AD and 5xFAD mice. Together, these findings further support the contribution of dysfunctional VSMCs in AD pathogenesis and nominate VSMCs as a potential therapeutic target in AD. Loss of VSMC contractile phenotypes correlates with Tau accumulation in brain arterioles VSMC dysfunction promotes the hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein at multiple residues VSMC dysfunction occurs in an age-dependent manner in brain arterioles of patients with AD Vascular smooth muscle cell is a promising therapeutic target in AD
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A Aguilar-Pineda
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Karin J Vera-Lopez
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Pallavi Shrivastava
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Miguel A Chávez-Fumagalli
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Rita Nieto-Montesinos
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Karla L Alvarez-Fernandez
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Luis D Goyzueta Mamani
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Gonzalo Davila Del-Carpio
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Badhin Gomez-Valdez
- Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Clint L Miller
- Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Rajeev Malhotra
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mark E Lindsay
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Christian L Lino Cardenas
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Laboratory of Genomics and Neurovascular Diseases, Vicerrectorado de investigacion, Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Arequipa, Peru
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Tsuji-Tamura K, Morino-Koga S, Suzuki S, Ogawa M. The canonical smooth muscle cell marker TAGLN is present in endothelial cells and is involved in angiogenesis. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:jcs254920. [PMID: 34338296 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.254920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Elongation of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) is an important process in angiogenesis; however, the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The actin-crosslinking protein TAGLN (transgelin, also known as SM22 or SM22α) is abundantly expressed in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and is widely used as a canonical marker for this cell type. In the course of studies using mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) carrying an Tagln promoter-driven fluorescence marker, we noticed activation of the Tagln promoter during EC elongation. Tagln promoter activation co-occurred with EC elongation in response to vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling and mTORC1 also induced EC elongation and Tagln promoter activation. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) elongated, activated the TAGLN promoter and increased TAGLN transcripts in an angiogenesis model. Genetic disruption of TAGLN augmented angiogenic behaviors of HUVECs, as did the disruption of TAGLN2 and TAGLN3 genes. Tagln expression was found in ECs in mouse embryos. Our results identify TAGLN as a putative regulator of angiogenesis whose expression is activated in elongating ECs. This finding provides insight into the cytoskeletal regulation of EC elongation and an improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of angiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiyomi Tsuji-Tamura
- Department of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Saori Morino-Koga
- Department of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Shingo Suzuki
- Support Section for Education and Research, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan
| | - Minetaro Ogawa
- Department of Cell Differentiation, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Ji Y, Ma Y, Shen J, Ni H, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Ma H, Liu C, Zhao Y, Ding S, Xiang M, Xie Y. TBX20 Contributes to Balancing the Differentiation of Perivascular Adipose-Derived Stem Cells to Vascular Lineages and Neointimal Hyperplasia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:662704. [PMID: 34150759 PMCID: PMC8206642 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.662704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Perivascular adipose-derived stem cells (PVASCs) can contribute to vascular remodeling, which are also capable of differentiating into multiple cell lineages. The present study aims to investigate the mechanism of PVASC differentiation toward smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) as well as its function in neointimal hyperplasia. Methods Single-cell sequencing and bulk mRNA sequencing were applied for searching key genes in PVASC regarding its role in vascular remodeling. PVASCs were induced to differentiate toward SMCs and ECs in vitro, which was quantitatively evaluated using immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR), and Western blot. Lentivirus transfections were performed in PVASCs to knock down or overexpress TBX20. In vivo, PVASCs transfected with lentivirus were transplanted around the guidewire injured femoral artery. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was performed to examine their effects on neointimal hyperplasia. Results Bulk mRNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing revealed a unique expression of TBX20 in PVASCs. TBX20 expression markedly decreased during smooth muscle differentiation while it increased during endothelial differentiation of PVASCs. TBX20 knockdown resulted in the upregulation of SMC-specific marker expression and activated Smad2/3 signaling, while inhibiting endothelial differentiation. In contrast, TBX20 overexpression repressed the differentiation of PVASCs toward smooth muscle cells but promoted endothelial differentiation in vitro. Transplantation of PVASCs transfected with TBX20 overexpression lentivirus inhibited neointimal hyperplasia in a murine femoral artery guidewire injury model. On the contrary, neointimal hyperplasia significantly increased in the TBX20 knockdown group. Conclusion A subpopulation of PVASCs uniquely expressed TBX20. TBX20 could regulate SMC and EC differentiation of PVASCs in vitro. Transplantation of PVASCs after vascular injury suggested that PVASCs participated in neointimal hyperplasia via TBX20.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongli Ji
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuankun Ma
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Ni
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunrui Lu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuhao Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Ma
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiming Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Siyin Ding
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meixiang Xiang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yao Xie
