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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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Wang B, Cui K, Zhu B, Dong Y, Wang D, Singh B, Wu H, Li K, Eisa-Beygi S, Sun Y, Wong S, Cowan DB, Chen Y, Du M, Chen H. Epsins oversee smooth muscle cell reprograming by influencing master regulators KLF4 and OCT4. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.08.574714. [PMID: 39131381 PMCID: PMC11312448 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells in major arteries play a crucial role in regulating coronary artery disease. Conversion of smooth muscle cells into other adverse cell types in the artery propels the pathogenesis of the disease. Curtailing artery plaque buildup by modulating smooth muscle cell reprograming presents us a new opportunity to thwart coronary artery disease. Here, our report how Epsins, a family of endocytic adaptor proteins oversee the smooth muscle cell reprograming by influencing master regulators OCT4 and KLF4. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we characterized the phenotype of modulated smooth muscle cells in mouse atherosclerotic plaque and found that smooth muscle cells lacking epsins undergo profound reprogramming into not only beneficial myofibroblasts but also endothelial cells for injury repair of diseased endothelium. Our work lays concrete groundwork to explore an uncharted territory as we show that depleting Epsins bolsters smooth muscle cells reprograming to endothelial cells by augmenting OCT4 activity but restrain them from reprograming to harmful foam cells by destabilizing KLF4, a master regulator of adverse reprograming of smooth muscle cells. Moreover, the expression of Epsins in smooth muscle cells positively correlates with the severity of both human and mouse coronary artery disease. Integrating our scRNA-seq data with human Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) identifies pivotal roles Epsins play in smooth muscle cells in the pathological process leading to coronary artery disease. Our findings reveal a previously unexplored direction for smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation in the development and progression of coronary artery disease and unveil Epsins and their downstream new targets as promising novel therapeutic targets for mitigating metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wang
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kui Cui
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bo Zhu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yunzhou Dong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Donghai Wang
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bandana Singh
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kathryn Li
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shahram Eisa-Beygi
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of Pathology, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Scott Wong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Douglas B Cowan
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yabing Chen
- Department of Pathology, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Mulong Du
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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Yang S, Zhao Y, Cao S, Liu X, Feng M, Chen Y, Ma C, Zhan T, Zhang Q, Jia H, Zhao Y, Tong M, Yu Y, Liu X, Yang B, Zhang Y. Kanglexin counters vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation and associated arteriosclerosis through inhibiting PDGFR. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 130:155704. [PMID: 38759316 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function leads to a variety of diseases such as atherosclerosis and hyperplasia after injury. However, antiproliferative drug targeting VSMC exhibits poor specificity. Therefore, there is an urgent to develop highly specific antiproliferative drugs to prevention and treatment VSMC dedifferentiation associated arteriosclerosis. Kanglexin (KLX), a new anthraquinone compound designed by our team, has potential to regulate VSMC phenotype according to the physicochemical properties. PURPOSE This project aims to evaluate the therapeutic role of KLX in VSMC dedifferentiation and atherosclerosis, neointimal formation and illustrates the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS In vivo, the ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for a duration of 13 weeks to establish the atherosclerotic model. And rat carotid artery injury model was performed to establish the neointimal formation model. In vitro, PDGF-BB was used to induce VSMC dedifferentiation. RESULTS We found that KLX ameliorated the atherosclerotic progression including atherosclerotic lesion formation, lipid deposition and collagen deposition in aorta and aortic sinus in atherosclerotic mouse model. In addition, The administration of KLX effectively ameliorated neointimal formation in the carotid artery following balloon injury in SD rats. The findings derived from molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments unequivocally demonstrate that KLX had potential to bind PDGFR-β. Mechanism research work proved that KLX prevented VSMC proliferation, migration and dedifferentiation via activating the PDGFR-β-MEK -ERK-ELK-1/KLF4 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Collectively, we demonstrated that KLX effectively attenuated the progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice and carotid arterial neointimal formation in SD rats by inhibiting VSMC phenotypic conversion via PDGFR-β-MEK-ERK-ELK-1/KLF4 signaling. KLX exhibits promising potential as a viable therapeutic agent for the treatment of VSMC phenotype conversion associated arteriosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yixiu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Shifeng Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xinxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Min Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Chunyue Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Tingting Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Honglin Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Ming Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Baofeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), Department of Pharmacology (State Key Labratoray -Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
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Mangum KD, Li Q, Bauer TM, Wolf SJ, Shadiow J, Moon JY, Barrett EC, Joshi AD, Ahmed Z, Wasikowski R, Boyer K, Obi AT, Davis FM, Chang L, Tsoi LC, Gudjonsson J, Gallagher KA. Epigenetic Alteration of Smooth Muscle Cells Regulates Endothelin-Dependent Blood Pressure and Hypertensive Arterial Remodeling. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.07.09.24310178. [PMID: 39040193 PMCID: PMC11261912 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.09.24310178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Long-standing hypertension (HTN) affects multiple organ systems and leads to pathologic arterial remodeling, which is driven largely by smooth muscle cell (SMC) plasticity. Although genome wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous variants associated with changes in blood pressure in humans, only a small percentage of these variants actually cause HTN. In order to identify relevant genes important in SMC function in HTN, we screened three separate human GWAS and Mendelian randomization studies to identify SNPs located within non-coding gene regions, focusing on genes encoding epigenetic enzymes, as these have been recently identified to control SMC fate in cardiovascular disease. We identified SNPs rs62059712 and rs74480102 in the promoter of the human JMJD3 gene and show that the minor C allele increases JMJD3 transcription in SMCs via increased SP1 binding to the JMJD3 promoter. Using our novel SMC-specific Jmjd3-deficient murine model ( Jmjd3 flox/flox Myh11 CreERT ), we show that loss of Jmjd3 in SMCs results in HTN, mechanistically, due to decreased EDNRB expression and a compensatory increase in EDNRA expression. As a translational corollary, through single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of human arteries, we found strong correlation between JMJD3 and EDNRB expression in SMCs. Further, we identified that JMJD3 is required for SMC-specific gene expression, and loss of JMJD3 in SMCs in the setting of HTN results in increased arterial remodeling by promoting the SMC synthetic phenotype. Our findings link a HTN-associated human DNA variant with regulation of SMC plasticity, revealing therapeutic targets that may be used in the screening and/or personalized treatment of HTN.
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Paredes F, Williams HC, Liu X, Holden C, Bogan B, Wang Y, Crotty KM, Yeligar SM, Elorza AA, Lin Z, Rezvan A, San Martin A. The mitochondrial protease ClpP is a druggable target that controls VSMC phenotype by a SIRT1-dependent mechanism. Redox Biol 2024; 73:103203. [PMID: 38823208 PMCID: PMC11169483 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), known for their remarkable lifelong phenotypic plasticity, play a pivotal role in vascular pathologies through their ability to transition between different phenotypes. Our group discovered that the deficiency of the mitochondrial protein Poldip2 induces VSMC differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. Further comprehensive biochemical investigations revealed Poldip2's specific interaction with the mitochondrial ATPase caseinolytic protease chaperone subunit X (CLPX), which is the regulatory subunit for the caseinolytic protease proteolytic subunit (ClpP) that forms part of the ClpXP complex - a proteasome-like protease evolutionarily conserved from bacteria to humans. This interaction limits the protease's activity, and reduced Poldip2 levels lead to ClpXP complex activation. This finding prompted the hypothesis that ClpXP complex activity within the mitochondria may regulate the VSMC phenotype. Employing gain-of-function and loss-of-function strategies, we demonstrated that ClpXP activity significantly influences the VSMC phenotype. Notably, both genetic and pharmacological activation of ClpXP inhibits VSMC plasticity and fosters a quiescent, differentiated, and anti-inflammatory VSMC phenotype. The pharmacological activation of ClpP using TIC10, currently in phase III clinical trials for cancer, successfully replicates this phenotype both in vitro and in vivo and markedly reduces aneurysm development in a mouse model of elastase-induced aortic aneurysms. Our mechanistic exploration indicates that ClpP activation regulates the VSMC phenotype by modifying the cellular NAD+/NADH ratio and activating Sirtuin 1. Our findings reveal the crucial role of mitochondrial proteostasis in the regulation of the VSMC phenotype and propose the ClpP protease as a novel, actionable target for manipulating the VSMC phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Paredes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Holly C Williams
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Xuesong Liu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Claire Holden
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Bethany Bogan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kathryn M Crotty
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Decatur, GA, United States
| | - Samantha M Yeligar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Decatur, GA, United States
| | - Alvaro A Elorza
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zhiyong Lin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Amir Rezvan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alejandra San Martin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile.
