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Li MD, Chen LH, Xiang HX, Jiang YL, Lv BB, Xu DX, Zhao H, Fu L. Benzo[a]pyrene evokes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and pulmonary fibrosis through AhR-mediated Nrf2-p62 signaling. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 473:134560. [PMID: 38759404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134560] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and its metabolic end product benzo(a)pyren-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), are known toxic environmental pollutants. This study aimed to analyze whether sub-chronic BPDE exposure initiated pulmonary fibrosis and the potential mechanisms. In this work, male C57BL6/J mice were exposed to BPDE by dynamic inhalation exposure for 8 weeks. Our results indicated that sub-chronic BPDE exposure evoked pulmonary fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mice. Both in vivo and in vitro, BPDE exposure promoted nuclear translocation of Snail. Further experiments indicated that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and p62 were upregulated in BPDE-exposed alveolar epithelial cells. Moreover, Nrf2 siRNA transfection evidently attenuated BPDE-induced p62 upregulation. Besides, p62 shRNA inhibited BPDE-incurred Snail nuclear translocation and EMT. Mechanically, BPDE facilitated physical interaction between p62 and Snail in the nucleus, then repressed Snail protein degradation by p62-dependent autophagy-lysosome pathway, and finally upregulated transcriptional activity of Snail. Additionally, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was activated in BPDE-treated alveolar epithelial cells. Dual-luciferase assay indicated activating AhR could bind to Nrf2 gene promoter. Moreover, pretreatment with CH223191 or α-naphthoflavone (α-NF), AhR antagonists, inhibited BPDE-activated Nrf2-p62 signaling, and alleviated BPDE-induced EMT and pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Taken together, AhR-mediated Nrf2-p62 signaling contributes to BaP-induced EMT and pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Die Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Li-Hong Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Hui-Xian Xiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China; Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Ya-Lin Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Bozhou People's Hospital, Bozhou, Anhui 236800, China
| | - Bian-Bian Lv
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China; Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China.
| | - Lin Fu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China; Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China.
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Weldy CS, Li Q, Monteiro JP, Guo H, Galls D, Gu W, Cheng PP, Ramste M, Li D, Palmisano BT, Sharma D, Worssam MD, Zhao Q, Bhate A, Kundu RK, Nguyen T, Li JB, Quertermous T. Smooth muscle expression of RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 controls vascular integrity and progression of atherosclerosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.08.602569. [PMID: 39026721 PMCID: PMC11257488 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.08.602569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Mapping the genomic architecture of complex disease has been predicated on the understanding that genetic variants influence disease risk through modifying gene expression. However, recent discoveries have revealed that a significant burden of disease heritability in common autoinflammatory disorders and coronary artery disease is mediated through genetic variation modifying post-transcriptional modification of RNA through adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing. This common RNA modification is catalyzed by ADAR enzymes, where ADAR1 edits specific immunogenic double stranded RNA (dsRNA) to prevent activation of the double strand RNA (dsRNA) sensor MDA5 ( IFIH1 ) and stimulation of an interferon stimulated gene (ISG) response. Multiple lines of human genetic data indicate impaired RNA editing and increased dsRNA sensing to be an important mechanism of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Here, we provide a crucial link between observations in human genetics and mechanistic cell biology leading to progression of CAD. Through analysis of human atherosclerotic plaque, we implicate the vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) to have a unique requirement for RNA editing, and that ISG induction occurs in SMC phenotypic modulation, implicating MDA5 activation. Through culture of human coronary artery SMCs, generation of a conditional SMC specific Adar1 deletion mouse model on a pro-atherosclerosis background, and with incorporation of single cell RNA sequencing cellular profiling, we further show that Adar1 controls SMC phenotypic state, is required to maintain vascular integrity, and controls progression of atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. Through this work, we describe a fundamental mechanism of CAD, where cell type and context specific RNA editing and sensing of dsRNA mediates disease progression, bridging our understanding of human genetics and disease causality.
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Stroope C, Nettersheim FS, Coon B, Finney AC, Schwartz MA, Ley K, Rom O, Yurdagul A. Dysregulated cellular metabolism in atherosclerosis: mediators and therapeutic opportunities. Nat Metab 2024; 6:617-638. [PMID: 38532071 PMCID: PMC11055680 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01015-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence over the past decades has revealed an intricate relationship between dysregulation of cellular metabolism and the progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, an integrated understanding of dysregulated cellular metabolism in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its potential value as a therapeutic target is missing. In this Review, we (1) summarize recent advances concerning the role of metabolic dysregulation during atherosclerosis progression in lesional cells, including endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, macrophages and T cells; (2) explore the complexity of metabolic cross-talk between these lesional cells; (3) highlight emerging technologies that promise to illuminate unknown aspects of metabolism in atherosclerosis; and (4) suggest strategies for targeting these underexplored metabolic alterations to mitigate atherosclerosis progression and stabilize rupture-prone atheromas with a potential new generation of cardiovascular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Stroope
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Felix Sebastian Nettersheim
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Brian Coon
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, OMRF, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Alexandra C Finney
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Martin A Schwartz
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Departments of Cell Biology and Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Klaus Ley
- La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- Immunology Center of Georgia (IMMCG), Augusta University Immunology Center of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Oren Rom
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Arif Yurdagul
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA.
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Wu X, Zhang H. Omics Approaches Unveiling the Biology of Human Atherosclerotic Plaques. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:482-498. [PMID: 38280419 PMCID: PMC10988765 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall, characterized by the buildup of plaques with the accumulation and transformation of lipids, immune cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and necrotic cell debris. Plaques with collagen-poor thin fibrous caps infiltrated by macrophages and lymphocytes are considered unstable because they are at the greatest risk of rupture and clinical events. However, the current histologic definition of plaque types may not fully capture the complex molecular nature of atherosclerotic plaque biology and the underlying mechanisms contributing to plaque progression, rupture, and erosion. The advances in omics technologies have changed the understanding of atherosclerosis plaque biology, offering new possibilities to improve risk prediction and discover novel therapeutic targets. Genomic studies have shed light on the genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis, and integrative genomic analyses expedite the translation of genomic discoveries. Transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and lipidomic studies have refined the understanding of the molecular signature of atherosclerotic plaques, aiding in data-driven hypothesis generation for mechanistic studies and offering new prospects for biomarker discovery. Furthermore, advancements in single-cell technologies and emerging spatial analysis techniques have unveiled the heterogeneity and plasticity of plaque cells. This review discusses key omics-based discoveries that have advanced the understanding of human atherosclerotic plaque biology, focusing on insights derived from omics profiling of human atherosclerotic vascular specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wu
- Cardiometabolic Genomics Program, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Hanrui Zhang
- Cardiometabolic Genomics Program, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
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Xiong J, Wang L, Xiong X, Deng Y. Downregulation of LILRB4 Promotes Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Contractile Phenotypic Switch and Apoptosis in Aortic Dissection. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2024; 24:225-239. [PMID: 38324114 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-023-09824-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is a severe vascular disease with high rates of mortality and morbidity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of AD remain unclear. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by bioinformatics methods. Alterations of histopathology and inflammatory factor levels in β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN)-induced AD mouse model were evaluated through Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect DEGs expression. Furthermore, the role of LILRB4 in AD was investigated through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and flow cytometry. Western blotting was employed to assess the phenotypic switch and extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated protein expressions in platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-stimulated in vitro model of AD. In the AD mouse model, distinct dissection formation was observed. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-6 levels were higher in the AD mouse model than in the controls. Six hub genes were identified, including LILRB4, TIMP1, CCR5, CCL7, MSR1, and CLEC4D, all of which were highly expressed. Further exploration revealed that LILRB4 knockdown inhibited the cell vitality and migration of PDGF-BB-induced HASMCs while promoting apoptosis and G0/G1 phase ratio. More importantly, LILRB4 knockdown promoted the protein expression of α-SMA and SM22α, while decreasing the expression of Co1, MMP2, and CTGF, which suggested that LILRB4 silencing promoted contractile phenotypic transition and ECM stability. LILRB4 knockdown inhibits the progression of AD. Our study provides a new potential target for the clinical treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxian Xiong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital (Institute), Shanxi Clinical Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, No. 18, Yifen Street, Wanbalin District, Taiyuan City, 030024, Shanxi, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Linyuan Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital (Institute), Shanxi Clinical Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, No. 18, Yifen Street, Wanbalin District, Taiyuan City, 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Xin Xiong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital (Institute), Shanxi Clinical Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, No. 18, Yifen Street, Wanbalin District, Taiyuan City, 030024, Shanxi, China
| | - Yongzhi Deng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital (Institute), Shanxi Clinical Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, No. 18, Yifen Street, Wanbalin District, Taiyuan City, 030024, Shanxi, China.