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Talwar S, Kant A, Xu T, Shenoy VB, Assoian RK. Mechanosensitive smooth muscle cell phenotypic plasticity emerging from a null state and the balance between Rac and Rho. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109019. [PMID: 33882318 PMCID: PMC8142933 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reversible differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a critical role in vascular biology and disease. Changes in VSMC differentiation correlate with stiffness of the arterial extracellular matrix (ECM), but causal relationships remain unclear. We show that VSMC plasticity is mechanosensitive and that both the de-differentiated and differentiated fates are promoted by the same ECM stiffness. Differential equations developed to model this behavior predicted that a null VSMC state generates the dual fates in response to ECM stiffness. Direct measurements of cellular forces, proliferation, and contractile gene expression validated these predictions and showed that fate outcome is mediated by Rac-Rho homeostasis. Rac, through distinct effects on YAP and TAZ, is required for both fates. Rho drives the contractile state alone, so its level of activity, relative to Rac, drives phenotypic choice. Our results show how the cellular response to a single ECM stiffness generates bi-stability and VSMC plasticity. Reversible differentiation/de-differentiation of smooth muscle cells plays a critical role in vascular biology and disease. Talwar et al. show that these differentiated and de-differentiated phenotypes emerge from a null state that is regulated by ECM stiffness and bidirectional effects of Rac on YAP and TAZ transcriptional coregulators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Talwar
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Departments of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Aayush Kant
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tina Xu
- Departments of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Vivek B Shenoy
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Richard K Assoian
- Center for Engineering MechanoBiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Departments of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Zhang CY, Hu YC, Zhang Y, Ma WD, Song YF, Quan XH, Guo X, Wang CX. Glutamine switches vascular smooth muscle cells to synthetic phenotype through inhibiting miR-143 expression and upregulating THY1 expression. Life Sci 2021; 277:119365. [PMID: 33741416 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are involved in the pathogenesis of many human cardiovascular diseases. They modulate their phenotype from "contractile" to "synthetic" in response to changes in local environmental cues. How glutamine regulates the differentiation of VSMCs and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. MAIN METHODS Here, we explored the effects of various doses of glutamine (0 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM, and 4 mM) on the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic switch of human VSMCs in vitro. Glutamine dose-dependently enhanced VSMC proliferation, and markedly increased VSMC migration. KEY FINDINGS Notably, glutamine promoted the phenotypic switch of VSMCs towards a synthetic phenotype, as evidenced by significantly decreased expression of contractile markers myosin heavy chain 11 (MYH11) and calponin while increased expression of synthetic markers collagen I and vimentin. Importantly, these changes upon glutamine treatments were attenuated after additional treatments with glutamine metabolism inhibitor BPTES. Additionally, glutamine downregulated miR-143 expression, and miR-143 inactivation alone resulted in enhanced proliferation, migration, and promoted the synthetic phenotype of VSMCs. Moreover, Thy-1 cell surface antigen (THY1) was validated as a downstream target of miR-143, and THY1 expression was upregulated by glutamine in VSMCs. Furthermore, either miR-143 overexpression or THY1 silencing abolished the effect of glutamine on proliferation, migration, and phenotypic switch of VSMCs, supporting a novel glutamine-miR-143-THY1 pathway in modulating VSMC functions. SIGNIFICANCE This study demonstrated a novel mechanism of glutamine in modulation of VSMC phenotypic switch by targeting miR-143 and THY1, and provides significant insight on targeted therapy of patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yan Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 157 Xi Wu Road, 710004 Xi'an, China
| | - Yan-Chao Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 157 Xi Wu Road, 710004 Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 157 Xi Wu Road, 710004 Xi'an, China
| | - Wei-Dong Ma
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 157 Xi Wu Road, 710004 Xi'an, China
| | - Ya-Fan Song
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 157 Xi Wu Road, 710004 Xi'an, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Quan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xi'an No.1 Hospital, 30 Fen Xiang, South Street, 710004 Xi'an, China
| | - Xuan Guo
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Xi'an No.1 Hospital, 30 Fen Xiang, South Street, 710004 Xi'an, China
| | - Cong-Xia Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 157 Xi Wu Road, 710004 Xi'an, China.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
c-Kit expression in smooth muscle cells reduces atherosclerosis burden in hyperlipidemic mice. Atherosclerosis 2021; 324:133-140. [PMID: 33781566 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Increased receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) activity has been historically linked to atherosclerosis. Paradoxically, we recently found that global deficiency in c-Kit function increased atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic mice. This study aimed to investigate if such unusual atheroprotective phenotype depends upon c-Kit's function in smooth muscle cells (SMC). METHODS We studied atherosclerosis in a SMC-specific conditional knockout mice (KitSMC) and control littermate. Tamoxifen (TAM) and vehicle treated mice were fed high fat diet for 16 weeks before atherosclerosis assessment in the whole aorta using oil red staining. Smooth muscle cells were traced within the aortic sinus of conditional c-Kit tracing mice (KitSMC eYFP) and their control littermates (KitWT eYFP) by immunofluorescent confocal microscopy. We then performed RNA sequencing on primary SMC from c-Kit deficient and control mice, and identified significantly altered genes and pathways as a result of c-Kit deficiency in SMC. RESULTS Atherosclerosis significantly increased in KitSMC mice with respect to control groups. In addition, the loss of c-Kit in SMC increased plaque size and necrotic core area in the aortic sinus of hyperlipidemic mice. Smooth muscle cells from KitSMC eYFP mice were more prone to migrate and express foam cell markers (e.g., Mac2 and MCAM) than those from control littermate animals. RNAseq analysis showed a significant upregulation in genes associated with cell proliferation, migration, lipid metabolism, and inflammation secondary to the loss of Kit function in primary SMCs. CONCLUSIONS Loss of c-Kit increases SMC migration, proliferation, and expression of foam cell markers in atherosclerotic plaques from hyperlipidemic mice.