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Kang K, Xiang J, Zhang X, Xie Y, Zhou M, Zeng L, Zhuang J, Kuang J, Lin Y, Hu B, Xiong Q, Yin Q, Su Q, Liao X, Wang J, Niu Y, Liu C, Tian J, Gou D. N6-methyladenosine modification of KLF2 may contribute to endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in pulmonary hypertension. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2024; 29:69. [PMID: 38741032 PMCID: PMC11089701 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-024-00590-w] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. Increasing evidence indicates that endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) is a pivotal trigger initiating this remodeling. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying EndMT in PH are still not fully understood. METHODS Cytokine-induced hPAECs were assessed using RNA methylation quantification, qRT-PCR, and western blotting to determine the involvement of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation in EndMT. Lentivirus-mediated silencing, overexpression, tube formation, and wound healing assays were utilized to investigate the function of METTL3 in EndMT. Endothelial-specific gene knockout, hemodynamic measurement, and immunostaining were performed to explore the roles of METTL3 in pulmonary vascular remodeling and PH. RNA-seq, RNA Immunoprecipitation-based qPCR, mRNA stability assay, m6A mutation, and dual-luciferase assays were employed to elucidate the mechanisms of RNA methylation in EndMT. RESULTS The global levels of m6A and METTL3 expression were found to decrease in TNF-α- and TGF-β1-induced EndMT in human PAECs (hPAECs). METTL3 inhibition led to reduced endothelial markers (CD31 and VE-cadherin) and increased mesenchymal markers (SM22 and N-cadherin) as well as EndMT-related transcription factors (Snail, Zeb1, Zeb2, and Slug). The endothelial-specific knockout of Mettl3 promoted EndMT and exacerbated pulmonary vascular remodeling and hypoxia-induced PH (HPH) in mice. Mechanistically, METTL3-mediated m6A modification of kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) plays a crucial role in the EndMT process. KLF2 overexpression increased CD31 and VE-cadherin levels while decreasing SM22, N-cadherin, and EndMT-related transcription factors, thereby mitigating EndMT in PH. Mutations in the m6A site of KLF2 mRNA compromise KLF2 expression, subsequently diminishing its protective effect against EndMT. Furthermore, KLF2 modulates SM22 expression through direct binding to its promoter. CONCLUSIONS Our findings unveil a novel METTL3/KLF2 pathway critical for protecting hPAECs against EndMT, highlighting a promising avenue for therapeutic investigation in PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Kang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Xiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingshi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengting Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Le Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Junhao Zhuang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahao Kuang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Bozhe Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianmin Xiong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Su
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Xiaoyun Liao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Yanqin Niu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Cuilian Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Jinglin Tian
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Deming Gou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, Vascular Disease Research Center, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Disease, Carson International Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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7
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Ding H, Tong J, Lin H, Ping F, Yao T, Ye Z, Chu J, Yuan D, Wang K, Liu X, Chen F. KLF4 inhibited the senescence-associated secretory phenotype in ox-LDL-treated endothelial cells via PDGFRA/NAMPT/mitochondrial ROS. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:8070-8085. [PMID: 38728249 PMCID: PMC11132013 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205805] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammation is one of the significant consequences of ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction. The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) is a critical source of inflammation factors. However, the molecular mechanism by which the SASP is regulated in ECs under ox-LDL conditions remains unknown. RESULTS The level of SASP was increased in ox-LDL-treated ECs, which could be augmented by KLF4 knockdown whereas restored by KLF4 knock-in. Furthermore, we found that KLF4 directly promoted PDGFRA transcription and confirmed the central role of the NAPMT/mitochondrial ROS pathway in KLF4/PDGFRA-mediated inhibition of SASP. Animal experiments showed a higher SASP HFD-fed mice, compared with normal feed (ND)-fed mice, and the endothelium of EC-specific KLF4-/- mice exhibited a higher proportion of SA-β-gal-positive cells and lower PDGFRA/NAMPT expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed that KLF4 inhibits the SASP of endothelial cells under ox-LDL conditions through the PDGFRA/NAMPT/mitochondrial ROS. METHODS Ox-LDL-treated ECs and HFD-fed mice were used as endothelial senescence models in vitro and in vivo. SA-β-gal stain, detection of SAHF and the expression of inflammatory factors determined SASP and senescence of ECs. The direct interaction of KLF4 and PDGFRA promotor was analyzed by EMSA and fluorescent dual luciferase reporting analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Ding
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jing Tong
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Fan Ping
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tongqing Yao
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zi Ye
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiapeng Chu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Deqiang Yuan
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Kangwei Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuebo Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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8
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Boosani CS, Burela L. The Exacerbating Effects of the Tumor Necrosis Factor in Cardiovascular Stenosis: Intimal Hyperplasia. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1435. [PMID: 38611112 PMCID: PMC11010976 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
TNF-α functions as a master regulator of inflammation, and it plays a prominent role in several immunological diseases. By promoting important cellular mechanisms, such as cell proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch, TNF-α induces its exacerbating effects, which are the underlying cause of many proliferative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. TNF-α primarily alters the immune component of the disease, which subsequently affects normal functioning of the cells. Monoclonal antibodies and synthetic drugs that can target TNF-α and impair its effects have been developed and are currently used in the treatment of a few select human diseases. Vascular restenosis is a proliferative disorder that is initiated by immunological mechanisms. In this review, the role of TNF-α in exacerbating restenosis resulting from neointimal hyperplasia, as well as molecular mechanisms and cellular processes affected or induced by TNF-α, are discussed. As TNF-α-targeting drugs are currently not approved for the treatment of restenosis, the summation of the topics discussed here is anticipated to provide information that can emphasize on the use of TNF-α-targeting drug candidates to prevent vascular restenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Shekhar Boosani
- Somatic Cell and Genome Editing Center, Division of Animal Science, College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- MU HealthCare, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Technology and Platform Development, Soma Life Science Solutions, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, USA
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9
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Ahmed IA, Liu M, Gomez D. Nuclear Control of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity during Vascular Remodeling. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:525-538. [PMID: 37820925 PMCID: PMC10988766 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Control of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) gene expression is an essential process for establishing and maintaining lineage identity, contractility, and plasticity. Most mechanisms (epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional) implicated in gene regulation occur in the nucleus. Still, intranuclear pathways are directly impacted by modifications in the extracellular environment in conditions of adaptive or maladaptive remodeling. Integration of extracellular, cellular, and genomic information into the nucleus through epigenetic and transcriptional control of genome organization plays a major role in regulating SMC functions and phenotypic transitions during vascular remodeling and diseases. This review aims to provide a comprehensive update on nuclear mechanisms, their interactions, and their integration in controlling SMC homeostasis and dysfunction. It summarizes and discusses the main nuclear mechanisms preponderant in SMCs in the context of vascular disease, such as atherosclerosis, with an emphasis on studies employing in vivo cell-specific loss-of-function and single-cell omics approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim A Ahmed
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Mingjun Liu
- Department of Pathology, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Delphine Gomez
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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10
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Luo Y, He F, Zhang Y, Li S, Lu R, Wei X, Huang J. Transcription Factor 21: A Transcription Factor That Plays an Important Role in Cardiovascular Disease. Pharmacology 2024; 109:183-193. [PMID: 38493769 DOI: 10.1159/000536585] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to the World Health Organisation's Health Report 2019, approximately 17.18 million people die from cardiovascular disease each year, accounting for more than 30% of all global deaths. Therefore, the occurrence of cardiovascular disease is still a global concern. The transcription factor 21 (TCF21) plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases. This article reviews the regulation mechanism of TCF21 expression and activity and focuses on its important role in atherosclerosis in order to contribute to the development of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. SUMMARY TCF21 is involved in the phenotypic regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), promotes the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and participates in the activation of inflammatory sequences. Increased proliferation and migration of VSMCs can lead to neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. Abnormal hyperplasia of neointima and inflammation are one of the main features of atherosclerosis. Therefore, targeting TCF21 may become a potential treatment for relieving atherosclerosis. KEY MESSAGES TCF21 as a member of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors regulates cell growth and differentiation by modulating gene expression during the development of different organs and plays an important role in cardiovascular development and disease. VSMCs and cells derived from VSMCs constitute the majority of plaques in atherosclerosis. TCF21 plays a key role in regulation of VSMCs' phenotype, thus accelerating atherogenesis in the early stage. However, TCF21 enhances plaque stability in late-stage atherosclerosis. The dual role of TCF21 should be considered in the translational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqian Luo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, International Joint Laboratory for Arteriosclerotic Disease Research of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China,
| | - Fangzhou He
- Department of Anaesthesia, Chuanshan College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yifang Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, International Joint Laboratory for Arteriosclerotic Disease Research of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Shufan Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Ruirui Lu
- Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xing Wei
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, International Joint Laboratory for Arteriosclerotic Disease Research of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Ji Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, International Joint Laboratory for Arteriosclerotic Disease Research of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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11
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Zhang F, Li K, Zhang W, Zhao Z, Chang F, Du J, Zhang X, Bao K, Zhang C, Shi L, Liu Z, Dai X, Chen C, Wang DW, Xian Z, Jiang H, Ai D. Ganglioside GM3 Protects Against Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Suppressing Ferroptosis. Circulation 2024; 149:843-859. [PMID: 38018467 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.066110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially life-threatening vascular condition, but approved medical therapies to prevent AAA progression and rupture are currently lacking. Sphingolipid metabolism disorders are associated with the occurrence and development of AAA. It has been discovered that ganglioside GM3, a sialic acid-containing type of glycosphingolipid, plays a protective role in atherosclerosis, which is an important risk factor for AAA; however, the potential contribution of GM3 to AAA development has not been investigated. METHODS We performed a metabolomics study to evaluated GM3 level in plasma of human patients with AAA. We profiled GM3 synthase (ST3GAL5) expression in the mouse model of aneurysm and human AAA tissues through Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. RNA sequencing, affinity purification and mass spectrometry, proteomic analysis, surface plasmon resonance analysis, and functional studies were used to dissect the molecular mechanism of GM3-regulating ferroptosis. We conditionally deleted and overexpressed St3gal5 in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vivo to investigate its role in AAA. RESULTS We found significantly reduced plasma levels of GM3 in human patients with AAA. GM3 content and ST3GAL5 expression were decreased in abdominal aortic vascular SMCs in patients with AAA and an AAA mouse model. RNA sequencing analysis showed that ST3GAL5 silencing in human aortic SMCs induced ferroptosis. We showed that GM3 interacted directly with the extracellular domain of TFR1 (transferrin receptor 1), a cell membrane protein critical for cellular iron uptake, and disrupted its interaction with holo-transferrin. SMC-specific St3gal5 knockout exacerbated iron accumulation at lesion sites and significantly promoted AAA development in mice, whereas GM3 supplementation suppressed lipid peroxidation, reduced iron deposition in aortic vascular SMCs, and markedly decreased AAA incidence. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results suggest that GM3 dysregulation promotes ferroptosis of vascular SMCs in AAA. Furthermore, GM3 may constitute a new therapeutic target for AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangni Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University, China (F.Z., D.A.)
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
| | - Kan Li
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
| | - Ziyan Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
| | - Fangyuan Chang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
| | - Jie Du
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, China (J.D.)
- The Key Laboratory of Remodeling Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, China (J.D.)
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disorders, Beijing, China (J.D.)
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, China (J.D.)
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
| | - Kaiwen Bao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences (K.B., C.Z., L.S.), Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Chunyong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences (K.B., C.Z., L.S.), Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences (K.B., C.Z., L.S.), Tianjin Medical University, China
| | - Zongwei Liu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, China (Z.L., X.D.)
| | - Xiangchen Dai
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, China (Z.L., X.D.)
| | - Chen Chen
- Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China (C.C., D.W.W.)
| | - Dao Wen Wang
- Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China (C.C., D.W.W.)
| | - Zhong Xian
- Experimental Research Center, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, China (Z.X., H.J.)
| | - Hongfeng Jiang
- Experimental Research Center, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, China (Z.X., H.J.)
| | - Ding Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, The Province and Ministry Co-Sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University, China (F.Z., D.A.)
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology (F.Z., K.L., W.Z., Z.Z., F.C., J.D., X.Z., D.A.)