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Lin A, Ramaswamy Y, Misra A. Developmental heterogeneity of vascular cells: Insights into cellular plasticity in atherosclerosis? Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 155:3-15. [PMID: 37316416 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and macrophages display remarkable heterogeneity within the healthy vasculature and under pathological conditions. During development, these cells arise from numerous embryological origins, which confound with different microenvironments to generate postnatal vascular cell diversity. In the atherosclerotic plaque milieu, all these cell types exhibit astonishing plasticity, generating a variety of plaque burdening or plaque stabilizing phenotypes. And yet how developmental origin influences intraplaque cell plasticity remains largely unexplored despite evidence suggesting this may be the case. Uncovering the diversity and plasticity of vascular cells is being revolutionized by unbiased single cell whole transcriptome analysis techniques that will likely continue to pave the way for therapeutic research. Cellular plasticity is only just emerging as a target for future therapeutics, and uncovering how intraplaque plasticity differs across vascular beds may provide key insights into why different plaques behave differently and may confer different risks of subsequent cardiovascular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Lin
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yogambha Ramaswamy
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ashish Misra
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Gunnersen S, Shim JT, Liu F, Tietge UJ, Sørensen CB, Bentzon JF. Conditional deletion of Ccl2 in smooth muscle cells does not reduce early atherosclerosis in mice. ATHEROSCLEROSIS PLUS 2024; 55:12-20. [PMID: 38234375 PMCID: PMC10792688 DOI: 10.1016/j.athplu.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Background and aims C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is a pro-inflammatory chemokine important for monocyte recruitment to the arterial wall and atherosclerotic plaques. Global knockout of Ccl2 reduces plaque formation and macrophage content in mice, but the importance of different plaque cell types in mediating this effect has not been resolved. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) can adopt a potentially pro-inflammatory function with expression of CCL2. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that SMC-secreted CCL2 is involved in early atherogenesis in mice. Methods SMC-restricted Cre recombinase was activated at 6 weeks of age in mice with homozygous floxed or wildtype Ccl2 alleles. Separate experiments in mice lacking the Cre recombinase transgene were conducted to control for genetic background effects. Hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis were induced by a tail vein injection of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) encoding proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Results Unexpectedly, mice with SMC-specific Ccl2 deletion developed higher levels of plasma cholesterol and larger atherosclerotic plaques with more macrophages compared with wild-type littermates. When total cholesterol levels were incorporated into the statistical analysis, none of the effects on plaque development between groups remained significant. Importantly, changes in plasma cholesterol and atherosclerosis remained in mice lacking Cre recombinase indicating that they were not caused by SMC-specific CCL2 deletion but by effects of the floxed allele or passenger genes. Conclusions SMC-specific deficiency of Ccl2 does not significantly affect early plaque development in hypercholesterolemic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Gunnersen
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jeong Tangkjær Shim
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Fan Liu
- Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe J.F. Tietge
- Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska University Laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Brandt Sørensen
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jacob Fog Bentzon
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Calle de Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
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Sharma D, Worssam MD, Pedroza AJ, Dalal AR, Alemany H, Kim HJ, Kundu R, Fischbein M, Cheng P, Wirka R, Quertermous T. Comprehensive Integration of Multiple Single-Cell Transcriptomic Data Sets Defines Distinct Cell Populations and Their Phenotypic Changes in Murine Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2024; 44:391-408. [PMID: 38152886 PMCID: PMC11285358 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.320030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application of single-cell transcriptomic (single-cell RNA sequencing) analysis to the study of atherosclerosis has provided unique insights into the molecular and genetic mechanisms that mediate disease risk and pathophysiology. However, nonstandardized methodologies and relatively high costs associated with the technique have limited the size and replication of existing data sets and created disparate or contradictory findings that have fostered misunderstanding and controversy. METHODS To address these uncertainties, we have performed a conservative integration of multiple published single-cell RNA sequencing data sets into a single meta-analysis, performed extended analysis of native resident vascular cells, and used in situ hybridization to map the disease anatomic location of the identified cluster cells. To investigate the transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cells to macrophage phenotype, we have developed a classifying algorithm based on the quantification of reporter transgene expression. RESULTS The reporter gene expression tool indicates that within the experimental limits of the examined studies, transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cell to the macrophage lineage is extremely rare. Validated transition smooth muscle cell phenotypes were defined by clustering, and the location of these cells was mapped to lesion anatomy with in situ hybridization. We have also characterized 5 endothelial cell phenotypes and linked these cellular species to different vascular structures and functions. Finally, we have identified a transcriptomically unique cellular phenotype that constitutes the aortic valve. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these analyses resolve a number of outstanding issues related to differing results reported with vascular disease single-cell RNA sequencing studies, and significantly extend our understanding of the role of resident vascular cells in anatomy and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Matthew DeForest Worssam
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Albert J. Pedroza
- Division of Cardiothoracic surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Alex R. Dalal
- Division of Cardiothoracic surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Haizea Alemany
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Hyun-Jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | | | - Michael Fischbein
- Division of Cardiothoracic surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Robert Wirka
- Division of Cardiology, McAllister Heart Institute, UNC School of Medicine, 111 Mason Farm Road, MBRB 3312B, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7126
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305
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Pløen GG, Sørensen CB, Bentzon JF. Severe arterial injury heals with a complex clonal structure involving a large fraction of surviving smooth muscle cells. Atherosclerosis 2023; 387:117341. [PMID: 37940399 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.117341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Smooth muscle cell (SMC) lineage cells in atherosclerosis and flow cessation-induced neointima are oligoclonal, being recruited from a tiny fraction of medial SMCs that modulate and proliferate. The present study aimed to investigate the clonal structure of SMC lineage cells healing more severe arterial injury. METHODS Arterial injury (wire, stretch, and partial ligation) was inflicted on the right carotid artery in mice with homozygous, SMC-restricted, stochastically recombining reporter transgenes that produced mosaic expression of 10 distinguishable fluorescent phenotypes for clonal tracking. Healed arteries and contra-lateral controls were analyzed after 3 weeks. Additional analysis of cell death and proliferation after injury was performed in wildtype mice. RESULTS The total number of SMC lineage cells in healed arteries was comparable to normal arteries but comprised significantly fewer fluorescent phenotypes. The population had a complex, intermixed, clonal structure. By statistical analysis of expected versus observed fractions of fluorescent phenotypes and visual inspection of coherent groups of same-colored cells, we concluded that >98% of SMC lineage cells in healed arteries belonged to a detectable clone, indicating that nearly all surviving SMCs after severe injury at some point undergo proliferation. This was consistent with serial observations in the first week after injury, which showed severe loss of medial cells followed by widespread proliferation. CONCLUSIONS After severe arterial injury, many surviving SMCs proliferate to repair the media and form a neointima. This indicates that the fraction of medial SMCs that are mobilized to repair arteries increases with the level of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jacob Fog Bentzon
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Madrid, Spain.
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Scipione CA, Hyduk SJ, Polenz CK, Cybulsky MI. Unveiling the Hidden Landscape of Arterial Diseases at Single-Cell Resolution. Can J Cardiol 2023; 39:1781-1794. [PMID: 37716639 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
High-resolution single-cell technologies have shed light on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases by enabling the discovery of novel cellular and transcriptomic signatures associated with various conditions, and uncovering new contributions of inflammatory processes, immunity, metabolic stress, and risk factors. We review the information obtained from studies using single-cell technologies in tissues with atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms. Insights are provided on the biology of endothelial, smooth muscle, and immune cells in the arterial intima and media. In addition to cellular diversity, numerous examples of plasticity and phenotype switching are highlighted and presented in the context of normal cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey A Scipione
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Sharon J Hyduk
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chanele K Polenz
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Myron I Cybulsky
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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11
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Wang Z, Fu Y, Seno A, Bi Z, Pawar AS, Ji H, Almutairy BS, Qiu Y, Zhang W, Thakur C, Chen F. Tumor suppressive activity of AHR in environmental arsenic-induced carcinogenesis. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 480:116747. [PMID: 37935250 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a highly conserved pleiotropic transcription factor that senses environmental pollutants, microbial products, and endogenous ligands. The transcriptional targets of AHR include phase I and phase II detoxification enzymes, as well as numerous signaling molecules that affect a wide spectrum of biological and biochemical processes in a manner of cellular context-dependent. In this review, we systematically assess the latest discoveries of AHR in carcinogenesis with an emphasis on its tumor suppressor-like property that represses the expression of genes in oncogenic signaling pathways. Additionally, we outline recent progress in our studies on the interaction among AHR, TGFb and NRF2 in cellular responses to arsenic and malignant transformation. Our findings indicate that AHR antagonized TGFb and NRF2, suggesting that AHR could serve as a potential tumor suppressor in arsenic-induced carcinogenesis. Notably, while AHR can exhibit both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive properties in cancer development and the generation of the cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), the tumor suppressor-like effect of AHR warrants further extensive exploration for the prevention and clinical treatment of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Wang
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
| | - Yao Fu
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Akimasa Seno
- R&D Center, Katayama Chemicals Ind., Co. Ltd, Ina, Minoh, Osaka 562-0015, Japan
| | - Zhuoyue Bi
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Aashna S Pawar
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Haoyan Ji
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Bandar Saeed Almutairy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra 11961, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yiran Qiu
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Wenxuan Zhang
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Chitra Thakur
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Fei Chen
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Lauterbur Drive, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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12
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Mosquera JV, Auguste G, Wong D, Turner AW, Hodonsky CJ, Alvarez-Yela AC, Song Y, Cheng Q, Lino Cardenas CL, Theofilatos K, Bos M, Kavousi M, Peyser PA, Mayr M, Kovacic JC, Björkegren JLM, Malhotra R, Stukenberg PT, Finn AV, van der Laan SW, Zang C, Sheffield NC, Miller CL. Integrative single-cell meta-analysis reveals disease-relevant vascular cell states and markers in human atherosclerosis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113380. [PMID: 37950869 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is characterized by atherosclerotic plaque formation in the arterial wall. CAD progression involves complex interactions and phenotypic plasticity among vascular and immune cell lineages. Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) studies have highlighted lineage-specific transcriptomic signatures, but human cell phenotypes remain controversial. Here, we perform an integrated meta-analysis of 22 scRNA-seq libraries to generate a comprehensive map of human atherosclerosis with 118,578 cells. Besides characterizing granular cell-type diversity and communication, we leverage this atlas to provide insights into smooth muscle cell (SMC) modulation. We integrate genome-wide association study data and uncover a critical role for modulated SMC phenotypes in CAD, myocardial infarction, and coronary calcification. Finally, we identify fibromyocyte/fibrochondrogenic SMC markers (LTBP1 and CRTAC1) as proxies of atherosclerosis progression and validate these through omics and spatial imaging analyses. Altogether, we create a unified atlas of human atherosclerosis informing cell state-specific mechanistic and translational studies of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Verdezoto Mosquera
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Gaëlle Auguste
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Doris Wong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Adam W Turner
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Chani J Hodonsky
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | | | - Yipei Song
- Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Qi Cheng
- CVPath Institute, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, USA
| | - Christian L Lino Cardenas
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | | | - Maxime Bos
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maryam Kavousi
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Patricia A Peyser
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48019, USA
| | - Manuel Mayr
- King's British Heart Foundation Centre, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Jason C Kovacic
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Johan L M Björkegren
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Rajeev Malhotra
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - P Todd Stukenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | | | - Sander W van der Laan
- Central Diagnostics Laboratory, Division Laboratories, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Chongzhi Zang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Nathan C Sheffield
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Clint L Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Center for Public Health Genomics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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13
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Blümm C, Bonaterra GA, Schwarzbach H, Eiden LE, Weihe E, Kinscherf R. PAC1 deficiency reduces chondrogenesis in atherosclerotic lesions of hypercholesterolemic ApoE-deficient mice. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2023; 23:566. [PMID: 37980508 PMCID: PMC10657554 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-023-03600-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Induction of chondrogenesis is associated with progressive atherosclerosis. Deficiency of the ADCYAP1 gene encoding pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) aggravates atherosclerosis in ApoE deficient (ApoE-/-) mice. PACAP signaling regulates chondrogenesis and osteogenesis during cartilage and bone development. Therefore, this study aimed to decipher whether PACAP signaling is related to atherogenesis-related chondrogenesis in the ApoE-/- mouse model of atherosclerosis and under the influence of a high-fat diet. METHODS For this purpose, PACAP-/-/ApoE-/-, PAC1-/-/ApoE-/-, and ApoE-/- mice, as well as wildtype (WT) mice, were studied under standard chow (SC) or cholesterol-enriched diet (CED) for 20 weeks. The amount of cartilage matrix in atherosclerotic lesions of the brachiocephalic trunk (BT) with maximal lumen stenosis was monitored by alcian blue and collagen II staining on deparaffinized cross sections. The chondrogenic RUNX family transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), macrophages [(MΦ), Iba1+], and smooth muscle cells (SMC, sm-α-actin) were immunohistochemically analyzed and quantified. RESULTS ApoE-/- mice fed either SC or CED revealed an increase of alcian blue-positive areas within the media compared to WT mice. PAC1-/-/ApoE-/- mice under CED showed a reduction in the alcian blue-positive plaque area in the BT compared to ApoE-/- mice. In contrast, PACAP deficiency in ApoE-/- mice did not affect the chondrogenic signature under either diet. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that PAC1 deficiency reduces chondrogenesis in atherosclerotic plaques exclusively under conditions of CED-induced hypercholesterolemia. We conclude that CED-related chondrogenesis occurs in atherosclerotic plaques via transdifferentiation of SMCs and MΦ, partly depending on PACAP signaling through PAC1. Thus, PAC1 antagonists or PACAP agonists may offer therapeutic potential against pathological chondrogenesis in atherosclerotic lesions generated under hypercholesterolemic conditions, especially in familial hypercholesterolemia. This discovery opens therapeutic perspectives to be used in the treatment against the progression of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Blümm
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - G A Bonaterra
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
| | - H Schwarzbach
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - L E Eiden
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - E Weihe
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - R Kinscherf
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Medical Cell Biology, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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14
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Pedroza AJ, Cheng P, Dalal AR, Baeumler K, Kino A, Tognozzi E, Shad R, Yokoyama N, Nakamura K, Mitchel O, Hiesinger W, MacFarlane EG, Fleischmann D, Woo YJ, Quertermous T, Fischbein MP. Early clinical outcomes and molecular smooth muscle cell phenotyping using a prophylactic aortic arch replacement strategy in Loeys-Dietz syndrome. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2023; 166:e332-e376. [PMID: 37500053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2023.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome demonstrate a heightened risk of distal thoracic aortic events after valve-sparing aortic root replacement. This study assesses the clinical risks and hemodynamic consequences of a prophylactic aortic arch replacement strategy in Loeys-Dietz syndrome and characterizes smooth muscle cell phenotype in Loeys-Dietz syndrome aneurysmal and normal-sized downstream aorta. METHODS Patients with genetically confirmed Loeys-Dietz syndrome (n = 8) underwent prophylactic aortic arch replacement during valve-sparing aortic root replacement. Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging studies were performed in 4 patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (valve-sparing aortic root replacement + arch) and compared with patients with contemporary Marfan syndrome (valve-sparing aortic root replacement only, n = 5) and control patients (without aortopathy, n = 5). Aortic tissues from 4 patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome and 2 organ donors were processed for anatomically segmented single-cell RNA sequencing and histologic assessment. RESULTS Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome valve-sparing aortic root replacement + arch had no deaths, major morbidity, or aortic events in a median of 2 years follow-up. Four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated altered flow parameters in patients with postoperative aortopathy relative to controls, but no clear deleterious changes due to arch replacement. Integrated analysis of aortic single-cell RNA sequencing data (>49,000 cells) identified a continuum of abnormal smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation in Loeys-Dietz syndrome defined by reduced contractility and enriched extracellular matrix synthesis, adhesion receptors, and transforming growth factor-beta signaling. These modulated smooth muscle cells populated the Loeys-Dietz syndrome tunica media with gradually reduced density from the overtly aneurysmal root to the nondilated arch. CONCLUSIONS Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome demonstrated excellent surgical outcomes without overt downstream flow or shear stress disturbances after concomitant valve-sparing aortic root replacement + arch operations. Abnormal smooth muscle cell-mediated aortic remodeling occurs within the normal diameter, clinically at-risk Loeys-Dietz syndrome arch segment. These initial clinical and pathophysiologic findings support concomitant arch replacement in Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert J Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Alex R Dalal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Kathrin Baeumler
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Aya Kino
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Emily Tognozzi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Rohan Shad
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Nobu Yokoyama
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Ken Nakamura
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Olivia Mitchel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - William Hiesinger
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Elena Gallo MacFarlane
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Dominik Fleischmann
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Y Joseph Woo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif
| | - Michael P Fischbein
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.
