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Bramel EE, Camejo WAE, Creamer TJ, Restrepo L, Saqib M, Bagirzadeh R, Zeng A, Mitchell JT, Stein-O’Brien GL, Pedroza AJ, Fischbein MP, Dietz HC, MacFarlane EG. Intrinsic Gata4 expression sensitizes the aortic root to dilation in a Loeys-Dietz syndrome mouse model. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4420617. [PMID: 38883722 PMCID: PMC11177966 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4420617/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an aneurysm disorder caused by mutations that decrease transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling. Although aneurysms develop throughout the arterial tree, the aortic root is a site of heightened risk. To identify molecular determinants of this vulnerability, we investigated the heterogeneity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the aorta of Tgfbr1 M318R/+ LDS mice by single cell and spatial transcriptomics. Reduced expression of components of the extracellular matrix-receptor apparatus and upregulation of stress and inflammatory pathways were observed in all LDS VSMCs. However, regardless of genotype, a subset of Gata4-expressing VSMCs predominantly located in the aortic root intrinsically displayed a less differentiated, proinflammatory profile. A similar population was also identified among aortic VSMCs in a human scRNAseq dataset. Postnatal VSMC-specific Gata4 deletion reduced aortic root dilation in LDS mice, suggesting that this factor sensitizes the aortic root to the effects of impaired TGF-β signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Bramel
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Predoctoral Training in Human Genetics and Genomics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Wendy A. Espinoza Camejo
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Predoctoral Training in Human Genetics and Genomics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tyler J. Creamer
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leda Restrepo
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Muzna Saqib
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rustam Bagirzadeh
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anthony Zeng
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacob T. Mitchell
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Predoctoral Training in Human Genetics and Genomics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Genevieve L. Stein-O’Brien
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Albert J. Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michael P. Fischbein
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Harry C. Dietz
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elena Gallo MacFarlane
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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2
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Liu X, Zeng Q, Yang H, Li W, Chen Q, Yin K, Pan Z, Wang K, Luo M, Shu C, Zhou Z. Single-Nucleus Multiomic Analyses Identifies Gene Regulatory Dynamics of Phenotypic Modulation in Human Aneurysmal Aortic Root. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400444. [PMID: 38552156 PMCID: PMC11165511 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Aortic root aneurysm is a potentially life-threatening condition that may lead to aortic rupture and is often associated with genetic syndromes, such as Marfan syndrome (MFS). Although studies with MFS animal models have provided valuable insights into the pathogenesis of aortic root aneurysms, this understanding of the transcriptomic and epigenomic landscape in human aortic root tissue remains incomplete. This knowledge gap has impeded the development of effective targeted therapies. Here, this study performs the first integrative analysis of single-nucleus multiomic (gene expression and chromatin accessibility) and spatial transcriptomic sequencing data of human aortic root tissue under healthy and MFS conditions. Cell-type-specific transcriptomic and cis-regulatory profiles in the human aortic root are identified. Regulatory and spatial dynamics during phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the cardinal cell type, are delineated. Moreover, candidate key regulators driving the phenotypic modulation of VSMC, such as FOXN3, TEAD1, BACH2, and BACH1, are identified. In vitro experiments demonstrate that FOXN3 functions as a novel key regulator for maintaining the contractile phenotype of human aortic VSMCs through targeting ACTA2. These findings provide novel insights into the regulatory and spatial dynamics during phenotypic modulation in the aneurysmal aortic root of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
| | - Qingyi Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
| | - Hang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
| | - Wenke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
| | - Qianlong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
| | - Kunlun Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
| | - Zihang Pan
- Department of Physiology and PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesState Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and RemodelingPeking UniversityBeijing100191China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Physiology and PathophysiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesState Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and RemodelingPeking UniversityBeijing100191China
| | - Mingyao Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
- Center of Vascular SurgeryFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijing100037China
- Department of Vascular SurgeryFuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular HospitalAffiliated Cardiovascular Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnan650102China
- Department of Vascular SurgeryCentral‐China Subcenter of National Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesHenan Cardiovascular Disease CenterFuwai Central‐China Cardiovascular HospitalCentral China Fuwai Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou450046China
| | - Chang Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
- Center of Vascular SurgeryFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijing100037China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseasesBeijing Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics of Cardiovascular DiseasesCenter of Laboratory MedicineFuwai HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100037China
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3
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Ye Q, Chen M, Ma L. Genetic liability to elevated circulating IP-10, IFNγ and SCGFβ levels in relation to thoracic aortic aneurysm: A mendelian randomization study. Cytokine 2024; 178:156569. [PMID: 38484620 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156569] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation is associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) but the effects of each circulating inflammatory factor on TAA remain unclear. In this study, we explored the relationship between circulating inflammatory factors and TAA risk using Mendelian randomization (MR) approach based on summary statistics from the latest genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 41 circulating inflammatory factors in 8293 Finns and a GWAS involving 1351 TAA cases and 18,295 controls of European ancestry. In univariable MR, higher interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) levels, higher interferon gamma (IFNγ) levels and higher stem cell growth factor beta (SCGFβ) levels were associated with an increased risk of TAA (OR = 1.37, 95 % CI = 1.17-1.59, p = 7.42 × 10-5; OR = 1.43, 95 % CI = 1.19-1.74, p = 2.04 × 10-4; OR = 1.27, 95 % CI = 1.09-1.48, p = 2.40 × 10-3, respectively). In multivariable MR, the patterns of associations for the three cytokines remained adjusting for each other or smoking, but were attenuated differently with adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors, especially for lipids and body mass index. Bidirectional MR approach did not identify any significant associations between cytokines and risk factors. Our results indicated that circulating cytokines may play mediation roles in the pathogenesis of TAA. Further studies are needed to determine whether these biomarkers can be used to prevent and treat TAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianxi Ye
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Miao Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China.
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Jiang D, Zheng S, Xu X, Yue H, Liang W, Wu Z. Uncovering Druggable Targets in Aortic Dissection: An Association Study Integrating Mendelian Randomization, pQTL, and Protein-Protein Interaction Network. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1204. [PMID: 38927411 PMCID: PMC11200553 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061204] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening acute aortic syndrome. There are limitations and challenges in the discovery and application of biomarkers and drug targets for AD. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis is a reliable analytical method to identify effective therapeutic targets. We aimed to identify novel therapeutic targets for AD and investigate their potential side-effects based on MR analysis. Data from protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) were used for MR analyses to identify potential therapeutic targets. We probed druggable proteins involved in the pathogenesis of aortic dissection from deCODE. In this study, a two-sample MR analysis was conducted, with druggable proteins as the exposure factor and data on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of AD as the outcome. After conducting a two-sample MR, summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis and colocalization analysis were performed. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was also constructed to delve into the interactions between identified proteins. After MR analysis and the Steiger test, we identified five proteins as potential therapeutic targets for AD. SMR analysis and colocalization analysis also confirmed our findings. Finally, we identified ASPN (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.54, p = 4.22 × 10-5) and SPOCK2 (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.78, p = 4.52 × 10-4) as the core therapeutic targets. Through PPI network analysis, we identified six druggable targets, enabling the subsequent identification of six promising drugs from DrugBank for treating AD. This discovery of specific proteins as novel therapeutic targets represents a significant advancement in AD treatment. These findings provide more effective treatment options for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zhong Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu 610041, China; (D.J.)
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5
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Rojas MG, Pereira-Simon S, Zigmond ZM, Varona Santos J, Perla M, Santos Falcon N, Stoyell-Conti FF, Salama A, Yang X, Long X, Duque JC, Salman LH, Tabbara M, Martinez L, Vazquez-Padron RI. Single-Cell Analyses Offer Insights into the Different Remodeling Programs of Arteries and Veins. Cells 2024; 13:793. [PMID: 38786017 PMCID: PMC11119253 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100793] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Arteries and veins develop different types of occlusive diseases and respond differently to injury. The biological reasons for this discrepancy are not well understood, which is a limiting factor for the development of vein-targeted therapies. This study contrasts human peripheral arteries and veins at the single-cell level, with a focus on cell populations with remodeling potential. Upper arm arteries (brachial) and veins (basilic/cephalic) from 30 organ donors were compared using a combination of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics, flow cytometry, and histology. The cellular atlases of six arteries and veins demonstrated a 7.8× higher proportion of contractile smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in arteries and a trend toward more modulated SMCs. In contrast, veins showed a higher abundance of endothelial cells, pericytes, and macrophages, as well as an increasing trend in fibroblasts. Activated fibroblasts had similar proportions in both types of vessels but with significant differences in gene expression. Modulated SMCs and activated fibroblasts were characterized by the upregulation of MYH10, FN1, COL8A1, and ITGA10. Activated fibroblasts also expressed F2R, POSTN, and COMP and were confirmed by F2R/CD90 flow cytometry. Activated fibroblasts from veins were the top producers of collagens among all fibroblast populations from both types of vessels. Venous fibroblasts were also highly angiogenic, proinflammatory, and hyper-responders to reactive oxygen species. Differences in wall structure further explain the significant contribution of fibroblast populations to remodeling in veins. Fibroblasts are almost exclusively located outside the external elastic lamina in arteries, while widely distributed throughout the venous wall. In line with the above, ECM-targeted proteomics confirmed a higher abundance of fibrillar collagens in veins vs. more basement ECM components in arteries. The distinct cellular compositions and transcriptional programs of reparative populations in arteries and veins may explain differences in acute and chronic wall remodeling between vessels. This information may be relevant for the development of antistenotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel G. Rojas
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Simone Pereira-Simon
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | | | - Javier Varona Santos
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Mikael Perla
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Nieves Santos Falcon
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Filipe F. Stoyell-Conti
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Alghidak Salama
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Xiaochun Long
- Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Juan C. Duque
- Department of Medicine, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Loay H. Salman
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Marwan Tabbara
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Laisel Martinez
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Roberto I. Vazquez-Padron
- Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA; (M.G.R.); (S.P.-S.); (J.V.S.); (A.S.)
- Bruce W. Carter Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125, USA;
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6
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Gibson Hughes TA, Dona MSI, Sobey CG, Pinto AR, Drummond GR, Vinh A, Jelinic M. Aortic Cellular Heterogeneity in Health and Disease: Novel Insights Into Aortic Diseases From Single-Cell RNA Transcriptomic Data Sets. Hypertension 2024; 81:738-751. [PMID: 38318714 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.20597] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Aortic diseases such as atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms, and aortic stiffening are significant complications that can have significant impact on end-stage cardiovascular disease. With limited pharmacological therapeutic strategies that target the structural changes in the aorta, surgical intervention remains the only option for some patients with these diseases. Although there have been significant contributions to our understanding of the cellular architecture of the diseased aorta, particularly in the context of atherosclerosis, furthering our insight into the cellular drivers of disease is required. The major cell types of the aorta are well defined; however, the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing provides unrivaled insights into the cellular heterogeneity of each aortic cell type and the inferred biological processes associated with each cell in health and disease. This review discusses previous concepts that have now been enhanced with recent advances made by single-cell RNA sequencing with a focus on aortic cellular heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayla A Gibson Hughes
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Anatomy Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia (T.A.G.H., C.G.S., A.R.P., G.R.D., A.V., M.J.)
| | - Malathi S I Dona
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (M.S.I.D., A.R.P.)
| | - Christopher G Sobey
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Anatomy Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia (T.A.G.H., C.G.S., A.R.P., G.R.D., A.V., M.J.)
| | - Alexander R Pinto
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Anatomy Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia (T.A.G.H., C.G.S., A.R.P., G.R.D., A.V., M.J.)
