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Yu Y, Cai Y, Yang F, Yang Y, Cui Z, Shi D, Bai R. Vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching in atherosclerosis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37727. [PMID: 39309965 PMCID: PMC11416558 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a complex pathology process involving intricate interactions among various cells and biological processes. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in normal arteries, and under atherosclerotic stimuli, VSMCs respond to altered blood flow and microenvironment changes by downregulating contractile markers and switching their phenotype. This review overviews the diverse phenotypes of VSMCs, including the canonical contractile VSMCs, synthetic VSMCs, and phenotypes resembling macrophages, foam cells, myofibroblasts, osteoblasts/chondrocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells. We summarize their presumed protective and pro-atherosclerotic roles in AS development. Additionally, we underscore the molecular mechanisms and regulatory pathways governing VSMC phenotypic switching, encompassing transcriptional regulation, biochemical factors, plaque microenvironment, epigenetics, miRNAs, and the cytoskeleton, emphasizing their significance in AS development. Finally, we outline probable future research directions targeting VSMCs, offering insights into potential therapeutic strategies for AS management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiao Yu
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Yajie Cai
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Furong Yang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Yankai Yang
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Zhuorui Cui
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Dazhuo Shi
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Ruina Bai
- Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Beijing, 100091, China
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Du Q, Zhang C, Qu T, Zhou X, Liu Y, Chen Z, Shen Z, Chen P, Zhang R. Methyltransferase-Like 3-Driven N6-Methyladenosine Modification of RBPJ Promotes Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00326-2. [PMID: 39222906 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The dysregulation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification is widely recognized for its crucial roles in various diseases, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). Prior studies have highlighted the significant role of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in the pathogenesis of PH. Nevertheless, the potential and underlying mechanisms of METTL3 and its inhibitors as targets for PH treatment require further elucidation. In this study, we observed increased levels of METTL3 in various rodent models of PH. In vitro studies revealed that METTL3 silencing or treatment with STM2457, a specific METTL3 inhibitor, attenuated the proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor-BB or hypoxia. Moreover, in vivo experiments using adeno-associated virus 9-mediated METTL3 silencing or STM2457 inhibition demonstrated improvement in SU5416/hypoxia-induced PH in mice. Additionally, m6A RNA immunoprecipitation analysis identified RBPJ as a gene regulated by METTL3 in rodent models of PH. Loss-of-function studies showed that silencing RBPJ could attenuate the changes in the proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB or hypoxia. Further studies indicated that METTL3 and YTHDF1 regulate RBPJ mRNA expression in an m6A-dependent manner. These findings indicated that targeting METTL3 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating PH, and modulation of RBPJ could offer a potential intervention mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Du
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianyu Qu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhixuan Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zilin Shen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pingsheng Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruifeng Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China; State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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3
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Gunnersen S, Shim JT, Liu F, Tietge UJ, Sørensen CB, Bentzon JF. Conditional deletion of Ccl2 in smooth muscle cells does not reduce early atherosclerosis in mice. ATHEROSCLEROSIS PLUS 2024; 55:12-20. [PMID: 38234375 PMCID: PMC10792688 DOI: 10.1016/j.athplu.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Background and aims C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is a pro-inflammatory chemokine important for monocyte recruitment to the arterial wall and atherosclerotic plaques. Global knockout of Ccl2 reduces plaque formation and macrophage content in mice, but the importance of different plaque cell types in mediating this effect has not been resolved. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) can adopt a potentially pro-inflammatory function with expression of CCL2. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that SMC-secreted CCL2 is involved in early atherogenesis in mice. Methods SMC-restricted Cre recombinase was activated at 6 weeks of age in mice with homozygous floxed or wildtype Ccl2 alleles. Separate experiments in mice lacking the Cre recombinase transgene were conducted to control for genetic background effects. Hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were induced by a tail vein injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) encoding proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Results Unexpectedly, mice with SMC-specific Ccl2 deletion developed higher levels of plasma cholesterol and larger atherosclerotic plaques with more macrophages compared with wild-type littermates. When total cholesterol levels were incorporated into the statistical analysis, none of the effects on plaque development between groups remained significant. Importantly, changes in plasma cholesterol and atherosclerosis remained in mice lacking Cre recombinase indicating that they were not caused by SMC-specific CCL2 deletion but by effects of the floxed allele or passenger genes. Conclusions SMC-specific deficiency of Ccl2 does not significantly affect early plaque development in hypercholesterolemic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Gunnersen
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jeong Tangkjær Shim
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Fan Liu
- Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe J.F. Tietge
- Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska University Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Brandt Sørensen
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jacob Fog Bentzon
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Calle de Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