Collapse
|
48
|
Shen M, Quertermous T, Fischbein MP, Wu JC. Generation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Methods, Applications, and Considerations. Circ Res 2021; 128:670-686. [PMID: 33818124 PMCID: PMC10817206 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.120.318049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The developmental origin of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has been increasingly recognized as a major determinant for regional susceptibility or resistance to vascular diseases. As a human material-based complement to animal models and human primary cultures, patient induced pluripotent stem cell iPSC-derived VSMCs have been leveraged to conduct basic research and develop therapeutic applications in vascular diseases. However, iPSC-VSMCs (induced pluripotent stem cell VSMCs) derived by most existing induction protocols are heterogeneous in developmental origins. In this review, we summarize signaling networks that govern in vivo cell fate decisions and in vitro derivation of distinct VSMC progenitors, as well as key regulators that terminally specify lineage-specific VSMCs. We then highlight the significance of leveraging patient-derived iPSC-VSMCs for vascular disease modeling, drug discovery, and vascular tissue engineering and discuss several obstacles that need to be circumvented to fully unleash the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells for precision vascular medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengcheng Shen
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Joseph C. Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
mTOR Signaling in Pulmonary Vascular Disease: Pathogenic Role and Therapeutic Target. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042144. [PMID: 33670032 PMCID: PMC7926633 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and fatal disease without a cure. The exact pathogenic mechanisms of PAH are complex and poorly understood, yet a number of abnormally expressed genes and regulatory pathways contribute to sustained vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling of the distal pulmonary arteries. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is one of the major signaling pathways implicated in regulating cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and protein synthesis. Here we will describe the canonical mTOR pathway, structural and functional differences between mTOR complexes 1 and 2, as well as the crosstalk with other important signaling cascades in the development of PAH. The pathogenic role of mTOR in pulmonary vascular remodeling and sustained vasoconstriction due to its contribution to proliferation, migration, phenotypic transition, and gene regulation in pulmonary artery smooth muscle and endothelial cells will be discussed. Despite the progress in our elucidation of the etiology and pathogenesis of PAH over the two last decades, there is a lack of effective therapeutic agents to treat PAH patients representing a significant unmet clinical need. In this review, we will explore the possibility and therapeutic potential to use inhibitors of mTOR signaling cascade to treat PAH.
Collapse
|
50
|
Benson CE, Southgate L. The DOCK protein family in vascular development and disease. Angiogenesis 2021; 24:417-433. [PMID: 33548004 PMCID: PMC8292242 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-021-09768-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The vascular network is established and maintained through the processes of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, which are tightly regulated during embryonic and postnatal life. The formation of a functional vasculature requires critical cellular mechanisms, such as cell migration, proliferation and adhesion, which are dependent on the activity of small Rho GTPases, controlled in part by the dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK) protein family. Whilst the majority of DOCK proteins are associated with neuronal development, a growing body of evidence has indicated that members of the DOCK family may have key functions in the control of vasculogenic and angiogenic processes. This is supported by the involvement of several angiogenic signalling pathways, including chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), in the regulation of specific DOCK proteins. This review summarises recent progress in understanding the respective roles of DOCK family proteins during vascular development. We focus on existing in vivo and in vitro models and known human disease phenotypes and highlight potential mechanisms of DOCK protein dysfunction in the pathogenesis of vascular disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clare E Benson
- Genetics Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Laura Southgate
- Genetics Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK. .,Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|