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Wong D, Martinez J, Quijada P. Exploring the Function of Epicardial Cells Beyond the Surface. Circ Res 2024; 135:353-371. [PMID: 38963865 PMCID: PMC11225799 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.321567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The epicardium, previously viewed as a passive outer layer around the heart, is now recognized as an essential component in development, regeneration, and repair. In this review, we explore the cellular and molecular makeup of the epicardium, highlighting its roles in heart regeneration and repair in zebrafish and salamanders, as well as its activation in young and adult postnatal mammals. We also examine the latest technologies used to study the function of epicardial cells for therapeutic interventions. Analysis of highly regenerative animal models shows that the epicardium is essential in regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation, transient fibrosis, and neovascularization. However, despite the epicardium's unique cellular programs to resolve cardiac damage, it remains unclear how to replicate these processes in nonregenerative mammalian organisms. During myocardial infarction, epicardial cells secrete signaling factors that modulate fibrotic, vascular, and inflammatory remodeling, which differentially enhance or inhibit cardiac repair. Recent transcriptomic studies have validated the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of the epicardium across various species and developmental stages, shedding further light on its function under pathological conditions. These studies have also provided insights into the function of regulatory epicardial-derived signaling molecules in various diseases, which could lead to new therapies and advances in reparative cardiovascular medicine. Moreover, insights gained from investigating epicardial cell function have initiated the development of novel techniques, including using human pluripotent stem cells and cardiac organoids to model reparative processes within the cardiovascular system. This growing understanding of epicardial function holds the potential for developing innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at addressing developmental heart disorders, enhancing regenerative therapies, and mitigating cardiovascular disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wong
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90029
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90029
| | - Julie Martinez
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90029
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90029
| | - Pearl Quijada
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90029
- Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90029
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90029
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2
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Rui Y, Zhou J, Zhen X, Zhang J, Liu S, Gao Y. TBX5 genetic variants and SCD-CAD susceptibility: insights from Chinese Han cohorts. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17139. [PMID: 38525280 PMCID: PMC10959103 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17139] [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: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The prevention and prediction of sudden cardiac death (SCD) present persistent challenges, prompting exploration into common genetic variations for potential insights. T-box 5 (TBX5), a critical cardiac transcription factor, plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular development and function. This study systematically examined variants within the 500-bp region downstream of the TBX5 gene, focusing on their potential impact on susceptibility to SCD associated with coronary artery disease (SCD-CAD) in four different Chinese Han populations. Methods In a comprehensive case-control analysis, we explored the association between rs11278315 and SCD-CAD susceptibility using a cohort of 553 controls and 201 SCD-CAD cases. Dual luciferase reporter assays and genotype-phenotype correlation studies using human cardiac tissue samples as well as integrated in silicon analysis were applied to explore the underlining mechanism. Result Binary logistic regression results underscored a significantly reduced risk of SCD-CAD in individuals harboring the deletion allele (odds ratio = 0.70, 95% CI [0.55-0.88], p = 0.0019). Consistent with the lower transcriptional activity of the deletion allele observed in dual luciferase reporter assays, genotype-phenotype correlation studies on human cardiac tissue samples affirmed lower expression levels associated with the deletion allele at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, our investigation revealed intriguing insights into the role of rs11278315 in TBX5 alternative splicing, which may contribute to alterations in its ultimate functional effects, as suggested by sQTL analysis. Gene ontology analysis and functional annotation further underscored the potential involvement of TBX5 in alternative splicing and cardiac-related transcriptional regulation. Conclusions In summary, our current dataset points to a plausible correlation between rs11278315 and susceptibility to SCD-CAD, emphasizing the potential of rs11278315 as a genetic risk marker for aiding in molecular diagnosis and risk stratification of SCD-CAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Rui
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ju Zhou
- Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of Justice, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiquan Liu
- Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China
| | - Yuzhen Gao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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3
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Guadix JA, Ruiz-Villalba A, Pérez-Pomares JM. Congenital Coronary Blood Vessel Anomalies: Animal Models and the Integration of Developmental Mechanisms. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1441:817-831. [PMID: 38884751 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-44087-8_49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Coronary blood vessels are in charge of sustaining cardiac homeostasis. It is thus logical that coronary congenital anomalies (CCA) directly or indirectly associate with multiple cardiac conditions, including sudden death. The coronary vascular system is a sophisticated, highly patterned anatomical entity, and therefore a wide range of congenital malformations of the coronary vasculature have been described. Despite the clinical interest of CCA, very few attempts have been made to relate specific embryonic developmental mechanisms to the congenital anomalies of these blood vessels. This is so because developmental data on the morphogenesis of the coronary vascular system derive from complex studies carried out in animals (mostly transgenic mice), and are not often accessible to the clinician, who, in turn, possesses essential information on the significance of CCA. During the last decade, advances in our understanding of normal embryonic development of coronary blood vessels have provided insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying coronary arteries anomalies. These findings are the base for our attempt to offer plausible embryological explanations to a variety of CCA as based on the analysis of multiple animal models for the study of cardiac embryogenesis, and present them in an organized manner, offering to the reader developmental mechanistic explanations for the pathogenesis of these anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Guadix
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Málaga (IBIMA)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
| | - Adrián Ruiz-Villalba
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Málaga (IBIMA)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
| | - José M Pérez-Pomares
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Málaga (IBIMA)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain.