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (M.S.I.D., A.R.P.)
| | - Grant R Drummond
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Anatomy Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia (T.A.G.H., C.G.S., A.R.P., G.R.D., A.V., M.J.)
| | - Antony Vinh
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Anatomy Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia (T.A.G.H., C.G.S., A.R.P., G.R.D., A.V., M.J.)
| | - Maria Jelinic
- Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Anatomy Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia (T.A.G.H., C.G.S., A.R.P., G.R.D., A.V., M.J.)
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Fu Y, Zhou Y, Wang K, Li Z, Kong W. Extracellular Matrix Interactome in Modulating Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling. Circ Res 2024; 134:931-949. [PMID: 38547250 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.324055] [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] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The ECM (extracellular matrix) is a major component of the vascular microenvironment that modulates vascular homeostasis. ECM proteins include collagens, elastin, noncollagen glycoproteins, and proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans. ECM proteins form complex matrix structures, such as the basal lamina and collagen and elastin fibers, through direct interactions or lysyl oxidase-mediated cross-linking. Moreover, ECM proteins directly interact with cell surface receptors or extracellular secreted molecules, exerting matricellular and matricrine modulation, respectively. In addition, extracellular proteases degrade or cleave matrix proteins, thereby contributing to ECM turnover. These interactions constitute the ECM interactome network, which is essential for maintaining vascular homeostasis and preventing pathological vascular remodeling. The current review mainly focuses on endogenous matrix proteins in blood vessels and discusses the interaction of these matrix proteins with other ECM proteins, cell surface receptors, cytokines, complement and coagulation factors, and their potential roles in maintaining vascular homeostasis and preventing pathological remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Fu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (Y.F., K.W., Z.L., W.K.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Informatics (Y.Z.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (Y.F., K.W., Z.L., W.K.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuofan Li
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (Y.F., K.W., Z.L., W.K.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Kong
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (Y.F., K.W., Z.L., W.K.), School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, Peking University, Beijing, China
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8
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Sharma D, Worssam MD, Pedroza AJ, Dalal AR, Alemany H, Kim HJ, Kundu R, Fischbein MP, Cheng P, Wirka R, Quertermous T. Comprehensive Integration of Multiple Single-Cell Transcriptomic Data Sets Defines Distinct Cell Populations and Their Phenotypic Changes in Murine Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:391-408. [PMID: 38152886 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320030] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application of single-cell transcriptomic (single-cell RNA sequencing) analysis to the study of atherosclerosis has provided unique insights into the molecular and genetic mechanisms that mediate disease risk and pathophysiology. However, nonstandardized methodologies and relatively high costs associated with the technique have limited the size and replication of existing data sets and created disparate or contradictory findings that have fostered misunderstanding and controversy. METHODS To address these uncertainties, we have performed a conservative integration of multiple published single-cell RNA sequencing data sets into a single meta-analysis, performed extended analysis of native resident vascular cells, and used in situ hybridization to map the disease anatomic location of the identified cluster cells. To investigate the transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cells to macrophage phenotype, we have developed a classifying algorithm based on the quantification of reporter transgene expression. RESULTS The reporter gene expression tool indicates that within the experimental limits of the examined studies, transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cell to the macrophage lineage is extremely rare. Validated transition smooth muscle cell phenotypes were defined by clustering, and the location of these cells was mapped to lesion anatomy with in situ hybridization. We have also characterized 5 endothelial cell phenotypes and linked these cellular species to different vascular structures and functions. Finally, we have identified a transcriptomically unique cellular phenotype that constitutes the aortic valve. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these analyses resolve a number of outstanding issues related to differing results reported with vascular disease single-cell RNA sequencing studies, and significantly extend our understanding of the role of resident vascular cells in anatomy and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (D.S., M.D.W., H.A., H.-J.K., R.K., P.C., T.Q.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Matthew D Worssam
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (D.S., M.D.W., H.A., H.-J.K., R.K., P.C., T.Q.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Albert J Pedroza
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (A.J.P., A.R.D., M.P.F.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Alex R Dalal
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (A.J.P., A.R.D., M.P.F.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Haizea Alemany
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (D.S., M.D.W., H.A., H.-J.K., R.K., P.C., T.Q.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Hyun-Jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (D.S., M.D.W., H.A., H.-J.K., R.K., P.C., T.Q.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Ramendra Kundu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (D.S., M.D.W., H.A., H.-J.K., R.K., P.C., T.Q.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Michael P Fischbein
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (A.J.P., A.R.D., M.P.F.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (D.S., M.D.W., H.A., H.-J.K., R.K., P.C., T.Q.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Robert Wirka
- Division of Cardiology, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC (R.W.)
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine (D.S., M.D.W., H.A., H.-J.K., R.K., P.C., T.Q.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
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9
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Gonzalez BA, Harmeyer SW, Song T, Sadayappan S, Yutzey KE. Dynamic changes in mitral valve extracellular matrix, tissue mechanics and function in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome. Matrix Biol 2024; 126:1-13. [PMID: 38185344 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2024.01.001] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mouse models of Marfan syndrome (MFS) with Fibrillin 1 (Fbn1) variant C1041G exhibit cardiovascular abnormalities, including myxomatous valve disease (MVD) and aortic aneurism, with structural extracellular matrix (ECM) dysregulation. In this study, we examine the structure-function-mechanics relations of the mitral valve related to specific transitions in ECM composition and organization in progressive MVD in MFS mice from Postnatal day (P)7 to 1 year-of-age. APPROACH AND RESULTS Mechanistic links between mechanical forces and biological changes in MVD progression were examined in Fbn1C1041G/+ MFS mice. By echocardiography, mitral valve dysfunction is prevalent at 2 months with a decrease in cardiac function at 6 months, followed by a preserved cardiac function at 12 months. Mitral valve (MV) regurgitation occurs in a subset of mice at 2-6 months, while progressive dilatation of the aorta occurs from 2 to 12 months. Mitral valve tissue mechanical assessments using a uniaxial Permeabilizable Fiber System demonstrate decreased stiffness of MFS MVs at all stages. Histological and microscopic analysis of ECM content, structure, and fiber orientation demonstrate that alterations in ECM mechanics, composition, and organization precede functional abnormalities in Fbn1C1041G/+MFS MVs. At 2 months, ECM abnormalities are detected with an increase in proteoglycans and decreased stiffness of the mitral valve. By 6-12 months, collagen fiber remodeling is increased with abnormal fiber organization in MFS mitral valve leaflets. At the same time, matrifibrocyte gene expression characteristic of collagen-rich connective tissue is increased, as detected by RNA in situ hybridization and qPCR. Together, these studies demonstrate early prevalence of proteoglycans at 2 months followed by upregulation of collagen structure and organization with age in MVs of MFS mice. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our data indicate dynamic regulation of mitral valve structure, tissue mechanics, and function that reflect changes in ECM composition, organization, and gene expression in progressive MVD. Notably, increased collagen fiber organization and orientation, potentially dependent on increased matrifibrocyte cell activity, is apparent with altered mitral valve mechanics and function in aging MFS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A Gonzalez
- The Heart Institute, Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Samuel W Harmeyer
- The Heart Institute, Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Taejeong Song
- Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sakthivel Sadayappan
- Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Katherine E Yutzey
- The Heart Institute, Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati OH, USA.
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10
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Shi Y, Chen J, Cai L, Zhang X, Chen Z, Yang J, Jiang Y, Lu Y. Uncovering the Hidden World of Aqueous Humor Proteins for Discovery of Biomarkers for Marfan Syndrome. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2303161. [PMID: 38088571 PMCID: PMC10853735 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Ectopia lentis is a hallmark of Marfan syndrome (MFS), a genetic connective tissue disorder affecting 1/5000 to 1/10 000 individuals worldwide. Early detection in ophthalmology clinics and timely intervention of cardiovascular complications can be lifesaving. In this study, a modified proteomics workflow with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based data-independent acquisition (DIA) and field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) to profile the proteomes of aqueous humor (AH) and lens tissue from MFS children with ectopia lentis is utilized. Over 2300 and 2938 comparable proteins are identified in AH and the lens capsule, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses uncovered dysregulation of complement and coagulation-related pathways, collagen binding, and cell adhesion in MFS. Through weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning, distinct modules associated with clinical traits are constructed and a unique biomarker panel (Q14376, Q99972, P02760, Q07507; gene names: GALE, MYOC, AMBP, DPT) is defined. These biomarkers are further validated using advanced parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) in an independent patient cohort. The results provide novel insights into the proteome characterization of ectopia lentis and offer a promising approach for developing a valuable biomarker panel to aid in the early diagnosis of Marfan syndrome via AH proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Shi
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
| | - Jiahui Chen
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
| | - Lei Cai
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
| | - Xueling Zhang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
| | - Zexu Chen
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
| | - Jin Yang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
| | - Yongxiang Jiang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
| | - Yi Lu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- NHC Key Laboratory of MyopiaFudan UniversityShanghai200031China
- Key Laboratory of MyopiaChinese Academy of Medical SciencesShanghai200031China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and RestorationShanghai200031China
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11
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Raghavan A, Pirruccello JP, Ellinor PT, Lindsay ME. Using Genomics to Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets for Aortic Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:334-351. [PMID: 38095107 PMCID: PMC10843699 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.318771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Aortic disease, including dissection, aneurysm, and rupture, carries significant morbidity and mortality and is a notable cause of sudden cardiac death. Much of our knowledge regarding the genetic basis of aortic disease has relied on the study of individuals with Mendelian aortopathies and, until recently, the genetic determinants of population-level variance in aortic phenotypes remained unclear. However, the application of machine learning methodologies to large imaging datasets has enabled researchers to rapidly define aortic traits and mine dozens of novel genetic associations for phenotypes such as aortic diameter and distensibility. In this review, we highlight the emerging potential of genomics for identifying causal genes and candidate drug targets for aortic disease. We describe how deep learning technologies have accelerated the pace of genetic discovery in this field. We then provide a blueprint for translating genetic associations to biological insights, reviewing techniques for locus and cell type prioritization, high-throughput functional screening, and disease modeling using cellular and animal models of aortic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avanthi Raghavan
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James P. Pirruccello
- Division of Cardiology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Patrick T. Ellinor
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark E. Lindsay
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Rojas MG, Zigmond ZM, Pereira-Simon S, Santos Falcon N, Suresh Kumar M, Stoyell-Conti FF, Kosanovic C, Griswold AJ, Salama A, Yang X, Tabbara M, Vazquez-Padron RI, Martinez L. The intricate cellular ecosystem of human peripheral veins as revealed by single-cell transcriptomic analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296264. [PMID: 38206912 PMCID: PMC10783777 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The venous system has been historically understudied despite its critical roles in blood distribution, heart function, and systemic immunity. This study dissects the microanatomy of upper arm veins at the single cell level, and how it relates to wall structure, remodeling processes, and inflammatory responses to injury. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing to 4 non-diseased human veins (3 basilic, 1 cephalic) obtained from organ donors, followed by bioinformatic and histological analyses. Unsupervised clustering of 20,006 cells revealed a complex ecosystem of endothelial cell (EC) types, smooth muscle cell (SMCs) and pericytes, various types of fibroblasts, and immune cell populations. The venous endothelium showed significant upregulation of cell adhesion genes, with arteriovenous zonation EC phenotypes highlighting the heterogeneity of vasa vasorum (VV) microvessels. Venous SMCs had atypical contractile phenotypes and showed widespread localization in the intima and media. MYH11+DESlo SMCs were transcriptionally associated with negative regulation of contraction and pro-inflammatory gene expression. MYH11+DEShi SMCs showed significant upregulation of extracellular matrix genes and pro-migratory mediators. Venous fibroblasts ranging from secretory to myofibroblastic phenotypes were 4X more abundant than SMCs and widely distributed throughout the wall. Fibroblast-derived angiopoietin-like factors were identified as versatile signaling hubs to regulate angiogenesis and SMC proliferation. An abundant monocyte/macrophage population was detected and confirmed by histology, including pro-inflammatory and homeostatic phenotypes, with cell counts positively correlated with age. Ligand-receptor interactome networks identified the venous endothelium in the main lumen and the VV as a niche for monocyte recruitment and infiltration. This study underscores the transcriptional uniqueness of venous cells and their relevance for vascular inflammation and remodeling processes. Findings from this study may be relevant for molecular investigations of upper arm veins used for vascular access creation, where single-cell analyses of cell composition and phenotypes are currently lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel G. Rojas