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Tian Q, Chen JH, Ding Y, Wang XY, Qiu JY, Cao Q, Zhuang LL, Jin R, Zhou GP. EGR1 transcriptionally regulates SVEP1 to promote proliferation and migration in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:365. [PMID: 38409611 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09322-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: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
A low-frequency variant of sushi, von Willebrand factor type A, EGF, and pentraxin domain-containing protein 1 (SVEP1) is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease, as determined by a genome-wide association study. SVEP1 induces vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and an inflammatory phenotype to promote atherosclerosis. In the present study, qRT‒PCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression of SVEP1 was significantly increased in atherosclerotic plaques compared to normal tissues. Bioinformatics revealed that EGR1 was a transcription factor for SVEP1. The results of the luciferase reporter assay, siRNA interference or overexpression assay, mutational analysis and ChIP confirmed that EGR1 positively regulated the transcriptional activity of SVEP1 by directly binding to its promoter. EGR1 promoted human coronary artery smooth muscle cell (HCASMC) proliferation and migration via SVEP1 in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) treatment. Moreover, the expression level of EGR1 was increased in atherosclerotic plaques and showed a strong linear correlation with the expression of SVEP1. Our findings indicated that EGR1 binding to the promoter region drive SVEP1 transcription to promote HCASMC proliferation and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Tian
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia-He Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin-Yu Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia-Yun Qiu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Cao
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li-Li Zhuang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guo-Ping Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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5
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Pan Q, Chen C, Yang YJ. Top Five Stories of the Cellular Landscape and Therapies of Atherosclerosis: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives. Curr Med Sci 2024; 44:1-27. [PMID: 38057537 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2818-2] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS) is characterized by impairment and apoptosis of endothelial cells, continuous systemic and focal inflammation and dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle cells, which is documented as the traditional cellular paradigm. However, the mechanisms appear much more complicated than we thought since a bulk of studies on efferocytosis, transdifferentiation and novel cell death forms such as ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and extracellular trap were reported. Discovery of novel pathological cellular landscapes provides a large number of therapeutic targets. On the other side, the unsatisfactory therapeutic effects of current treatment with lipid-lowering drugs as the cornerstone also restricts the efforts to reduce global AS burden. Stem cell- or nanoparticle-based strategies spurred a lot of attention due to the attractive therapeutic effects and minimized adverse effects. Given the complexity of pathological changes of AS, attempts to develop an almighty medicine based on single mechanisms could be theoretically challenging. In this review, the top stories in the cellular landscapes during the initiation and progression of AS and the therapies were summarized in an integrated perspective to facilitate efforts to develop a multi-targets strategy and fill the gap between mechanism research and clinical translation. The future challenges and improvements were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Yue-Jin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China.
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6
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Carramolino L, Albarrán-Juárez J, Markov A, Hernández-SanMiguel E, Sharysh D, Cumbicus V, Morales-Cano D, Labrador-Cantarero V, Møller PL, Nogales P, Benguria A, Dopazo A, Sanchez-Cabo F, Torroja C, Bentzon JF. Cholesterol lowering depletes atherosclerotic lesions of smooth muscle cell-derived fibromyocytes and chondromyocytes. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2024; 3:203-220. [PMID: 39196190 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00412-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Drugs that lower plasma apolipoprotein B (ApoB)-containing lipoproteins are central to treating advanced atherosclerosis and provide partial protection against clinical events. Previous research showed that lowering ApoB-containing lipoproteins stops plaque inflammation, but how these drugs affect the heterogeneous population of plaque cells derived from smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is unknown. SMC-derived cells are the main cellular component of atherosclerotic lesions and the source of structural components that determine the size of plaques and their propensity to rupture and trigger thrombosis, the proximate cause of heart attack and stroke. Using lineage tracing and single-cell techniques to investigate the full SMC-derived cellular compartment in progressing and regressing plaques in mice, here we show that lowering ApoB-containing lipoproteins reduces nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling in SMC-derived fibromyocytes and chondromyocytes and leads to depletion of these abundant cell types from plaques. These results uncover an important mechanism through which cholesterol-lowering drugs can achieve plaque regression.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic/pathology
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Atherosclerosis/drug therapy
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Chondrocytes/drug effects
- Chondrocytes/pathology
- Chondrocytes/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Anticholesteremic Agents/pharmacology
- Anticholesteremic Agents/therapeutic use
- Male
- Cholesterol/metabolism
- Cholesterol/blood
- Mice
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/metabolism
- Single-Cell Analysis
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- NF-kappa B/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julián Albarrán-Juárez
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anton Markov
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Diana Sharysh
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Vanessa Cumbicus
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Morales-Cano
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | - Paula Nogales
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Benguria
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Dopazo
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carlos Torroja
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacob F Bentzon
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain.