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4
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Carmona R, López-Sánchez C, Garcia-Martinez V, Garcia-López V, Muñoz-Chápuli R, Lozano-Velasco E, Franco D. Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Governing Embryonic Epicardium Formation. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:440. [PMID: 37998498 PMCID: PMC10672416 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10110440] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryonic epicardium originates from the proepicardium, an extracardiac primordium constituted by a cluster of mesothelial cells. In early embryos, the embryonic epicardium is characterized by a squamous cell epithelium resting on the myocardium surface. Subsequently, it invades the subepicardial space and thereafter the embryonic myocardium by means of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Within the myocardium, epicardial-derived cells present multilineage potential, later differentiating into smooth muscle cells and contributing both to coronary vasculature and cardiac fibroblasts in the mature heart. Over the last decades, we have progressively increased our understanding of those cellular and molecular mechanisms driving proepicardial/embryonic epicardium formation. This study provides a state-of-the-art review of the transcriptional and emerging post-transcriptional mechanisms involved in the formation and differentiation of the embryonic epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Carmona
- Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Carmen López-Sánchez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
| | - Virginio Garcia-Martinez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
| | - Virginio Garcia-López
- Department of Medical and Surgical Therapeutics, Pharmacology Area, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain;
| | - Ramón Muñoz-Chápuli
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Estefanía Lozano-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
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5
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Jiang H, Bai L, Song S, Yin Q, Shi A, Zhou B, Lian H, Chen H, Xu CR, Wang Y, Nie Y, Hu S. EZH2 controls epicardial cell migration during heart development. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201765. [PMID: 37037595 PMCID: PMC10087097 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is an important transcriptional regulator in development that catalyzes H3K27me3. The role of EZH2 in epicardial development is still unknown. In this study, we show that EZH2 is expressed in epicardial cells during both human and mouse heart development. Ezh2 epicardial deletion resulted in impaired epicardial cell migration, myocardial hypoplasia, and defective coronary plexus development, leading to embryonic lethality. By using RNA sequencing, we identified that EZH2 controls the transcription of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) in epicardial cells during heart development. Loss-of-function studies revealed that EZH2 promotes epicardial cell migration by suppressing TIMP3 expression. We also found that epicardial Ezh2 deficiency-induced TIMP3 up-regulation leads to extracellular matrix reconstruction in the embryonic myocardium by mass spectrometry. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that EZH2 is required for epicardial cell migration because it blocks Timp3 transcription, which is vital for heart development. Our study provides new insight into the function of EZH2 in cell migration and epicardial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haobin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lina Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qianqian Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Anteng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Houzao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng-Ran Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchun Wang
- Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Fuwai Central-China Hospital, Central-China Branch of National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shengshou Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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6
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Wiesinger A, Boink GJJ, Christoffels VM, Devalla HD. Retinoic acid signaling in heart development: Application in the differentiation of cardiovascular lineages from human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2589-2606. [PMID: 34653403 PMCID: PMC8581056 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) signaling plays an important role during heart development in establishing anteroposterior polarity, formation of inflow and outflow tract progenitors, and growth of the ventricular compact wall. RA is also utilized as a key ingredient in protocols designed for generating cardiac cell types from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). This review discusses the role of RA in cardiogenesis, currently available protocols that employ RA for differentiation of various cardiovascular lineages, and plausible transcriptional mechanisms underlying this fate specification. These insights will inform further development of desired cardiac cell types from human PSCs and their application in preclinical and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Wiesinger
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard J J Boink
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vincent M Christoffels
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Harsha D Devalla
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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7