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12
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Fang Z, Shen G, Wang Y, Hong F, Tang X, Zeng Y, Zhang T, Liu H, Li Y, Wang J, Zhang J, Gao A, Qi W, Yang X, Zhou T, Gao G. Elevated Kallistatin promotes the occurrence and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:66. [PMID: 38472195 PMCID: PMC10933339 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01781-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, and the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) might cause irreversible hepatic damage. Hyperlipidemia (HLP) is the leading risk factor for NAFLD. This study aims to illuminate the causative contributor and potential mechanism of Kallistatin (KAL) mediating HLP to NAFLD. 221 healthy control and 253 HLP subjects, 62 healthy control and 44 NAFLD subjects were enrolled. The plasma KAL was significantly elevated in HLP subjects, especially in hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) subjects, and positively correlated with liver injury. Further, KAL levels of NAFLD patients were significantly up-regulated. KAL transgenic mice induced hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis with time and accelerated inflammation development in high-fat diet (HFD) mice. In contrast, KAL knockout ameliorated steatosis and inflammation in high-fructose diet (HFruD) and methionine and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced NAFLD rats. Mechanistically, KAL induced hepatic steatosis and NASH by down-regulating adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and comparative gene identification 58 (CGI-58) by LRP6/Gɑs/PKA/GSK3β pathway through down-regulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and up-regulating kruppel-like factor four (KLF4), respectively. CGI-58 is bound to NF-κB p65 in the cytoplasm, and diminishing CGI-58 facilitated p65 nuclear translocation and TNFα induction. Meanwhile, hepatic CGI-58-overexpress reverses NASH in KAL transgenic mice. Further, free fatty acids up-regulated KAL against thyroid hormone in hepatocytes. Moreover, Fenofibrate, one triglyceride-lowering drug, could reverse hepatic steatosis by down-regulating KAL. These results demonstrate that elevated KAL plays a crucial role in the development of HLP to NAFLD and may be served as a potential preventive and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Fang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Gang Shen
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yina Wang
- Department of VIP Medical Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Fuyan Hong
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiumei Tang
- Physical Examination Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yongcheng Zeng
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Huanyi Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yanmei Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jinhong Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Anton Gao
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | - Weiwei Qi
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xia Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangdong Engineering & Technology Research Center for Gene Manipulation and Biomacromolecular Products, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Ti Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Diabetology, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Guoquan Gao
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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13
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Ray A, Stelloh C, Liu Y, Meyer A, Geurts AM, Cowley AW, Greene AS, Liang M, Rao S. Histone Modifications and Their Contributions to Hypertension. Hypertension 2024; 81:229-239. [PMID: 38031837 PMCID: PMC11229175 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.21755] [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] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Essential hypertension, a multifaceted disorder, is a worldwide health problem. A complex network of genetic, epigenetic, physiological, and environmental components regulates blood pressure (BP), and any dysregulation of this network may result in hypertension. Growing evidence suggests a role for epigenetic factors in BP regulation. Any alterations in the expression or functions of these epigenetic regulators may dysregulate various determinants of BP, thereby promoting the development of hypertension. Histone posttranslational modifications are critical epigenetic regulators that have been implicated in hypertension. Several studies have demonstrated a clear association between the increased expression of some histone-modifying enzymes, especially HDACs (histone deacetylases), and hypertension. In addition, treatment with HDAC inhibitors lowers BP in hypertensive animal models, providing an excellent opportunity to design new drugs to treat hypertension. In this review, we discuss the potential contribution of different histone modifications to the regulation of BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atrayee Ray
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI (A.R., C.S., A.M., S.R.)
- Department of Physiology, Center of Systems Molecular Medicine (A.R., A.M.G., A.C.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Cary Stelloh
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI (A.R., C.S., A.M., S.R.)
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson (Y.L., M.L.)
| | - Alison Meyer
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI (A.R., C.S., A.M., S.R.)
| | - Aron M Geurts
- Department of Physiology, Center of Systems Molecular Medicine (A.R., A.M.G., A.C.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Allen W Cowley
- Department of Physiology, Center of Systems Molecular Medicine (A.R., A.M.G., A.C.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | | | - Mingyu Liang
- Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson (Y.L., M.L.)
| | - Sridhar Rao
- Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI (A.R., C.S., A.M., S.R.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology/Transplantation (S.R.), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
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14
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He J, Gao Y, Yang C, Guo Y, Liu L, Lu S, He H. Navigating the landscape: Prospects and hurdles in targeting vascular smooth muscle cells for atherosclerosis diagnosis and therapy. J Control Release 2024; 366:261-281. [PMID: 38161032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.047] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have emerged as pivotal contributors throughout all phases of atherosclerotic plaque development, effectively dispelling prior underestimations of their prevalence and significance. Recent lineage tracing studies have unveiled the clonal nature and remarkable adaptability inherent to VSMCs, thereby illuminating their intricate and multifaceted roles in the context of atherosclerosis. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth exploration of the intricate mechanisms and distinctive characteristics that define VSMCs across various physiological processes, firmly underscoring their paramount importance in shaping the course of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, this review offers a thorough examination of the significant strides made over the past two decades in advancing imaging techniques and therapeutic strategies with a precise focus on targeting VSMCs within atherosclerotic plaques, notably spotlighting meticulously engineered nanoparticles as a promising avenue. We envision the potential of VSMC-targeted nanoparticles, thoughtfully loaded with medications or combination therapies, to effectively mitigate pro-atherogenic VSMC processes. These advancements are poised to contribute significantly to the pivotal objective of modulating VSMC phenotypes and enhancing plaque stability. Moreover, our paper also delves into recent breakthroughs in VSMC-targeted imaging technologies, showcasing their remarkable precision in locating microcalcifications, dynamically monitoring plaque fibrous cap integrity, and assessing the therapeutic efficacy of medical interventions. Lastly, we conscientiously explore the opportunities and challenges inherent in this innovative approach, providing a holistic perspective on the potential of VSMC-targeted strategies in the evolving landscape of atherosclerosis research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua He
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center for Pharmaceutical Preparations, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu Gao
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
| | - Can Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center for Pharmaceutical Preparations, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujie Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center for Pharmaceutical Preparations, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Lisha Liu
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shan Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Research Center for Pharmaceutical Preparations, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongliang He
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Sciences & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Liu H, Zhao Y, Zhao G, Deng Y, Chen YE, Zhang J. SWI/SNF Complex in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Its Implications in Cardiovascular Pathologies. Cells 2024; 13:168. [PMID: 38247859 PMCID: PMC10814623 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mature vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) exhibit a remarkable degree of plasticity, a characteristic that has intrigued cardiovascular researchers for decades. Recently, it has become increasingly evident that the chromatin remodeler SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex plays a pivotal role in orchestrating chromatin conformation, which is critical for gene regulation. In this review, we provide a summary of research related to the involvement of the SWI/SNF complexes in VSMC and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), integrating these discoveries into the current landscape of epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in VSMC. These novel discoveries shed light on our understanding of VSMC biology and pave the way for developing innovative therapeutic strategies in CVD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Guizhen Zhao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yongjie Deng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Y. Eugene Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (H.L.); (Y.Z.)
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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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17
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Abstract
The medial layer of the arterial wall is composed mainly of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Under physiological conditions, VSMCs assume a contractile phenotype, and their primary function is to regulate vascular tone. In contrast with terminally differentiated cells, VSMCs possess phenotypic plasticity, capable of transitioning into other cellular phenotypes in response to changes in the vascular environment. Recent research has shown that VSMC phenotypic switching participates in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, where the various types of dedifferentiated VSMCs accumulate in the atherosclerotic lesion and participate in the associated vascular remodeling by secreting extracellular matrix proteins and proteases. This review article discusses the 9 VSMC phenotypes that have been reported in atherosclerotic lesions and classifies them into differentiated VSMCs, intermediately dedifferentiated VSMCs, and dedifferentiated VSMCs. It also provides an overview of several methodologies that have been developed for studying VSMC phenotypic switching and discusses their respective advantages and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runji Chen
- Shantou University Medical CollegeShantouChina
| | - David G. McVey
- Department of Cardiovascular SciencesUniversity of LeicesterLeicesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Daifei Shen
- Research Center for Translational MedicineThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical CollegeShantouChina
| | | | - Shu Ye
- Shantou University Medical CollegeShantouChina
- Department of Cardiovascular SciencesUniversity of LeicesterLeicesterUnited Kingdom
- Cardiovascular‐Metabolic Disease Translational Research ProgrammeNational University of SingaporeSingapore
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18
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Liu H, Dong X, Jia K, Yuan B, Ren Z, Pan X, Wu J, Li J, Zhou J, Wang RX, Qu L, Sun J, Pan LL. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5-mediated arginine methylation stabilizes Kruppel-like factor 4 to accelerate neointimal formation. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:2142-2156. [PMID: 37201513 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Accumulating evidence supports the indispensable role of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) in the pathological progression of several human cancers. As an important enzyme-regulating protein methylation, how PRMT5 participates in vascular remodelling remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of PRMT5 in neointimal formation and to evaluate its potential as an effective therapeutic target for the condition. METHODS AND RESULTS Aberrant PRMT5 overexpression was positively correlated with clinical carotid arterial stenosis. Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific PRMT5 knockout inhibited intimal hyperplasia with an enhanced expression of contractile markers in mice. Conversely, PRMT5 overexpression inhibited SMC contractile markers and promoted intimal hyperplasia. Furthermore, we showed that PRMT5 promoted SMC phenotypic switching by stabilizing Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). Mechanistically, PRMT5-mediated KLF4 methylation inhibited ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of KLF4, leading to a disruption of myocardin (MYOCD)-serum response factor (SRF) interaction and MYOCD-SRF-mediated the transcription of SMC contractile markers. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrated that PRMT5 critically mediated vascular remodelling by promoting KLF4-mediated SMC phenotypic conversion and consequently the progression of intimal hyperplasia. Therefore, PRMT5 may represent a potential therapeutic target for intimal hyperplasia-associated vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Liu
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoliang Dong
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Kunpeng Jia
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Baohui Yuan
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Zhengnan Ren
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohua Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Jianjin Wu
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai 200003, P. R. China
| | - Jiahong Li
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Ru-Xing Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qingyang Road, Wuxi 214023, P. R. China
| | - Lefeng Qu
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Navy Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai 200003, P. R. China
| | - Jia Sun
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
| | - Li-Long Pan
- Wuxi School of Medicine and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No. 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, P. R. China
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19