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
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7
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Buono MF, Benavente ED, Slenders L, Methorst D, Tessels D, Mili E, Finger R, Kapteijn D, Daniels M, van den Dungen NAM, Calis JJA, Mol BM, de Borst GJ, de Kleijn DPV, Pasterkamp G, den Ruijter HM, Mokry M. Human Plaque Myofibroblasts to Study Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e030243. [PMID: 37889192 PMCID: PMC10727388 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.030243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Background Plaque myofibroblasts are critical players in the initiation and advancement of atherosclerotic disease. They are involved in the production of extracellular matrix, the formation of the fibrous cap, and the underlying lipidic core via modulation processes in response to different environmental cues. Despite clear phenotypic differences between myofibroblast cells and healthy vascular smooth muscle cells, smooth muscle cells are still widely used as a cellular model in atherosclerotic research. Methods and Results Here, we present a conditioned outgrowth method to isolate and culture myofibroblast cells from plaques. We obtained these cells from 27 donors (24 carotid and 3 femoral endarterectomies). We show that they keep their proliferative capacity for 8 passages, are transcriptionally stable, retain donor-specific gene expression programs, and express extracellular matrix proteins (FN1, COL1A1, and DCN) and smooth muscle cell markers (ACTA2, MYH11, and CNN1). Single-cell transcriptomics reveals that the cells in culture closely resemble the plaque myofibroblasts. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing shows the presence of histone H3 lysine 4 dimethylation at the MYH11 promoter, pointing to their smooth muscle cell origin. Finally, we demonstrated that plaque myofibroblasts can be efficiently transduced (>97%) and are capable of taking up oxidized low-density lipoprotein and undergoing calcification. Conclusions In conclusion, we present a method to isolate and culture cells that retain plaque myofibroblast phenotypical and functional capabilities, making them a suitable in vitro model for studying selected mechanisms of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele F. Buono
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Ernest Diez Benavente
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Lotte Slenders
- Central Diagnostics LaboratoryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Daisey Methorst
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Daniëlle Tessels
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Eloi Mili
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Roxy Finger
- Central Diagnostics LaboratoryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Daniek Kapteijn
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Mark Daniels
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | | | - Jorg J. A. Calis
- Department of CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
- Center for Translational ImmunologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
- Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology, Wilhelmina Children’s HospitalUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Barend M. Mol
- Department of Vascular SurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Gert J. de Borst
- Department of Vascular SurgeryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | | | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostics LaboratoryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Hester M. den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Laboratory of Experimental CardiologyUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
- Central Diagnostics LaboratoryUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
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8
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Li W, Lin A, Hutton M, Dhaliwal H, Nadel J, Rodor J, Tumanov S, Örd T, Hadden M, Mokry M, Mol BM, Pasterkamp G, Padula MP, Geczy CL, Ramaswamy Y, Sluimer JC, Kaikkonen MU, Stocker R, Baker AH, Fisher EA, Patel S, Misra A. Colchicine promotes atherosclerotic plaque stability independently of inflammation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560632. [PMID: 37873248 PMCID: PMC10592948 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease which is driven in part by the aberrant trans -differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). No therapeutic drug has been shown to reverse detrimental SMC-derived cell phenotypes into protective phenotypes, a hypothesized enabler of plaque regression and improved patient outcome. Herein, we describe a novel function of colchicine in the beneficial modulation of SMC-derived cell phenotype, independent of its conventional anti-inflammatory effects. Using SMC fate mapping in an advanced atherosclerotic lesion model, colchicine induced plaque regression by converting pathogenic SMC-derived macrophage-like and osteoblast-like cells into protective myofibroblast-like cells which thickened, and thereby stabilized, the fibrous cap. This was dependent on Notch3 signaling in SMC-derived plaque cells. These findings may help explain the success of colchicine in clinical trials relative to other anti-inflammatory drugs. Thus, we demonstrate the potential of regulating SMC phenotype in advanced plaque regression through Notch3 signaling, in addition to the canonical anti-inflammatory actions of drugs to treat atherosclerosis.