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15
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Hutton M, Frazer M, Lin A, Patel S, Misra A. New Targets in Atherosclerosis: Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity and Macrophage Polarity. Clin Ther 2023; 45:1047-1054. [PMID: 37709601 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite an increase in treatment options, and substantial reductions in cardiovascular mortality over the past half-century, atherosclerosis remains the most prevalent cause of premature mortality worldwide. The development of innovative new therapies is crucial to further minimize atherosclerosis-related deaths. The diverse array of cell phenotypes derived from vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and macrophages within atherosclerotic plaques are increasingly becoming recognized for their beneficial and detrimental roles in plaque stability and disease burden. This review explores how contemporary transcriptomics and fate-mapping studies have revealed vascular cell plasticity as a relatively unexplored target for therapeutic intervention. METHODS Recent literature for this narrative review was obtained by searching electronic databases (ie, Google Scholar, PubMed). Additional studies were sourced from reference lists and the authors' personal databases. FINDINGS The lipid-rich and inflammatory plaque milieu induces SMC phenotypic switching to both beneficial and detrimental phenotypes. Likewise, macrophage heterogeneity increases with disease burden to a variety of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activation states. These vascular cell phenotypes are determinants of plaque structure stability, and it is therefore highly likely that they influence clinical outcomes. Development of clinical treatments targeting deleterious phenotypes or promoting pro-healing phenotypes remains in its infancy. However, existing treatments (statins) have shown beneficial effects toward macrophage polarization, providing a rationale for more targeted approaches. In contrast, beneficial SMC phenotypic modulation with these pharmacologic agents has yet to be achieved. The range of modulated vascular cell phenotypes provides a multitude of novel targets and the potential to reduce future adverse events. IMPLICATIONS Vascular cell phenotypic heterogeneity must continue to be explored to lower cardiovascular events in the future. The rapidly increasing weight of evidence surrounding the role of SMC plasticity and macrophage polarity in plaque vulnerability provides a strong foundation upon which development of new therapeutics must follow. This approach may prove to be crucial in reducing cardiovascular events and improving patient benefit in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hutton
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Madeleine Frazer
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alexander Lin
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sanjay Patel
- Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashish Misra
- Atherosclerosis and Vascular Remodeling Group, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Heart Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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16
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Nagesh PT, Nishi H, Rawal S, Zahr T, Miano JM, Sorci-Thomas M, Xu H, Akbar N, Choudhury RP, Misra A, Fisher EA. HDL regulates TGFß-receptor lipid raft partitioning, restoring contractile features of cholesterol-loaded vascular smooth muscle cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.19.562786. [PMID: 37905061 PMCID: PMC10614922 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.19.562786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Background Cholesterol-loading of mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (mVSMCs) downregulates miR-143/145, a master regulator of the contractile state downstream of TGFβ signaling. In vitro, this results in transitioning from a contractile mVSMC to a macrophage-like state. This process likely occurs in vivo based on studies in mouse and human atherosclerotic plaques. Objectives To test whether cholesterol-loading reduces VSMC TGFβ signaling and if cholesterol efflux will restore signaling and the contractile state in vitro and in vivo. Methods Human coronary artery (h)VSMCs were cholesterol-loaded, then treated with HDL (to promote cholesterol efflux). For in vivo studies, partial conditional deletion of Tgfβr2 in lineage-traced VSMC mice was induced. Mice wild-type for VSMC Tgfβr2 or partially deficient (Tgfβr2+/-) were made hypercholesterolemic to establish atherosclerosis. Mice were then treated with apoA1 (which forms HDL). Results Cholesterol-loading of hVSMCs downregulated TGFβ signaling and contractile gene expression; macrophage markers were induced. TGFβ signaling positively regulated miR-143/145 expression, increasing Acta2 expression and suppressing KLF4. Cholesterol-loading localized TGFβ receptors into lipid rafts, with consequent TGFβ signaling downregulation. Notably, in cholesterol-loaded hVSMCs HDL particles displaced receptors from lipid rafts and increased TGFβ signaling, resulting in enhanced miR-145 expression and decreased KLF4-dependent macrophage features. ApoA1 infusion into Tgfβr2+/- mice restored Acta2 expression and decreased macrophage-marker expression in plaque VSMCs, with evidence of increased TGFβ signaling. Conclusions Cholesterol suppresses TGFβ signaling and the contractile state in hVSMC through partitioning of TGFβ receptors into lipid rafts. These changes can be reversed by promotion of cholesterol efflux, consistent with evidence in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashanth Thevkar Nagesh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Research Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Hitoo Nishi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Research Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Shruti Rawal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Research Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Tarik Zahr
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Research Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Joseph M Miano
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Mary Sorci-Thomas
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Naveed Akbar
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robin P Choudhury
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ashish Misra
- Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Edward A Fisher
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Research Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
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17
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Di J, Chen Z, Wang Z, He T, Wu D, Weng C, Deng J, Mai L, Wang K, He L, Rong L. Cartilage tissue from sites of weight bearing in patients with osteoarthritis exhibits a differential phenotype with distinct chondrocytes subests. RMD Open 2023; 9:e003255. [PMID: 37848267 PMCID: PMC10582868 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003255] [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: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease associated with excessive mechanical loading. The aim here was to elucidate whether different subpopulations of chondrocytes exhibit distinct phenotypes in response to variations in loading conditions. Furthermore, we seek to investigate the transcriptional switches and cell crosstalk among these chondrocytes subsets. METHODS Proteomic analysis was performed on cartilage tissues isolated from weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing regions. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing was employed to identify different subsets of chondrocytes. For disease-specific cells, in vitro differentiation induction was performed, and their presence was confirmed in human cartilage tissue sections using immunofluorescence. The molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional changes in these cells were analysed through whole-transcriptome sequencing. RESULTS In the weight-bearing regions of OA cartilage tissue, a subpopulation of chondrocytes called OA hypertrophic chondrocytes (OAHCs) expressing the marker genes SLC39A14 and COL10A1 are present. These cells exhibit unique characteristics of active cellular interactions mediated by the TGFβ signalling pathway and express OA phenotypes, distinct from hypertrophic chondrocytes in healthy cartilage. OAHCs are mainly distributed in the superficial region of damaged cartilage in human OA tissue, and on TGFβ stimulation, exhibit activation of transcriptional expression of iron metabolism-related genes, along with enrichment of associated pathways. CONCLUSION This study identified and validated the existence of a subset of OAHCs in the weight-bearing area of OA cartilage tissue. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for targeting OAHCs to slow down the progression of OA and facilitate the repair of cartilage injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Di
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zihao Chen
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Joint Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianwei He
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Depeng Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuanggui Weng
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiajun Deng
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lang Mai
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Joint Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Limin Rong
- Department of Spine Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Engineering and Technology Research of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Quality Control of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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18
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Zhu D, Liu S, Huang K, Li J, Mei X, Li Z, Cheng K. Intrapericardial long non-coding RNA-Tcf21 antisense RNA inducing demethylation administration promotes cardiac repair. Eur Heart J 2023; 44:1748-1760. [PMID: 36916305 PMCID: PMC10411945 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Epicardium and epicardium-derived cells are critical players in myocardial fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been studied for cardiac repair to improve cardiac remodelling, but the actual mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of EV therapy for improving cardiac remodelling and develop a promising treatment addressing myocardial fibrosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Extracellular vesicles were intrapericardially injected for mice myocardial infarction treatment. RNA-seq, in vitro gain- and loss-of-function experiments, and in vivo studies were performed to identify targets that can be used for myocardial fibrosis treatment. Afterward, a lipid nanoparticle-based long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) therapy was prepared for mouse and porcine models of myocardial infarction treatment. Intrapericardial injection of EVs improved adverse myocardial remodelling in mouse models of myocardial infarction. Mechanistically, Tcf21 was identified as a potential target to improve cardiac remodelling. Loss of Tcf21 function in epicardium-derived cells caused increased myofibroblast differentiation, whereas forced Tcf21 overexpression suppressed transforming growth factor-β signalling and myofibroblast differentiation. LncRNA-Tcf21 antisense RNA inducing demethylation (TARID) that enriched in EVs was identified to up-regulate Tcf21 expression. Formulated lncRNA-TARID-laden lipid nanoparticles up-regulated Tcf21 expression in epicardium-derived cells and improved cardiac function and histology in mouse and porcine models of myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION This study identified Tcf21 as a critical target for improving cardiac fibrosis. Up-regulating Tcf21 by using lncRNA-TARID-laden lipid nanoparticles could be a promising way to treat myocardial fibrosis. This study established novel mechanisms underlying EV therapy for improving adverse remodelling and proposed a lncRNA therapy for cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dashuai Zhu
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Shuo Liu
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Ke Huang
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Junlang Li
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Xuan Mei
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Zhenhua Li
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
| | - Ke Cheng
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1001 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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19
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Chen Y, Wang Y, Fu Y, Yin Y, Xu K. Modulating AHR function offers exciting therapeutic potential in gut immunity and inflammation. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:85. [PMID: 37179416 PMCID: PMC10182712 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01046-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a classical exogenous synthetic ligand of AHR that has significant immunotoxic effects. Activation of AHR has beneficial effects on intestinal immune responses, but inactivation or overactivation of AHR can lead to intestinal immune dysregulation and even intestinal diseases. Sustained potent activation of AHR by TCDD results in impairment of the intestinal epithelial barrier. However, currently, AHR research has been more focused on elucidating physiologic AHR function than on dioxin toxicity. The appropriate level of AHR activation plays a role in maintaining gut health and protecting against intestinal inflammation. Therefore, AHR offers a crucial target to modulate intestinal immunity and inflammation. Herein, we summarize our current understanding of the relationship between AHR and intestinal immunity, the ways in which AHR affects intestinal immunity and inflammation, the effects of AHR activity on intestinal immunity and inflammation, and the effect of dietary habits on intestinal health through AHR. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic role of AHR in maintaining gut homeostasis and relieving inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yadong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
| | - Yawei Fu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yulong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Kang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, 410125, China.