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Zhou Y, Sharma S, Sun X, Guan X, Hou Y, Yang Z, Shi H, Zou MH, Song P, Zhou J, Wang S, Hu Z, Li C. SMYD2 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and intimal hyperplasia via interaction with myocardin. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:264. [PMID: 37615725 PMCID: PMC11071988 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04883-9] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The SET and MYND domain-containing protein 2 (SMYD2) is a histone lysine methyltransferase that has been reported to regulate carcinogenesis and inflammation. However, its role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) homeostasis and vascular diseases has not been determined. Here, we investigated the role of SMYD2 in VSMC phenotypic modulation and vascular intimal hyperplasia and elucidated the underlying mechanism. We observed that SMYD2 expression was downregulated in injured carotid arteries in mice and phenotypically modulated VSMCs in vitro. Using an SMC-specific SMYD2 knockout mouse model, we found that SMYD2 ablation in VSMCs exacerbated neointima formation after vascular injury in vivo. Conversely, SMYD2 overexpression inhibited VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro and attenuated arterial narrowing in injured vessels in mice. SMYD2 downregulation promoted VSMC phenotypic switching accompanied with enhanced proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, genome-wide transcriptome analysis and loss/gain-of-function studies revealed that SMYD2 up-regulated VSMC contractile gene expression and suppressed VSMC proliferation and migration, in part, by promoting expression and transactivation of the master transcription cofactor myocardin. In addition, myocardin directly interacted with SMYD2, thereby facilitating SMYD2 recruitment to the CArG regions of SMC contractile gene promoters and leading to an open chromatin status around SMC contractile gene promoters via SMYD2-mediated H3K4 methylation. Hence, we conclude that SMYD2 is a novel regulator of VSMC contractile phenotype and intimal hyperplasia via a myocardin-dependent epigenetic regulatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhou
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
- Division of Vascular Surgery, National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Vascular Disease Treatment, Engineering and Technology Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No 58, Zhongshan 2nd Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
| | - Shaligram Sharma
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Xiaonan Sun
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Guan
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Yuning Hou
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
- Cancer Animal Models Shared Resource, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Hang Shi
- Department of Biology, Center for Obesity Reversal, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ming-Hui Zou
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Ping Song
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Jiliang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Shenming Wang
- Division of Vascular Surgery, National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Vascular Disease Treatment, Engineering and Technology Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No 58, Zhongshan 2nd Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Zuojun Hu
- Division of Vascular Surgery, National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Vascular Disease Treatment, Engineering and Technology Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No 58, Zhongshan 2nd Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
| | - Chunying Li
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, 157 Decatur St SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
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20
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Zhou Y, Sharma S, Sun X, Guan X, Hou Y, Yang Z, Shi H, Zou MH, Song P, Zhou J, Wang S, Hu Z, Li C. SMYD2 Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switching and Intimal Hyperplasia via Interaction with Myocardin. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2721176. [PMID: 37090651 PMCID: PMC10120764 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2721176/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
The SET and MYND domain-containing protein 2 (SMYD2) is a histone lysine methyltransferase that has been reported to regulate carcinogenesis and inflammation. However, its role in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) homeostasis and vascular diseases has not been determined. Here, we investigated the role of SMYD2 in VSMC phenotypic modulation and vascular intimal hyperplasia and elucidated the underlying mechanism. We observed that SMYD2 expression was downregulated in injured carotid arteries in mice and phenotypically modulated VSMCs in vitro. Using a SMC-specific Smyd2 knockout mouse model, we found that Smyd2 ablation in VSMCs exacerbates neointima formation after vascular injury in vivo. Conversely, Smyd2 overexpression inhibits VSMC proliferation and migration in vitro and attenuates arterial narrowing in injured vessels in mice. Smyd2 downregulation promotes VSMC phenotypic switching accompanied with enhanced proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, genome-wide transcriptome analysis and loss/gain-of-function studies revealed that SMYD2 up-regulates VSMC contractile gene expression and suppresses VSMC proliferation and migration, in part, by promoting expression and transactivation of the master transcription cofactor myocardin. In addition, myocardin directly interacts with SMYD2, thereby facilitating SMYD2 recruitment to the CArG regions of SMC contractile gene promoters and leading to an open chromatin status around SMC contractile gene promoters via SMYD2-mediated H3K4 methylation. Hence, we conclude that SMYD2 is a novel regulator of VSMC contractile phenotype and intimal hyperplasia via a myocardin-dependent epigenetic regulatory mechanism and may be a potential therapeutic target for occlusive vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhou
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Vascular Surgery, National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Vascular Disease Treatment, Engineering and Technology Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaligram Sharma
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xiaonan Sun
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Guan
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuning Hou
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zhe Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Hang Shi
- Center for Obesity Reversal, Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ming-Hui Zou
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ping Song
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jiliang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Shenming Wang
- Division of Vascular Surgery, National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Vascular Disease Treatment, Engineering and Technology Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zuojun Hu
- Division of Vascular Surgery, National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Vascular Disease Treatment, Engineering and Technology Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases, Guangdong Engineering Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunying Li
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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21
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Sivaraman S, Ravishankar P, Rao RR. Differentiation and Engineering of Human Stem Cells for Smooth Muscle Generation. TISSUE ENGINEERING. PART B, REVIEWS 2023; 29:1-9. [PMID: 35491587 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2022.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 31% of global deaths and are considered the main cause of death and disability worldwide. Stem cells from various sources have become attractive options for a range of cell-based therapies for smooth muscle tissue regeneration. However, for efficient myogenic differentiation, the stem cell characteristics, cell culture conditions, and their respective microenvironments need to be carefully assessed. This review covers the various approaches involved in the regeneration of vascular smooth muscles by conditioning human stem cells. This article delves into the different sources of stem cells used in the generation of myogenic tissues, the role of soluble growth factors, use of scaffolding techniques, biomolecular cues, relevance of mechanical stimulation, and key transcription factors involved, aimed at inducing myogenic differentiation. Impact statement The review article's main goal is to discuss the recent advances in the field of smooth muscle tissue regeneration. We look at various cell sources, growth factors, scaffolds, mechanical stimuli, and factors involved in smooth muscle formation. These stem cell-based approaches for vascular muscle formation will provide various options for cell-based therapies with long-term beneficial effects on patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikanth Sivaraman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Prashanth Ravishankar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Raj R Rao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
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22
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Laura Francés J, Musolino E, Papait R, Pagiatakis C. Non-Coding RNAs in Cell-to-Cell Communication: Exploiting Physiological Mechanisms as Therapeutic Targets in Cardiovascular Pathologies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032205. [PMID: 36768528 PMCID: PMC9916956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide, has been characterized at the molecular level by alterations in gene expression that contribute to the etiology of the disease. Such alterations have been shown to play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis, cardiac remodeling, and age-related heart failure. Although much is now known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms in this context, the role of epigenetics in the onset of cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Epigenetics, a complex network of mechanisms that regulate gene expression independently of changes to the DNA sequence, has been highly implicated in the loss of homeostasis and the aberrant activation of a myriad of cellular pathways. More specifically, non-coding RNAs have been gaining much attention as epigenetic regulators of various pathologies. In this review, we will provide an overview of the ncRNAs involved in cell-to-cell communication in cardiovascular disease, namely atherosclerosis, cardiac remodeling, and cardiac ageing, and the potential use of epigenetic drugs as novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elettra Musolino
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Roberto Papait
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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23
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Jiang Y, Qian HY. Transcription factors: key regulatory targets of vascular smooth muscle cell in atherosclerosis. Mol Med 2023; 29:2. [PMID: 36604627 PMCID: PMC9817296 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-022-00586-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis (AS), leading to gradual occlusion of the arterial lumen, refers to the accumulation of lipids and inflammatory debris in the arterial wall. Despite therapeutic advances over past decades including intervention or surgery, atherosclerosis is still the most common cause of cardiovascular diseases and the main mechanism of death and disability worldwide. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play an imperative role in the occurrence of atherosclerosis and throughout the whole stages. In the past, there was a lack of comprehensive understanding of VSMCs, but the development of identification technology, including in vivo single-cell sequencing technology and lineage tracing with the CreERT2-loxP system, suggests that VSMCs have remarkable plasticity and reevaluates well-established concepts about the contribution of VSMCs. Transcription factors, a kind of protein molecule that specifically recognizes and binds DNA upstream promoter regions or distal enhancer DNA elements, play a key role in the transcription initiation of the coding genes and are necessary for RNA polymerase to bind gene promoters. In this review, we highlight that, except for environmental factors, VSMC genes are transcriptionally regulated through complex interactions of multiple conserved cis-regulatory elements and transcription factors. In addition, through a series of transcription-related regulatory processes, VSMCs could undergo phenotypic transformation, proliferation, migration, calcification and apoptosis. Finally, enhancing or inhibiting transcription factors can regulate the development of atherosclerotic lesions, and the downstream molecular mechanism of transcriptional regulation has also been widely studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jiang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Department of Cardiology, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Rd, Beijing, 100037 China
| | - Hai-Yan Qian
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Center for Coronary Heart Disease, Department of Cardiology, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 167 Beilishi Rd, Beijing, 100037 China
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24
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KLF4-PFKFB3-driven glycolysis is essential for phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1332. [PMID: 36470917 PMCID: PMC9722670 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04302-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) within atherosclerotic lesions undergo a phenotypic switching in a KLF4-dependent manner. Glycolysis plays important roles in transdifferentiation of somatic cells, however, it is unclear whether and how KLF4 mediates the link between glycolytic switch and VSMCs phenotypic transitions. Here, we show that KLF4 upregulation accompanies VSMCs phenotypic switching in atherosclerotic lesions. KLF4 enhances the metabolic switch to glycolysis through increasing PFKFB3 expression. Inhibiting glycolysis suppresses KLF4-induced VSMCs phenotypic switching, demonstrating that glycolytic shift is required for VSMCs phenotypic switching. Mechanistically, KLF4 upregulates expression of circCTDP1 and eEF1A2, both of which cooperatively promote PFKFB3 expression. TMAO induces glycolytic shift and VSMCs phenotypic switching by upregulating KLF4. Our study indicates that KLF4 mediates the link between glycolytic switch and VSMCs phenotypic transitions, suggesting that a previously unrecognized KLF4-eEF1A2/circCTDP1-PFKFB3 axis plays crucial roles in VSMCs phenotypic switching.
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25
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Lin S, Lin R, Zhang H, Xu Q, He Y. Peripheral vascular remodeling during ischemia. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1078047. [DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1078047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
About 230 million people worldwide suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and the prevalence is increasing year by year. Multiple risk factors, including smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension, can contribute to the development of PAD. PAD is typically characterized by intermittent claudication and resting pain, and there is a risk of severe limb ischemia, leading to major adverse limb events, such as amputation. Currently, a major progress in the research field of the pathogenesis of vascular remodeling, including atherosclerosis and neointima hyperplasia has been made. For example, the molecular mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle phenotype switching have been described. Interestingly, a series of focused studies on fibroblasts of the vessel wall has demonstrated their impact on smooth muscle proliferation and even endothelial function via cell-cell communications. In this review, we aim to focus on the functional changes of peripheral arterial cells and the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of PAD. At the same time, we summarize the progress of the current clinical treatment and potential therapeutic methods for PAD and shine a light on future perspectives.