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Tan JJ, Guyette JP, Miki K, Xiao L, Kaur G, Wu T, Zhu L, Hansen KJ, Ling KH, Milan DJ, Ott HC. Human iPS-derived pre-epicardial cells direct cardiomyocyte aggregation expansion and organization in vitro. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4997. [PMID: 34404774 PMCID: PMC8370973 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24921-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epicardial formation is necessary for normal myocardial morphogenesis. Here, we show that differentiating hiPSC-derived lateral plate mesoderm with BMP4, RA and VEGF (BVR) can generate a premature form of epicardial cells (termed pre-epicardial cells, PECs) expressing WT1, TBX18, SEMA3D, and SCX within 7 days. BVR stimulation after Wnt inhibition of LPM demonstrates co-differentiation and spatial organization of PECs and cardiomyocytes (CMs) in a single 2D culture. Co-culture consolidates CMs into dense aggregates, which then form a connected beating syncytium with enhanced contractility and calcium handling; while PECs become more mature with significant upregulation of UPK1B, ITGA4, and ALDH1A2 expressions. Our study also demonstrates that PECs secrete IGF2 and stimulate CM proliferation in co-culture. Three-dimensional PEC-CM spheroid co-cultures form outer smooth muscle cell layers on cardiac micro-tissues with organized internal luminal structures. These characteristics suggest PECs could play a key role in enhancing tissue organization within engineered cardiac constructs in vitro. The authors form pre-epicardial cells (PECs) from hiPSC-derived lateral plate mesoderm on treating with BMP4, RA and VEGF, and co-culture these PECs with cardiomyocytes, inducing cardiomyocyte aggregation, proliferation and network formation with more mature structures and improved beating/contractility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jie Tan
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
| | - Jacques P Guyette
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenji Miki
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Center for iPS Cell Research and Applications, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ling Xiao
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gurbani Kaur
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tong Wu
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liye Zhu
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katrina J Hansen
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - King-Hwa Ling
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - David J Milan
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Leducq Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harald C Ott
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. .,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Agrin Yes-associated Protein Promotes the Proliferation of Epicardial Cells. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2021; 77:94-99. [PMID: 33136763 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000000926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Embryonic epicardial cells make an important contribution to cardiac development. However, their proliferation mechanism is still unclear. Epicardial cells from E12.5 fetal hearts were used in our study. Agrin was used to treat these cells. The expression of Aurora B, Ki67, and pH3 was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence. The proportion of cells in G1/S/G2 phase was determined by flow cytometry. The results showed that agrin significantly increased the expression of ki67, pH3, and Aurora B in epicardial cells. Flow cytometry results showed that agrin significantly increased the proportion of epicardial cells in S phase. However, blocking yes-associated protein significantly downregulated the levels of ki67, pH3, and Aurora B and the proportion of epicardial cells in S phase. Thus, our results suggest that agrin may promote the proliferation of epicardial cells by regulating the yes-associated protein activity. This may be useful in exploring heart development mechanisms and preventing congenital heart disease.
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9
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Differential Spatio-Temporal Regulation of T-Box Gene Expression by microRNAs during Cardiac Development. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8050056. [PMID: 34068962 PMCID: PMC8156480 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8050056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular development is a complex process that starts with the formation of symmetrically located precardiac mesodermal precursors soon after gastrulation and is completed with the formation of a four-chambered heart with distinct inlet and outlet connections. Multiple transcriptional inputs are required to provide adequate regional identity to the forming atrial and ventricular chambers as well as their flanking regions; i.e., inflow tract, atrioventricular canal, and outflow tract. In this context, regional chamber identity is widely governed by regional activation of distinct T-box family members. Over the last decade, novel layers of gene regulatory mechanisms have been discovered with the identification of non-coding RNAs. microRNAs represent the most well-studied subcategory among short non-coding RNAs. In this study, we sought to investigate the functional role of distinct microRNAs that are predicted to target T-box family members. Our data demonstrated a highly dynamic expression of distinct microRNAs and T-box family members during cardiogenesis, revealing a relatively large subset of complementary and similar microRNA-mRNA expression profiles. Over-expression analyses demonstrated that a given microRNA can distinctly regulate the same T-box family member in distinct cardiac regions and within distinct temporal frameworks, supporting the notion of indirect regulatory mechanisms, and dual luciferase assays on Tbx2, Tbx3 and Tbx5 3' UTR further supported this notion. Overall, our data demonstrated a highly dynamic microRNA and T-box family members expression during cardiogenesis and supported the notion that such microRNAs indirectly regulate the T-box family members in a tissue- and time-dependent manner.