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20
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Woo SH, Kim DY, Choi JH. Roles of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerotic Calcification. J Lipid Atheroscler 2023; 12:106-118. [PMID: 37265849 PMCID: PMC10232217 DOI: 10.12997/jla.2023.12.2.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of calcium in atherosclerotic plaques is a prominent feature of advanced atherosclerosis, and it has a strong positive correlation with the total burden of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic calcification usually appears first at the necrotic core, indicating that cell death and inflammatory processes are involved in calcification. During atherosclerotic inflammation, various cell types, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, nascent resident pericytes, circulating stem cells, or adventitial cells, have been assumed to differentiate into osteoblastic cells, which lead to vascular calcification. Among these cell types, vascular smooth muscle cells are considered a major contributor to osteochondrogenic cells in the atherosclerotic milieu. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying the osteochondrogenic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Ho Woo
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dae-Yong Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Hoon Choi
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
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21
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Örd T, Lönnberg T, Nurminen V, Ravindran A, Niskanen H, Kiema M, Õunap K, Maria M, Moreau PR, Mishra PP, Palani S, Virta J, Liljenbäck H, Aavik E, Roivainen A, Ylä-Herttuala S, Laakkonen JP, Lehtimäki T, Kaikkonen MU. Dissecting the polygenic basis of atherosclerosis via disease-associated cell state signatures. Am J Hum Genet 2023; 110:722-740. [PMID: 37060905 PMCID: PMC10183377 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a pandemic disease where up to half of the risk is explained by genetic factors. Advanced insights into the genetic basis of CAD require deeper understanding of the contributions of different cell types, molecular pathways, and genes to disease heritability. Here, we investigate the biological diversity of atherosclerosis-associated cell states and interrogate their contribution to the genetic risk of CAD by using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of mouse and human lesions. We identified 12 disease-associated cell states that we characterized further by gene set functional profiling, ligand-receptor prediction, and transcription factor inference. Importantly, Vcam1+ smooth muscle cell state genes contributed most to SNP-based heritability of CAD. In line with this, genetic variants near smooth muscle cell state genes and regulatory elements explained the largest fraction of CAD-risk variance between individuals. Using this information for variant prioritization, we derived a hybrid polygenic risk score (PRS) that demonstrated improved performance over a classical PRS. Our results provide insights into the biological mechanisms associated with CAD risk, which could make a promising contribution to precision medicine and tailored therapeutic interventions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiit Örd
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Tapio Lönnberg
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku
| | - Valtteri Nurminen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Aarthi Ravindran
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Henri Niskanen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Miika Kiema
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Kadri Õunap
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maleeha Maria
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pierre R Moreau
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pashupati P Mishra
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
| | - Senthil Palani
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Jenni Virta
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Heidi Liljenbäck
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Einari Aavik
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anne Roivainen
- Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku PET Centre, Turku University Hospital, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna P Laakkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories and Finnish Cardiovascular Research Center Tampere, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
| | - Minna U Kaikkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
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22
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Shi H, Nguyen T, Zhao Q, Cheng P, Sharma D, Kim HJ, Kim JB, Wirka R, Weldy CS, Monteiro JP, Quertermous T. Discovery of Transacting Long Noncoding RNAs That Regulate Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype. Circ Res 2023; 132:795-811. [PMID: 36852690 PMCID: PMC11056793 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.321960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smooth muscle cells (SMC), the major cell type in atherosclerotic plaques, are vital in coronary artery diseases (CADs). SMC phenotypic transition, which leads to the formation of various cell types in atherosclerotic plaques, is regulated by a network of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and governs the risk of disease. The involvement of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been increasingly identified in cardiovascular disease. However, SMC lncRNAs have not been comprehensively characterized, and their regulatory role in SMC state transition remains unknown. METHODS A discovery pipeline was constructed and applied to deeply strand-specific RNA sequencing from perturbed human coronary artery SMC with different disease-related stimuli, to allow for the detection of novel lncRNAs. The functional relevance of a select few novel lncRNAs were verified in vitro. RESULTS We identified 4579 known and 13 655 de novo lncRNAs in human coronary artery SMC. Consistent with previous long noncoding RNA studies, these lncRNAs overall have fewer exons, are shorter in length than protein-coding genes (pcGenes), and have relatively low expression level. Genomic location of these long noncoding RNA is disproportionately enriched near CAD-related TFs (transcription factors), genetic loci, and gene regulators of SMC identity, suggesting the importance of their function in disease. Two de novo lncRNAs, ZIPPOR (ZEB-interacting suppressor) and TNS1-AS2 (TNS1-antisense 2), were identified by our screen. Combining transcriptional data and in silico modeling along with in vitro validation, we identified CAD gene ZEB2 as a target through which these lncRNAs exert their function in SMC phenotypic transition. CONCLUSIONS Expression of a large and diverse set of lncRNAs in human coronary artery SMC are highly dynamic in response to CAD-related stimuli. The dynamic changes in expression of these lncRNAs correspond to alterations in transcriptional programs that are relevant to CAD, suggesting a critical role for lncRNAs in SMC phenotypic transition and human atherosclerotic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huitong Shi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Trieu Nguyen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Quanyi Zhao
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Hyun-Jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Juyong Brian Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Robert Wirka
- Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology and Physiology, and McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Chad S Weldy
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - João P. Monteiro
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University
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23
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Yu L, Zhang Y, Liu C, Wu X, Wang S, Sui W, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Zhang M. Heterogeneity of macrophages in atherosclerosis revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22810. [PMID: 36786718 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201932rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Technology at the single-cell level has advanced dramatically in characterizing molecular heterogeneity. These technologies have enabled cell subtype diversity to be seen in all tissues, including atherosclerotic plaques. Critical in atherosclerosis pathogenesis and progression are macrophages. Previous studies have only determined macrophage phenotypes within the plaque, mainly by bulk analysis. However, recent progress in single-cell technologies now enables the comprehensive mapping of macrophage subsets and phenotypes present in plaques. In this review, we have updated and discussed the definition and classification of macrophage subsets in mice and humans using single-cell RNA sequencing. We summarized the different classification methods and perspectives: traditional classification with an updated scoring system, inflammatory macrophages, foamy macrophages, and atherosclerotic-resident macrophages. In addition, some special types of macrophages were identified by specific markers, including IFN-inducible and cavity macrophages. Furthermore, we discussed macrophage subset-specific markers and their functions. In the future, these novel insights into the characteristics and phenotypes of these macrophage subsets within atherosclerotic plaques can provide additional therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yujie Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Changhao Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shasha Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenhai Sui
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Cardiovascular Disease Research Center of Shandong First Medical University, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Cardiovascular Disease Research Center of Shandong First Medical University, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Cardiovascular Disease Research Center of Shandong First Medical University, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chinese National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, The State and Shandong Province Joint Key Laboratory of Translational Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Cardiovascular Disease Research Center of Shandong First Medical University, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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24
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Kim HJ, Cheng P, Travisano S, Weldy C, Monteiro JP, Kundu R, Nguyen T, Sharma D, Shi H, Lin Y, Liu B, Haldar S, Jackson S, Quertermous T. Molecular mechanisms of coronary artery disease risk at the PDGFD locus. Nat Commun 2023; 14:847. [PMID: 36792607 PMCID: PMC9932166 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36518-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome wide association studies for coronary artery disease (CAD) have identified a risk locus at 11q22.3. Here, we verify with mechanistic studies that rs2019090 and PDGFD represent the functional variant and gene at this locus. Further, FOXC1/C2 transcription factor binding at rs2019090 is shown to promote PDGFD transcription through the CAD promoting allele. With single cell transcriptomic and histology studies with Pdgfd knockdown in an SMC lineage tracing male atherosclerosis mouse model we find that Pdgfd promotes expansion, migration, and transition of SMC lineage cells to the chondromyocyte phenotype. Pdgfd also increases adventitial fibroblast and pericyte expression of chemokines and leukocyte adhesion molecules, which is linked to plaque macrophage recruitment. Despite these changes there is no effect of Pdgfd deletion on overall plaque burden. These findings suggest that PDGFD mediates CAD risk by promoting deleterious phenotypic changes in SMC, along with an inflammatory response that is primarily focused in the adventitia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Stanislao Travisano
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Chad Weldy
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - João P Monteiro
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ramendra Kundu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Trieu Nguyen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Huitong Shi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Yi Lin
- Research Center for Intelligent Computing Platforms, Zhejiang Laboratory, Hangzhou, 311121, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Boxiang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Saptarsi Haldar
- Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Simon Jackson
- Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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25
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Xu X, Hua X, Mo H, Hu S, Song J. Single-cell RNA sequencing to identify cellular heterogeneity and targets in cardiovascular diseases: from bench to bedside. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:7. [PMID: 36750503 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-022-00972-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain incompletely elucidated. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled the profiling of single-cell transcriptomes at unprecedented resolution and throughput, which is critical for deciphering cardiovascular cellular heterogeneity and underlying disease mechanisms, thereby facilitating the development of therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize cellular heterogeneity in cardiovascular homeostasis and diseases as well as the discovery of potential disease targets based on scRNA-seq, and yield new insights into the promise of scRNA-seq technology in precision medicine and clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xiumeng Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Han Mo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen, 518057, China
| | - Shengshou Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China.
| | - Jiangping Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China.