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Zachary M. Zigmond
- Bruce W. Carter Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Simone Pereira-Simon
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Nieves Santos Falcon
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Maya Suresh Kumar
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Filipe F. Stoyell-Conti
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christina Kosanovic
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Anthony J. Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alghidak Salama
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marwan Tabbara
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Roberto I. Vazquez-Padron
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Bruce W. Carter Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Laisel Martinez
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
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13
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Kalyanaraman H, Casteel DE, Cabriales JA, Tat J, Zhuang S, Chan A, Dretchen KL, Boss GR, Pilz RB. The Antioxidant/Nitric Oxide-Quenching Agent Cobinamide Prevents Aortic Disease in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2024; 9:46-62. [PMID: 38362350 PMCID: PMC10864892 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.07.014] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Major pathologic changes in the proximal aorta underlie the life-threatening aortic aneurysms and dissections in Marfan Syndrome; current treatments delay aneurysm development without addressing the primary pathology. Because excess oxidative stress and nitric oxide/protein kinase G signaling likely contribute to the aortopathy, we hypothesized that cobinamide, a strong antioxidant that can attenuate nitric oxide signaling, could be uniquely suited to prevent aortic disease. In a well-characterized mouse model of Marfan Syndrome, cobinamide dramatically reduced elastin breaks, prevented excess collagen deposition and smooth muscle cell apoptosis, and blocked DNA, lipid, and protein oxidation and excess nitric oxide/protein kinase G signaling in the ascending aorta. Consistent with preventing pathologic changes, cobinamide diminished aortic root dilation without affecting blood pressure. Cobinamide exhibited excellent safety and pharmacokinetic profiles indicating it could be a practical treatment. We conclude that cobinamide deserves further study as a disease-modifying treatment of Marfan Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hema Kalyanaraman
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Darren E. Casteel
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Justin A. Cabriales
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - John Tat
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Shunhui Zhuang
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Adriano Chan
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Gerry R. Boss
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Renate B. Pilz
- Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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14
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Seeburun S, Wu S, Hemani D, Pham L, Ju D, Xie Y, Kata P, Li L. Insights into elastic fiber fragmentation: Mechanisms and treatment of aortic aneurysm in Marfan syndrome. Vascul Pharmacol 2023; 153:107215. [PMID: 37640090 PMCID: PMC10872825 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107215] [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: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in fibrillin 1 (FBN1) gene. These mutations result in defects in the skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems. Aortic aneurysm is the leading cause of premature mortality in untreated MFS patients. Elastic fiber fragmentation in the aortic vessel wall is a hallmark of MFS-associated aortic aneurysms. FBN1 mutations result in FBN1 fragments that also contribute to elastic fiber fragmentation. Although recent research has advanced our understanding of MFS, the contribution of elastic fiber fragmentation to the pathogenesis of aneurysm formation remains poorly understood. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms of elastic fiber fragmentation and its role in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm progression. Increased comprehension of elastic fragmentation has significant clinical implications for developing targeted interventions to block aneurysm progression, which would benefit not only individuals with Marfan syndrome but also other patients with aneurysms. Moreover, this review highlights an overlooked connection between inhibiting aneurysm and the restoration of elastic fibers in the vessel wall with various aneurysm inhibitors, including drugs and chemicals. Investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms could uncover innovative therapeutic strategies to inhibit elastin fragmentation and prevent the progression of aneurysms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheilabi Seeburun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
| | - Shichao Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
| | - Darshi Hemani
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
| | - Lucynda Pham
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
| | - Donghong Ju
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
| | - Youming Xie
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
| | - Priyaranjan Kata
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
| | - Li Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit MI, USA
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15
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Lin W, Xiong J, Jiang Y, Liu H, Bian J, Wang J, Shao Y, Ni B. Fibrillin-1 mutation contributes to Marfan syndrome by inhibiting Cav1.2-mediated cell proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells. Channels (Austin) 2023; 17:2192377. [PMID: 36972239 PMCID: PMC10054150 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2023.2192377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder caused by mutation in fibrillin-1 (FBN1). However, the molecular mechanism underlying MFS remains poorly understood. The study aimed to explore how the L-type calcium channel (CaV1.2) modulates disease progression of MFS and to identify a potential effective target for attenuating MFS. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the calcium signaling pathway gene set was significantly enriched. We demonstrated that FBN1 deficiency exhibited inhibition on both the expression of Cav1.2 and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Then, we examined whether FBN1 mediates Cav1.2 via regulating TGF-β1. Higher levels of TGF-β1 were observed in the serum and aortic tissues from patients with MFS. TGF-β1 modulated Cav1.2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. We evaluated the role of Cav1.2 in MFS by small interfering RNA and Cav1.2 agonist Bay K8644. The effect of Cav1.2 on cell proliferation was dependent on c-Fos activity. These results demonstrated FBN1 deficiency decreased the expression levels of Cav1.2 via regulation of TGF-β1, and downregulation of Cav1.2 inhibited cell proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in MFS patients. These findings suggest that Cav1.2 may be an appealing therapeutic target for MFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Lin
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiaqi Xiong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yefan Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinhui Bian
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Juejin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease and Molecular Intervention, Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongfeng Shao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Buqing Ni
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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16
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Yurdagul A, Aikawa E. Discovering a Rare Smooth Muscle Cell Population Specific to Men in Ascending Aortic Aneurysm Using Spatial Transcriptomics. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:2298-2300. [PMID: 37916413 PMCID: PMC10842258 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arif Yurdagul
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71130
| | - Elena Aikawa
- Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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17
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Mizrak D, Zhao Y, Feng H, Macaulay J, Tang Y, Sultan Z, Zhao G, Guo Y, Zhang J, Yang B, Eugene Chen Y. Single-Molecule Spatial Transcriptomics of Human Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms Uncovers Calcification-Related CARTPT-Expressing Smooth Muscle Cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:2285-2297. [PMID: 37823268 PMCID: PMC10842613 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319329] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although single-cell RNA-sequencing is commonly applied to dissect the heterogeneity in human tissues, it involves the preparation of single-cell suspensions via cell dissociation, causing loss of spatial information. In this study, we employed high-resolution single-cell transcriptome imaging to reveal rare smooth muscle cell (SMC) types in human thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) tissue samples. METHODS Single-molecule spatial distribution of transcripts from 140 genes was analyzed in fresh-frozen human TAA samples with region and sex-matched controls. In vitro studies and tissue staining were performed to examine human CART prepropeptide (CARTPT) regulation and function. RESULTS We captured thousands of cells per sample including a spatially distinct CARTPT-expressing SMC subtype enriched in male TAA samples. Immunoassays confirmed human CART (cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript) protein enrichment in male TAA tissue and truncated CARTPT secretion into cell culture medium. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein, a cardiovascular risk factor, induced CARTPT expression, whereas CARTPT overexpression in human aortic SMCs increased the expression of key osteochondrogenic transcription factors and reduced contractile gene expression. Recombinant human CART treatment of human SMCs further confirmed this phenotype. Alizarin red staining revealed calcium deposition in male TAA samples showing similar localization with human CART staining. CONCLUSIONS Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of single-molecule imaging in uncovering rare SMC subtypes in the diseased human aorta, a difficult tissue to dissociate. We identified a spatially distinct CARTPT-expressing SMC subtype enriched in male human TAA samples. Our functional studies suggest that human CART promotes osteochondrogenic switch of aortic SMCs, potentially leading to medial calcification of the thoracic aorta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dogukan Mizrak
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hao Feng
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jane Macaulay
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zain Sultan
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Guizhen Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yanhong Guo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Y. Eugene Chen
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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18
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Scipione CA, Hyduk SJ, Polenz CK, Cybulsky MI. Unveiling the Hidden Landscape of Arterial Diseases at Single-Cell Resolution. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:1781-1794. [PMID: 37716639 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
High-resolution single-cell technologies have shed light on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases by enabling the discovery of novel cellular and transcriptomic signatures associated with various conditions, and uncovering new contributions of inflammatory processes, immunity, metabolic stress, and risk factors. We review the information obtained from studies using single-cell technologies in tissues with atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms. Insights are provided on the biology of endothelial, smooth muscle, and immune cells in the arterial intima and media. In addition to cellular diversity, numerous examples of plasticity and phenotype switching are highlighted and presented in the context of normal cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey A Scipione
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Sharon J Hyduk
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chanele K Polenz
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Myron I Cybulsky
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Pedroza AJ, Cheng P, Dalal AR, Baeumler K, Kino A, Tognozzi E, Shad R, Yokoyama N, Nakamura K, Mitchel O, Hiesinger W, MacFarlane EG, Fleischmann D, Woo YJ, Quertermous T, Fischbein MP. Early clinical outcomes and molecular smooth muscle cell phenotyping using a prophylactic aortic arch replacement strategy in Loeys-Dietz syndrome. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2023; 166:e332-e376. [PMID: 37500053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2023.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome demonstrate a heightened risk of distal thoracic aortic events after valve-sparing aortic root replacement. This study assesses the clinical risks and hemodynamic consequences of a prophylactic aortic arch replacement strategy in Loeys-Dietz syndrome and characterizes smooth muscle cell phenotype in Loeys-Dietz syndrome aneurysmal and normal-sized downstream aorta. METHODS Patients with genetically confirmed Loeys-Dietz syndrome (n = 8) underwent prophylactic aortic arch replacement during valve-sparing aortic root replacement. Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed in 4 patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (valve-sparing aortic root replacement + arch) and compared with patients with contemporary Marfan syndrome (valve-sparing aortic root replacement only, n = 5) and control patients (without aortopathy, n = 5). Aortic tissues from 4 patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and 2 organ donors were processed for anatomically segmented single-cell RNA sequencing and histologic assessment. RESULTS Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome valve-sparing aortic root replacement + arch had no deaths, major morbidity, or aortic events in a median of 2 years follow-up. Four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated altered flow parameters in patients with postoperative aortopathy relative to controls, but no clear deleterious changes due to arch replacement. Integrated analysis of aortic single-cell RNA sequencing data (>49,000 cells) identified a continuum of abnormal smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation in Loeys-Dietz syndrome defined by reduced contractility and enriched extracellular matrix synthesis, adhesion receptors, and transforming growth factor-beta signaling. These modulated smooth muscle cells populated the Loeys-Dietz syndrome tunica media with gradually reduced density from the overtly aneurysmal root to the nondilated arch. CONCLUSIONS Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome demonstrated excellent surgical outcomes without overt downstream flow or shear stress disturbances after concomitant valve-sparing aortic root replacement + arch operations. Abnormal smooth muscle cell-mediated aortic remodeling occurs within the normal diameter, clinically at-risk Loeys-Dietz syndrome arch segment. These initial clinical and pathophysiologic findings support concomitant arch replacement in Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Alex R Dalal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Kathrin Baeumler
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Aya Kino
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Emily Tognozzi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Rohan Shad
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Nobu Yokoyama
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Ken Nakamura
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Olivia Mitchel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - William Hiesinger
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Elena Gallo MacFarlane
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Dominik Fleischmann
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Y Joseph Woo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Michael P Fischbein
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.
