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Sun Y, Hao M, Wu H, Zhang C, Wei D, Li S, Song Z, Tao Y. Unveiling the role of CaMKII in retinal degeneration: from biological mechanism to therapeutic strategies. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:59. [PMID: 38725013 PMCID: PMC11084033 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01236-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a family of broad substrate specificity serine (Ser)/threonine (Thr) protein kinases that play a crucial role in the Ca2+-dependent signaling pathways. Its significance as an intracellular Ca2+ sensor has garnered abundant research interest in the domain of neurodegeneration. Accumulating evidences suggest that CaMKII is implicated in the pathology of degenerative retinopathies such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and glaucoma optic neuropathy. CaMKII can induce the aberrant proliferation of retinal blood vessels, influence the synaptic signaling, and exert dual effects on the survival of retinal ganglion cells and pigment epithelial cells. Researchers have put forth multiple therapeutic agents, encompassing small molecules, peptides, and nucleotides that possess the capability to modulate CaMKII activity. Due to its broad range isoforms and splice variants therapeutic strategies seek to inhibit specifically the CaMKII are confronted with considerable challenges. Therefore, it becomes crucial to discern the detrimental and advantageous aspects of CaMKII, thereby facilitating the development of efficacious treatment. In this review, we summarize recent research findings on the cellular and molecular biology of CaMKII, with special emphasis on its metabolic and regulatory mechanisms. We delve into the involvement of CaMKII in the retinal signal transduction pathways and discuss the correlation between CaMKII and calcium overload. Furthermore, we elaborate the therapeutic trials targeting CaMKII, and introduce recent developments in the zone of CaMKII inhibitors. These findings would enrich our knowledge of CaMKII, and shed light on the development of a therapeutic target for degenerative retinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
- College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Mengyu Hao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
- College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
- College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Chengzhi Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
- College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Dong Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
- College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Siyu Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
- College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Zongming Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
| | - Ye Tao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
- College of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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Chacar S, Abdi A, Almansoori K, Alshamsi J, Al Hageh C, Zalloua P, Khraibi AA, Holt SG, Nader M. Role of CaMKII in diabetes induced vascular injury and its interaction with anti-diabetes therapy. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2024; 25:369-382. [PMID: 38064002 PMCID: PMC10943158 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09855-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder denoted by chronic hyperglycemia that drives maladaptive structural changes and functional damage to the vasculature. Attenuation of this pathological remodeling of blood vessels remains an unmet target owing to paucity of information on the metabolic signatures of this process. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is expressed in the vasculature and is implicated in the control of blood vessels homeostasis. Recently, CaMKII has attracted a special attention in view of its chronic upregulated activity in diabetic tissues, yet its role in the diabetic vasculature remains under investigation.This review highlights the physiological and pathological actions of CaMKII in the diabetic vasculature, with focus on the control of the dialogue between endothelial (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Activation of CaMKII enhances EC and VSMC proliferation and migration, and increases the production of extracellular matrix which leads to maladaptive remodeling of vessels. This is manifested by activation of genes/proteins implicated in the control of the cell cycle, cytoskeleton organization, proliferation, migration, and inflammation. Endothelial dysfunction is paralleled by impaired nitric oxide signaling, which is also influenced by CaMKII signaling (activation/oxidation). The efficiency of CaMKII inhibitors is currently being tested in animal models, with a focus on the genetic pathways involved in the regulation of CaMKII expression (microRNAs and single nucleotide polymorphisms). Interestingly, studies highlight an interaction between the anti-diabetic drugs and CaMKII expression/activity which requires further investigation. Together, the studies reviewed herein may guide pharmacological approaches to improve health-related outcomes in patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Chacar
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Abdulhamid Abdi