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26
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Kim HJ, Cheng P, Travisano S, Weldy C, Monteiro JP, Kundu R, Nguyen T, Sharma D, Shi H, Lin Y, Liu B, Haldar S, Jackson S, Quertermous T. Molecular mechanisms of coronary artery disease risk at the PDGFD locus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.26.525789. [PMID: 36747745 PMCID: PMC9900883 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.26.525789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling has been extensively studied in the context of vascular disease, but the genetics of this pathway remain to be established. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) for coronary artery disease (CAD) have identified a risk locus at 11q22.3, and we have verified with fine mapping approaches that the regulatory variant rs2019090 and PDGFD represent the functional variant and putative functional gene. Further, FOXC1/C2 transcription factor (TF) binding at rs2019090 was found to promote PDGFD transcription through the CAD promoting allele. Employing a constitutive Pdgfd knockout allele along with SMC lineage tracing in a male atherosclerosis mouse model we mapped single cell transcriptomic, cell state, and lesion anatomical changes associated with gene loss. These studies revealed that Pdgfd promotes expansion, migration, and transition of SMC lineage cells to the chondromyocyte phenotype and vascular calcification. This is in contrast to protective CAD genes TCF21, ZEB2, and SMAD3 which we have shown to promote the fibroblast-like cell transition or perturb the pattern or extent of transition to the chondromyocyte phenotype. Further, Pdgfd expressing fibroblasts and pericytes exhibited greater expression of chemokines and leukocyte adhesion molecules, consistent with observed increased macrophage recruitment to the plaque. Despite these changes there was no effect of Pdgfd deletion on SMC contribution to the fibrous cap or overall lesion burden. These findings suggest that PDGFD mediates CAD risk through promoting SMC expansion and migration, in conjunction with deleterious phenotypic changes, and through promoting an inflammatory response that is primarily focused in the adventitia where it contributes to leukocyte trafficking to the diseased vessel wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Stanislao Travisano
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Chad Weldy
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - João P. Monteiro
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Ramendra Kundu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Trieu Nguyen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Huitong Shi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
| | - Yi Lin
- Research Center for Intelligent Computing Platforms, Zhejiang Laboratory, China 311121
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228
| | - Boxiang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228
| | - Saptarsi Haldar
- Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Simon Jackson
- Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Blvd, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk CVRC, Stanford, CA; 94305
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Woo SH, Kyung D, Lee SH, Park KS, Kim M, Kim K, Kwon HJ, Won YS, Choi I, Park YJ, Go DM, Oh JS, Yoon WK, Paik SS, Kim JH, Kim YH, Choi JH, Kim DY. TXNIP Suppresses the Osteochondrogenic Switch of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerosis. Circ Res 2023; 132:52-71. [PMID: 36448450 PMCID: PMC9829043 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.321538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The osteochondrogenic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a pivotal cellular process in atherosclerotic calcification. However, the exact molecular mechanism of the osteochondrogenic transition of VSMCs remains to be elucidated. Here, we explore the regulatory role of TXNIP (thioredoxin-interacting protein) in the phenotypical transitioning of VSMCs toward osteochondrogenic cells responsible for atherosclerotic calcification. METHODS The atherosclerotic phenotypes of Txnip-/- mice were analyzed in combination with single-cell RNA-sequencing. The atherosclerotic phenotypes of Tagln-Cre; Txnipflox/flox mice (smooth muscle cell-specific Txnip ablation model), and the mice transplanted with the bone marrow of Txnip-/- mice were analyzed. Public single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset (GSE159677) was reanalyzed to define the gene expression of TXNIP in human calcified atherosclerotic plaques. The effect of TXNIP suppression on the osteochondrogenic phenotypic changes in primary aortic VSMCs was analyzed. RESULTS Atherosclerotic lesions of Txnip-/- mice presented significantly increased calcification and deposition of collagen content. Subsequent single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis identified the modulated VSMC and osteochondrogenic clusters, which were VSMC-derived populations. The osteochondrogenic cluster was markedly expanded in Txnip-/- mice. The pathway analysis of the VSMC-derived cells revealed enrichment of bone- and cartilage-formation-related pathways and bone morphogenetic protein signaling in Txnip-/- mice. Reanalyzing public single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset revealed that TXNIP was downregulated in the modulated VSMC and osteochondrogenic clusters of human calcified atherosclerotic lesions. Tagln-Cre; Txnipflox/flox mice recapitulated the calcification and collagen-rich atherosclerotic phenotypes of Txnip-/- mice, whereas the hematopoietic deficiency of TXNIP did not affect the lesion phenotype. Suppression of TXNIP in cultured VSMCs accelerates osteodifferentiation and upregulates bone morphogenetic protein signaling. Treatment with the bone morphogenetic protein signaling inhibitor K02288 abrogated the effect of TXNIP suppression on osteodifferentiation. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that TXNIP is a novel regulator of atherosclerotic calcification by suppressing bone morphogenetic protein signaling to inhibit the transition of VSMCs toward an osteochondrogenic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Ho Woo
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
| | - Dongsoo Kyung
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (D.K.)
| | - Seung Hyun Lee
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Kyu Seong Park
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Minkyu Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Kibyeong Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Hyo-Jung Kwon
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea (H.-J.K.)
| | - Young-Suk Won
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Cheongju, Korea (Y.-S.W., W.K.Y.)
| | - Inpyo Choi
- Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea (I.C.)
| | - Young-Jun Park
- Enviornmental Diseases Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea (Y.-J.P.)
| | - Du-Min Go
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
| | - Jeong-Seop Oh
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
| | - Won Kee Yoon
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Cheongju, Korea (Y.-S.W., W.K.Y.)
| | - Seung Sam Paik
- Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Medical College, Seoul, Korea (S.S.P., J.H.K.)
| | - Ji Hyeon Kim
- Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Medical College, Seoul, Korea (S.S.P., J.H.K.)
| | - Yong-Hwan Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Research Institute of Women’s Health, College of Natural Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea (Y.-H.K.)
| | - Jae-Hoon Choi
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Dae-Yong Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
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Zhai M, Gong S, Luan P, Shi Y, Kou W, Zeng Y, Shi J, Yu G, Hou J, Yu Q, Jian W, Zhuang J, Feinberg MW, Peng W. Extracellular traps from activated vascular smooth muscle cells drive the progression of atherosclerosis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7500. [PMID: 36473863 PMCID: PMC9723654 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35330-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular DNA traps (ETs) represent an immune response by which cells release essential materials like chromatin and granular proteins. Previous studies have demonstrated that the transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis. This study seeks to investigate the interaction between CD68+ VSMCs and the formation of ETs and highlight its function in atherosclerosis. Here we show that ETs are inhibited, and atherosclerotic plaque formation is alleviated in male Myh11CrePad4flox/flox mice undergoing an adeno-associated-virus-8 (AAV8) mediating overexpression of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 mutation (PCSK9) injection and being challenged with a high-fat diet. Obvious ETs generated from CD68+ VSMCs are inhibited by Cl-amidine and DNase I in vitro. By utilizing VSMCs-lineage tracing technology and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we demonstrate that the ETs from CD68+ VSMCs influence the progress of atherosclerosis by regulating the direction of VSMCs' transdifferentiation through STING-SOCS1 or TLR4 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhai
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiyu Gong
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peipei Luan
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yefei Shi
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxin Kou
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanxi Zeng
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayun Shi
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanye Yu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayun Hou
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Biomedical Research Center, Zhongshan Hospital Institute of Clinical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Yu
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weixia Jian
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Endocrinology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhui Zhuang
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mark W. Feinberg
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XCardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Wenhui Peng
- grid.13402.340000 0004 1759 700XDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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29
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Tian X, Zheng S, Wang J, Yu M, Lin Z, Qin M, Wu Y, Chen S, Zhong S. Cardiac disorder-related adverse events for aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists: a safety review. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2022; 21:1505-1510. [PMID: 35582860 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2022.2078301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although cardiac disorder-related adverse events (AEs) have been reported in patients treated with aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonists, their safety profiles remain unknown. Here, we identified significant cardiac disorders associated with AHR agonists and further evaluated their relevance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Database queries were performed using OpenVigil 2.1 and AEs voluntarily submitted to Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) between 2004 and 2020 were included. This study based on the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities and the standardized MedDRA Queries to define the preferred terms, and we used reporting odd ratio to detect signals. RESULTS In the FAERS database, 14,078 cardiac disorder-related AEs were identified in patients receiving AHR agonists. Among all AHR agonists, the number of cardiac disorder-related PTs with positive signals for AHR agonists was 93. Peripheral swelling (n = 1572) and atrial fibrillation (n = 1277) were the most reported cardiac disorder-related AEs among AHR agonists in disproportionately reported PTs. Moreover, several AHR agonists were highly associated with tachyarrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS By mining the FAERS database, we provided more information on the association between AHR agonist use and cardiac disorder-related AEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Tian
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shufen Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meiling Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhuoheng Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Min Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiyu Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shilong Zhong
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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30
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Zamani M, Cheng YH, Charbonier F, Gupta VK, Mayer AT, Trevino AE, Quertermous T, Chaudhuri O, Cahan P, Huang NF. Single-Cell Transcriptomic Census of Endothelial Changes Induced by Matrix Stiffness and the Association with Atherosclerosis. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2022; 32:2203069. [PMID: 36816792 PMCID: PMC9937733 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202203069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cell (EC) plasticity plays a critical role in the progression of atherosclerosis by giving rise to mesenchymal phenotypes in the plaque lesion. Despite the evidence for arterial stiffening as a major contributor to atherosclerosis, the complex interplay among atherogenic stimuli in vivo has hindered attempts to determine the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness on endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). To study the regulatory effects of ECM stiffness on EndMT, an in vitro model is developed in which human coronary artery ECs are cultured on physiological or pathological stiffness substrates. Leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing, cell clusters with mesenchymal transcriptional features are identified to be more prevalent on pathological substrates than physiological substrates. Trajectory inference analyses reveal a novel mesenchymal-to-endothelial reverse transition, which is blocked by pathological stiffness substrates, in addition to the expected EndMT trajectory. ECs pushed to a mesenchymal character by pathological stiffness substrates are enriched in transcriptional signatures of atherosclerotic ECs from human and murine plaques. This study characterizes at single-cell resolution the transcriptional programs that underpin EC plasticity in both physiological or pathological milieus, and thus serves as a valuable resource for more precisely defining EndMT and the transcriptional programs contributing to atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maedeh Zamani
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Yu-Hao Cheng
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Frank Charbonier
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Vivek Kumar Gupta
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | | | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ovijit Chaudhuri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Patrick Cahan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ngan F Huang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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31
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Li Q, Wang M, Zhang S, Jin M, Chen R, Luo Y, Sun X. Single-cell RNA sequencing in atherosclerosis: Mechanism and precision medicine. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:977490. [PMID: 36267275 PMCID: PMC9576927 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.977490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is the pathological basis of various vascular diseases, including those with high mortality, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. However, its pathogenesis is complex and has not been fully elucidated yet. Over the past few years, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has been developed and widely used in many biological fields to reveal biological mechanisms at the cellular level and solve the problems of cellular heterogeneity that cannot be solved using bulk RNA sequencing. In this review, we briefly summarize the existing scRNA-seq technologies and focus on their application in atherosclerosis research to provide insights into the occurrence, development and treatment of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyu Li
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmacovigilance, Beijing, China
| | - Mengchen Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmacovigilance, Beijing, China
| | - Shuxia Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmacovigilance, Beijing, China
| | - Meiqi Jin
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmacovigilance, Beijing, China
| | - Rongchang Chen
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmacovigilance, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Luo
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmacovigilance, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Luo, ; Xiaobo Sun,
| | - Xiaobo Sun
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Natural Medicine) and Translational Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resource Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmacovigilance, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Yun Luo, ; Xiaobo Sun,
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32
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C/EBPα-Mediated Transcriptional Activation of PIK3C2A Regulates Autophagy, Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression, and Phenotypic of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Aortic Dissection. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:7465353. [PMID: 36132983 PMCID: PMC9484969 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7465353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the function of C/EBPα in the development of aortic dissection (AD) and the underlying mechanism. Methods Aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were isolated, cultured, and identified from AD rats. Then, C/EBPα and PIK3C2A were knockdown or overexpressed by siRNA or plasmid transfection, respectively. Rapamycin or 3-MA was utilized to stimulate and restrain autophagy of VSMCs, respectively. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression levels of C/EBPα, PIK3C2A, LC3, Beclin-1, p62, MMP-2, MMP-9, α-SMA, SM-MHC, and OPN. The pathological status of aortic ring was evaluated by stretch stress, and ChIP assay was used to analyze the binding between C/EBPα and PIK3C2A. C/EBPα shRNA was injected into tail vein to observe the effect of C/EBPα knockdown in vivo on phenotype, autophagy of aortic vascular tissue by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. Results The protein levels of C/EBPα, PIK3C2A, MMP-2, MMP-9, and LC3 in the aorta of AD rats were all upregulated significantly. C/EBPα and rapamycin promoted notable upregulation of the synthesized proteins (OPN), PIK3C2A, matrix metalloproteinases, LC3, and Beclin-1 in VSMCs, while suppressed contractile proteins (α-SMA and SM-MHC) and p62. The opposite results were observed in the C/EBPα-knockdown VSMCs, PIK3C2A-knockdown VSMCs, or VSMCs treated with 3-MA. C/EBPα, PIK3C2A, and LC3 were dramatically upregulated by the stimulation of 3 g and 5 g stretch stress. The downregulated contractile proteins, upregulated synthetic proteins, activated autophagy, and aggravated pathological state in 5 g stretch stress-treated aortic rings were significantly reversed by the knockdown of C/EBPα. ChIP results indicated that there was a binding site for C/EBPα in the promoter of PIK3C2A. C/EBPα also downregulated α-SMA level and upregulated OPN levels in AD rats in vivo. Conclusion Our data indicated that during the development of AD, C/EBPα regulated the transition of VSMC phenotype and extracellular matrix remodeling by activating autophagy through regulating the transcriptional activity of PIK3C2A promoter.