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10
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Gong C, Yu X, Zhang W, Han L, Wang R, Wang Y, Gao S, Yuan Y. Regulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment to enhance breast cancer immunotherapy using pH-responsive hybrid membrane-coated nanoparticles. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:58. [PMID: 33632231 PMCID: PMC7905864 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-00805-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of an immuno-metabolic adjuvant and immune checkpoint inhibitors holds great promise for effective suppression of tumor growth and invasion. In this study, a pH-responsive co-delivery platform was developed for metformin (Met), a known immuno-metabolic modulator, and short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting fibrinogen-like protein 1 mRNA (siFGL1), using a hybrid biomimetic membrane (from macrophages and cancer cells)-camouflaged poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles. To improve the endo-lysosomal escape of siRNA for effective cytosolic siRNA delivery, a pH-triggered CO2 gas-generating nanoplatform was developed using the guanidine group of Met. It can react reversibly with CO2 to form Met-CO2 for the pH-dependent capture/release of CO2. The introduction of Met, a conventional anti-diabetic drug, promotes programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) degradation by activating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, subsequently blocking the inhibitory signals of PD-L1. As a result, siFGL1 delivery by the camouflaged nanoparticles of the hybrid biomimetic membrane can effectively silence the FGL1 gene, promoting T-cell-mediated immune responses and enhancing antitumor immunity. We found that a combination of PD-L1/programmed death 1 signaling blockade and FGL1 gene silencing exhibited high synergistic therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, Met alleviated tumor hypoxia by reducing oxygen consumption and inducing M1-type differentiation of tumor-related macrophages, which improved the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. Our results indicate the potential of hybrid biomimetic membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles and combined Met-FGL1 blockade in breast cancer immunotherapy.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunai Gong
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201999, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201999, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200000, China
| | - Lu Han
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201999, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201999, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201999, China
| | - Shen Gao
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Yongfang Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201999, China.
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11
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Sirbu IO, Chiş AR, Moise AR. Role of carotenoids and retinoids during heart development. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158636. [PMID: 31978553 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The nutritional requirements of the developing embryo are complex. In the case of dietary vitamin A (retinol, retinyl esters and provitamin A carotenoids), maternal derived nutrients serve as precursors to signaling molecules such as retinoic acid, which is required for embryonic patterning and organogenesis. Despite variations in the composition and levels of maternal vitamin A, embryonic tissues need to generate a precise amount of retinoic acid to avoid congenital malformations. Here, we summarize recent findings regarding the role and metabolism of vitamin A during heart development and we survey the association of genes known to affect retinoid metabolism or signaling with various inherited disorders. A better understanding of the roles of vitamin A in the heart and of the factors that affect retinoid metabolism and signaling can help design strategies to meet nutritional needs and to prevent birth defects and disorders associated with altered retinoid metabolism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioan Ovidiu Sirbu
- Biochemistry Department, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; Timisoara Institute of Complex Systems, V. Lucaciu 18, 300044 Timisoara, Romania.
| | - Aimée Rodica Chiş
- Biochemistry Department, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexander Radu Moise
- Medical Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biology and Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada.
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12
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Wang S, Zhang J, He X, Zhang Y, Chen J, Su Q, Pang S, Zhang S, Cui Y, Yan B. Identification and functional analysis of genetic variants in TBX5 gene promoter in patients with acute myocardial infarction. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019; 19:265. [PMID: 31775637 PMCID: PMC6880377 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-019-1237-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coronary artery disease (CAD), including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), is a common complex disease. Although a great number of genetic loci and variants for CAD have been identified, genetic causes and underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Epidemiological studies have revealed that CAD incidence is strikingly higher in patients with congenital heart disease than that in normal population. T-box transcription factors play critical roles in embryonic development. In particular, TBX5 as a dosage-sensitive regulator is required for cardiac development and function. Thus, dysregulated TBX5 gene expression may be involved in CAD development. Methods TBX5 gene promoter was genetically and functionally analysed in large groups of AMI patients (n = 432) and ethnic-matched healthy controls (n = 448). Results Six novel heterozygous DNA sequence variants (DSVs) in the TBX5 gene promoter (g.4100A > G, g.4194G > A, g.4260 T > C, g.4367C > A, g.4581A > G and g.5004G > T) were found in AMI patients, but in none of controls. These DSVs significantly changed the activity of TBX5 gene promoter in cultured cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, three of the DSVs (g.4100A > G, g.4260 T > C and g.4581A > G) evidently modified the binding sites of unknown transcription factors. Conclusions The DSVs identified in AMI patients may alter TBX5 gene promoter activity and change TBX5 level, contributing to AMI development as a rare risk factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Wang
- Department of Medicine, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaohui He
- Department of Medicine, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yexin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Medicine, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Qiang Su
- Department of Medicine, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shuchao Pang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, China.,Shandong Provincial Sino-US Cooperation Research Center for Translational Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272029, Shandong, China
| | - Shufang Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, China
| | - Yinghua Cui
- Division of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, China.
| | - Bo Yan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, China. .,Shandong Provincial Sino-US Cooperation Research Center for Translational Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272029, Shandong, China. .,Center for Molecular Genetics of Cardiovascular Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272029, Shandong, China.