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khalifa Almansoori
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jawaher Alshamsi
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Cynthia Al Hageh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Pierre Zalloua
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali A Khraibi
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stephen G Holt
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- SEHA Kidney Care, SEHA, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Moni Nader
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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Liu H, Lu WL, Hong HQ, Li MJ, Ye MP, Rao QF, Kong JL, Luan SH, Huang Y, Hu QH, Wu FR. CaM/CaMKII mediates activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells regulated by ASIC1a. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:996667. [PMID: 36588718 PMCID: PMC9797583 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.996667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is closely related to hepatic fibrosis and plays a key role in its occurrence and development. In the damaged liver, inhibition of the activation, proliferation, and clearance of HSCs is an important therapeutic strategy. However, the mechanism underlying the activation of HSCs is not completely clear. Acid-sensitive ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is a cation channel activated by extracellular acid, which is responsible for the transport of Ca2+ and Na+ and participates in the activation of HSCs and the occurrence and development of many inflammatory diseases, suggesting that ASIC1a plays an important role in liver fibrosis. A previous study by the project team found that when the membrane channel protein ASIC1a was opened, intracellular Ca2+ levels increased, the expression of CaM/CaMKII in HSCs was high, and HSC was activated and proliferated. Therefore, we established an SD rat model of hepatic fibrosis and induced HSC-T6 activation by stimulating ASIC1a with acid in vitro. In vivo, CCl4 was used to induce liver fibrosis in rats, and different doses of KN93 (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg/d) and colchicine (0.1 mg/kg/d) were administered. Eight weeks later, the activities of ALT and AST in serum were measured and hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining in liver tissue, and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed in SD rats. The expressions of ASIC1a, α-SMA, Collagen-1, CaM, and CaMKII were detected. In vitro, we activated HSC-T6 cells by stimulating ASIC1a with acid. The results showed that inhibition of ASIC1a could improve acid-induced HSCs activation. In addition, CaM/CaMKII was expressed in HSC of rats with hepatic fibrosis regulated by ASIC1a. After blocking or silencing the expression of CaMKII, the fibrosis marker protein can be down-regulated. KN93 also reduced inflammation and improved the activation, proliferation and fibrosis of HSC. In summary, we concluded that CaM/CaMKII participates in ASIC1a regulation of the proliferation and activation of HSC and promotes the occurrence of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wei-Li Lu
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hai-Qin Hong
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Meng-Jun Li
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Man-Ping Ye
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qiu-Fan Rao
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jin-Ling Kong
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shao-Hua Luan
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qing-Hua Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Qing-Hua Hu, ; Fan-Rong Wu,
| | - Fan-Rong Wu
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China,*Correspondence: Qing-Hua Hu, ; Fan-Rong Wu,
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Mouse Lines with Cre-Mediated Recombination in Retinal Amacrine Cells. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0255-21.2021. [PMID: 35045975 PMCID: PMC8856716 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0255-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Amacrine cells (ACs) are the most diverse neuronal cell type in the vertebrate retina. Yet little is known about the contribution of ACs to visual processing and retinal disease. A major challenge in evaluating AC function is genetic accessibility. A classic tool of mouse genetics, Cre-mediated recombination, can provide such access. We have screened existing genetically-modified mouse strains and identified multiple candidates that express Cre-recombinase in subsets of retinal ACs. The Cre-expressing mice were crossed to fluorescent-reporter mice to assay Cre expression. In addition, a Cre-dependent fluorescent reporter plasmid was electroporated into the subretinal space of Cre strains. Herein, we report three mouse lines (Tac1::IRES-cre, Camk2a-cre, and Scx-cre) that express Cre recombinase in sub-populations of ACs. In two of these lines, recombination occurred in multiple AC types and a small number of other retinal cell types, while recombination in the Camk2a-cre line appears specific to a morphologically distinct AC. We anticipate that these characterized mouse lines will be valuable tools to the community of researchers who study retinal biology and disease.
