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Javed MJ, Howard RM, Li H, Carrasco L, Dirain MLS, Su G, Cai G, Upchurch GR, Jiang Z. Gasdermin D deficiency attenuates development of ascending aortic dissections in a novel mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.22.609270. [PMID: 39229014 PMCID: PMC11370574 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.22.609270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a silent killer. Approximately two-thirds of the cases occur in the ascending aorta (i.e. type A dissection) and majority of them are unrelated to genetic mutations. However, animal models of spontaneous type A dissection are not widely available. In the present study, a novel mouse TAD model was created. Further, the role of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in TAD development was evaluated. Methods TADs were created by treating ascending aorta of adult mice (C57BL/6J) with active elastase (40.0 U/ml) and β-aminopropionitrile (Act E+BAPN). The temporal progress of the TAD pathology was rigorously characterized by histological evaluation and scanning electron microscopy, while potential mechanisms explored with bulk RNA sequencing of specimens collected at multiple timepoints. With this novel TAD model, further experiments were performed with Gsdmd -/- mice to evaluate its impact on TAD formation. Results The ascending aorta challenged with Act E+BAPN developed pathology characterized by an early onset of intimomedial tears (complete penetration) and intramural hematoma, followed by progressive medial loss and aortic dilation. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and functional annotation of differentially expressed genes suggested that a unique inflammatory micro-environment, rather than general inflammation, promoted the onset of TADs by specifically recruiting neutrophils to the aortic wall, while the pathology at the advanced stage was driven by T-cell mediated immune injury. Gsdmd -/- attenuated medial loss, adventitial fibrosis, and dilation of TADs. This protective effect was associated with a reduced number of TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) positive cells and T-cells in TADs. Conclusions A novel mouse TAD model was created in the ascending aorta. It produces a unique microenvironment to activate different immune cell subsets, promoting onset and subsequent remodeling of TADs. Consistently, Gsdmd -/- attenuates TAD development, with modulation of cell death and T-cell response likely acting as the underlying mechanism.
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2
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Wang S, Liu H, Hu J, Li T, Li B. The Cdc42/Rac1 pathway: a molecular mechanism behind iron-deficiency-driven aortic medial degeneration. Am J Transl Res 2024; 16:3922-3937. [PMID: 39262709 PMCID: PMC11384388 DOI: 10.62347/yisx1726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate the underlying mechanism of iron deficiency augmented Angiotensin II-induced aortic medial degeneration. METHODS ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (NC group), Angiotensin II (Ang II) subcutaneous pumped alone Group (Ang II group), iron deficiency (ID) group (ID group) and ID+Ang II group. The survival time, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and aortic medial degeneration (AMD) formation were monitored. Iron deposition in the aortas was assessed using Prussian blue iron staining. The expression of iron metabolism indicators, aortopathies and the cytoskeleton of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were analyzed. In an in vitro setting, deferoxamine (DFO) was employed to mimic ID to examine the effects of Ang II on the cytoskeletal and contractile function of VSMCs during ID. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac-1) expression was inhibited with EHT1864 to verify the role of Cdc42/Rac1 pathway in this pathological process. Blood samples were collected from 150 patients with aortic dissection (AD) and 60 patients with hypertension who were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between June 2018 and September 2019. The aortic tissues were obtained during the surgical treatment of Stanford type A AD patients and the heart donor. The iron metabolism status in plasma and aortic tissue was analyzed. RESULTS In vivo experiments revealed that, in comparison to the NC and ID groups, mice in the Ang II and ID+Ang II groups exhibited increased SBP, significantly reduced survival time, and an expanded range of aortic dissection (P < 0.05). ID feeding augmented the Ang II-induced aortopathies. Both in vitro and in vivo results indicated that ID led to diminished expression of phosphorylated myosin light chain (p-MLC) and recombinant Cell Division Cycle Protein 42 (Cdc42) in VSMCs, while Rac-1 expression increased. The clinical sample testing data further confirmed the discovery that individuals diagnosed with AD display ID in both the plasma and the diseased aortas. CONCLUSIONS The Cdc42/Rac1 pathway plays a crucial role in disrupting the cytoskeleton of vascular smooth muscle cells during iron deficiency, which leads to aortic medial degeneration both in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Hengjuan Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Junxia Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Skin Medical Cosmetology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University Wuhan 430060, Hubei, China