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13
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Niderla-BieliŃska J, Jankowska-Steifer E, Flaht-Zabost A, Gula G, Czarnowska E, Ratajska A. Proepicardium: Current Understanding of its Structure, Induction, and Fate. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 302:893-903. [PMID: 30421563 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The proepicardium (PE) is a transitory extracardiac embryonic structure which plays a crucial role in cardiac morphogenesis and delivers various cell lineages to the developing heart. The PE arises from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) and is present in all vertebrate species. During development, mesothelial cells of the PE reach the naked myocardium either as free-floating aggregates in the form of vesicles or via a tissue bridge; subsequently, they attach to the myocardium and, finally, form the third layer of a mature heart-the epicardium. After undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) some of the epicardial cells migrate into the myocardial wall and differentiate into fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and possibly other cell types. Despite many recent findings, the molecular pathways that control not only proepicardial induction and differentiation but also epicardial formation and epicardial cell fate are poorly understood. Knowledge about these events is essential because molecular mechanisms that occur during embryonic development have been shown to be reactivated in pathological conditions, for example, after myocardial infarction, during hypertensive heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, in this review we intended to summarize the current knowledge about PE formation and structure, as well as proepicardial cell fate in animals commonly used as models for studies on heart development. Anat Rec, 302:893-903, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ewa Jankowska-Steifer
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Grzegorz Gula
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,The Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine (SMM), Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Czarnowska
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Ratajska
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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14
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Yi X, Jiang X, Li X, Jiang DS. Histone lysine methylation and congenital heart disease: From bench to bedside (Review). Int J Mol Med 2017; 40:953-964. [PMID: 28902362 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.3115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone post-translational modifications (PTM) as one of the key epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that plays critical role in various biological processes, including regulating chromatin structure dynamics and gene expression. Histone lysine methyltransferase contributes to the establishment and maintenance of differential histone methylation status, which can recognize histone methylated sites and build an association between these modifications and their downstream processes. Recently, it was found that abnormalities in the histone lysine methylation level or pattern may lead to the occurrence of many types of cardiovascular diseases, such as congenital heart disease (CHD). In order to provide new theoretical basis and targets for the treatment of CHD from the view of developmental biology and genetics, this review discusses and elaborates on the association between histone lysine methylation modifications and CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yi
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Xuejun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Ding-Sheng Jiang
- Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
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15
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Rao KS, Spees JL. Harnessing Epicardial Progenitor Cells and Their Derivatives for Rescue and Repair of Cardiac Tissue After Myocardial Infarction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 3:149-158. [PMID: 29057207 DOI: 10.1007/s40610-017-0066-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Ischemic heart disease and stroke lead to the greatest number of deaths worldwide. Despite decreased time to intervention and improvements in the standard of care, 1 out of 5 patients that survive a myocardial infarction (MI) still face long-term chronic heart failure and a 5-year mortality rate of about 50%. Based on their multi-potency for differentiation and paracrine activity, epicardial cells and their derivatives have potential to rescue jeopardized tissue and/or promote cardiac regeneration. Here we review the diagnosis and treatment of MI, basic epicardial cell biology, and potential treatment strategies designed to harness the reparative properties of epicardial cells. RECENT FINDINGS During cardiac development, epicardial cells covering the surface of the heart generate migratory progenitor cells that contribute to the coronary vasculature and the interstitial fibroblasts. Epicardial cells also produce paracrine signals required for myocardial expansion and cardiac growth. In adults with myocardial infarction, epicardial cells and their derivatives provide paracrine factors that affect myocardial remodeling and repair. At present, the intrinsic mechanisms and extrinsic signals that regulate epicardial cell fate and paracrine activity in adults remain poorly understood. SUMMARY Human diseases that result in heart failure due to negative remodeling or extensive loss of viable cardiac tissue require new, effective treatments. Improved understanding of epicardial cell function(s) and epicardial-mediated secretion of growth factors, cytokines and hormones during cardiac growth, homeostasis and injury may lead to new ways to treat patients with myocardial infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krithika S Rao
- Department of Medicine, Stem Cell Core, University of Vermont, Colchester, VT 05446
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Vermont, Colchester, VT 05446
| | - Jeffrey L Spees
- Department of Medicine, Stem Cell Core, University of Vermont, Colchester, VT 05446
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Vermont, Colchester, VT 05446
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16
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Darwich R, Li W, Yamak A, Komati H, Andelfinger G, Sun K, Nemer M. KLF13 is a genetic modifier of the Holt-Oram syndrome gene TBX5. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:942-954. [PMID: 28164238 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