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26
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Volpini X, Natali L, Brugo MB, de la Cruz-Thea B, Baigorri RE, Cerbán FM, Fozzatti L, Motran CC, Musri MM. Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Promotes Vascular Remodeling and Coexpression of α-Smooth Muscle Actin and Macrophage Markers in Cells of the Aorta. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:2271-2290. [PMID: 36083791 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00318] [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: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an emerging global health problem; however, it remains neglected. Increased aortic stiffness (IAS), a predictor of cardiovascular events, has recently been reported in asymptomatic chronic Chagas patients. After vascular injury, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) can undergo alterations associated with phenotypic switch and transdifferentiation, promoting vascular remodeling and IAS. By studying different mouse aortic segments, we tested the hypothesis that Trypanosoma cruzi infection promotes vascular remodeling. Interestingly, the thoracic aorta was the most affected by the infection. Decreased expression of SMC markers and increased expression of proliferative markers were observed in the arteries of acutely infected mice. In acutely and chronically infected mice, we observed cells coexpressing SMC and macrophage (Mo) markers in the media and adventitia layers of the aorta, indicating that T. cruzi might induce cellular processes associated with SMC transdifferentiation into Mo-like cells or vice versa. In the adventitia, the Mo cell functional polarization was associated with an M2-like CD206+arginase-1+ phenotype despite the T. cruzi presence in the tissue. Only Mo-like cells in inflammatory foci were CD206+iNOS+. In addition to the disorganization of elastic fibers, we found thickening of the aortic layers during the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Our findings indicate that T. cruzi infection induces a vascular remodeling with SMC dedifferentiation and increased cell populations coexpressing α-SMA and Mo markers that could be associated with IAS promotion. These data highlight the importance of studying large vessel homeostasis in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Volpini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Lautaro Natali
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Maria Belén Brugo
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Benjamin de la Cruz-Thea
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina
| | - Ruth Eliana Baigorri
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Fabio Marcelo Cerbán
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Laura Fozzatti
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Claudia Cristina Motran
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CIBICI-CONICET), Haya de la Torre y Medina Allende. Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCQ-UNC). Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, PC X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - Melina Mara Musri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (INIMEC-CONICET-UNC), Friuli 2434. Colinas de Velez Sarfield, Córdoba, PC X5016NST, Argentina.,Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (FCEFyN-UNC). Av. Velez Sarfield 299, Centro, Córdoba, PC X5000JJC, Argentina
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27
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Barnhart MD, Yang Y, Nakagaki-Silva EE, Hammond TH, Pizzinga M, Gooding C, Stott K, Smith CWJ. Phosphorylation of the smooth muscle master splicing regulator RBPMS regulates its splicing activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:11895-11915. [PMID: 36408906 PMCID: PMC9723635 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified RBPMS as a master regulator of alternative splicing in differentiated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). RBPMS is transcriptionally downregulated during SMC dedifferentiation, but we hypothesized that RBPMS protein activity might be acutely downregulated by post-translational modifications. Publicly available phosphoproteomic datasets reveal that Thr113 and Thr118 immediately adjacent to the RRM domain are commonly both phosphorylated. An RBPMS T113/118 phosphomimetic T/E mutant showed decreased splicing regulatory activity both in transfected cells and in a cell-free in vitro assay, while a non-phosphorylatable T/A mutant retained full activity. Loss of splicing activity was associated with a modest reduction in RNA affinity but significantly reduced RNA binding in nuclear extract. A lower degree of oligomerization of the T/E mutant might cause lower avidity of multivalent RNA binding. However, NMR analysis also revealed that the T113/118E peptide acts as an RNA mimic which can loop back and antagonize RNA-binding by the RRM domain. Finally, we identified ERK2 as the most likely kinase responsible for phosphorylation at Thr113 and Thr118. Collectively, our data identify a potential mechanism for rapid modulation of the SMC splicing program in response to external signals during the vascular injury response and atherogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Barnhart
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | | | - Thomas H Hammond
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | | | - Clare Gooding
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Katherine Stott
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
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28
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Wang J, Luo J, Wu X, Li Z. ELK1 suppresses SYTL1 expression by recruiting HDAC2 in bladder cancer progression. Hum Cell 2022; 35:1961-1975. [DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00789-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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29
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Moonen JR, Chappell J, Shi M, Shinohara T, Li D, Mumbach MR, Zhang F, Nair RV, Nasser J, Mai DH, Taylor S, Wang L, Metzger RJ, Chang HY, Engreitz JM, Snyder MP, Rabinovitch M. KLF4 recruits SWI/SNF to increase chromatin accessibility and reprogram the endothelial enhancer landscape under laminar shear stress. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4941. [PMID: 35999210 PMCID: PMC9399231 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32566-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiologic laminar shear stress (LSS) induces an endothelial gene expression profile that is vasculo-protective. In this report, we delineate how LSS mediates changes in the epigenetic landscape to promote this beneficial response. We show that under LSS, KLF4 interacts with the SWI/SNF nucleosome remodeling complex to increase accessibility at enhancer sites that promote the expression of homeostatic endothelial genes. By combining molecular and computational approaches we discover enhancers that loop to promoters of KLF4- and LSS-responsive genes that stabilize endothelial cells and suppress inflammation, such as BMPR2, SMAD5, and DUSP5. By linking enhancers to genes that they regulate under physiologic LSS, our work establishes a foundation for interpreting how non-coding DNA variants in these regions might disrupt protective gene expression to influence vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Renier Moonen
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- BASE Initiative, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - James Chappell
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Minyi Shi
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Tsutomu Shinohara
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- BASE Initiative, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Dan Li
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Maxwell R Mumbach
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ramesh V Nair
- Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Joseph Nasser
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Daniel H Mai
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Shalina Taylor
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Lingli Wang
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- BASE Initiative, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ross J Metzger
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jesse M Engreitz
- BASE Initiative, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Michael P Snyder
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Marlene Rabinovitch
- Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- BASE Initiative, Betty Irene Moore Children's Heart Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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30
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Du M, Espinosa-Diez C, Liu M, Ahmed IA, Mahan S, Wei J, Handen AL, Chan SY, Gomez D. miRNA/mRNA co-profiling identifies the miR-200 family as a central regulator of SMC quiescence. iScience 2022; 25:104169. [PMID: 35465051 PMCID: PMC9018390 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
miRNAs are versatile regulators of smooth muscle cell (SMC) fate and behavior in vascular development and disease. Targeted loss-of-function studies have established the relevance of specific miRNAs in controlling SMC differentiation or mediating phenotypic modulation. Our goal was to characterize SMC miRNAome and its contribution to transcriptome changes during phenotypic modulation. Small RNA sequencing revealed that dedifferentiation led to the differential expression of over 50 miRNAs in cultured SMC. miRNA/mRNA comparison predicted that over a third of SMC transcript expression was regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs. Our screen identified the miR-200 cluster as highly downregulated during dedifferentiation. miR-200 maintains SMC quiescence and represses proliferation, migration, and neointima formation, in part by targeting Quaking, a central SMC phenotypic switching mediator. Our study unraveled the substantial contribution of miRNAs in regulating the SMC transcriptome and identified the miR-200 cluster as a pro-quiescence mechanism and a potential inhibitor of vascular restenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyuan Du
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.,Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Cristina Espinosa-Diez
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Mingjun Liu
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Ibrahim Adeola Ahmed
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Sidney Mahan
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Jianxin Wei
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Adam L Handen
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Stephen Y Chan
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Delphine Gomez
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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31
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Chen J, Rodriguez M, Miao J, Liao J, Jain PP, Zhao M, Zhao T, Babicheva A, Wang Z, Parmisano S, Powers R, Matti M, Paquin C, Soroureddin Z, Shyy JYJ, Thistlethwaite PA, Makino A, Wang J, Yuan JXJ. Mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 is required for pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2022; 322:L737-L760. [PMID: 35318857 PMCID: PMC9076422 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00447.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Concentric pulmonary vascular wall thickening due partially to increased pulmonary artery (PA) smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation contributes to elevating pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). Although pulmonary vasoconstriction may be an early contributor to increasing PVR, the transition of contractile PASMCs to proliferative PASMCs may play an important role in the development and progression of pulmonary vascular remodeling in PH. A rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) is a trigger for PASMC contraction and proliferation. Here, we report that upregulation of Piezo1, a mechanosensitive cation channel, is involved in the contractile-to-proliferative phenotypic transition of PASMCs and potential development of pulmonary vascular remodeling. By comparing freshly isolated PA (contractile PASMCs) and primary cultured PASMCs (from the same rat) in a growth medium (proliferative PASMCs), we found that Piezo1, Notch2/3, and CaSR protein levels were significantly higher in proliferative PASMCs than in contractile PASMCs. Upregulated Piezo1 was associated with an increase in expression of PCNA, a marker for cell proliferation, whereas downregulation (with siRNA) or inhibition (with GsMTx4) of Piezo1 attenuated PASMC proliferation. Furthermore, Piezo1 in the remodeled PA from rats with experimental PH was upregulated compared with PA from control rats. These data indicate that PASMC contractile-to-proliferative phenotypic transition is associated with the transition or adaptation of membrane channels and receptors. Upregulated Piezo1 may play a critical role in PASMC phenotypic transition and PASMC proliferation. Upregulation of Piezo1 in proliferative PASMCs may likely be required to provide sufficient Ca2+ to assure nuclear/cell division and PASMC proliferation, contributing to the development and progression of pulmonary vascular remodeling in PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyuan Chen
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Marisela Rodriguez
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jinrui Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pritesh P Jain
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Manjia Zhao
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Tengteng Zhao
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Aleksandra Babicheva
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Sophia Parmisano
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Ryan Powers
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Moreen Matti
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Cole Paquin
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Zahra Soroureddin
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - John Y-J Shyy
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Patricia A Thistlethwaite
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Ayako Makino
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jian Wang
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jason X-J Yuan
- Section of Physiology, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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32
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Awan S, Lambert M, Imtiaz A, Alpy F, Tomasetto C, Oulad-Abdelghani M, Schaeffer C, Moritz C, Julien-David D, Najib S, Martinez LO, Matz RL, Collet X, Silva-Rojas R, Böhm J, Herz J, Terrand J, Boucher P. Wnt5a Promotes Lysosomal Cholesterol Egress and Protects Against Atherosclerosis. Circ Res 2022; 130:184-199. [PMID: 34886684 PMCID: PMC8776607 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.318881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairment of cellular cholesterol trafficking is at the heart of atherosclerotic lesions formation. This involves egress of cholesterol from the lysosomes and 2 lysosomal proteins, the NPC1 (Niemann-Pick C1) and NPC2 that promotes cholesterol trafficking. However, movement of cholesterol out the lysosome and how disrupted cholesterol trafficking leads to atherosclerosis is unclear. As the Wnt ligand, Wnt5a inhibits the intracellular accumulation of cholesterol in multiple cell types, we tested whether Wnt5a interacts with the lysosomal cholesterol export machinery and studied its role in atherosclerotic lesions formation. METHODS We generated mice deleted for the Wnt5a gene in vascular smooth muscle cells. To establish whether Wnt5a also protects against cholesterol accumulation in human vascular smooth muscle cells, we used a CRISPR/Cas9 guided nuclease approach to generate human vascular smooth muscle cells knockout for Wnt5a. RESULTS We show that Wnt5a is a crucial component of the lysosomal cholesterol export machinery. By increasing lysosomal acid lipase expression, decreasing metabolic signaling by the mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1) kinase, and through binding to NPC1 and NPC2, Wnt5a senses changes in dietary cholesterol supply and promotes lysosomal cholesterol egress to the endoplasmic reticulum. Consequently, loss of Wnt5a decoupled mTORC1 from variations in lysosomal sterol levels, disrupted lysosomal function, decreased cholesterol content in the endoplasmic reticulum, and promoted atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal an unexpected function of the Wnt5a pathway as essential for maintaining cholesterol homeostasis in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Awan
- UMR-S INSERM 1109, University of Strasbourg, 1, place de l’Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Magalie Lambert
- UMR-S INSERM 1109, University of Strasbourg, 1, place de l’Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Ali Imtiaz