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Xu Y, Zhang H, Chen Y, Pober JS, Zhou M, Zhou JH, Min W. SRF SUMOylation modulates smooth muscle phenotypic switch and vascular remodeling. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6919. [PMID: 39134547 PMCID: PMC11319592 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51350-5] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Serum response factor (SRF) controls gene transcription in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and regulates VSMC phenotypic switch from a contractile to a synthetic state, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). It is not known how post-translational SUMOylation regulates the SRF activity in CVD. Here we show that Senp1 deficiency in VSMCs increased SUMOylated SRF and the SRF-ELK complex, leading to augmented vascular remodeling and neointimal formation in mice. Mechanistically, SENP1 deficiency in VSMCs increases SRF SUMOylation at lysine 143, reducing SRF lysosomal localization concomitant with increased nuclear accumulation and switching a contractile phenotype-responsive SRF-myocardin complex to a synthetic phenotype-responsive SRF-ELK1 complex. SUMOylated SRF and phospho-ELK1 are increased in VSMCs from coronary arteries of CVD patients. Importantly, ELK inhibitor AZD6244 prevents the shift from SRF-myocardin to SRF-ELK complex, attenuating VSMC synthetic phenotypes and neointimal formation in Senp1-deficient mice. Therefore, targeting the SRF complex may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Xu
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yuxin Chen
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Jordan S Pober
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Min Zhou
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jenny Huanjiao Zhou
- Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Wang Min
- Cardiovascular Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
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4
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Song T, Zhao S, Luo S, Chen C, Liu X, Wu X, Sun Z, Cao J, Wang Z, Wang Y, Yu B, Zhang Z, Du X, Li X, Han Z, Chen H, Chen F, Wang L, Wang H, Sun K, Han Y, Xie L, Ji Y. SLC44A2 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and aortic aneurysm. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e173690. [PMID: 38916960 PMCID: PMC11324303 DOI: 10.1172/jci173690] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening disease with limited interventions that is closely related to vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switching. SLC44A2, a member of the solute carrier series 44 (SLC44) family, remains undercharacterized in the context of cardiovascular diseases. Venn diagram analysis based on microarray and single-cell RNA sequencing identified SLC44A2 as a major regulator of VSMC phenotypic switching in aortic aneurysm. Screening for Slc44a2 among aortic cell lineages demonstrated its predominant location in VSMCs. Elevated levels of SLC44A2 were evident in the aorta of both patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and angiotensin II-infused (Ang II-infused) Apoe-/- mice. In vitro, SLC44A2 silencing promoted VSMCs toward a synthetic phenotype, while SLC44A2 overexpression attenuated VSMC phenotypic switching. VSMC-specific SLC44A2-knockout mice were more susceptible to aortic aneurysm under Ang II infusion, while SLC44A2 overexpression showed protective effects. Mechanistically, SLC44A2's interaction with NRP1 and ITGB3 activates TGF-β/SMAD signaling, thereby promoting contractile gene expression. Elevated SLC44A2 in aortic aneurysm is associated with upregulated runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1). Furthermore, low-dose lenalidomide (LEN; 20 mg/kg/day) suppressed aortic aneurysm progression by enhancing SLC44A2 expression. These findings reveal that the SLC44A2-NRP1-ITGB3 complex is a major regulator of VSMC phenotypic switching and provide a potential therapeutic approach (LEN) for aortic aneurysm treatment.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Angiotensin II/pharmacology
- Aortic Aneurysm/genetics
- Aortic Aneurysm/metabolism
- Aortic Aneurysm/pathology
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/metabolism
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/pathology
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/genetics
- Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Phenotype
- Signal Transduction
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Song
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuang Zhao
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shanshan Luo
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuansheng Chen
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xingeng Liu
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoqi Wu
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhongxu Sun
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiawei Cao
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yineng Wang
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), and
| | - Zhiren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), and
- Department of Cardiology, Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, Harbin Medical University, China
| | - Xiaolong Du
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Li