TBX5, a member of the T-box family of transcription factors, is a dosage sensitive regulator of heart development. Mutations in TBX5 are responsible for Holt-Oram Syndrome, an autosomal dominant disease with variable and partially penetrant cardiac defects suggestive of the existence of genetic and environmental modifiers. KLF13, a member of the Krüppel-like family of zinc finger proteins is co-expressed with TBX5 in several cardiac cells including atrial cardiomyocytes and cells of the interatrial septum. We report that KLF13 interacts physically and functionally with TBX5 to synergistically activate transcription of cardiac genes. We show that TBX5 contacts KLF13 via its T-domain and find that several disease-causing mutations therein have decreased KLF13 interaction. Whereas Klf13 heterozygote mice have no detectable cardiac defects, loss of a Klf13 allele in Tbx5 heterozygote mice significantly increases the penetrance of TBX5-dependent cardiac abnormalities including atrial, atrial-ventricular and ventricular septal defects. The results reveal for the first time combinatorial interaction between a T-box protein and a KLF family member and its importance for heart and possibly other organ development. The data also suggest that, in human, KLF13 may be a genetic modifier of the Holt-Oram Syndrome gene TBX5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami Darwich
- Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Wenjuan Li
- Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada.,Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Abir Yamak
- Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Hiba Komati
- Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Gregor Andelfinger
- Sainte Justine Hospital, Cardiovascular Genetics, Montréal, Quebec, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Kun Sun
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Mona Nemer
- Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Canada
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17
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A HAND to TBX5 Explains the Link Between Thalidomide and Cardiac Diseases. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1416. [PMID: 28469241 PMCID: PMC5431093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01641-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease is the leading cause of death in the first year of life. Mutations only in few genes have been linked to some cases of CHD. Thalidomide was used by pregnant women for morning sickness but was removed from the market because it caused severe malformations including CHDs. We used both in silico docking software, and in vitro molecular and biochemical methods to document a novel interaction involving Thalidomide, TBX5, and HAND2. Thalidomide binds readily to TBX5 through amino acids R81, R82, and K226 all implicated in DNA binding. It reduces TBX5 binding to DNA by 40%, and suppresses TBX5 mediated activation of the NPPA and VEGF promoters by 70%. We documented a novel interaction between TBX5 and HAND2, and showed that a p.G202V HAND2 variant associated with CHD and coronary artery diseases found in a large Lebanese family with high consanguinity, drastically inhibited this interaction by 90%. Similarly, thalidomide inhibited the TBX5/HAND2 physical interaction, and the in silico docking revealed that the same amino acids involved in the interaction of TBX5 with DNA are also involved in its binding to HAND2. Our results establish a HAND2/TBX5 pathway implicated in heart development and diseases.
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18
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Dueñas A, Aranega AE, Franco D. More than Just a Simple Cardiac Envelope; Cellular Contributions of the Epicardium. Front Cell Dev Biol 2017; 5:44. [PMID: 28507986 PMCID: PMC5410615 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult pumping heart is formed by distinct tissue layers. From inside to outside, the heart is composed by an internal endothelial layer, dubbed the endocardium, a thick myocardial component which supports the pumping capacity of the heart and exteriorly covered by a thin mesothelial layer named the epicardium. Cardiac insults such as coronary artery obstruction lead to ischemia and thus to an irreversible damage of the myocardial layer, provoking in many cases heart failure and death. Thus, searching for new pathways to regenerate the myocardium is an urgent biomedical need. Interestingly, the capacity of heart regeneration is present in other species, ranging from fishes to neonatal mammals. In this context, several lines of evidences demonstrated a key regulatory role for the epicardial layer. In this manuscript, we provide a state-of-the-art review on the developmental process leading to the formation of the epicardium, the distinct pathways controlling epicardial precursor cell specification and determination and current evidences on the regenerative potential of the epicardium to heal the injured heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Dueñas
- Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of JaénJaén, Spain
| | - Amelia E Aranega
- Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of JaénJaén, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of JaénJaén, Spain
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19
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Wei X, Gao Y, Jing X, Deng S, Du J, Liu Y, She Q. Biological characteristics of embryonic epicardial cells in vitro correlate with embryonic day. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2017; 49:14-24. [PMID: 27932393 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmw120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardial cell (EpiC) culture system plays an important role in investigating the specific mechanisms and signaling molecules that are involved in the development of EpiCs. From this early formation until adulthood, EpiCs undergo dynamic changes in the expression of embryonic genes that correlate with changes in the embryonic EpiC properties. The differences of embryonic EpiC properties may affect the related results of experiments in which EpiC culture system is used; however, these differences have not been explored. Therefore, in this study we examined the differences in the biological characteristics of EpiCs on different embryonic days in vitro EpiCs were isolated from embryonic ventricle explants on embryonic day (E) 11.5, E13.5, and E15.5. The differences in the migration, proliferation and differentiation were studied in EpiCs of different embryonic day by scratch assay, cell cycle analysis and platelet derived growth factor-bb (PDGF-BB) treatment. The results showed that EpiCs were successfully cultured from E11.5, E13.5, and E15.5 embryonic ventricle explants. The time windows of E11.5, E13.5, and E15.5 EpiC isolation out of the explants were different. The migration abilities of E11.5, E13.5, and E15.5 EpiCs decreased during embryonic development. Smooth muscle cell differentiation potential of early stage EpiCs was better than that of the later stage EpiCs. Although the proliferation ability of E11.5 EpiCs was significantly weaker than those of E13.5 and E15.5 EpiCs, the proliferation abilities of E13.5 and E15.5 EpiCs did not differ. These results suggest that the biological characteristics of EpiCs correlate with the timing of embryonic development, and different embryonic stage of ventricle should be properly chosen for culturing EpiCs depending on the purposes of the specific experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Wei