- UMR-S INSERM 1109, University of Strasbourg, 1, place de l’Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Fabien Alpy
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), University of Strasbourg, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Catherine Tomasetto
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), University of Strasbourg, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Mustapha Oulad-Abdelghani
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), University of Strasbourg, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Christine Schaeffer
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, University of Strasbourg, 23 Rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg, France
| | - Chloé Moritz
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, University of Strasbourg, 23 Rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg, France
| | - Diane Julien-David
- CNRS, UMR 7178, University of Strasbourg, 23 Rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg, France
| | - Souad Najib
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, I2MC, INSERM, UMR, 1048, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Laurent O. Martinez
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, I2MC, INSERM, UMR, 1048, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Rachel L. Matz
- UMR-S INSERM 1109, University of Strasbourg, 1, place de l’Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Xavier Collet
- Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases, I2MC, INSERM, UMR, 1048, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31432 Toulouse, France
| | - Roberto Silva-Rojas
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), University of Strasbourg, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Johann Böhm
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), University of Strasbourg, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67400 Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Joachim Herz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Jérôme Terrand
- UMR-S INSERM 1109, University of Strasbourg, 1, place de l’Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Boucher
- UMR-S INSERM 1109, University of Strasbourg, 1, place de l’Hôpital, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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33
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Huang Y, Cui L, Yang H, Chen N, Guo H, Gan X, Wang R, Shi W, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Lv P. Lysozyme Improves the Inhibitory Effects of Panax notoginseng Saponins on Phenotype Transformation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Binding to Ginsenoside Re. Front Nutr 2022; 8:795888. [PMID: 35004822 PMCID: PMC8733556 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.795888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been used to treat cardiovascular diseases for hundreds of years in China. Lysozyme can bind to exogenous compounds and promote their activity. Nevertheless, knowledge of whether there is a synergistic role between lysozyme and PNS is far from sufficient. In this study, we show that the mixture of PNS and lysozyme synergistically inhibited platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB)-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) viability, and in the five main components of PNS, GS-Re, but not GS-Rb1, NG-R1, GS-Rg1, or GS-Rd, reduced VSMC viability by combined application with lysozyme. Next, the supramolecular complexes formed by GS-Re and lysozyme were detected by mass spectrometry, and the binding ability increased with the concentration ratio of GS-Re to lysozyme from 4:1 to 12:1. In the supramolecular complexes, the relative contents of α-helix of lysozyme were increased, which was beneficial for stabilizing the structure of lysozyme. The 12:1 mixture of GS-Re and lysozyme (12.8 μmol/L GS-Re+1.067 μmol/L lysozyme) repressed PDGF-BB-induced VSMC viability, proliferation, and migration, which were associated with the upregulated differentiated markers and downregulated dedifferentiated markers. Finally, in CaCl2-induced rodent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models, we found that the 12:1 mixture of GS-Re and lysozyme slowed down AAA progression and reversed phenotype transformation of VSMCs. Thus, Gs-Re combined with a small amount of lysozyme may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for vascular remodeling-associated cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Huang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China.,Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Lijian Cui
- Experiment Center, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hongchao Yang
- Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ning Chen
- Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Huishan Guo
- Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaoruo Gan
- Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Weiye Shi
- College of Food Science and Biology, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yu Wu
- Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,Hebei Food Safety Key Laboratory, Hebei Food Inspection and Research Institute, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Pin Lv
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China.,Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Department of Cell Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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PDE-Mediated Cyclic Nucleotide Compartmentation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: From Basic to a Clinical Perspective. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 9:jcdd9010004. [PMID: 35050214 PMCID: PMC8777754 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are important causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are major components of blood vessels and are involved in physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. In healthy vessels, vascular SMCs contribute to vasotone and regulate blood flow by cyclic nucleotide intracellular pathways. However, vascular SMCs lose their contractile phenotype under pathological conditions and alter contractility or signalling mechanisms, including cyclic nucleotide compartmentation. In the present review, we focus on compartmentalized signaling of cyclic nucleotides in vascular smooth muscle. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms clarifies the most relevant axes for the regulation of vascular tone. Furthermore, this allows the detection of possible changes associated with pathological processes, which may be of help for the discovery of novel drugs.
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35
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Zhang F, Guo X, Xia Y, Mao L. An update on the phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 79:6. [PMID: 34936041 PMCID: PMC11072026 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04079-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are involved in phenotypic switching in atherosclerosis. This switching is characterized by VSMC dedifferentiation, migration, and transdifferentiation into other cell types. VSMC phenotypic transitions have historically been considered bidirectional processes. Cells can adopt a physiological contraction phenotype or an alternative "synthetic" phenotype in response to injury. However, recent studies, including lineage tracing and single-cell sequencing studies, have shown that VSMCs downregulate contraction markers during atherosclerosis while adopting other phenotypes, including macrophage-like, foam cell, mesenchymal stem-like, myofibroblast-like, and osteochondral-like phenotypes. However, the molecular mechanism and processes regulating the switching of VSMCs at the onset of atherosclerosis are still unclear. This systematic review aims to review the critical outstanding challenges and issues that need further investigation and summarize the current knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaoqing Guo
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yuanpeng Xia
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Ling Mao
- Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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36
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Fasolo F, Jin H, Winski G, Chernogubova E, Pauli J, Winter H, Li DY, Glukha N, Bauer S, Metschl S, Wu Z, Koschinsky ML, Reilly M, Pelisek J, Kempf W, Eckstein HH, Soehnlein O, Matic L, Hedin U, Bäcklund A, Bergmark C, Paloschi V, Maegdefessel L. Long Noncoding RNA MIAT Controls Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesion Formation and Plaque Destabilization. Circulation 2021; 144:1567-1583. [PMID: 34647815 PMCID: PMC8570347 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.120.052023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of biological processes involved in vascular tissue homeostasis and disease development. The present study assessed the functional contribution of the lncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) to atherosclerosis and carotid artery disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Fasolo
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Hong Jin
- Department of Medicine (H.J., G.W., E.C., A.B.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (H.J., L. Matic, U.H., C.B., L. Maegdefessel), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Greg Winski
- Department of Medicine (H.J., G.W., E.C., A.B.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ekaterina Chernogubova
- Department of Medicine (H.J., G.W., E.C., A.B.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessica Pauli
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Hanna Winter
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Daniel Y Li
- Department of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (D.Y.L., M.R.)
| | - Nadiya Glukha
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Sabine Bauer
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Susanne Metschl
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Zhiyuan Wu
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | | | - Muredach Reilly
- Department of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY (D.Y.L., M.R.)
| | - Jaroslav Pelisek
- Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland (J. Pelisek)
| | - Wolfgang Kempf
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Hans-Henning Eckstein
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Oliver Soehnlein
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Westphalian Wilhelms University, Munster, Germany (O.S.).,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (O.S.).,Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany (O.S.)
| | - Ljubica Matic
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (H.J., L. Matic, U.H., C.B., L. Maegdefessel), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulf Hedin
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (H.J., L. Matic, U.H., C.B., L. Maegdefessel), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandra Bäcklund
- Department of Medicine (H.J., G.W., E.C., A.B.), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claes Bergmark
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (H.J., L. Matic, U.H., C.B., L. Maegdefessel), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Valentina Paloschi
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel)
| | - Lars Maegdefessel
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany; partner site Munich Heart Alliance (F.F., J. Pauli, H.W., F.F., N.G., S.B., S.M., Z.W., W.K., H.-H.E., V.P., L. Maegdefessel).,Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (H.J., L. Matic, U.H., C.B., L. Maegdefessel), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Jeong K, Murphy JM, Kim JH, Campbell PM, Park H, Rodriguez Y, Choi C, Kim JS, Park S, Kim HJ, Scammell JG, Weber DS, Honkanen RE, Schlaepfer DD, Ahn EYE, Lim STS. FAK Activation Promotes SMC Dedifferentiation via Increased DNA Methylation in Contractile Genes. Circ Res 2021; 129:e215-e233. [PMID: 34702049 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.319066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rationale: Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit remarkable plasticity and can undergo dedifferentiation upon pathological stimuli associated with disease and interventions. Objective: Although epigenetic changes are critical in SMC phenotype switching, a fundamental regulator that governs the epigenetic machineries regulating the fate of SMC phenotype has not been elucidated. Methods and Results: Using SMCs, mouse models, and human atherosclerosis specimens, we found that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation elicits SMC dedifferentiation by stabilizing DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A). FAK in SMCs is activated in the cytoplasm upon serum stimulation in vitro or vessel injury and active FAK prevents DNMT3A from nuclear FAK-mediated degradation. However, pharmacological or genetic FAK catalytic inhibition forced FAK nuclear localization, which reduced DNMT3A protein via enhanced ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Reduced DNMT3A protein led to DNA hypomethylation in contractile gene promoters, which increased SMC contractile protein expression. RNA sequencing identified SMC contractile genes as a foremost upregulated group by FAK inhibition from injured femoral artery samples compared to vehicle group. DNMT3A knockdown in injured arteries reduced DNA methylation and enhanced contractile gene expression supports the notion that nuclear FAK-mediated DNMT3A degradation via E3 ligase TRAF6 drives differentiation of SMCs. Furthermore, we observed that SMCs of human atherosclerotic lesions exhibited decreased nuclear FAK, which was associated with increased DNMT3A levels and decreased contractile gene expression. Conclusions: This study reveals that nuclear FAK induced by FAK catalytic inhibition specifically suppresses DNMT3A expression in injured vessels resulting in maintaining SMC differentiation by promoting the contractile gene expression. Thus, FAK inhibitors may provide a new treatment option to block SMC phenotypic switching during vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyuho Jeong
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | - James M Murphy
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | - Jung-Hyun Kim
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | | | - Hyeonsoo Park
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
| | - Yelitza Rodriguez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | - Chungsik Choi
- Physiology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | - Jun-Sub Kim
- Biotechnology, Korea National University of Transportation, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
| | - Sangwon Park
- Pharmacology, Gyeongsang National University, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF
| | - Hyun Joon Kim
- Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences, Gyeongsang National University
| | - Jonathan G Scammell
- Comparative Medicine, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | - David S Weber
- Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | - Richard E Honkanen
- Biochemistry and Molecualr Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
| | - David D Schlaepfer
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center, UNITED STATES
| | | | - Ssang-Taek Steve Lim
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, UNITED STATES
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38
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Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype Switching in Arteriogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910585. [PMID: 34638923 PMCID: PMC8508942 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Arteriogenesis is one of the primary physiological means by which the circulatory collateral system restores blood flow after significant arterial occlusion in peripheral arterial disease patients. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in collateral arteries and respond to altered blood flow and inflammatory conditions after an arterial occlusion by switching their phenotype between quiescent contractile and proliferative synthetic states. Maintaining the contractile state of VSMC is required for collateral vascular function to regulate blood vessel tone and blood flow during arteriogenesis, whereas synthetic SMCs are crucial in the growth and remodeling of the collateral media layer to establish more stable conduit arteries. Timely VSMC phenotype switching requires a set of coordinated actions of molecular and cellular mediators to result in an expansive remodeling of collaterals that restores the blood flow effectively into downstream ischemic tissues. This review overviews the role of VSMC phenotypic switching in the physiological arteriogenesis process and how the VSMC phenotype is affected by the primary triggers of arteriogenesis such as blood flow hemodynamic forces and inflammation. Better understanding the role of VSMC phenotype switching during arteriogenesis can identify novel therapeutic strategies to enhance revascularization in peripheral arterial disease.