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9
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Alonso-Herranz L, Albarrán-Juárez J, Bentzon JF. Mechanisms of fibrous cap formation in atherosclerosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1254114. [PMID: 37671141 PMCID: PMC10475556 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1254114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The fibrous cap is formed by smooth muscle cells that accumulate beneath the plaque endothelium. Cap rupture is the main cause of coronary thrombosis, leading to infarction and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, the qualities of the cap are primary determinants of the clinical outcome of coronary and carotid atherosclerosis. In this mini-review, we discuss current knowledge about the formation of the fibrous cap, including cell recruitment, clonal expansion, and central molecular signaling pathways. We also examine the differences between mouse and human fibrous caps and explore the impact of anti-atherosclerotic therapies on the state of the fibrous cap. We propose that the cap should be understood as a neo-media to substitute for the original media that becomes separated from the surface endothelium during atherogenesis and that embryonic pathways involved in the development of the arteria media contribute to cap formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Alonso-Herranz
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Julián Albarrán-Juárez
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jacob Fog Bentzon
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus and Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Franco-Acevedo A, Comes J, Mack JJ, Valenzuela NM. New insights into maladaptive vascular responses to donor specific HLA antibodies in organ transplantation. FRONTIERS IN TRANSPLANTATION 2023; 2:1146040. [PMID: 38993843 PMCID: PMC11235244 DOI: 10.3389/frtra.2023.1146040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Transplant vasculopathy (TV) causes thickening of donor blood vessels in transplanted organs, and is a significant cause of graft loss and mortality in allograft recipients. It is known that patients with repeated acute rejection and/or donor specific antibodies are predisposed to TV. Nevertheless, the exact molecular mechanisms by which alloimmune injury culminates in this disease have not been fully delineated. As a result of this incomplete knowledge, there is currently a lack of effective therapies for this disease. The immediate intracellular signaling and the acute effects elicited by anti-donor HLA antibodies are well-described and continuing to be revealed in deeper detail. Further, advances in rejection diagnostics, including intragraft gene expression, provide clues to the inflammatory changes within allografts. However, mechanisms linking these events with long-term outcomes, particularly the maladaptive vascular remodeling seen in transplant vasculopathy, are still being delineated. New evidence demonstrates alterations in non-coding RNA profiles and the occurrence of endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) during acute antibody-mediated graft injury. EndMT is also readily apparent in numerous settings of non-transplant intimal hyperplasia, and lessons can be learned from advances in those fields. This review will provide an update on these recent developments and remaining questions in our understanding of HLA antibody-induced vascular damage, framed within a broader consideration of manifestations and implications across transplanted organ types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Franco-Acevedo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Johanna Comes
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Julia J Mack
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nicole M Valenzuela
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Kong P, Cui ZY, Huang XF, Zhang DD, Guo RJ, Han M. Inflammation and atherosclerosis: signaling pathways and therapeutic intervention. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:131. [PMID: 35459215 PMCID: PMC9033871 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00955-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 142.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease driven by traditional and nontraditional risk factors. Genome-wide association combined with clonal lineage tracing and clinical trials have demonstrated that innate and adaptive immune responses can promote or quell atherosclerosis. Several signaling pathways, that are associated with the inflammatory response, have been implicated within atherosclerosis such as NLRP3 inflammasome, toll-like receptors, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, Notch and Wnt signaling pathways, which are of importance for atherosclerosis development and regression. Targeting inflammatory pathways, especially the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and its regulated inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β, could represent an attractive new route for the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases. Herein, we summarize the knowledge on cellular participants and key inflammatory signaling pathways in atherosclerosis, and discuss the preclinical studies targeting these key pathways for atherosclerosis, the clinical trials that are going to target some of these processes, and the effects of quelling inflammation and atherosclerosis in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Zi-Yang Cui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Xiao-Fu Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Rui-Juan Guo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Mei Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology of Ministry of Education, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China.