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing 400010, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Nanchuan People's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Nanchuan 408400, China
| | - Yulin Gao
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Xiaodong Jing
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Songbai Deng
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Jianlin Du
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Yajie Liu
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing 400010, China
| | - Qiang She
- Department of Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University , Chongqing 400010, China
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20
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Moerkamp AT, Lodder K, van Herwaarden T, Dronkers E, Dingenouts CKE, Tengström FC, van Brakel TJ, Goumans MJ, Smits AM. Human fetal and adult epicardial-derived cells: a novel model to study their activation. Stem Cell Res Ther 2016; 7:174. [PMID: 27899163 PMCID: PMC5129650 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-016-0434-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The epicardium, a cell layer covering the heart, plays an important role during cardiogenesis providing cardiovascular cell types and instructive signals, but becomes quiescent during adulthood. Upon cardiac injury the epicardium is activated, which includes induction of a developmental gene program, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration. However, the response of the adult epicardium is suboptimal compared to the active contribution of the fetal epicardium to heart development. To understand the therapeutic value of epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs), a direct comparison of fetal and adult sources is paramount. Such analysis has been hampered by the lack of appropriate culture systems. Methods Human fetal and adult EPDCs were isolated from cardiac specimens obtained after informed consent. EPDCs were cultured in the presence of an inhibitor of the TGFβ receptor ALK5. EMT was induced by stimulation with 1 ng/ml TGFβ. PCR, immunofluorescent staining, scratch assay, tube formation assay and RT2-PCR for human EMT genes were performed to functionally characterize and compare fetal and adult EPDCs. Results In this study, a novel protocol is presented that allows efficient isolation of human EPDCs from fetal and adult heart tissue. In vitro, EPDCs maintain epithelial characteristics and undergo EMT upon TGFβ stimulation. Although similar in several aspects, we observed important differences between fetal and adult EPDCs. Fetal and adult cells display equal migration abilities in their epithelial state. However, while TGFβ stimulation enhanced adult EPDC migration, it resulted in a reduced migration in fetal EPDCs. Matrigel assays revealed the ability of adult EPDCs to form tube-like structures, which was absent in fetal cells. Furthermore, we observed that fetal cells progress through EMT faster and undergo spontaneous EMT when TGFβ signaling is not suppressed, indicating that fetal EPDCs more rapidly respond to environmental changes. Conclusions Our data suggest that fetal and adult EPDCs are in a different state of activation and that their phenotypic plasticity is determined by this activation state. This culture system allows us to establish the cues that determine epicardial activation, behavior, and plasticity and thereby optimize the adult response post-injury. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-016-0434-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asja T Moerkamp
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kirsten Lodder
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa van Herwaarden
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Dronkers
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Calinda K E Dingenouts
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Fredrik C Tengström
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas J van Brakel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Anke M Smits
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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21
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Jing X, Gao Y, Xiao S, Qin Q, Wei X, Yan Y, Wu L, Deng S, Du J, Liu Y, She Q. Hypoxia induced the differentiation of Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to CoSMCs. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30468. [PMID: 27456656 PMCID: PMC4960593 DOI: 10.1038/srep30468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the origin and differentiation mechanism of coronary vascular smooth muscle cells (CoSMCs) is very important to cardiovascular biology. The early cardiovascular system is formed in a hypoxic microenvironment, and Tbx18-positive epicardial cells are a source of CoSMCs. However, the effects of hypoxia on the differentiation of Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to CoSMCs and the primary regulatory mechanism are insufficiently understood. Using Tbx18:Cre/R26REYFP/LacZ fate-tracing mice, we cultured highly purified Tbx18-positive epicardial cells. We further showed that hypoxia induced Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to differentiate into CoSMCs and promoted the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of the cells in vitro. The induction of differentiation was primarily achieved via the hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated effects exerted on Snail. Using a cell migration assay, we showed that hypoxia enhanced the motility of Tbx18-positive epicardial cells. By constructing a hypoxic model of the embryonic epicardium in vivo, we showed that hypoxia led to premature in situ differentiation of Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to CoSMCs. Furthermore, hypoxia was sufficient to induce Snail expression in Tbx18-positive epicardial cells in vivo. Our study suggests that hypoxia intervention was sufficient to induce the differentiation of Tbx18-positive epicardial cells to CoSMCs. Furthermore, this differentiation was achieved primarily via HIF-1α-mediated regulation of Snail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Jing