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Grootaert MOJ, Bennett MR. Vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis: time for a re-assessment. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 117:2326-2339. [PMID: 33576407 PMCID: PMC8479803 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are key participants in both early and late-stage atherosclerosis. VSMCs invade the early atherosclerotic lesion from the media, expanding lesions, but also forming a protective fibrous cap rich in extracellular matrix to cover the 'necrotic' core. Hence, VSMCs have been viewed as plaque-stabilizing, and decreased VSMC plaque content-often measured by expression of contractile markers-associated with increased plaque vulnerability. However, the emergence of lineage-tracing and transcriptomic studies has demonstrated that VSMCs comprise a much larger proportion of atherosclerotic plaques than originally thought, demonstrate multiple different phenotypes in vivo, and have roles that might be detrimental. VSMCs down-regulate contractile markers during atherosclerosis whilst adopting alternative phenotypes, including macrophage-like, foam cell-like, osteochondrogenic-like, myofibroblast-like, and mesenchymal stem cell-like. VSMC phenotypic switching can be studied in tissue culture, but also now in the media, fibrous cap and deep-core region, and markedly affects plaque formation and markers of stability. In this review, we describe the different VSMC plaque phenotypes and their presumed cellular and paracrine functions, the regulatory mechanisms that control VSMC plasticity, and their impact on atherogenesis and plaque stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy O J Grootaert
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, ACCI, Addenbrookes Hospital, CB2 0QQ Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin R Bennett
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 110, ACCI, Addenbrookes Hospital, CB2 0QQ Cambridge, UK
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40
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Wang L, Ahn YJ, Asmis R. Inhibition of myeloid HDAC2 upregulates glutaredoxin 1 expression, improves protein thiol redox state and protects against high-calorie diet-induced monocyte dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 2021; 328:23-32. [PMID: 34077868 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The thiol transferase glutaredoxin 1 controls redox signaling and cellular functions by regulating the S-glutathionylation status of critical protein thiols. Here we tested the hypothesis that by derepressing the expression of glutaredoxin 1, inhibition of histone deacetylase 2 prevents nutrient stress-induced protein S-glutathionylation and monocyte dysfunction and protects against atherosclerosis. METHODS Using both a pharmacological inhibitor and shRNA-mediated knockdown of histone deacetylase 2, we determine the role of this deacetylase on glutaredoxin 1 expression and nutrient stress-induced inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 activity and monocyte and macrophage dysfunction. To assess whether histone deacetylase 2 inhibition in myeloid cells protects against atherosclerosis, we fed eight-week-old female and male HDAC2-/-MyeloidLDLR-/- mice and age and sex-matched LysMcretg/wtLDLR-/- control mice a high-calorie diet for 12 weeks and assessed monocyte function and atherosclerotic lesion size. RESULTS Myeloid histone deacetylase 2 deficiency in high-calorie diet-fed LDLR-/- mice reduced atherosclerosis in males by 39% without affecting plasma lipid and lipoprotein profiles or blood glucose levels but had no effect on atherogenesis in female mice. Macrophage content in plaques of male mice was reduced by 31%. Histone deacetylase 2-deficient blood monocytes from male mice showed increased acetylation on histone 3, and increased Grx1 expression, and was associated with increased MKP-1 activity and reduced recruitment of monocyte-derived macrophages, whereas in females, myeloid HDAC2 deficiency had no effect on Grx1 expression, did not prevent nutrient stress-induced loss of MKP-1 activity in monocytes and was not atheroprotective. CONCLUSIONS Specific histone deacetylase 2 inhibitors may represent a potential novel therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, but any benefits may be sexually dimorphic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luxi Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Yong Joo Ahn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Reto Asmis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA.
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41
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Espinosa-Diez C, Mandi V, Du M, Liu M, Gomez D. Smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis: clones but not carbon copies. JVS Vasc Sci 2021; 2:136-148. [PMID: 34617064 PMCID: PMC8489213 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvssci.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Our knowledge of the contribution of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to atherosclerosis has greatly advanced in the previous decade with the development of techniques allowing for the unambiguous identification and phenotypic characterization of SMC populations within the diseased vascular wall. By performing fate mapping or single-cell transcriptomics studies, or a combination of both, the field has made key observations: SMCs populate atherosclerotic lesions by the selective expansion and investment of a limited number of medial SMCs, which undergo profound and diverse modifications of their original phenotype and function. Thus, if SMCs residing within atherosclerotic lesions and contributing to the disease are clones, they are not carbon copies and can play atheroprotective or atheropromoting roles, depending on the nature of their phenotypic transitions. Tremendous progress has been made in identifying the transcriptional mechanisms biasing SMC fate. In the present review, we have summarized the recent advances in characterizing SMC investment and phenotypic diversity and the molecular mechanisms controlling SMC fate in atherosclerotic lesions. We have also discussed some of the remaining questions associated with these breakthrough observations. These questions include the underlying mechanisms regulating the phenomenon of SMC oligoclonal expansion; whether single-cell transcriptomics is reliable and sufficient to ascertain SMC functions and contributions during atherosclerosis development and progression; and how SMC clonality and phenotypic plasticity affects translational research and the therapeutic approaches developed to prevent atherosclerosis complications. Finally, we have discussed the complementary approaches the field should lean toward by combining single-cell phenotypic categorization and functional studies to understand further the complex SMC behavior and contribution in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Espinosa-Diez
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Varun Mandi
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Mingyuan Du
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa,Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mingjun Liu
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa,Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa
| | - Delphine Gomez
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa,Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa,Correspondence: Delphine Gomez, PhD, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Biomedical Science Tower, Rm 1723, Pittsburgh, PA 15261
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Khan A, Paneni F, Jandeleit-Dahm K. Cell-specific epigenetic changes in atherosclerosis. Clin Sci (Lond) 2021; 135:1165-1187. [PMID: 33988232 PMCID: PMC8314213 DOI: 10.1042/cs20201066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a disease of large and medium arteries that can lead to life-threatening cerebrovascular and cardiovascular consequences such as heart failure and stroke and is a major contributor to cardiovascular-related mortality worldwide. Atherosclerosis development is a complex process that involves specific structural, functional and transcriptional changes in different vascular cell populations at different stages of the disease. The application of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis has discovered not only disease-related cell-specific transcriptomic profiles but also novel subpopulations of cells once thought as homogenous cell populations. Vascular cells undergo specific transcriptional changes during the entire course of the disease. Epigenetics is the instruction-set-architecture in living cells that defines and maintains the cellular identity by regulating the cellular transcriptome. Although different cells contain the same genetic material, they have different epigenomic signatures. The epigenome is plastic, dynamic and highly responsive to environmental stimuli. Modifications to the epigenome are driven by an array of epigenetic enzymes generally referred to as writers, erasers and readers that define cellular fate and destiny. The reversibility of these modifications raises hope for finding novel therapeutic targets for modifiable pathological conditions including atherosclerosis where the involvement of epigenetics is increasingly appreciated. This article provides a critical review of the up-to-date research in the field of epigenetics mainly focusing on in vivo settings in the context of the cellular role of individual vascular cell types in the development of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Waheed Khan
- Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Francesco Paneni
- Cardiovascular Epigenetics and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karin A.M. Jandeleit-Dahm
- Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- German Diabetes Centre, Leibniz Centre for Diabetes Research at the Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
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Chen Y, Zhao X, Wu H. Transcriptional Programming in Arteriosclerotic Disease: A Multifaceted Function of the Runx2 (Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2). Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2021; 41:20-34. [PMID: 33115268 PMCID: PMC7770073 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.120.313791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite successful therapeutic strategies in the prevention and treatment of arteriosclerosis, the cardiovascular complications remain a major clinical and societal issue worldwide. Increased vascular calcification promotes arterial stiffness and accelerates cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Upregulation of the Runx2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2), an essential osteogenic transcription factor for bone formation, in the cardiovascular system has emerged as an important regulator for adverse cellular events that drive cardiovascular pathology. This review discusses the regulatory mechanisms that are critical for Runx2 expression and function and highlights the dynamic and complex cross talks of a wide variety of posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, and O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification, in regulating Runx2 stability, cellular localization, and osteogenic transcriptional activity. How the activation of an array of signaling cascades by circulating and local microenvironmental factors upregulates Runx2 in vascular cells and promotes Runx2-mediated osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells and expression of inflammatory cytokines that accelerate macrophage infiltration and vascular osteoclast formation is summarized. Furthermore, the increasing appreciation of a new role of Runx2 upregulation in promoting vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch, and Runx2 modulated by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification and Runx2-dependent repression of smooth muscle cell-specific gene expression are discussed. Further exploring the regulation of this key osteogenic transcription factor and its new perspectives in the vasculature will provide novel insights into the transcriptional regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switch, reprograming, and vascular inflammation that promote the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yabing Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Research Department, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Xinyang Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Integrative Biomedical & Diagnostic Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University School of Dentistry, Portland, Oregon 97239
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Lu S, Jolly AJ, Strand KA, Dubner AM, Mutryn MF, Moulton KS, Nemenoff RA, Majesky MW, Weiser-Evans MC. Smooth muscle-derived progenitor cell myofibroblast differentiation through KLF4 downregulation promotes arterial remodeling and fibrosis. JCI Insight 2020; 5:139445. [PMID: 33119549 PMCID: PMC7714399 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.139445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Resident vascular adventitial SCA1+ progenitor (AdvSca1) cells are essential in vascular development and injury. However, the heterogeneity of AdvSca1 cells presents a unique challenge in understanding signaling pathways orchestrating their behavior in homeostasis and injury responses. Using smooth muscle cell (SMC) lineage-tracing models, we identified a subpopulation of AdvSca1 cells (AdvSca1-SM) originating from mature SMCs that undergo reprogramming in situ and exhibit a multipotent phenotype. Here we employed lineage tracing and RNA-sequencing to define the signaling pathways regulating SMC-to-AdvSca1-SM cell reprogramming and AdvSca1-SM progenitor cell phenotype. Unbiased hierarchical clustering revealed that genes related to hedgehog/WNT/beta-catenin signaling were significantly enriched in AdvSca1-SM cells, emphasizing the importance of this signaling axis in the reprogramming event. Leveraging AdvSca1-SM–specific expression of GLI-Kruppel family member GLI1 (Gli1), we generated Gli1-CreERT2-ROSA26-YFP reporter mice to selectively track AdvSca1-SM cells. We demonstrated that physiologically relevant vascular injury or AdvSca1-SM cell–specific Kruppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) depletion facilitated the proliferation and differentiation of AdvSca1-SM cells to a profibrotic myofibroblast phenotype rather than macrophages. Surprisingly, AdvSca1-SM cells selectively contributed to adventitial remodeling and fibrosis but little to neointima formation. Together, these findings strongly support therapeutics aimed at preserving the AdvSca1-SM cell phenotype as a viable antifibrotic approach. Smooth muscle cell–derived resident vascular adventitial progenitor cells adopt a myofibroblast phenotype in response to vascular injury and play a dominant role in vascular fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sizhao Lu
- Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Austin J Jolly
- Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Keith A Strand
- Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Allison M Dubner
- Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Marie F Mutryn
- Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and
| | | | - Raphael A Nemenoff
- Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and.,Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Mark W Majesky
- Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Pediatrics and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Mary Cm Weiser-Evans
- Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, and.,Consortium for Fibrosis Research and Translation, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Cardio Vascular Pulmonary Research Lab, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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MiR-126-5p promotes contractile switching of aortic smooth muscle cells by targeting VEPH1 and alleviates Ang II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm in mice. J Transl Med 2020; 100:1564-1574. [PMID: 32612287 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-0454-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potential lethal disease that is defined by an irreversible dilatation (>50%) of the aorta. During AAA expansion, the aortic wall is often remodeled, which is featured by extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration, medial and adventitial inflammation, depletion and phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Recent studies have suggested microRNAs as vital regulators for vascular SMC function. Our earlier work demonstrated an anti-AAA role of miR-126-5p in ApoE-/- mice infused with angiotensin (Ang) II. The present study aimed to further elucidate its role in AAA pathogenesis with a focus on aortic SMC phenotypic switching. Ventricular zone expressed PH domain containing 1 (VEPH1) was identified as a novel negative regulator for vascular SMC differentiation by our group, and its expression was negatively correlated to miR-126-5p in mouse abdominal aortas based on the present microarray data. In vivo, in addition attenuating Ang II infusion-induced aortic dilation and elastin degradation, miR-126-5p agomirs also significantly reduced the expression of VEPH1. In vitro, to induce synthetic transition of human aortic smooth muscle cells (hAoSMCs), cells were stimulated with 1 μM Ang II for 24 h. Ectopic overexpression of miR-126-5p restored the differentiation of hAoSMCs-the expression of contractile/differentiated SMC markers, MYH11, and α-SMA, increased, whilst that of synthetic/dedifferentiated SMC markers, PCNA and Vimentin, decreased. Both mus and homo VEPH1 genes were validated as direct targets for miR-126-5p. VEPH1 re-expression impaired miR-126-5p-induced differentiation of hAoSMCs. In addition, Ang II-induced upregulation in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP2, two key proteases responsible for ECM degradation, in mouse aortas and hAoSMCs was reduced by miR-126-5p overexpression as well. Collectively, these results reveal an important, but previously unexplored, role of miR-126-5p in inhibiting AAA development-associated aortic SMC dedifferentiation.