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20
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Shin J, Tkachenko S, Gomez D, Tripathi R, Owens GK, Cherepanova OA. Smooth muscle cells-specific loss of OCT4 accelerates neointima formation after acute vascular injury. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1276945. [PMID: 37942066 PMCID: PMC10627795 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1276945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is growing evidence that smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic transitions play critical roles during normal developmental and tissue recovery processes and in pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these transitions are not well understood. Recently, we found that the embryonic stem cell/induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) factor OCT4, which was believed to be silenced in somatic cells, plays an atheroprotective role in SMC, and regulates angiogenesis after corneal alkali burn and hindlimb ischemia by mediating microvascular SMC and pericyte migration. However, the kinetics of OCT4 activation in arterial SMC and its role in acute pathological conditions are still unknown. Methods and Results Here, using an Oct4-IRES-GFP reporter mouse model, we found that OCT4 is reactivated in the carotid artery 18 hours post-acute ligation-induced injury, a common in vivo model of the SMC phenotypic transitions. Next, using a tamoxifen-inducible Myh11-CreERT2 Oct4 knockout mouse model, we found that the loss of OCT4, specifically in SMC, led to accelerated neointima formation and increased tunica media following carotid artery ligation, at least in part by increasing SMC proliferation within the media. Bulk RNA sequencing analysis on the cultured SMC revealed significant down-regulation of the SMC contractile markers and dysregulation of the genes belonging to the regulation of cell proliferation and, positive and negative regulation for cell migration ontological groups following genetic inactivation of Oct4. We also found that loss of Oct4 resulted in suppression of contractile SMC markers after the injury and in cultured aortic SMC. Further mechanistic studies revealed that OCT4 regulates SMC contractile genes, ACTA2 and TAGLN, at least in part by direct binding to the promoters of these genes. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the pluripotency factor OCT4 is quickly activated in SMC after the acute vascular injury and inhibits SMC hyperproliferation, which may be protective in preventing excessive neointima formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchul Shin
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Svyatoslav Tkachenko
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Delphine Gomez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Rupande Tripathi
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Gary K. Owens
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Olga A. Cherepanova
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
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21
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Lareyre F, Chaudhuri A, Nasr B, Raffort J. Machine Learning and Omics Analysis in Aortic Aneurysm. Angiology 2023:33197231206427. [PMID: 37817423 DOI: 10.1177/00033197231206427] [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: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening condition and mechanisms underlying its formation and progression are still incompletely understood. Omics approach has brought new insights to identify a broad spectrum of biomarkers and better understand cellular and molecular pathways involved. Omics generate a large amount of data and several studies have highlighted that artificial intelligence (AI) and techniques such as machine learning (ML)/deep learning (DL) can be of use in analyzing such complex datasets. However, only a few studies have so far reported the use of ML/DL for omics analysis in aortic aneurysms. The aim of this study is to summarize recent advances on the use of ML/DL for omics analysis to decipher aortic aneurysm pathophysiology and develop patient-tailored risk prediction models. In the light of current knowledge, we discuss current limits and highlight future directions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Lareyre
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, Nice, France
- Inserm U1065, C3M, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Arindam Chaudhuri
- Bedfordshire-Milton Keynes Vascular Centre, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bedford, UK
| | - Bahaa Nasr
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Brest University Hospital, Brest, France
- INSERM UMR 1101, LaTIM, Brest, France
| | - Juliette Raffort
- Inserm U1065, C3M, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France
- 3IA Institute, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
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22
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Kwartler CS, Pedroza AJ, Kaw A, Guan P, Ma S, Duan XY, Kernell C, Wang C, Pinelo JEE, Bowen MSB, Chen J, Zhong Y, Sinha S, Shen X, Fischbein MP, Milewicz DM. Nuclear Smooth Muscle α-actin Participates in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:937-955. [PMID: 38919852 PMCID: PMC11198982 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00337-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Missense variants throughout ACTA2, encoding smooth muscle α-actin (αSMA), predispose to adult-onset thoracic aortic disease, but variants disrupting arginine 179 (R179) lead to Smooth Muscle Dysfunction Syndrome (SMDS) characterized by diverse childhood-onset vascular diseases. Here we show that αSMA localizes to the nucleus in wildtype (WT) smooth muscle cells (SMCs), enriches in the nucleus with SMC differentiation, and associates with chromatin remodeling complexes and SMC contractile gene promotors. The ACTA2 p.R179 αSMA variant shows decreased nuclear localization. Primary SMCs from Acta2 SMC-R179C/+ mice are less differentiated than WT SMCs in vitro and in vivo and have global changes in chromatin accessibility. Induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with ACTA2 p.R179 variants fail to fully differentiate from neuroectodermal progenitor cells to SMCs, and single-cell transcriptomic analyses of an ACTA2 p.R179H patient's aortic tissue show increased SMC plasticity. Thus, nuclear αSMA participates in SMC differentiation, and loss of this nuclear activity occurs with ACTA2 p.R179 pathogenic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callie S. Kwartler
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Albert J. Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Anita Kaw
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Pujun Guan
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Shuangtao Ma
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
- Current address: Department Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Xue-yan Duan
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Caroline Kernell
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Charis Wang
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Jose Emiliano Esparza Pinelo
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Mikayla S. Borthwick Bowen
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Jiyuan Chen
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Yuan Zhong
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957
| | - Sanjay Sinha
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Xuetong Shen
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Dianna M. Milewicz
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
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23
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Feng X, Zheng X, Lin A, Yang S, Zhang S, Wu D, Wu W, Han X. FBN1 knockout promotes cervical artery dissection by inducing N-glycosylation alternation of extracellular matrix proteins in rat VSMCs. Cell Signal 2023; 110:110834. [PMID: 37532137 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110834] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
FBN1 mutation promotes the degeneration of microfibril structures and extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity in the tunica media of the aorta in Marfan syndrome. However, whether FBN1 modulates cervical artery dissection (CAD) development and the potential molecular mechanisms of abnormal FBN1 in CAD remains elusive. In this study, FBN1 deficiency participated in the development of CAD and influenced the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. FBN1 knockout induced alternations in mRNA levels of the transcriptome, protein expression of the proteome, and abundance of N-glycosylation of the N-glycoproteome. Comprehensive analysis of multiple omics showed up-regulation in mRNA levels of ECM proteins; yet, both the ECM protein levels and relative abundance of N-glycosylation were decreased. Moreover, we performed in vivo experiments to confirm the altered glycosylation of proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, FBN1 deletion in vascular smooth muscle cells can result in altered N-glycosylation of ECM protein, which were critical for the stability of ECM and the process of CAD. This may open the way for a novel therapeutic strategy to treat people with CAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochao Feng
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Fifth People(')s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xixi Zheng
- Human Phenome Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Aiqi Lin
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shilin Yang
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shufan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Danhong Wu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Fifth People(')s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weicheng Wu
- Human Phenome Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Fudan University-Rugao People's Hospital Joint Research Institute of Longevity and Aging, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiang Han
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Fifth People(')s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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24
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Chakraborty A, Li Y, Zhang C, Li Y, Rebello KR, Li S, Xu S, Vasquez HG, Zhang L, Luo W, Wang G, Chen K, Coselli JS, LeMaire SA, Shen YH. Epigenetic Induction of Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Alterations in Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections. Circulation 2023; 148:959-977. [PMID: 37555319 PMCID: PMC10529114 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.063332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching has been increasingly detected in aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) tissues. However, the diverse SMC phenotypes in AAD tissues and the mechanisms driving SMC phenotypic alterations remain to be identified. METHODS We examined the transcriptomic and epigenomic dynamics of aortic SMC phenotypic changes in mice with angiotensin II-induced AAD by using single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin. SMC phenotypic alteration in aortas from patients with ascending thoracic AAD was examined by using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that aortic stress induced the transition of SMCs from a primary contractile phenotype to proliferative, extracellular matrix-producing, and inflammatory phenotypes. Lineage tracing showed the complete transformation of SMCs to fibroblasts and macrophages. Single-cell sequencing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin analysis indicated that these phenotypic alterations were controlled by chromatin remodeling marked by the reduced chromatin accessibility of contractile genes and the induced chromatin accessibility of genes involved in proliferation, extracellular matrix, and inflammation. IRF3 (interferon regulatory factor 3), a proinflammatory transcription factor activated by cytosolic DNA, was identified as a key driver of the transition of aortic SMCs from a contractile phenotype to an inflammatory phenotype. In cultured SMCs, cytosolic DNA signaled through its sensor STING (stimulator of interferon genes)-TBK1 (tank-binding kinase 1) to activate IRF3, which bound and recruited EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) to contractile genes to induce repressive H3K27me3 modification and gene suppression. In contrast, double-stranded DNA-STING-IRF3 signaling induced inflammatory gene expression in SMCs. In Sting-/- mice, the aortic stress-induced transition of SMCs into an inflammatory phenotype was prevented, and SMC populations were preserved. Finally, profound SMC phenotypic alterations toward diverse directions were detected in human ascending thoracic AAD tissues. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals the dynamic epigenetic induction of SMC phenotypic alterations in AAD. DNA damage and cytosolic leakage drive SMCs from a contractile phenotype to an inflammatory phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Chakraborty
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Yanming Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Chen Zhang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Yang Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Kimberly R Rebello
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Shengyu Li
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (S.L., G.W.)