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Zheng Z, Wang X, Wang Y, King JAC, Xie P, Wu S. CaMK4 is a downstream effector of the α 1G T-type calcium channel to determine the angiogenic potential of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 321:C964-C977. [PMID: 34586897 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00216.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) uniquely express an α1G-subtype of voltage-gated T-type Ca2+ channel. We have previously revealed that the α1G channel functions as a background Ca2+ entry pathway that is critical for the cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenic potential of PMVECs, a novel function attributed to the coupling between α1G-mediated Ca2+ entry and constitutive Akt phosphorylation and activation. Despite this significance, mechanism(s) that link the α1G-mediated Ca2+ entry to Akt phosphorylation remain incompletely understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) 4 serves as a downstream effector of the α1G-mediated Ca2+ entry to promote the angiogenic potential of PMVECs. Notably, CaMK2 and CaMK4 are both expressed in PMVECs. Pharmacological blockade or genetic knockdown of the α1G channel led to a significant reduction in the phosphorylation level of CaMK4 but not the phosphorylation level of CaMK2. Pharmacological inhibition as well as genetic knockdown of CaMK4 significantly decreased cell proliferation, migration, and network formation capacity in PMVECs. However, CaMK4 inhibition or knockdown did not alter Akt phosphorylation status in PMVECs, indicating that α1G/Ca2+/CaMK4 is independent of the α1G/Ca2+/Akt pathway in sustaining the cells' angiogenic potential. Altogether, these findings suggest a novel α1G-CaMK4 signaling complex that regulates the Ca2+-dominated angiogenic potential in PMVECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Xuelin Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuxia Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Judy A C King
- Department of Pathology and Translational Pathobiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | - Peilin Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Songwei Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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6
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Geng B, Zhu Y, Yuan Y, Bai J, Dou Z, Sui A, Luo W. Artesunate Suppresses Choroidal Melanoma Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation and Angiogenesis via the Wnt/CaMKII Signaling Axis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:714646. [PMID: 34476217 PMCID: PMC8406848 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.714646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) are considered to be the main processes to ensure tumor blood supply during the proliferation and metastasis of choroidal melanoma (CM). The traditional antimalarial drug artesunate (ART) has some potential anti-CM effects; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclarified. Recent studies have shown that the Wnt5a/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) signaling pathway has a close correlation with angiogenesis and VM formation. This study demonstrated that ART eliminated VM formation by inhibiting the aforementioned signaling pathway in CM cells. The microvessel sprouting of the mouse aortic rings and the microvessel density of chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) decreased significantly after ART treatment. VM formation assay and periodic acid schiff (PAS) staining revealed that ART inhibited VM formation in CM. Moreover, ART downregulated the expression levels of the angiogenesis-related proteins vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) 2, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, and VM-related proteins ephrin type-A receptor (EphA) 2 and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, Wnt5a, and phosphorylated CaMKII was also downregulated after ART treatment. In addition, we further demonstrated that ART inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OCM-1 and C918 cells. Collectively, our results suggested that ART inhibited angiogenesis and VM formation of choroidal melanoma likely by regulating the Wnt5a/CaMKII signaling pathway. These findings further supported the feasibility of ART for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bochao Geng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuanzhang Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingying Yuan
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jingyi Bai
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhizhi Dou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Aihua Sui
- Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenjuan Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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O'Brien BJ, Singer HA, Adam AP, Ginnan RG. CaMKIIδ is upregulated by pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in a JAK/STAT3-dependent manner to promote angiogenesis. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21437. [PMID: 33749880 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002755r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a ubiquitous serine threonine kinase with established roles in physiological and pathophysiological vascular remodeling. Based on our previous study demonstrating that CaMKIIδ promotes thrombin-induced endothelial permeability and recent reports that CaMKII may contribute to inflammatory remodeling in the heart, we investigated CaMKIIδ-dependent regulation of endothelial function downstream of an interleukin-6 (IL-6)/JAK/STAT3 signaling axis. Upon treatment with IL-6 and its soluble receptor (sIL-6r), CaMKIIδ expression is significantly induced in HUVEC. Using pharmacological inhibitors of JAK and siRNA targeting STAT3, we demonstrated that activation of STAT3 is sufficient to induce CaMKIIδ expression. Under these conditions, rather than promoting IL-6-induced permeability, we found that CaMKIIδ promotes endothelial cell migration as measured by live cell imaging of scratch wound closure and single-cell motility analysis. In a similar manner, endothelial cell proliferation was attenuated upon knockdown of CaMKIIδ as determined by growth curves, cell cycle analysis, and capacitance of cell-covered electrodes as measured by ECIS. Using inducible endothelial-specific STAT3 knockout mice, we demonstrate that STAT3 signaling promotes developmental angiogenesis in the neonatal mouse retina assessed at postnatal day 6. CaMKIIδ expression in retinal endothelium was attenuated in these animals as measured by qPCR. STAT3's effects on angiogenesis were phenocopied by the endothelial-specific knockout of CaMKIIδ, with significantly reduced vascular outgrowth and number of junctions in the developing P6 retina. For the first time, we demonstrate that transcriptional regulation of CaMKIIδ by STAT3 promotes endothelial motility, proliferation, and in vivo angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan J O'Brien
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Harold A Singer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Alejandro P Adam
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Roman G Ginnan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
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Liu W, Ha Y, Xia F, Zhu S, Li Y, Shi S, Mei FC, Merkley K, Vizzeri G, Motamedi M, Cheng X, Liu H, Zhang W. Neuronal Epac1 mediates retinal neurodegeneration in mouse models of ocular hypertension. J Exp Med 2020; 217:133574. [PMID: 31918438 PMCID: PMC7144517 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20190930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) leads to irreversible visual deficits in glaucoma. Here, we found that the level of cyclic AMP and the activity and expression of its mediator Epac1 were increased in retinas of two mouse models of ocular hypertension. Genetic depletion of Epac1 significantly attenuated ocular hypertension–induced detrimental effects in the retina, including vascular inflammation, neuronal apoptosis and necroptosis, thinning of ganglion cell complex layer, RGC loss, and retinal neuronal dysfunction. With bone marrow transplantation and various Epac1 conditional knockout mice, we further demonstrated that Epac1 in retinal neuronal cells (especially RGCs) was responsible for their death. Consistently, pharmacologic inhibition of Epac activity prevented RGC loss. Moreover, in vitro study on primary RGCs showed that Epac1 activation was sufficient to induce RGC death, which was mechanistically mediated by CaMKII activation. Taken together, these findings indicate that neuronal Epac1 plays a critical role in retinal neurodegeneration and suggest that Epac1 could be considered a target for neuroprotection in glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.,Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yonju Ha
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Shuang Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Shuizhen Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Fang C Mei
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Texas Therapeutics Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Kevin Merkley
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Gianmarco Vizzeri
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Massoud Motamedi
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, Texas Therapeutics Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Hua Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.,Departments of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
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9
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Endothelial Ca 2+ Signaling, Angiogenesis and Vasculogenesis: just What It Takes to Make a Blood Vessel. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20163962. [PMID: 31416282 PMCID: PMC6721072 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20163962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been known that endothelial Ca2+ signals drive angiogenesis by recruiting multiple Ca2+-sensitive decoders in response to pro-angiogenic cues, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, stromal derived factor-1α and angiopoietins. Recently, it was shown that intracellular Ca2+ signaling also drives vasculogenesis by stimulation proliferation, tube formation and neovessel formation in endothelial progenitor cells. Herein, we survey how growth factors, chemokines and angiogenic modulators use endothelial Ca2+ signaling to regulate angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. The endothelial Ca2+ response to pro-angiogenic cues may adopt different waveforms, ranging from Ca2+ transients or biphasic Ca2+ signals to repetitive Ca2+ oscillations, and is mainly driven by endogenous Ca2+ release through inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors and by store-operated Ca2+ entry through Orai1 channels. Lysosomal Ca2+ release through nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate-gated two-pore channels is, however, emerging as a crucial pro-angiogenic pathway, which sustains intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Understanding how endothelial Ca2+ signaling regulates angiogenesis and vasculogenesis could shed light on alternative strategies to induce therapeutic angiogenesis or interfere with the aberrant vascularization featuring cancer and intraocular disorders.
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