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Salminen A. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) reveals evidence of antagonistic pleiotropy in the regulation of the aging process. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:489. [PMID: 35987825 PMCID: PMC9392714 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04520-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis is a well-known evolutionary theory to explain the aging process. It proposes that while a particular gene may possess beneficial effects during development, it can exert deleterious properties in the aging process. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has a significant role during embryogenesis, but later in life, it promotes several age-related degenerative processes. For instance, AhR factor (i) controls the pluripotency of stem cells and the stemness of cancer stem cells, (ii) it enhances the differentiation of embryonal stem cells, especially AhR signaling modulates the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells, (iii) it also stimulates the differentiation of immunosuppressive Tregs, Bregs, and M2 macrophages, and finally, (iv) AhR signaling participates in the differentiation of many peripheral tissues. On the other hand, AhR signaling is involved in many processes promoting cellular senescence and pathological processes, e.g., osteoporosis, vascular dysfunction, and the age-related remodeling of the immune system. Moreover, it inhibits autophagy and aggravates extracellular matrix degeneration. AhR signaling also stimulates oxidative stress, promotes excessive sphingolipid synthesis, and disturbs energy metabolism by catabolizing NAD+ degradation. The antagonistic pleiotropy of AhR signaling is based on the complex and diverse connections with major signaling pathways in a context-dependent manner. The major regulatory steps include, (i) a specific ligand-dependent activation, (ii) modulation of both genetic and non-genetic responses, (iii) a competition and crosstalk with several transcription factors, such as ARNT, HIF-1α, E2F1, and NF-κB, and (iv) the epigenetic regulation of target genes with binding partners. Thus, not only mTOR signaling but also the AhR factor demonstrates antagonistic pleiotropy in the regulation of the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
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Chattopadhyay A, Guan P, Majumder S, Kaw K, Zhou Z, Zhang C, Prakash SK, Kaw A, Buja LM, Kwartler CS, Milewicz DM. Preventing Cholesterol-Induced Perk (Protein Kinase RNA-Like Endoplasmic Reticulum Kinase) Signaling in Smooth Muscle Cells Blocks Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:1005-1022. [PMID: 35708026 PMCID: PMC9311463 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.121.317451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) undergo complex phenotypic modulation with atherosclerotic plaque formation in hyperlipidemic mice, which is characterized by de-differentiation and heterogeneous increases in the expression of macrophage, fibroblast, osteogenic, and stem cell markers. An increase of cellular cholesterol in SMCs triggers similar phenotypic changes in vitro with exposure to free cholesterol due to cholesterol entering the endoplasmic reticulum, triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress and activating Perk (protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase) signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijnan Chattopadhyay
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.)
| | - Pujun Guan
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.).,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTHealth, Houston (P.G.)
| | - Suravi Majumder
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.)
| | - Kaveeta Kaw
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.)
| | - Zhen Zhou
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.)
| | - Chen Zhang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (C.Z.).,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.Z.)
| | | | - Anita Kaw
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.)
| | - L Maximillian Buja
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (L.M.B.)
| | - Callie S Kwartler
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.)
| | - Dianna M Milewicz
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (A.C., P.G., S.M., K.K., Z.Z., A.K., C.S.K., D.M.M.)
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Ouyang L, Yu C, Xie Z, Su X, Xu Z, Song P, Li J, Huang H, Ding Y, Zou MH. Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1 Deletion-Mediated Kynurenine Insufficiency in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Exacerbates Arterial Calcification. Circulation 2022; 145:1784-1798. [PMID: 35582948 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.057868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND IDO1 (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1) is the rate-limiting enzyme for tryptophan metabolism. IDO1 malfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) with an osteogenic phenotype promote calcification and features of plaque instability. However, it remains unclear whether aberrant IDO1-regulated tryptophan metabolism causes VSMCs osteogenic reprogramming and calcification. METHODS We generated global Apoe (apolipoprotein E) and Ido1 double knockout mice, and Apoe knockout mice with specific deletion of IDO1 in VSMCs or macrophages. Arterial intimal calcification was evaluated by a Western diet-induced atherosclerotic calcification model. RESULTS Global deficiency of IDO1 boosted calcific lesion formation without sex bias in vivo. Conditional IDO1 loss of function in VSMCs rather than macrophages promoted calcific lesion development and the abundance of RUNX2 (runt-related transcription factor 2). In contrast, administration of kynurenine via intraperitoneal injection markedly delayed the progression of intimal calcification in parallel with decreased RUNX2 expression in both Apoe-/- and Apoe-/- Ido1-/- mice. We found that IDO1 deletion restrained RUNX2 from proteasomal degradation, which resulted in enhanced osteogenic reprogramming of VSMCs. Kynurenine administration downregulated RUNX2 in an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent manner. Kynurenine acted as the endogenous ligand of aryl hydrocarbon receptor, controlled resultant interactions between cullin 4B and aryl hydrocarbon receptor to form an E3 ubiquitin ligase that bound with RUNX2, and subsequently promoted ubiquitin-mediated instability of RUNX2 in VSMCs. Serum samples from patients with coronary artery calcification had impaired IDO1 activity and decreased kynurenine catabolites compared with those without calcification. CONCLUSIONS Kynurenine, an IDO1-mediated tryptophan metabolism main product, promotes RUNX2 ubiquitination and subsequently leads to its proteasomal degradation via an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent nongenomic pathway. Insufficient kynurenine exerts the deleterious role of IDO1 ablation in promoting RUNX2-mediated VSMCs osteogenic reprogramming and calcification in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Ouyang
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Georgia State University, Atlanta (L.Q., C.Y., P.S., J.L., Y.D., M.H.Z.)
| | - Changjiang Yu
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Georgia State University, Atlanta (L.Q., C.Y., P.S., J.L., Y.D., M.H.Z.)
| | - Zhiyong Xie
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China (Z. Xie, Z. Xu)
| | - Xiaoyan Su
- Department of Nephropathy, Tungwah Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Dongguan, China (X.S.)
| | - Zengmei Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China (Z. Xie, Z. Xu)
| | - Ping Song
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Georgia State University, Atlanta (L.Q., C.Y., P.S., J.L., Y.D., M.H.Z.)
| | - Jian Li
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Georgia State University, Atlanta (L.Q., C.Y., P.S., J.L., Y.D., M.H.Z.)
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Cardiology, the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China (H.H.)
| | - Ye Ding
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Georgia State University, Atlanta (L.Q., C.Y., P.S., J.L., Y.D., M.H.Z.)
| | - Ming-Hui Zou
- Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Georgia State University, Atlanta (L.Q., C.Y., P.S., J.L., Y.D., M.H.Z.)