| | - Samantha Xu
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Hernan G Vasquez
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Lin Zhang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Wei Luo
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Guangyu Wang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (S.L., G.W.)
| | - Kaifu Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.C.)
| | - Joseph S Coselli
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Scott A LeMaire
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Ying H Shen
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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25
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Lei C, Kan H, Xian X, Chen W, Xiang W, Song X, Wu J, Yang D, Zheng Y. FAM3A reshapes VSMC fate specification in abdominal aortic aneurysm by regulating KLF4 ubiquitination. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5360. [PMID: 37660071 PMCID: PMC10475135 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41177-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: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation plays an essential role in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. We explore the expression of FAM3A, a newly identified metabolic cytokine, and whether and how FAM3A regulates VSMC differentiation in AAA. We discover that FAM3A is decreased in the aortas and plasma in AAA patients and murine models. Overexpression or supplementation of FAM3A significantly attenuate the AAA formation, manifested by maintenance of the well-differentiated VSMC status and inhibition of VSMC transformation toward macrophage-, chondrocyte-, osteogenic-, mesenchymal-, and fibroblast-like cell subpopulations. Importantly, FAM3A induces KLF4 ubiquitination and reduces its phosphorylation and nuclear localization. Here, we report FAM3A as a VSMC fate-shaping regulator in AAA and reveal the underlying mechanism associated with KLF4 ubiquitination and stability, which may lead to the development of strategies based on FAM3A to restore VSMC homeostasis in AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuxiang Lei
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Haoxuan Kan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiangyu Xian
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wenlin Chen
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wenxuan Xiang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiaohong Song
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jianqiang Wu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Dan Yang
- Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Yuehong Zheng
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Weiss D, Rego BV, Cavinato C, Li DS, Kawamura Y, Emuna N, Humphrey JD. Effects of Age, Sex, and Extracellular Matrix Integrity on Aortic Dilatation and Rupture in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:e358-e372. [PMID: 37470181 PMCID: PMC10528515 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transmural failure of the aorta is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality; it occurs when mechanical stress exceeds strength. The aortic root and ascending aorta are susceptible to dissection and rupture in Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disorder characterized by a progressive reduction in elastic fiber integrity. Whereas competent elastic fibers endow the aorta with compliance and resilience, cross-linked collagen fibers confer stiffness and strength. We hypothesized that postnatal reductions in matrix cross-linking increase aortopathy when turnover rates are high. METHODS We combined ex vivo biaxial mechanical testing with multimodality histological examinations to quantify expected age- and sex-dependent structural vulnerability of the ascending aorta in Fbn1C1041G/+ Marfan versus wild-type mice without and with 4-week exposures to β-aminopropionitrile, an inhibitor of lysyl oxidase-mediated cross-linking of newly synthesized elastic and collagen fibers. RESULTS We found a strong β-aminopropionitrile-associated sexual dimorphism in aortic dilatation in Marfan mice and aortic rupture in wild-type mice, with dilatation correlating with compromised elastic fiber integrity and rupture correlating with compromised collagen fibril organization. A lower incidence of rupture of β-aminopropionitrile-exposed Marfan aortas associated with increased lysyl oxidase, suggesting a compensatory remodeling of collagen that slows disease progression in the otherwise compromised Fbn1C1041G/+ aorta. CONCLUSIONS Collagen fiber structure and function in the Marfan aorta are augmented, in part, by increased lysyl oxidase in female and especially male mice, which improves structural integrity, particularly via fibrils in the adventitia. Preserving or promoting collagen cross-linking may represent a therapeutic target for an otherwise vulnerable aorta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dar Weiss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Bruno V Rego
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Cristina Cavinato
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - David S Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Yuki Kawamura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Nir Emuna
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (D.W., B.V.R., C.C., D.S.L., Y.K., N.E., J.D.H.)
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (J.D.H.)
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Zhang X, Che Y, Mao L, Li D, Deng J, Guo Y, Zhao Q, Zhang X, Wang L, Gao X, Chen Y, Zhang T. H3.3B controls aortic dissection progression by regulating vascular smooth muscle cells phenotypic transition and vascular inflammation. Genomics 2023; 115:110685. [PMID: 37454936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2023.110685] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Aortic dissection is a devastating cardiovascular disease with a high lethality. Histone variants maintain the genomic integrity and play important roles in development and diseases. However, the role of histone variants in aortic dissection has not been well identified. In the present study, H3f3b knockdown reduced the synthetic genes expression of VSMCs, while overexpressing H3f3b exacerbated the cellular immune response of VSMCs induced by inflammatory cytokines. Combined RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses revealed that histone variant H3.3B directly bound to the genes related to extracellular matrix, VSMC synthetic phenotype, cytokine responses and TGFβ signaling pathway, and regulated their expressions. In addition, VSMC-specific H3f3b knockin aggravated aortic dissection development in mice, while H3f3b knockout significantly reduced the incidence of aortic dissection. In term of mechanisms, H3.3B regulated Spp1 and Ccl2 genes, inducing the apoptosis of VSMCs and recruiting macrophages. This study demonstrated the vital roles of H3.3B in phenotypic transition of VSMCs, loss of media VSMCs, and vascular inflammation in aortic dissection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Yang Che
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Lin Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Dandan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Jianqing Deng
- Vascular Surgery Department, The First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Yilong Guo
- Vascular Surgery Department, The First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Quanyi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Xingzhong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 518057, China; Key Laboratory of Application of Pluripotent Stem Cells in Heart Regeneration,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100037, China.
| | - Xiang Gao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
| | - Yinan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen 518057, China.
| | - Tao Zhang
- Vascular Surgery Department, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
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Rager C, Klöpper T, Pfeil U, Tasch S, Whittaker MR, Exintaris B, Mietens A, Middendorff R. Reference Gene U2 Enables Direct Comparison between Relative Gene Expression Levels of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Tissue and Culture Using Real-Time Quantitative PCR. Cells 2023; 12:2135. [PMID: 37681867 PMCID: PMC10487071 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172135] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In nearly every lab, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is used to quantify gene expression. However, a comparison of different samples requires the careful selection of suitable reference genes (RGs), sometimes referred to as housekeeping genes. In the case of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs), it is important to know under which conditions gene expression in isolated and cultured vSMCs can be compared with vSMCs in a healthy blood vessel. We isolated the vSMC-containing layer of the rat aorta (tunica media) and used one (longitudinal) half for direct RNA extraction, while the other half served to isolate and culture vSMCs prior to RNA extraction. First, the expression of the routinely used RGs beta-actin (Actb) and Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (Gapdh) is investigated in intact media and corresponding cultured vSMCs. Significant differences in their Ct values show that these RGs could not be used for such direct comparisons; therefore, we select 15 different RGs. Only the gene expression of the small ribonuclear protein (snRNP) U2 shows no significant differences between the absolute Ct values of cultured vSMCs and the intact media; moreover, no differences were found between male and female rats in our experimental setup. In conclusion, U2 was shown to be an appropriate (sex-independent) RG to compare relative expression levels of vSMCs in culture to those vSMCs within their physiological tissue environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Rager
- Signalling Transduction Group, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (C.R.)
- Drug Discovery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Tobias Klöpper
- Signalling Transduction Group, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (C.R.)
| | - Uwe Pfeil
- Cardiopulmonary Neurobiology Group, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Sabine Tasch
- Signalling Transduction Group, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (C.R.)
| | - Michael Raymond Whittaker
- Drug Discovery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Betty Exintaris
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Andrea Mietens
- Signalling Transduction Group, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (C.R.)
| | - Ralf Middendorff
- Signalling Transduction Group, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (C.R.)
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Enkhjargal B, De Leon SSP, Tsukahara Y, Liu H, Huangfu Y, Wang Y, Seabra PM, Yang X, Goodman J, Wan X, Chitalia V, Han J, Seta F. Redox Dysregulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Sirtuin-1 in Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in Marfan Syndrome. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:e339-e357. [PMID: 37288573 PMCID: PMC10524979 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are abnormal aortic dilatations and a major cardiovascular complication of Marfan syndrome. We previously demonstrated a critical role for vascular smooth muscle (VSM) SirT1 (sirtuin-1), a lysine deacetylase, against maladaptive aortic remodeling associated with chronic oxidative stress and aberrant activation of MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases). METHODS In this study, we investigated whether redox dysregulation of SirT1 contributed to the pathogenesis of TAA using fibrillin-1 hypomorphic mice (Fbn1mgR/mgR), an established model of Marfan syndrome prone to aortic dissection/rupture. RESULTS Oxidative stress markers 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal were significantly elevated in aortas of patients with Marfan syndrome. Moreover, reversible oxidative post-translational modifications (rOPTM) of protein cysteines, particularly S-glutathionylation, were dramatically increased in aortas of Fbn1mgR/mgR mice, before induction of severe oxidative stress markers. Fbn1mgR/mgR aortas and VSM cells exhibited an increase in rOPTM of SirT1, coinciding with the upregulation of acetylated proteins, an index of decreased SirT1 activity, and increased MMP2/9 activity. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that TGFβ (transforming growth factor beta), which was increased in Fbn1mgR/mgR aortas, stimulated rOPTM of SirT1, decreasing its deacetylase activity in VSM cells. VSM cell-specific deletion of SirT1 in Fbn1mgR/mgR mice (SMKO-Fbn1mgR/mgR) caused a dramatic increase in aortic MMP2 expression and worsened TAA progression, leading to aortic rupture in 50% of SMKO-Fbn1mgR/mgR mice, compared with 25% of Fbn1mgR/mgR mice. rOPTM of SirT1, rOPTM-mediated inhibition of SirT1 activity, and increased MMP2/9 activity were all exacerbated by the deletion of Glrx (glutaredoxin-1), a specific deglutathionylation enzyme, while being corrected by overexpression of Glrx or of an oxidation-resistant SirT1 mutant in VSM cells. CONCLUSIONS Our novel findings strongly suggest a causal role of S-glutathionylation of SirT1 in the pathogenesis of TAA. Prevention or reversal of SirT1 rOPTM may be a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent TAA and TAA dissection/ruptures in individuals with Marfan syndrome, for which, thus far, no targeted therapy has been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Budbazar Enkhjargal
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Yuko Tsukahara
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hanxiao Liu
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuhao Huangfu
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yu Wang
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pedro Maria Seabra
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoqiu Yang
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jena Goodman
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xueping Wan
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vipul Chitalia
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jingyan Han
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francesca Seta
- Vascular Biology Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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30
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Rega S, Farina F, Bouhuis S, de Donato S, Chiesa M, Poggio P, Cavallotti L, Bonalumi G, Giambuzzi I, Pompilio G, Perrucci GL. Multi-omics in thoracic aortic aneurysm: the complex road to the simplification. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:131. [PMID: 37475058 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01080-w] [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: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a serious condition that affects the aorta, characterized by the dilation of its first segment. The causes of TAA (e.g., age, hypertension, genetic syndromes) are heterogeneous and contribute to the weakening of the aortic wall. This complexity makes treating this life-threatening aortopathy challenging, as there are currently no etiological therapy available, and pharmacological strategies, aimed at avoiding surgical aortic replacement, are merely palliative. Recent studies on novel therapies for TAA have focused on identifying biological targets and etiological mechanisms of the disease by using advanced -omics techniques, including epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches. METHODS This review presents the latest findings from -omics approaches and underscores the importance of integrating multi-omics data to gain more comprehensive understanding of TAA. RESULTS Literature suggests that the alterations in TAA mediators frequently involve members of pro-fibrotic process (i.e., TGF-β signaling pathways) or proteins associated with cell/extracellular structures (e.g., aggrecans). Further analyses often reported the importance in TAA of processes as inflammation (PCR, CD3, leukotriene compounds), oxidative stress (chromatin OXPHOS, fatty acids), mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (e.g., PPARs and HIF1a). Of note, more recent metabolomics studies added novel molecular markers to the list of TAA-specific detrimental mediators (proteoglycans). CONCLUSION It is increasingly clear that integrating data from different -omics branches, along with clinical data, is essential as well as complicated both to reveal hidden relevant information and to address complex diseases such as TAA. Importantly, recent progresses in metabolomics highlighted novel potential and unprecedented marks in TAA diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rega
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Unit for the Study of Aortic, Valvular and Coronary Pathologies, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Floriana Farina
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität (LMU) München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Silvia Bouhuis
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia de Donato
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Chiesa
- Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence Facility, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Electronics, Information and Biomedical Engineering, Politecnico Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Poggio
- Unit for the Study of Aortic, Valvular and Coronary Pathologies, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Cavallotti
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Bonalumi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Giambuzzi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Pompilio
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca L Perrucci
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
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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.