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhijian Han
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongshan Chen
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, and
| | - Liansheng Wang
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kangyun Sun
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yi Han
- Critical Care Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Liping Xie
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Ji
- Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), and
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5
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Karbasion N, Xu Y, Snider JC, Bersi MR. Primary Mouse Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells Exhibit Region- and Sex-Dependent Biological Responses In Vitro. J Biomech Eng 2024; 146:060904. [PMID: 38421345 PMCID: PMC11005860 DOI: 10.1115/1.4064965] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Despite advancements in elucidating biological mechanisms of cardiovascular remodeling, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide. When stratified by sex, clear differences in CVD prevalence and mortality between males and females emerge. Regional differences in phenotype and biological response of cardiovascular cells are important for localizing the initiation and progression of CVD. Thus, to better understand region and sex differences in CVD presentation, we have focused on characterizing in vitro behaviors of primary vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from the thoracic and abdominal aorta of male and female mice. VSMC contractility was assessed by traction force microscopy (TFM; single cell) and collagen gel contraction (collective) with and without stimulation by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and cell proliferation was assessed by a colorimetric metabolic assay (MTT). Gene expression and TFM analysis revealed region- and sex-dependent behaviors, whereas collagen gel contraction was consistent across sex and aortic region under baseline conditions. Thoracic VSMCs showed a sex-dependent sensitivity to TGF-β1-induced collagen gel contraction (female > male; p = 0.025) and a sex-dependent proliferative response (female > male; p < 0.001) that was not apparent in abdominal VSMCs. Although primary VSMCs exhibit intrinsic region and sex differences in biological responses that may be relevant for CVD presentation, several factors-such as inflammation and sex hormones-were not included in this study. Such factors should be included in future studies of in vitro mechanobiological responses relevant to CVD differences in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niyousha Karbasion
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Yujun Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
- Washington University in St. Louis
| | - J. Caleb Snider
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
- Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Matthew R. Bersi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Washington University at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
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6
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Ren P, Jiang B, Hassab A, Li G, Li W, Assi R, Tellides G. Heterogeneous Cardiac- and Neural Crest-Derived Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells have Similar Transcriptional Changes after TGFβ Signaling Disruption. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.28.591539. [PMID: 38746256 PMCID: PMC11092432 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.28.591539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of cardiac and neural crest origin contribute to the developing proximal aorta and are linked to disease propensity in adults. We analyzed single-cell transcriptomes of SMCs from mature thoracic aortas in mice to determine basal states and changes after disrupting transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling necessary for aortic homeostasis. A minority of Myh11 lineage-marked SMCs differentially expressed genes suggestive of embryological origin. Additional analyses in Nkx2-5 and Wnt1 lineage-marked SMCs derived from cardiac and neural crest progenitors, respectively, showed both lineages contributed to a major common cluster and each lineage to a minor distinct cluster. Common cluster SMCs extended from root to arch, cardiac subset cluster SMCs from root to mid-ascending, while neural crest subset cluster SMCs were restricted to the arch. The neural crest subset cluster had greater expression of a subgroup of TGFβ-dependent genes suggesting specific responsiveness or skewed extracellular matrix synthesis. Nonetheless, deletion of TGFβ receptors in SMCs resulted in similar transcriptional changes among all clusters, primarily decreased extracellular matrix molecules and modulators of TGFβ signaling. Many embryological markers of murine aortic SMCs were not confirmed in adult human aortas. We conclude: (i) there are multiple subtypes of cardiac- and neural crest-derived SMCs with shared or distinctive transcriptional profiles, (ii) neural crest subset SMCs with increased expression of certain TGFβ-inducible genes are not spatially linked to the aortic root predisposed to aneurysms from aberrant TGFβ signaling, and (iii) loss of TGFβ responses after receptor deletion is uniform among SMCs of different embryological origins.