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Yu HX, Feng Z, Lin W, Yang K, Liu RQ, Li JQ, Liu XY, Pei M, Yang HT. Ongoing Clinical Trials in Aging-Related Tissue Fibrosis and New Findings Related to AhR Pathways. Aging Dis 2022; 13:732-752. [PMID: 35656117 PMCID: PMC9116921 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.1105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is a pathological manifestation of wound healing that replaces dead/damaged tissue with collagen-rich scar tissue to maintain homeostasis, and complications from fibrosis contribute to nearly half of all deaths in the industrialized world. Ageing is closely associated with a progressive decline in organ function, and the prevalence of tissue fibrosis dramatically increases with age. Despite the heavy clinical and economic burden of organ fibrosis as the population ages, to date, there is a paucity of therapeutic strategies that are specifically designed to slow fibrosis. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is an environment-sensing transcription factor that exacerbates aging phenotypes in different tissues that has been brought back into the spotlight again with economic development since AhR could interact with persistent organic pollutants derived from incomplete waste combustion. In addition, gut microbiota dysbiosis plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, and microbiota-associated tryptophan metabolites are dedicated contributors to fibrogenesis by acting as AhR ligands. Therefore, a better understanding of the effects of tryptophan metabolites on fibrosis modulation through AhR may facilitate the exploitation of new therapeutic avenues for patients with organ fibrosis. In this review, we primarily focus on how tryptophan-derived metabolites are involved in renal fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, hepatic fibrosis and cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, a series of ongoing clinical trials are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang-Xing Yu
- 1Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhe Feng
- 3Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wei Lin
- 1Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Kang Yang
- 4Kidney Disease Treatment Center, The first affiliated hospital of Henan university of CM, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Rui-Qi Liu
- 1Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Jia-Qi Li
- 1Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin-Yue Liu
- 1Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Ming Pei
- 1Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong-Tao Yang
- 1Department of Nephrology, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,2National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
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Huang J, Wang Y, Zhou Y. Beneficial roles of the AhR ligand FICZ on the regenerative potentials of BMSCs and primed cartilage templates. RSC Adv 2022; 12:11505-11516. [PMID: 35425032 PMCID: PMC9007154 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra00622g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are commonly used seed cells, and BMSC-derived primed cartilage templates have been shown to achieve bone regeneration in bone tissue engineering. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in various cellular processes such as osteogenesis and immune regulation. This study investigated the effects of the AhR endogenous ligand 6-formyl (3,2-b) carbazole (FICZ) on the behavior of BMSCs and cartilage templates as well as the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. AhR expressions in rat bone marrow and isolated BMSCs were detected via immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescent staining. Alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining showed that FICZ treatment enhanced the osteogenic potential of BMSCs without influencing their proliferation. FICZ was shown to alleviate the LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, 6 and TNF-α via the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In the chondrogenic process from BMSCs to primed cartilage templates, the expressions of AhR and its target gene cytochrome P450 subfamily B member 1 (CYP1B1) were inhibited. However, IHC staining demonstrated that AhR was still involved in the subcutaneous ossification of cartilage templates. Then, the effects of FICZ on cartilage templates were investigated. The osteogenic markers were upregulated by FICZ administration. The RAW 264.7 treated by condition medium of FICZ-treated cartilage templates exhibited an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Finally, high-throughput sequencing was applied to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the FICZ-treated cartilage templates. The upregulation of cytochrome P450 subfamily A member 1 (CYP1A1) and sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3 (Smpd3) were verified by qPCR, which might be the downstream targets of AhR in the cartilage templates promoting osteogenesis and macrophage polarization. These data implied a beneficial role of FICZ in the regenerative potentials of both BMSCs and primed cartilage templates. The FICZ/AhR axis might be a practical target to achieve optimal bone regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Huang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST), Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University 237 Luoyu Road Wuhan 430079 China +86 27 87873260 +86 27 87686318
| | - Yining Wang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST), Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University 237 Luoyu Road Wuhan 430079 China +86 27 87873260 +86 27 87686318
- Department of Prosthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University Wuhan 430079 China
| | - Yi Zhou
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST), Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University 237 Luoyu Road Wuhan 430079 China +86 27 87873260 +86 27 87686318
- Department of Prosthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University Wuhan 430079 China
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Cheng P, Wirka RC, Kim JB, Kim HJ, Nguyen T, Kundu R, Zhao Q, Sharma D, Pedroza A, Nagao M, Iyer D, Fischbein MP, Quertermous T. Smad3 regulates smooth muscle cell fate and mediates adverse remodeling and calcification of the atherosclerotic plaque. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2022; 1:322-333. [PMID: 36246779 PMCID: PMC9560061 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-022-00042-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerotic plaques consist mostly of smooth muscle cells (SMC), and genes that influence SMC phenotype can modulate coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Allelic variation at 15q22.33 has been identified by genome-wide association studies to modify the risk of CAD and is associated with the expression of SMAD3 in SMC. However, the mechanism by which this gene modifies CAD risk remains poorly understood. Here we show that SMC-specific deletion of Smad3 in a murine atherosclerosis model resulted in greater plaque burden, more outward remodelling and increased vascular calcification. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that loss of Smad3 altered SMC transition cell state toward two fates: a SMC phenotype that governs both vascular remodelling and recruitment of inflammatory cells, as well as a chondromyocyte fate. Together, the findings reveal that Smad3 expression in SMC inhibits the emergence of specific SMC phenotypic transition cells that mediate adverse plaque features, including outward remodelling, monocyte recruitment, and vascular calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Robert C. Wirka
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Juyong Brian Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Hyun-Jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Trieu Nguyen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Ramendra Kundu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Quanyi Zhao
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Albert Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Manabu Nagao
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Dharini Iyer
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Michael P. Fischbein
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
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Misra A, Rehan R, Lin A, Patel S, Fisher EA. Emerging Concepts of Vascular Cell Clonal Expansion in Atherosclerosis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:e74-e84. [PMID: 35109671 PMCID: PMC8988894 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.121.316093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Clonal expansion is a process that can drive pathogenesis in human diseases, with atherosclerosis being a prominent example. Despite advances in understanding the etiology of atherosclerosis, clonality studies of vascular cells remain in an early stage. Recently, several paradigm-shifting preclinical studies have identified clonal expansion of progenitor cells in the vasculature in response to atherosclerosis. This review provides an overview of cell clonality in atherosclerotic progression, focusing particularly on smooth muscle cells and macrophages. We discuss key findings from the latest research that give insight into the mechanisms by which clonal expansion of vascular cells contributes to disease pathology. The further probing of these mechanisms will provide innovative directions for future progress in the understanding and therapy of atherosclerosis and its associated cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Misra
- Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia,Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Rajan Rehan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Alexander Lin
- Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia,School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sanjay Patel
- Heart Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia,Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Edward A Fisher
- Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA,Cardiovascular Research Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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40
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Cheng P, Wirka RC, Clarke LS, Zhao Q, Kundu R, Nguyen T, Nair S, Sharma D, Kim HJ, Shi H, Assimes T, Kim JB, Kundaje A, Quertermous T. ZEB2 Shapes the Epigenetic Landscape of Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2022; 145:469-485. [PMID: 34990206 PMCID: PMC8896308 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.057789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) transition into a number of different phenotypes during atherosclerosis, including those that resemble fibroblasts and chondrocytes, and make up the majority of cells in the atherosclerotic plaque. To better understand the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms that mediate these cell state changes, and how they relate to risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), we have investigated the causality and function of transcription factors at genome-wide associated loci. METHODS We used CRISPR-Cas 9 genome and epigenome editing to identify the causal gene and cells for a complex CAD genome-wide association study signal at 2q22.3. Single-cell epigenetic and transcriptomic profiling in murine models and human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were used to understand the cellular and molecular mechanism by which this CAD risk gene exerts its function. RESULTS CRISPR-Cas 9 genome and epigenome editing showed that the complex CAD genetic signals within a genomic region at 2q22.3 lie within smooth muscle long-distance enhancers for ZEB2, a transcription factor extensively studied in the context of epithelial mesenchymal transition in development of cancer. Zeb2 regulates SMC phenotypic transition through chromatin remodeling that obviates accessibility and disrupts both Notch and transforming growth factor β signaling, thus altering the epigenetic trajectory of SMC transitions. SMC-specific loss of Zeb2 resulted in an inability of transitioning SMCs to turn off contractile programing and take on a fibroblast-like phenotype, but accelerated the formation of chondromyocytes, mirroring features of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques in human coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS These studies identify ZEB2 as a new CAD genome-wide association study gene that affects features of plaque vulnerability through direct effects on the epigenome, providing a new therapeutic approach to target vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cheng
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Robert C. Wirka
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology and Physiology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Lee Shoa Clarke
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Quanyi Zhao
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Ramendra Kundu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Trieu Nguyen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Surag Nair
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Disha Sharma
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Hyun-jung Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Huitong Shi
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Themistocles Assimes
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Juyong Brian Kim
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
| | - Anshul Kundaje
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Thomas Quertermous
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA
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Single-Cell Analysis Uncovers Osteoblast Factor Growth Differentiation Factor 10 as Mediator of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Modulation Associated with Plaque Rupture in Human Carotid Artery Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031796. [PMID: 35163719 PMCID: PMC8836240 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) undergo a complex phenotypic switch in response to atherosclerosis environmental triggers, contributing to atherosclerosis disease progression. However, the complex heterogeneity of VSMCs and how VSMC dedifferentiation affects human carotid artery disease (CAD) risk has not been clearly established. (2) Method: A single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of CD45− cells derived from the atherosclerotic aorta of Apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe−/−) mice on a normal cholesterol diet (NCD) or a high cholesterol diet (HCD), respecting the site-specific predisposition to atherosclerosis was performed. Growth Differentiation Factor 10 (GDF10) role in VSMCs phenotypic switch was investigated via flow cytometry, immunofluorescence in human atherosclerotic plaques. (3) Results: scRNAseq analysis revealed the transcriptomic profile of seven clusters, five of which showed disease-relevant gene signature of VSMC macrophagic calcific phenotype, VSMC mesenchymal chondrogenic phenotype, VSMC inflammatory and fibro-phenotype and VSMC inflammatory phenotype. Osteoblast factor GDF10 involved in ossification and osteoblast differentiation emerged as a hallmark of VSMCs undergoing phenotypic switch. Under hypercholesteremia, GDF10 triggered VSMC osteogenic switch in vitro. The abundance of GDF10 expressing osteogenic-like VSMCs cells was linked to the occurrence of carotid artery disease (CAD) events. (4) Conclusions: Taken together, these results provide evidence about GDF10-mediated VSMC osteogenic switch, with a likely detrimental role in atherosclerotic plaque stability.
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da Silva JF, Bolsoni JA, da Costa RM, Alves JV, Bressan AFM, Silva LEV, Costa TJ, Oliveira AER, Manzato CP, Aguiar CA, Fazan R, Cunha FQ, Nakaya HI, Carneiro FS, Tostes RC. Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation contributes to high-fat diet-induced vascular dysfunction. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:2938-2952. [PMID: 34978070 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Metabolic and vascular dysfunction are common features of obesity. Aryl hydrocarbons receptors (AhR) regulate lipid metabolism and vascular homeostasis, but whether vascular AhR are activated in obesity or if AhR have protective or harmful effects on vascular function in obesity are not known. Thus, our study addressed whether AhR activation contributes to obesity-associated vascular dysfunction and the mechanisms involved in the AhR effects. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Male AhRKO (AhR knockout) and WT (wild type) mice were fed either a control or a HF (high-fat) diet for ten weeks. Metabolic and inflammatory parameters were measured in serum and adipose tissue. Vascular reactivity (isometric force) was evaluated using a myography. eNOS and AhR protein expression was determined by Western blot; Cyp1A1 and eNOS gene expression by RT-PCR. Nitric oxide (NO) production was quantified by DAF fluorescence. KEY RESULTS HF diet increased serum total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol, as well as vascular AhR protein expression and proinflammatory cytokines in the adipose tissue. HF diet decreased endothelium-dependent vasodilation. AhR deletion protected mice from HF diet-induced dyslipidemia, weight gain, and inflammatory processes. HF diet-induced endothelial dysfunction was attenuated in AhRKO mice. Vessels from AhRKO mice exhibited a greater NO reserve. In cultured endothelial cells, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC, a major component of LDL and oxLDL) reduced eNOS gene expression and NO production. Antagonism of AhR abrogated LPC effects on endothelial cells and LPC-induced decreased endothelium-dependent vasodilation. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS AhR deletion attenuates HF diet-induced dyslipidemia and vascular dysfunction by improving eNOS/NO signalling. Targeting AhR may prevent obesity-associated vascular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiane Fernandes da Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Juliana A Bolsoni
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Rafael M da Costa
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.,Academic Unit on Health Sciences, Jataí Federal University, Jataí, Brazil
| | - Juliano V Alves
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Alecsander F M Bressan
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eduardo V Silva
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Antonio E R Oliveira
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.,Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carla P Manzato
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Aguiar
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Rubens Fazan
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Fernando Q Cunha
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Helder I Nakaya
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Israelita Albert Einstein Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando S Carneiro
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Rita C Tostes
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