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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
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Rodríguez-Rovira I, López-Sainz A, Palomo-Buitrago ME, Pérez B, Jiménez-Altayó F, Campuzano V, Egea G. Hyperuricaemia Does Not Interfere with Aortopathy in a Murine Model of Marfan Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11293. [PMID: 37511051 PMCID: PMC10379183 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Redox stress is involved in the aortic aneurysm pathogenesis in Marfan syndrome (MFS). We recently reported that allopurinol, a xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitor, blocked aortopathy in a MFS mouse model acting as an antioxidant without altering uric acid (UA) plasma levels. Hyperuricaemia is ambiguously associated with cardiovascular injuries as UA, having antioxidant or pro-oxidant properties depending on the concentration and accumulation site. We aimed to evaluate whether hyperuricaemia causes harm or relief in MFS aortopathy pathogenesis. Two-month-old male wild-type (WT) and MFS mice (Fbn1C1041G/+) were injected intraperitoneally for several weeks with potassium oxonate (PO), an inhibitor of uricase (an enzyme that catabolises UA to allantoin). Plasma UA and allantoin levels were measured via several techniques, aortic root diameter and cardiac parameters by ultrasonography, aortic wall structure by histopathology, and pNRF2 and 3-NT levels by immunofluorescence. PO induced a significant increase in UA in blood plasma both in WT and MFS mice, reaching a peak at three and four months of age but decaying at six months. Hyperuricaemic MFS mice showed no change in the characteristic aortic aneurysm progression or aortic wall disarray evidenced by large elastic laminae ruptures. There were no changes in cardiac parameters or the redox stress-induced nuclear translocation of pNRF2 in the aortic tunica media. Altogether, the results suggest that hyperuricaemia interferes neither with aortopathy nor cardiopathy in MFS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Rodríguez-Rovira
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angela López-Sainz
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Belen Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08192 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Jiménez-Altayó
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08192 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victoria Campuzano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo Egea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- UZA/UA Center of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
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33
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Nakamura K, Dalal AR, Yokoyama N, Pedroza AJ, Kusadokoro S, Mitchel O, Gilles C, Masoudian B, Leipzig M, Casey KM, Hiesinger W, Uchida T, Fischbein MP. Lineage-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Smooth Muscle Cell Modeling Predicts Integrin Alpha-V Antagonism Reduces Aortic Root Aneurysm Formation in Marfan Syndrome Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:1134-1153. [PMID: 37078287 PMCID: PMC10330156 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of increased smooth muscle cell (SMC) integrin αv signaling in Marfan syndrome (MFS) aortic aneurysm remains unclear. Herein, we examine the mechanism and potential efficacy of integrin αv blockade as a therapeutic strategy to reduce aneurysm progression in MFS. METHODS Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were differentiated into aortic SMCs of the second heart field (SHF) and neural crest (NC) lineages, enabling in vitro modeling of MFS thoracic aortic aneurysms. The pathological role of integrin αv during aneurysm formation was confirmed by blockade of integrin αv with GLPG0187 in Fbn1C1039G/+ MFS mice. RESULTS iPSC-derived MFS SHF SMCs overexpress integrin αv relative to MFS NC and healthy control SHF cells. Furthermore, integrin αv downstream targets (FAK [focal adhesion kinase]/AktThr308/mTORC1 [mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1]) were activated, especially in MFS SHF. Treatment of MFS SHF SMCs with GLPG0187 reduced p-FAK/p-AktThr308/mTORC1 activity back to control SHF levels. Functionally, MFS SHF SMCs had increased proliferation and migration compared to MFS NC SMCs and control SMCs, which normalized with GLPG0187 treatment. In the Fbn1C1039G/+ MFS mouse model, integrin αv, p-AktThr308, and downstream targets of mTORC1 proteins were elevated in the aortic root/ascending segment compared to littermate wild-type control. Mice treated with GLPG0187 (age 6-14 weeks) had reduced aneurysm growth, elastin fragmentation, and reduction of the FAK/AktThr308/mTORC1 pathway. GLPG0187 treatment reduced the amount and severity of SMC modulation assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing. CONCLUSIONS The integrin αv-FAK-AktThr308 signaling pathway is activated in iPSC SMCs from MFS patients, specifically from the SHF lineage. Mechanistically, this signaling pathway promotes SMC proliferation and migration in vitro. As biological proof of concept, GLPG0187 treatment slowed aneurysm growth and p-AktThr308 signaling in Fbn1C1039G/+ mice. Integrin αv blockade via GLPG0187 may be a promising therapeutic approach to inhibit MFS aneurysmal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Nakamura
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Alex R. Dalal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Nobu Yokoyama
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Albert J. Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Sho Kusadokoro
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Olivia Mitchel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Casey Gilles
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Bahar Masoudian
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Matthew Leipzig
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Kerriann M. Casey
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - William Hiesinger
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Tetsuro Uchida
- Second Department of Surgery, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine. Yamagata, Japan
| | - Michael P. Fischbein
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
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Pedroza AJ, Dalal AR, Shad R, Yokoyama N, Nakamura K, Mitchel O, Gilles C, Hiesinger W, Fischbein MP. Smooth Muscle Cell Klf4 Expression Is Not Required for Phenotype Modulation or Aneurysm Formation in Marfan Syndrome Mice-Brief Report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:971-978. [PMID: 37128911 PMCID: PMC10434826 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic reprogramming toward a mixed synthetic-proteolytic state is a central feature of aortic root aneurysm in Marfan syndrome (MFS). Previous work identified Klf4 as a potential mediator of SMC plasticity in MFS. METHODS MFS (Fbn1C1041G/+) mouse strains with an inducible vascular SMC fluorescent reporter (MFSSMC) with or without SMC-specific deletion of Klf4 exons 2 to 3 (MFSSMC-Klf4Δ) were generated. Simultaneous SMC tracing and Klf4 loss-of-function (Klf4Δ mice) was induced at 6 weeks of age. Aneurysm growth was assessed via serial echocardiography (4-24 weeks). Twenty-four-week-old mice were assessed via histology, RNA in situ hybridization, and aortic single-cell RNA sequencing. RESULTS MFS mice demonstrated progressive aortic root dilatation compared with control (WTSMC) mice regardless of Klf4 genotype (P<0.001), but there was no difference in aneurysm growth in MFSSMC-Klf4Δ versus MFSSMC (P=0.884). Efficient SMC Klf4 deletion was confirmed via lineage-stratified genotyping, RNA in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Single-cell RNA sequencing of traced SMCs revealed a highly similar pattern of phenotype modulation marked by loss of contractile markers (eg, Myh11, Cnn1) and heightened expression of matrix genes (eg, Col1a1, Fn1) between Klf4 genotypes. Pseudotemporal quantitation of SMC dedifferentiation confirmed that Klf4 deletion did not alter the global extent of phenotype modulation, but reduced expression of 23 genes during this phenotype transition in MFSSMC-Klf4Δmice, including multiple chondrogenic genes expressed by only the most severely dedifferentiated SMCs (eg, Cytl1, Tnfrsf11b). CONCLUSIONS Klf4 is not required to initiate SMC phenotype modulation in MFS aneurysm but may exert regulatory control over chondrogenic genes expressed in highly dedifferentiated SMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J. Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Alex R. Dalal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Rohan Shad
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Nobu Yokoyama
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Ken Nakamura
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Olivia Mitchel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Casey Gilles
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - William Hiesinger
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Michael P. Fischbein
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
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Worssam MD, Lambert J, Oc S, Taylor JCK, Taylor AL, Dobnikar L, Chappell J, Harman JL, Figg NL, Finigan A, Foote K, Uryga AK, Bennett MR, Spivakov M, Jørgensen HF. Cellular mechanisms of oligoclonal vascular smooth muscle cell expansion in cardiovascular disease. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:1279-1294. [PMID: 35994249 PMCID: PMC10202649 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Quiescent, differentiated adult vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) can be induced to proliferate and switch phenotype. Such plasticity underlies blood vessel homeostasis and contributes to vascular disease development. Oligoclonal VSMC contribution is a hallmark of end-stage vascular disease. Here, we aim to understand cellular mechanisms underpinning generation of this VSMC oligoclonality. METHODS AND RESULTS We investigate the dynamics of VSMC clone formation using confocal microscopy and single-cell transcriptomics in VSMC-lineage-traced animal models. We find that activation of medial VSMC proliferation occurs at low frequency after vascular injury and that only a subset of expanding clones migrate, which together drives formation of oligoclonal neointimal lesions. VSMC contribution in small atherosclerotic lesions is typically from one or two clones, similar to observations in mature lesions. Low frequency (<0.1%) of clonal VSMC proliferation is also observed in vitro. Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed progressive cell state changes across a contiguous VSMC population at onset of injury-induced proliferation. Proliferating VSMCs mapped selectively to one of two distinct trajectories and were associated with cells showing extensive phenotypic switching. A proliferation-associated transitory state shared pronounced similarities with atypical SCA1+ VSMCs from uninjured mouse arteries and VSMCs in healthy human aorta. We show functionally that clonal expansion of SCA1+ VSMCs from healthy arteries occurs at higher rate and frequency compared with SCA1- cells. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that activation of proliferation at low frequency is a general, cell-intrinsic feature of VSMCs. We show that rare VSMCs in healthy arteries display VSMC phenotypic switching akin to that observed in pathological vessel remodelling and that this is a conserved feature of mouse and human healthy arteries. The increased proliferation of modulated VSMCs from healthy arteries suggests that these cells respond more readily to disease-inducing cues and could drive oligoclonal VSMC expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt D Worssam
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Jordi Lambert
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Sebnem Oc
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - James C K Taylor
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Annabel L Taylor
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Lina Dobnikar
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
- Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Joel Chappell
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Jennifer L Harman
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Nichola L Figg
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Alison Finigan
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Kirsty Foote
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Anna K Uryga
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Martin R Bennett
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
| | - Mikhail Spivakov
- Functional Gene Control Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Helle F Jørgensen
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0BB, UK
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Yang Y, Xie E, Liu Y, Peng Z, Yu C, Hua K, Yang X. Calcium promotes vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching in Marfan syndrome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 665:124-132. [PMID: 37156050 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.017] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Fibrillin 1 (Fbn1) mutations cause Marfan syndrome (MFS), with aortic root dilatation, dissection, and rupture. Few studies reported the blood calcium and lipid profile of MFS, and the effect of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switching on MFS aortic aneurysm is unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of calcium-related VSMC phenotypic switching in MFS. We retrospectively collected MFS patients' clinical data, performed bioinformatics analysis to screen the enriched biological process in MFS patients and mice, and detected markers of VSMC phenotypic switching on Fbn1C1039G/+ mice and primary aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. We found that patients with MFS have elevated blood calcium levels and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, the calcium concentration levels were increased with age in MFS mice, accompanied by the promoted VSMC phenotypic switching, and SERCA2 contributed to maintaining the contractile phenotype of VSMCs. This study provides the first evidence that the increased calcium is associated with the promoted VSMC phenotype switching in MFS. SERCA may become a novel therapeutic target for suppressing aneurysm progression in MFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiao Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Enzehua Xie
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College/National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, 100047, China
| | - Yuhua Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhan Peng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Cuntao Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College/National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, 100047, China.