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yulin Gao
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Songlin Xiao
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Qin Qin
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Xiaoming Wei
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yuling Yan
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Ling Wu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Songbai Deng
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jianlin Du
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yajie Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Qiang She
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
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22
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Greulich F, Rudat C, Farin HF, Christoffels VM, Kispert A. Lack of Genetic Interaction between Tbx18 and Tbx2/Tbx20 in Mouse Epicardial Development. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156787. [PMID: 27253890 PMCID: PMC4890940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardium, the outermost layer of the heart, is an essential source of cells and signals for the formation of the cardiac fibrous skeleton and the coronary vasculature, and for the maturation of the myocardium during embryonic development. The molecular factors that control epicardial mobilization and differentiation, and direct the epicardial-myocardial cross-talk are, however, insufficiently understood. The T-box transcription factor gene Tbx18 is specifically expressed in the epicardium of vertebrate embryos. Loss of Tbx18 is dispensable for epicardial development, but may influence coronary vessel maturation. In contrast, over-expression of an activator version of TBX18 severely impairs epicardial development by premature differentiation of epicardial cells into SMCs indicating a potential redundancy of Tbx18 with other repressors of the T-box gene family. Here, we show that Tbx2 and Tbx20 are co-expressed with Tbx18 at different stages of epicardial development. Using a conditional gene targeting approach we find that neither the epicardial loss of Tbx2 nor the combined loss of Tbx2 and Tbx18 affects epicardial development. Similarly, we observed that the heterozygous loss of Tbx20 with and without additional loss of Tbx18 does not impact on epicardial integrity and mobilization in mouse embryos. Thus, Tbx18 does not function redundantly with Tbx2 or Tbx20 in epicardial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Greulich
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carsten Rudat
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Henner F. Farin
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vincent M. Christoffels
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Physiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Kispert
- Institut für Molekularbiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Hippo Signaling Mediators Yap and Taz Are Required in the Epicardium for Coronary Vasculature Development. Cell Rep 2016; 15:1384-1393. [PMID: 27160901 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Formation of the coronary vasculature is a complex and precisely coordinated morphogenetic process that begins with the formation of epicardium. The epicardium gives rise to many components of the coronary vasculature, including fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelium. Hippo signaling components have been implicated in cardiac development and regeneration. However, a role of Hippo signaling in the epicardium has not been explored. Employing a combination of genetic and pharmacological approaches, we demonstrate that inhibition of Hippo signaling mediators Yap and Taz leads to impaired epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and a reduction in epicardial cell proliferation and differentiation into coronary endothelial cells. We provide evidence that Yap and Taz control epicardial cell behavior, in part by regulating Tbx18 and Wt1 expression. Our findings show a role for Hippo signaling in epicardial cell proliferation, EMT, and cell fate specification during cardiac organogenesis.
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Wang G, Jacquet L, Karamariti E, Xu Q. Origin and differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells. J Physiol 2015; 593:3013-30. [PMID: 25952975 PMCID: PMC4532522 DOI: 10.1113/jp270033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), a major structural component of the vessel wall, not only play a key role in maintaining vascular structure but also perform various functions. During embryogenesis, SMC recruitment from their progenitors is an important step in the formation of the embryonic vascular system. SMCs in the arterial wall are mostly quiescent but can display a contractile phenotype in adults. Under pathophysiological conditions, i.e. vascular remodelling after endothelial dysfunction or damage, contractile SMCs found in the media switch to a secretory type, which will facilitate their ability to migrate to the intima and proliferate to contribute to neointimal lesions. However, recent evidence suggests that the mobilization and recruitment of abundant stem/progenitor cells present in the vessel wall are largely responsible for SMC accumulation in the intima during vascular remodelling such as neointimal hyperplasia and arteriosclerosis. Therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control SMC differentiation from vascular progenitors is essential for exploring therapeutic targets for potential clinical applications. In this article, we review the origin and differentiation of SMCs from stem/progenitor cells during cardiovascular development and in the adult, highlighting the environmental cues and signalling pathways that control phenotypic modulation within the vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Laureen Jacquet
- Cardiovascular Division, King's College London BHF Centre, London, UK
| | - Eirini Karamariti
- Cardiovascular Division, King's College London BHF Centre, London, UK
| | - Qingbo Xu
- Cardiovascular Division, King's College London BHF Centre, London, UK
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Al-Qattan MM, Abou Al-Shaar H. Molecular basis of the clinical features of Holt–Oram syndrome resulting from missense and extended protein mutations of the TBX5 gene as well as TBX5 intragenic duplications. Gene 2015; 560:129-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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