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McQueen LW, Ladak SS, Abbasciano R, George SJ, Suleiman MS, Angelini GD, Murphy GJ, Zakkar M. Next-Generation and Single-Cell Sequencing Approaches to Study Atherosclerosis and Vascular Inflammation Pathophysiology: A Systematic Review. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:849675. [PMID: 35419441 PMCID: PMC8996078 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.849675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite decades of research into the development and progression of this disease, current management and treatment approaches remain unsatisfactory and further studies are required to understand the exact pathophysiology. This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of currently published data utilizing single-cell and next-generation sequencing techniques to identify key cellular and molecular contributions to atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation. Methods Electronic searches of Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases were undertaken from inception until February 2022. A narrative synthesis of all included studies was performed for all included studies. Quality assessment and risk of bias analysis was evaluated using the ARRIVE and SYRCLE checklist tools. Results Thirty-four studies were eligible for narrative synthesis, with 16 articles utilizing single-cell exclusively, 10 utilizing next-generation sequencing and 8 using a combination of these approaches. Studies investigated numerous targets, ranging from exploratory tissue and plaque analysis, cell phenotype investigation and physiological/hemodynamic contributions to disease progression at both the single-cell and whole genome level. A significant area of focus was placed on smooth muscle cell, macrophage, and stem/progenitor contributions to disease, with little focus placed on contributions of other cell types including lymphocytes and endothelial cells. A significant level of heterogeneity exists in the outcomes from single-cell sequencing of similar samples, leading to inter-sample and inter-study variation. Conclusions Single-cell and next-generation sequencing methodologies offer novel means of elucidating atherosclerosis with significantly higher resolution than previous methodologies. These approaches also show significant potential for translatability into other vascular disease states, by facilitating cell-specific gene expression profiles between disease states. Implementation of these technologies may offer novel approaches to understanding the disease pathophysiology and improving disease prevention, management, and treatment.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021229960, identifier: CRD42021229960.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam W McQueen
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Clinical Science Wing, Glenfield Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Shameem S Ladak
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Clinical Science Wing, Glenfield Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Riccardo Abbasciano
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Clinical Science Wing, Glenfield Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J George
- Bristol Heart Institute and Translational Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol Medical School, Bristol Royal Infirmary, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - M-Saadeh Suleiman
- Bristol Heart Institute and Translational Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol Medical School, Bristol Royal Infirmary, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Gianni D Angelini
- Bristol Heart Institute and Translational Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol Medical School, Bristol Royal Infirmary, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin J Murphy
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Clinical Science Wing, Glenfield Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Mustafa Zakkar
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Clinical Science Wing, Glenfield Hospital, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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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: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [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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45
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Long P, Li Y, Wen Q, Huang M, Li S, Lin Y, Huang X, Chen M, Ouyang J, Ao Y, Qi Q, Zhang H, Ye W, Cheng G, Zhang X, Zhang D. 3'-Oxo-tabernaelegantine A (OTNA) selectively relaxes pulmonary arteries by inhibiting AhR. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 92:153751. [PMID: 34563984 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), characterized by pulmonary artery constriction and vascular remodeling, has a high mortality rate. New drugs for the treatment of PAH urgently need to be developed. PURPOSE This study was designed to investigate the vasorelaxant activity of OTNA in isolated pulmonary arteries, and explore its molecular mechanism. METHODS Pulmonary arteries and thoracic aortas were isolated from mice, and vascular tone was tested with a Wire Myograph System. Nitric oxide levels were determined with DAF-FM DA and DAX-J2™ Red. Cellular thermal shift assays, microscale thermophoresis, and molecular docking were used to identify the interaction between OTNA and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The levels of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, eNOS, p-eNOS, and AhR were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS OTNA selectively relaxed the isolated pulmonary artery rings in an endothelium-dependent manner. Mechanistic study showed that OTNA induced NO production through activation of the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway in endothelial cells. Furthermore, we also found that OTNA directly bound to AhR and activated the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway to dilate pulmonary arteries by inhibiting AhR. CONCLUSIONS OTNA relaxes pulmonary arteries by antagonizing AhR. This study provides a new natural antagonist of AhR as a promising lead compound for PAH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Long
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yong Li
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; School of Pharmacy, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637100, China
| | - Qing Wen
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Maohua Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Songtao Li
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yuning Lin
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaojun Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Minfeng Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jie Ouyang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yunlin Ao
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qi Qi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Haipeng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wencai Ye
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Guohua Cheng
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Xiaoqi Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Xu H, Zhu Y, Li L, Liu S, Song X, Yi T, Wang Y, Wang T, Zhao Q, Liu L, Wu R, Liu S, Feng B, Chen J, Zheng L, Rajagopaplan S, Brook RD, Li J, Cao J, Huang W. Combustion-derived particulate organic matter associated with hemodynamic abnormality and metabolic dysfunction in healthy adults. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 418:126261. [PMID: 34098265 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence on cardiometabolic health of particulate organic matter (POM) and its sources is sparse. In a panel of 73 healthy adults in Beijing, China, daily concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes were measured throughout the study period, and Positive Matrix Factorization approach was used to identity PAHs sources. Linear mixed-effect models and mediation analyses were applied to examine the associations and potential interlink pathways between POM and biomarkers indicative of hemodynamics, insulin resistance, vascular calcification and immune inflammation. We found that significant alterations in cardiometabolic measures were associated with POM exposures. In specific, interquartile range increases in PAHs concentrations at prior up to 9 days were observed in association with significant elevations of 2.6-2.9% in diastolic blood pressure, 6.6-8.1% in soluble ST2, 10.5-14.5% in insulin, 40.9-45.7% in osteoprotegerin, and 36.3-48.7% in interleukin-17A. Greater associations were generally observed for PAHs originating from traffic emissions and coal burning. Mediation analyses revealed that POM exposures may prompt the genesis of hemodynamic abnormalities, possibly via worsening insulin resistance and calcification potential. These findings suggested that cardiometabolic health benefits would be achieved by reducing PM from combustion emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbing Xu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yutong Zhu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan Li
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shengcong Liu
- Division of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoming Song
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tieci Yi
- Division of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Prevention and Health Care, Hospital of Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyan Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rongshan Wu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Baihuan Feng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, University Medical Centre Utrecht, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lemin Zheng
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Peking University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sanjay Rajagopaplan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Case Western Reserve Medical School, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Robert D Brook
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jianping Li
- Division of Cardiology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Junji Cao
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, and Peking University Institute of Environmental Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Sciences of Ministry of Education, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Wang W, Zhao T, Geng K, Yuan G, Chen Y, Xu Y. Smoking and the Pathophysiology of Peripheral Artery Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:704106. [PMID: 34513948 PMCID: PMC8429807 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.704106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Smoking is one of the most important preventable factors causing peripheral artery disease (PAD). The purpose of this review is to comprehensively analyze and summarize the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of smoking in PAD based on existing clinical, in vivo, and in vitro studies. Extensive searches and literature reviews have shown that a large amount of data exists on the pathological process underlying the effects of cigarette smoke and its components on PAD through various mechanisms. Cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) induce endothelial cell dysfunction, smooth muscle cell remodeling and macrophage phenotypic transformation through multiple molecular mechanisms. These pathological changes are the molecular basis for the occurrence and development of peripheral vascular diseases. With few discussions on the topic, we will summarize recent insights into the effect of smoking on regulating PAD through multiple pathways and its possible pathogenic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.,Department of General Surgery (Vascular Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Tingting Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Kang Geng
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Gang Yuan
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Youhua Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
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48
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Yap C, Mieremet A, de Vries CJM, Micha D, de Waard V. Six Shades of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Illuminated by KLF4 (Krüppel-Like Factor 4). Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2021; 41:2693-2707. [PMID: 34470477 PMCID: PMC8545254 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.121.316600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Multiple layers of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) are present in blood vessels forming the media of the vessel wall. vSMCs provide a vessel wall structure, enabling it to contract and relax, thus modulating blood flow. They also play a crucial role in the development of vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysm formation. vSMCs display a remarkable high degree of plasticity. At present, the number of different vSMC phenotypes has only partially been characterized. By mapping vSMC phenotypes in detail and identifying triggers for phenotype switching, the relevance of the different phenotypes in vascular disease may be identified. Up until recently, vSMCs were classified as either contractile or dedifferentiated (ie, synthetic). However, single-cell RNA sequencing studies revealed such dedifferentiated arterial vSMCs to be highly diverse. Currently, no consensus exist about the number of vSMC phenotypes. Therefore, we reviewed the data from relevant single-cell RNA sequencing studies, and classified a total of 6 vSMC phenotypes. The central dedifferentiated vSMC type that we classified is the mesenchymal-like phenotype. Mesenchymal-like vSMCs subsequently seem to differentiate into fibroblast-like, macrophage-like, osteogenic-like, and adipocyte-like vSMCs, which contribute differentially to vascular disease. This phenotype switching between vSMCs requires the transcription factor KLF4 (Kruppel-like factor 4). Here, we performed an integrated analysis of the data about the recently identified vSMC phenotypes, their associated gene expression profiles, and previous vSMC knowledge to better understand the role of vSMC phenotype transitions in vascular pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Yap
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands (C.Y., A.M., C.J.M.d.V., V.d.W.)
| | - Arnout Mieremet
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands (C.Y., A.M., C.J.M.d.V., V.d.W.)
| | - Carlie J M de Vries
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands (C.Y., A.M., C.J.M.d.V., V.d.W.)
| | - Dimitra Micha
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (D.M.)
| | - Vivian de Waard
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, The Netherlands (C.Y., A.M., C.J.M.d.V., V.d.W.)
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49
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Shih TL, Lin KH, Chen RJ, Chen TY, Kao WT, Liu JW, Wang HH, Peng HY, Sun YY, Lu WJ. A novel naphthalimide derivative reduces platelet activation and thrombus formation via suppressing GPVI. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:9434-9446. [PMID: 34448532 PMCID: PMC8500964 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Naphthalimide derivatives have multiple biological activities, including antitumour and anti‐inflammatory activities. We previously synthesized several naphthalimide derivatives; of them, compound 5 was found to exert the strongest inhibitory effect on human DNA topoisomerase II activity. However, the effects of naphthalimide derivatives on platelet activation have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the mechanism underlying the antiplatelet activity of compound 5 was determined in this study. The data revealed that compound 5 (5–10 μM) inhibited collagen‐ and convulxin‐ but not thrombin‐ or U46619‐mediated platelet aggregation, suggesting that compound 5 is more sensitive to the inhibition of glycoprotein VI (GPVI) signalling. Indeed, compound 5 could inhibit the phosphorylation of signalling molecules downstream of GPVI, followed by the inhibition of calcium mobilization, granule release and GPIIb/IIIa activation. Moreover, compound 5 prevented pulmonary embolism and prolonged the occlusion time, but tended to prolong the bleeding time, indicating that it can prevent thrombus formation but may increase bleeding risk. This study is the first to demonstrate that the naphthalimide derivative compound 5 exerts antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. Future studies should modify compound 5 to synthesize more potent and efficient antiplatelet agents while minimizing bleeding risk, which may offer a therapeutic potential for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzenge-Lien Shih
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Hung Lin
- Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ray-Jade Chen
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yu Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Kao
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Wei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Tamkang University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsueh-Hsiao Wang
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsien-Yu Peng
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Yo Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Brain Immunology and Glia (BIG), University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Wan-Jung Lu
- Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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50
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Zablon HA, Ko CI, Puga A. Converging Roles of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Early Embryonic Development, Maintenance of Stemness, and Tissue Repair. Toxicol Sci 2021; 182:1-9. [PMID: 34009372 PMCID: PMC8285021 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor well-known for its adaptive role as a sensor of environmental toxicants and mediator of the metabolic detoxification of xenobiotic ligands. In addition, a growing body of experimental data has provided indisputable evidence that the AHR regulates critical functions of cell physiology and embryonic development. Recent studies have shown that the naïve AHR-that is, unliganded to xenobiotics but activated endogenously-has a crucial role in maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency, tissue repair, and regulation of cancer stem cell stemness. Depending on the cellular context, AHR silences the expression of pluripotency genes Oct4 and Nanog and potentiates differentiation, whereas curtailing cellular plasticity and stemness. In these processes, AHR-mediated contextual responses and outcomes are dictated by changes of interacting partners in signaling pathways, gene networks, and cell-type-specific genomic structures. In this review, we focus on AHR-mediated changes of genomic architecture as an emerging mechanism for the AHR to regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. Collective evidence places this receptor as a physiological hub connecting multiple biological processes whose disruption impacts on embryonic development, tissue repair, and maintenance or loss of stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
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