| | - Kun Hua
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Xiubin Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100029, China.
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高 文, 余 泓, 张 瑶, 钱 宏, 刘 肖. [Latest Findings on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Thoracic Aortic Dissection]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2023; 54:699-704. [PMID: 37248608 PMCID: PMC10475406 DOI: 10.12182/20230260101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a cardiovascular disease entailing a high lethality between 65% and 85%. Surgery-assissed implant/interventional stenting is the prevailing treatment of TAD. However, surgical treatment can cause severe postoperative complications and patients incur a relatively higher risk of postoperative mortality. Since the pathogenic mechanism underlying TAD is not clear, effective medication therapies are still not available. In recent years, along with advances in single-cell sequencing and other molecular biological technologies, there have been prelimiary findings suggesting the special role of dysfunctional vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the pathogenesis and development of TAD. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms regulating the dysfunction of VSMCs have been initially explored. It is expected that these new findings will contribute to the development of new strategies to prevent TAD and lead to new ideas for the identifiction of potential drug therapeutic targets. Herein, we summarized the critical role of dysfunctional VSMCs in the pathogenesis and development of TAD and presented in detail the biological factors and the related molecular mechanisms that regulate the dysfunction of VSMCs. We hope this review will provide a reference for further investigation into the central role of dysfunctional VSMCs in the pathogenesis and development of TAD and exploration for effective molecular drug targets for TAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- 文博 高
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 泓池 余
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 瑶佳 张
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 宏 钱
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 肖珩 刘
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Chen M, Cavinato C, Hansen J, Tanaka K, Ren P, Hassab A, Li DS, Youshao E, Tellides G, Iyengar R, Humphrey JD, Schwartz MA. FN (Fibronectin)-Integrin α5 Signaling Promotes Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:e132-e150. [PMID: 36994727 PMCID: PMC10133209 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marfan syndrome, caused by mutations in the gene for fibrillin-1, leads to thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and ECM (extracellular matrix) remodeling are characteristic of both nonsyndromic and Marfan aneurysms. The ECM protein FN (fibronectin) is elevated in the tunica media of TAAs and amplifies inflammatory signaling in endothelial and SMCs through its main receptor, integrin α5β1. We investigated the role of integrin α5-specific signals in Marfan mice in which the cytoplasmic domain of integrin α5 was replaced with that of integrin α2 (denoted α5/2 chimera). METHODS We crossed α5/2 chimeric mice with Fbn1mgR/mgR mice (mgR model of Marfan syndrome) to evaluate the survival rate and pathogenesis of TAAs among wild-type, α5/2, mgR, and α5/2 mgR mice. Further biochemical and microscopic analysis of porcine and mouse aortic SMCs investigated molecular mechanisms by which FN affects SMCs and subsequent development of TAAs. RESULTS FN was elevated in the thoracic aortas from Marfan patients, in nonsyndromic aneurysms, and in mgR mice. The α5/2 mutation greatly prolonged survival of Marfan mice, with improved elastic fiber integrity, mechanical properties, SMC density, and SMC contractile gene expression. Furthermore, plating of wild-type SMCs on FN decreased contractile gene expression and activated inflammatory pathways whereas α5/2 SMCs were resistant. These effects correlated with increased NF-kB activation in cultured SMCs and mgR aortas, which was alleviated by the α5/2 mutation or NF-kB inhibition. CONCLUSIONS FN-integrin α5 signaling is a significant driver of TAA in the mgR mouse model. This pathway thus warrants further investigation as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghao Chen
- Cardiovascular Research Center (M.C., K.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Cristina Cavinato
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - Jens Hansen
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (J.H., R.I.)
| | - Keiichiro Tanaka
- Cardiovascular Research Center (M.C., K.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Pengwei Ren
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Abdulrahman Hassab
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - David S Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - Eric Youshao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - George Tellides
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program (G.T., J.D.H.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Ravi Iyengar
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Institute for Systems Biomedicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (J.H., R.I.)
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program (G.T., J.D.H.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
| | - Martin A Schwartz
- Cardiovascular Research Center (M.C., K.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Surgery (P.R., A.H., G.T., M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Cell Biology (M.A.S.), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT (C.C., D.S.L., E.Y., J.D.H., M.A.S.)
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Luu N, Bajpai A, Li R, Park S, Noor M, Ma X, Chen W. Aging-associated Decline in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanosensation is Mediated by Piezo1 Channel. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.27.538557. [PMID: 37163041 PMCID: PMC10168328 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.27.538557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Aging of the vasculature is associated with detrimental changes in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) mechanosensitivity to extrinsic forces in their surrounding microenvironment. However, how chronological aging alters VSMCs' ability to sense and adapt to mechanical perturbations remains unexplored. Here, we show defective VSMC mechanosensation in aging measured with ultrasound tweezers-based micromechanical system, force instantaneous frequency spectrum and transcriptome analyses. The mechanobiological study reveals that aged VSMCs adapt a relatively inert solid-like state with altered actin cytoskeletal integrity, resulting in an impairment in their mechanosensitivity and dynamic mechanoresponse to mechanical perturbations. The aging-associated decline in mechanosensation behaviors is mediated by hyperactivity of Piezo1-dependent calcium signaling. Inhibition of Piezo1 alleviates vascular aging and partially restores the loss in dynamic contractile properties in aged cells. Altogether, our study reveals the novel signaling pathway underlying aging-associated aberrant mechanosensation in VSMC and identifies Piezo1 as a potential therapeutic mechanobiological target to alleviate vascular aging.
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Da X, Li Z, Huang X, He Z, Yu Y, Tian T, Xu C, Yao Y, Wang QK. AGGF1 therapy inhibits thoracic aortic aneurysms by enhancing integrin α7-mediated inhibition of TGF-β1 maturation and ERK1/2 signaling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2265. [PMID: 37081014 PMCID: PMC10119315 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37809-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is a localized or diffuse dilatation of the thoracic aortas, and causes many sudden deaths each year worldwide. However, there is no effective pharmacologic therapy. Here, we show that AGGF1 effectively blocks TAA-associated arterial inflammation and remodeling in three different mouse models (mice with transverse aortic constriction, Fbn1C1041G/+ mice, and β-aminopropionitrile-treated mice). AGGF1 expression is reduced in the ascending aortas from the three models and human TAA patients. Aggf1+/- mice and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-specific Aggf1smcKO knockout mice show aggravated TAA phenotypes. Mechanistically, AGGF1 enhances the interaction between its receptor integrin α7 and latency-associated peptide (LAP)-TGF-β1, blocks the cleavage of LAP-TGF-β1 to form mature TGF-β1, and inhibits Smad2/3 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in VSMCs. Pirfenidone, a treatment agent for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, inhibits TAA-associated vascular inflammation and remodeling in wild type mice, but not in Aggf1+/- mice. In conclusion, we identify an innovative AGGF1 protein therapeutic strategy to block TAA-associated vascular inflammation and remodeling, and show that efficacy of TGF-β inhibition therapies require AGGF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingwen Da
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Ziyan Li
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofan Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Zuhan He
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Yubing Yu
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Tongtong Tian
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Chengqi Xu
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China.
- Institute of Medical Genomics and School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, P. R. China.
| | - Yufeng Yao
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China.
| | - Qing K Wang
- Center for Human Genome Research, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China.
- Institute of Medical Genomics and School of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, P. R. China.