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Cheng P, Wirka RC, Clarke LS, Zhao Q, Kundu R, Nguyen T, Nair S, Sharma D, Kim HJ, Shi H, Assimes T, Kim JB, Kundaje A, Quertermous T. ZEB2 Shapes the Epigenetic Landscape of Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2022; 145:469-485. [PMID: 34990206 PMCID: PMC8896308 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.057789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) transition into a number of different phenotypes during atherosclerosis, including those that resemble fibroblasts and chondrocytes, and make up the majority of cells in the atherosclerotic plaque. To better understand the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms that mediate these cell state changes, and how they relate to risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), we have investigated the causality and function of transcription factors at genome-wide associated loci. METHODS We used CRISPR-Cas 9 genome and epigenome editing to identify the causal gene and cells for a complex CAD genome-wide association study signal at 2q22.3. Single-cell epigenetic and transcriptomic profiling in murine models and human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were used to understand the cellular and molecular mechanism by which this CAD risk gene exerts its function. RESULTS CRISPR-Cas 9 genome and epigenome editing showed that the complex CAD genetic signals within a genomic region at 2q22.3 lie within smooth muscle long-distance enhancers for ZEB2, a transcription factor extensively studied in the context of epithelial mesenchymal transition in development of cancer. Zeb2 regulates SMC phenotypic transition through chromatin remodeling that obviates accessibility and disrupts both Notch and transforming growth factor β signaling, thus altering the epigenetic trajectory of SMC transitions. SMC-specific loss of Zeb2 resulted in an inability of transitioning SMCs to turn off contractile programing and take on a fibroblast-like phenotype, but accelerated the formation of chondromyocytes, mirroring features of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques in human coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS These studies identify ZEB2 as a new CAD genome-wide association study gene that affects features of plaque vulnerability through direct effects on the epigenome, providing a new therapeutic approach to target vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Robert C. Wirka
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology and Physiology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Lee Shoa Clarke
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Quanyi Zhao
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Ramendra Kundu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Trieu Nguyen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Surag Nair
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Hyun-jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Huitong Shi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Themistocles Assimes
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Juyong Brian Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Anshul Kundaje
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
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Transcriptome analysis revealed a two-step transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells to macrophage-like cells. Atherosclerosis 2022; 346:26-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Buono MF, Slenders L, Wesseling M, Hartman RJG, Monaco C, den Ruijter HM, Pasterkamp G, Mokry M. The changing landscape of the vulnerable plaque: a call for fine-tuning of preclinical models. Vascul Pharmacol 2021; 141:106924. [PMID: 34607015 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2021.106924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
For decades, the pathological definition of the vulnerable plaque led to invaluable insights into the mechanisms that underlie myocardial infarction and stroke. Beyond plaque rupture, other mechanisms, such as erosion, may elicit thrombotic events underlining the complexity and diversity of the atherosclerotic disease. Novel insights, based on single-cell transcriptomics and other "omics" methods, provide tremendous opportunities in the ongoing search for cell-specific determinants that will fine-tune the description of the thrombosis prone lesion. It coincides with an increasing awareness that knowledge on lesion characteristics, cell plasticity and clinical presentation of ischemic cardiovascular events have shifted over the past decades. This shift correlates with an observed changes of cell composition towards phenotypical stabilizing of human plaques. These stabilization features and mechanisms are directly mediated by the cells present in plaques and can be mimicked in vitro via primary plaque cells derived from human atherosclerotic tissues. In addition, the rapidly evolving of sequencing technologies identify many candidate genes and molecular mechanisms that may influence the risk of developing an atherosclerotic thrombotic event - which bring the next challenge in sharp focus: how to translate these cell-specific insights into tangible functional and translational discoveries?
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele F Buono
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte Slenders
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marian Wesseling
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Robin J G Hartman
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Claudia Monaco
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Hester M den Ruijter
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard Pasterkamp
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Michal Mokry
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands; Central Diagnostics Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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15
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulf Hedin
- Departments of Vascular Surgery and Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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