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Yang C, Xiao X, Huang L, Zhou F, Chen LH, Zhao YY, Qu SL, Zhang C. Role of Kruppel-like factor 4 in atherosclerosis. Clin Chim Acta 2020; 512:135-141. [PMID: 33181148 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is one of the chronic progressive diseases, which is caused by vascular injury and promoted by the interaction of various inflammatory factors and inflammatory cells. In recent years, kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a significant transcription factor that participated in cell growth, differentiation and proliferation, has been proved to cause substantial impacts on regulating cardiovascular disease. This paper will give a comprehensive summary to highlight KLF4 as a crucial regulator of foam cell formation, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) phenotypic transformation, macrophage polarization, endothelial cells inflammation, lymphocyte differentiation and cell proliferation in the process of atherosclerosis. Recent studies show that KLF4 may be an important "molecular switch" in the process of improving vascular injury and inflammation under harmful stimulation, suggesting that KLF4 is a latent disease biomarker for the therapeutic target of atherosclerosis and vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Yang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Xiao
- Research Lab for Clinical & Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Huang
- Research Lab for Clinical & Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Zhou
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin-Hui Chen
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Yan Zhao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shun-Lin Qu
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, People's Republic of China.
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Luo Y, Huang C. CircSFMBT2 facilitates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by targeting miR-331-3p/HDAC5. Life Sci 2020; 264:118691. [PMID: 33166591 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the functional role of circSFMBT2 in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration and the underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS The circSFMBT2 levels in neointimal tissue and platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-treated VSMCs were detected by qRT-PCR. The role of circSFMBT2 in VSMC proliferation, migration and cell cycle distribution was assessed by MTT assay, transwell assay, wound healing assay and flow cytometry. The protein expression of contractile markers was evaluated by western blot. In vitro luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay, ChIP and coimmunoprecipitation (CoIP) were performed to explore the effects of circSFMBT2 on the downstream signaling pathway. RESULTS We found that circSFMBT2 was markedly increased in neointimal tissue relative to normal tissue and PDGF-BB-treated VSMCs relative to control VSMCs. The knockdown of circSFMBT2 by siRNA significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. Interestingly, circSFMBT2 knockdown enhanced the expression of contractile marker proteins including SM22α, SM myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) and calponin. Further data demonstrated that circSFMBT2 interacted with miR-331-3p as a competing endogenous RNA and up-regulated the expression of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5), thereby regulating the level of angiogenic factor with G patch and FHA domains (Aggf1). CONCLUSION These results revealed that circSFMBT2 plays a vital role in VSMC proliferation and migration through the miR-331/HDAC5/Aggf1 axis, and suggest a novel target for treating proliferative vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yishu Luo
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Huang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, People's Republic of China; Department of Vascular Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, People's Republic of China.
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Michel JB. Phylogenic Determinants of Cardiovascular Frailty, Focus on Hemodynamics and Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells. Physiol Rev 2020; 100:1779-1837. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00022.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of the circulatory system from invertebrates to mammals has involved the passage from an open system to a closed in-parallel system via a closed in-series system, accompanying the increasing complexity and efficiency of life’s biological functions. The archaic heart enables pulsatile motion waves of hemolymph in invertebrates, and the in-series circulation in fish occurs with only an endothelium, whereas mural smooth muscle cells appear later. The present review focuses on evolution of the circulatory system. In particular, we address how and why this evolution took place from a closed, flowing, longitudinal conductance at low pressure to a flowing, highly pressurized and bifurcating arterial compartment. However, although arterial pressure was the latest acquired hemodynamic variable, the general teleonomy of the evolution of species is the differentiation of individual organ function, supported by specific fueling allowing and favoring partial metabolic autonomy. This was achieved via the establishment of an active contractile tone in resistance arteries, which permitted the regulation of blood supply to specific organ activities via its localized function-dependent inhibition (active vasodilation). The global resistance to viscous blood flow is the peripheral increase in frictional forces caused by the tonic change in arterial and arteriolar radius, which backscatter as systemic arterial blood pressure. Consequently, the arterial pressure gradient from circulating blood to the adventitial interstitium generates the unidirectional outward radial advective conductance of plasma solutes across the wall of conductance arteries. This hemodynamic evolution was accompanied by important changes in arterial wall structure, supported by smooth muscle cell functional plasticity, including contractility, matrix synthesis and proliferation, endocytosis and phagocytosis, etc. These adaptive phenotypic shifts are due to epigenetic regulation, mainly related to mechanotransduction. These paradigms actively participate in cardio-arterial pathologies such as atheroma, valve disease, heart failure, aneurysms, hypertension, and physiological aging.
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Abstract
Of the 21 members of the connexin family, 4 (Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45) are expressed in the endothelium and/or smooth muscle of intact blood vessels to a variable and dynamically regulated degree. Full-length connexins oligomerize and form channel structures connecting the cytosol of adjacent cells (gap junctions) or the cytosol with the extracellular space (hemichannels). The different connexins vary mainly with regard to length and sequence of their cytosolic COOH-terminal tails. These COOH-terminal parts, which in the case of Cx43 are also translated as independent short isoforms, are involved in various cellular signaling cascades and regulate cell functions. This review focuses on channel-dependent and -independent effects of connexins in vascular cells. Channels play an essential role in coordinating and synchronizing endothelial and smooth muscle activity and in their interplay, in the control of vasomotor actions of blood vessels including endothelial cell reactivity to agonist stimulation, nitric oxide-dependent dilation, and endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor-type responses. Further channel-dependent and -independent roles of connexins in blood vessel function range from basic processes of vascular remodeling and angiogenesis to vascular permeability and interactions with leukocytes with the vessel wall. Together, these connexin functions constitute an often underestimated basis for the enormous plasticity of vascular morphology and function enabling the required dynamic adaptation of the vascular system to varying tissue demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Pohl
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Biomedical Centre, Cardiovascular Physiology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany; and Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
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50
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Corliss BA, Ray HC, Doty RW, Mathews C, Sheybani N, Fitzgerald K, Prince R, Kelly-Goss MR, Murfee WL, Chappell J, Owens GK, Yates PA, Peirce SM. Pericyte Bridges in Homeostasis and Hyperglycemia. Diabetes 2020; 69:1503-1517. [PMID: 32321760 PMCID: PMC7306121 DOI: 10.2337/db19-0471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy is a potentially blinding eye disease that threatens the vision of one-ninth of patients with diabetes. Progression of the disease has long been attributed to an initial dropout of pericytes that enwrap the retinal microvasculature. Revealed through retinal vascular digests, a subsequent increase in basement membrane bridges was also observed. Using cell-specific markers, we demonstrate that pericytes rather than endothelial cells colocalize with these bridges. We show that the density of bridges transiently increases with elevation of Ang-2, PDGF-BB, and blood glucose; is rapidly reversed on a timescale of days; and is often associated with a pericyte cell body located off vessel. Cell-specific knockout of KLF4 in pericytes fully replicates this phenotype. In vivo imaging of limbal vessels demonstrates pericyte migration off vessel, with rapid pericyte filopodial-like process formation between adjacent vessels. Accounting for off-vessel and on-vessel pericytes, we observed no pericyte loss relative to nondiabetic control retina. These findings reveal the possibility that pericyte perturbations in location and process formation may play a role in the development of pathological vascular remodeling in diabetic retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A Corliss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - H Clifton Ray
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Richard W Doty
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Corbin Mathews
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Natasha Sheybani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Kathleen Fitzgerald
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Remi Prince
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Molly R Kelly-Goss
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Walter L Murfee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - John Chappell
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
| | - Gary K Owens
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Paul A Yates
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Department of Ophthalmometry, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Shayn M Peirce
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Department of Ophthalmometry, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
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