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Huyan Y, Wang C, Kang H, Chen X, Chang Y, Liu S, Song J. Single-Cell Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Molecular Mechanisms of Renal Injury in Essential Hypertension. Kidney Blood Press Res 2023; 48:297-313. [PMID: 37062270 PMCID: PMC10308540 DOI: 10.1159/000530624] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hypertensive nephropathy is characterized by glomerular and tubulointerstitial damage, but we know little about changes in cell-specific gene expression in the early stages of hypertensive kidney injury, which usually has no obvious pathological changes. METHODS We performed unbiased single-cell RNA sequencing of rat kidney samples from hypertensive kidney injury to generate 10,602 single-cell transcriptomes from 2 control and 2 early stage hypertensive kidney injury samples. RESULTS All major cell types of the kidney were represented in the final dataset. Side-by-side comparisons showed that cell type-specific changes in gene expression are critical for functional impairment of glomeruli and tubules and activation of immune cells. In particular, we found a significantly reduced gene expression profile of maintaining vascular integrity in glomerular cells of hypertensive kidney injury. Meanwhile, the expression of genes associated with oxidative stress injury and fibrosis in the renal tubules and collecting ducts was elevated, but the degree of tubular cells response to injury differed between parts. We also found a signature of immune cell infiltration in hypertensive kidney injury. CONCLUSION Exploring the changes of gene expression in hypertension-injured kidneys may be helpful to identify the early biomarkers and signal pathways of this disease. Our data provide rich resources for understanding the pathogenesis of hypertensive renal injury and formulating effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yige Huyan
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hongen Kang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangping Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Liu Y, Tian X, Liu D, Zhang X, Yan C, Han Y. RelB represses miR-193a-5p expression to promote the phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells in aortic aneurysm. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194926. [PMID: 36863451 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a potentially fatal disease with the possibility of rupture, causing high mortality rates with no effective drugs for the treatment of AA. The mechanism of AA, as well as its therapeutic potential to inhibit aneurysm expansion, has been minimally explored. Small non-coding RNA (miRNAs and miRs) is emerging as a new fundamental regulator of gene expression. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of miR-193a-5p in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). In AAA vascular tissue and Angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the expression of miR-193a-5 was determined using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Western blotting was used to detect the effects of miR-193a-5p on PCNA, CCND1, CCNE1, and CXCR4. To detect the effect of miR-193a-5p on the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, CCK-8, and EdU immunostaining, flow cytometry, wound healing, and Transwell Chamber analysis were performed. In vitro results suggest that overexpression of miR-193a-5p inhibited the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and its inhibition aggravated their proliferation and migration. In VSMCs, miR-193a-5p mediated proliferation by regulating CCNE1 and CCND1 genes and migration by regulating CXCR4. Further, in the Ang II-induced abdominal aorta of mice, the expression of miR-193a-5p was reduced and significantly downregulated in the serum of patients with aortic aneurysm (AA). In vitro studies confirmed that Ang II-induced downregulation of miR-193a-5p in VSMCs by upregulation of the expression of the transcriptional repressor RelB in the promoter region. This study may provide new intervention targets for the prevention and treatment of AA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisi Liu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wen Hua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; Jinzhou Medical University, Postgraduate Training Base in General Hospital of Northern Theater, 121001, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Tian
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wen Hua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wen Hua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wen Hua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Chenghui Yan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wen Hua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Yaling Han
- Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Cardiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wen Hua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
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43
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Chou E, Pirruccello JP, Ellinor PT, Lindsay ME. Genetics and mechanisms of thoracic aortic disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 2023; 20:168-180. [PMID: 36131050 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-022-00763-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Aortic disease has many forms including aortic aneurysm and dissection, aortic coarctation or abnormalities in aortic function, such as loss of aortic distensibility. Genetic analysis in humans is one of the most important experimental approaches in uncovering disease mechanisms, but the relative infrequency of thoracic aortic disease compared with other cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease has hindered large-scale identification of genetic associations. In the past decade, advances in machine learning technology coupled with large imaging datasets from biobank repositories have facilitated a rapid expansion in our capacity to measure and genotype aortic traits, resulting in the identification of dozens of genetic associations. In this Review, we describe the history of technological advances in genetic discovery and explain how newer technologies such as deep learning can rapidly define aortic traits at scale. Furthermore, we integrate novel genetic observations provided by these advances into our current biological understanding of thoracic aortic disease and describe how these new findings can contribute to strategies to prevent and treat aortic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Chou
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James P Pirruccello
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick T Ellinor
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark E Lindsay
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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44
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Kwartler CS, Pedroza AJ, Kaw A, Guan P, Ma S, Duan XY, Kernell C, Wang C, Pinelo JEE, Borthwick MS, Chen J, Zhong Y, Sinha S, Shen X, Fischbein MP, Milewicz DM. Nuclear Smooth Muscle α-actin in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-1623114. [PMID: 36909460 PMCID: PMC10002808 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1623114/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Missense variants throughout ACTA2, encoding smooth muscle α-actin (αSMA), predispose to adult onset thoracic aortic disease, but variants disrupting arginine 179 (R179) lead to Smooth Muscle Dysfunction Syndrome (SMDS) characterized by childhood-onset diverse vascular diseases. Our data indicate that αSMA localizes to the nucleus in wildtype (WT) smooth muscle cells (SMCs), enriches in the nucleus with SMC differentiation, and associates with chromatin remodeling complexes and SMC contractile gene promotors, and the ACTA2 p.R179 variant decreases nuclear localization of αSMA. SMCs explanted from a SMC-specific conditional knockin mouse model, Acta2SMC-R179/+, are less differentiated than WT SMCs, both in vitro and in vivo, and have global changes in chromatin accessibility. Induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with ACTA2 p.R179 variants fail to fully differentiate from neural crest cells to SMCs, and single cell transcriptomic analyses of an ACTA2 p.R179H patient's aortic tissue shows increased SMC plasticity. Thus, nuclear αSMA participates in SMC differentiation and loss of this nuclear activity occurs with ACTA2 p.R179 pathogenic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callie S. Kwartler
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Albert J. Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Anita Kaw
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Pujun Guan
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Shuangtao Ma
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
- Current address: Department Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Xue-yan Duan
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Caroline Kernell
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Charis Wang
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Jose Emiliano Esparza Pinelo
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Mikayla S. Borthwick
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Jiyuan Chen
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Yuan Zhong
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957
| | - Sanjay Sinha
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Xuetong Shen
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | | | - Dianna M. Milewicz
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030
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45
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Xu X, Hua X, Mo H, Hu S, Song J. Single-cell RNA sequencing to identify cellular heterogeneity and targets in cardiovascular diseases: from bench to bedside. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:7. [PMID: 36750503 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-022-00972-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain incompletely elucidated. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled the profiling of single-cell transcriptomes at unprecedented resolution and throughput, which is critical for deciphering cardiovascular cellular heterogeneity and underlying disease mechanisms, thereby facilitating the development of therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize cellular heterogeneity in cardiovascular homeostasis and diseases as well as the discovery of potential disease targets based on scRNA-seq, and yield new insights into the promise of scRNA-seq technology in precision medicine and clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xiumeng Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Han Mo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen, 518057, China
| | - Shengshou Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China.
| | - Jiangping Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China.
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46
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The Involvement of Krüppel-like Factors in Cardiovascular Diseases. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13020420. [PMID: 36836777 PMCID: PMC9962890 DOI: 10.3390/life13020420] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are a set of DNA-binding proteins belonging to a family of zinc-finger transcription factors, which have been associated with many biological processes related to the activation or repression of genes, inducing cell growth, differentiation, and death, and the development and maintenance of tissues. In response to metabolic alterations caused by disease and stress, the heart will undergo cardiac remodeling, leading to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). KLFs are among the transcriptional factors that take control of many physiological and, in this case, pathophysiological processes of CVD. KLFs seem to be associated with congenital heart disease-linked syndromes, malformations because of autosomal diseases, mutations that relate to protein instability, and/or loss of functions such as atheroprotective activities. Ischemic damage also relates to KLF dysregulation because of the differentiation of cardiac myofibroblasts or a modified fatty acid oxidation related to the formation of a dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarctions, left ventricular hypertrophy, and diabetic cardiomyopathies. In this review, we describe the importance of KLFs in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, left ventricle hypertrophy, stroke, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart diseases. We further discuss microRNAs that have been involved in certain regulatory loops of KLFs as they may act as critical in CVDs.
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47
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Verstraeten A, Fedoryshchenko I, Loeys B. The emerging role of endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:1262-1264. [PMID: 36650899 PMCID: PMC10079389 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aline Verstraeten
- Cardiogenomics and Functional Genomics, Center for Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital, Prins Boudewijnlaan 43, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ivanna Fedoryshchenko
- Cardiogenomics and Functional Genomics, Center for Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital, Prins Boudewijnlaan 43, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bart Loeys
- Cardiogenomics and Functional Genomics, Center for Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp/Antwerp University Hospital, Prins Boudewijnlaan 43, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
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48
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Wang Y, Liu X, Xu Q, Xu W, Zhou X, Lin Z. CCN2 deficiency in smooth muscle cells triggers cell reprogramming and aggravates aneurysm development. JCI Insight 2023; 8:162987. [PMID: 36625347 PMCID: PMC9870081 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.162987] [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: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching is widely recognized as a key mechanism responsible for the pathogenesis of several aortic diseases, such as aortic aneurysm. Cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2), often upregulated in human pathologies and animal disease models, exerts myriad context-dependent biological functions. However, current understanding of the role of SMC-CCN2 in SMC phenotypic switching and its function in the pathology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is lacking. Here, we show that SMC-restricted CCN2 deficiency causes AAA in the infrarenal aorta of angiotensin II-infused (Ang II-infused) hypercholesterolemic mice at a similar anatomic location to human AAA. Notably, the resistance of naive C57BL/6 WT mice to Ang II-induced AAA formation is lost upon silencing of CCN2 in SMC. Furthermore, the pro-AAA phenotype of SMC-CCN2-KO mice is recapitulated in a different model that involves the application of elastase-β-aminopropionitrile. Mechanistically, our findings reveal that CCN2 intersects with TGF-β signaling and regulates SMC marker expression. Deficiency of CCN2 triggers SMC reprograming associated with alterations in Krüppel-like factor 4 and contractile marker expression, and this reprograming likely contributes to the development of AAA in mice. These results identify SMC-CCN2 as potentially a novel regulator of SMC phenotypic switching and AA biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Cardiology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xuesong Liu
- Cardiology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Cardiology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Wei Xu
- Cardiology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xianming Zhou
- Cardiology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiyong Lin
- Cardiology Division, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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49
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Long X, Yuan X, Du J. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics: Advances in heart development and disease applications. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:2717-2731. [PMID: 37181659 PMCID: PMC10173363 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Current transcriptomics technologies, including bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq), and spatial transcriptomics (ST), provide novel insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of gene expression during cardiac development and disease processes. Cardiac development is a highly sophisticated process involving the regulation of numerous key genes and signaling pathways at specific anatomical sites and developmental stages. Exploring the cell biological mechanisms involved in cardiogenesis also contributes to congenital heart disease research. Meanwhile, the severity of distinct heart diseases, such as coronary heart disease, valvular disease, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure, is associated with cellular transcriptional heterogeneity and phenotypic alteration. Integrating transcriptomic technologies in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases will aid in advancing precision medicine. In this review, we summarize applications of scRNA-seq and ST in the cardiac field, including organogenesis and clinical diseases, and provide insights into the promise of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in translational research and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglin Long
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
- Correspondence to: Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Lin Jiang Road Chongqing 4000l0, China.
| | - Jianlin Du
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China
- Correspondence to: Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Lin Jiang Road Chongqing 400010, China.
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50
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Qin HL, Bao JH, Tang JJ, Xu DY, Shen L. Arterial remodeling: the role of mitochondrial metabolism in vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 324:C183-C192. [PMID: 36468843 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00074.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Arterial remodeling is a common pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, vascular restenosis, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, aortic dissection, and aneurysm. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are not only the main cellular components in the middle layer of the arterial wall but also the main cells involved in arterial remodeling. Dedifferentiated VSMCs lose their contractile properties and are converted to a synthetic, secretory, proliferative, and migratory phenotype, playing key roles in the pathogenesis of arterial remodeling. As mitochondria are the main site of biological oxidation and energy transformation in eukaryotic cells, mitochondrial numbers and function are very important in maintaining the metabolic processes in VSMCs. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are novel triggers of the phenotypic transformation of VSMCs, leading to the onset and development of arterial remodeling. Therefore, pharmacological measures that alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction reverse arterial remodeling by ameliorating VSMCs metabolic dysfunction and phenotypic transformation, providing new options for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases related to arterial remodeling. This review summarizes the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases associated with arterial remodeling and then discusses the potential mechanism by which mitochondrial dysfunction participates in pathological arterial remodeling. Furthermore, maintaining or improving mitochondrial function may be a new intervention strategy to prevent the progression of arterial remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Li Qin
- Department of Internal Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing-Hui Bao
- Department of Internal Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jian-Jun Tang
- Department of Internal Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dan-Yan Xu
- Department of Internal Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Internal Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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