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7
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Jiang B, Ren P, He C, Wang M, Murtada SI, Chen Y, Ramachandra AB, Li G, Qin L, Assi R, Schwartz MA, Humphrey JD, Tellides G. Short-Term Disruption of TGFβ Signaling in Adult Mice Renders the Aorta Vulnerable to Hypertension-Induced Dissection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.22.590484. [PMID: 38712205 PMCID: PMC11071440 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Hypertension and transient increases in blood pressure from extreme exertion are risk factors for aortic dissection in patients with age-related vascular degeneration or inherited connective tissue disorders. Yet, the common experimental model of angiotensin II-induced aortopathy in mice appears independent of high blood pressure as lesions do not occur in response to an alternative vasoconstrictor, norepinephrine, and are not prevented by co-treatment with a vasodilator, hydralazine. We investigated vasoconstrictor administration to adult mice 1 week after disruption of TGFβ signaling in smooth muscle cells. Norepinephrine increased blood pressure and induced aortic dissection by 7 days and even within 30 minutes that was rescued by hydralazine; results were similar with angiotensin II. Changes in regulatory contractile molecule expression were not of pathological significance. Rather, reduced synthesis of extracellular matrix yielded a vulnerable aortic phenotype by decreasing medial collagen, most dynamically type XVIII, and impairing cell-matrix adhesion. We conclude that transient and sustained increases in blood pressure cause dissection in aortas rendered vulnerable by inhibition of TGFβ-driven extracellular matrix production by smooth muscle cells. A corollary is that medial fibrosis, a frequent feature of medial degeneration, may afford some protection against aortic dissection.
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8
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Dang Z, Li H, Xue S, Shao B, Ning Y, Su G, Zhang F, Yu W, Leng S. Histone deacetylase 9-mediated phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells is a potential target for treating aortic aneurysm/dissection. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116396. [PMID: 38460370 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116396] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Aortic aneurysm/dissection (AAD) is a serious cardiovascular condition characterized by rapid onset and high mortality rates. Currently, no effective drug treatment options are known for AAD. AAD pathogenesis is associated with the phenotypic transformation and abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, endogenous factors that contribute to AAD progression remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) in AAD pathogenesis. HDAC9 expression was considerably increased in human thoracic aortic dissection specimens. Using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that HDAC9 transcriptionally inhibited the expression of superoxide dismutase 2 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3, which are critically involved in various signaling pathways. Furthermore, HDAC9 triggered the transformation of VSMCs from a systolic to synthetic phenotype, increasing their proliferation and migration abilities and suppressing their apoptosis. Consistent with these results, in vivo experiments revealed that TMP195, a pharmacological inhibitor of HDAC9, suppressed the formation of the β-aminopropionitrile-induced AAD phenotype in mice. Our findings indicate that HDAC9 may be a novel endogenous risk factor that promotes the onset of AAD by mediating the phenotypic transformation of VSMCs. Therefore, HDAC9 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for drug-based AAD treatment. Furthermore, TMP195 holds potential as a therapeutic agent for AAD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiao Dang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China
| | - Haijie Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China
| | - Shishan Xue
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China
| | - Baowei Shao
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China
| | - Yansong Ning
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China
| | - Guohai Su
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China
| | - Fengquan Zhang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China.
| | - Wenqian Yu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China; Research Center of Translational Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China.
| | - Shuai Leng
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China; Research Center of Translational Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China.
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9
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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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10
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Yap C, Wanga S, Wüst RCI, van Os BW, Pijls MME, Keijzer S, van Zanten E, Koolbergen DR, Driessen AHG, Balm R, Yeung KK, de Vries CJM, Houtkooper RH, Lindeman JHN, de Waard V. Doxycycline induces mitochondrial dysfunction in aortic smooth muscle cells. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 154:107279. [PMID: 38272196 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107279] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The antibiotic doxycycline is known to inhibit inflammation and was therefore considered as a therapeutic to prevent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth. Yet mitochondrial dysfunction is a key-characteristic of clinical AAA disease. We hypothesize that doxycycline impairs mitochondrial function in the aorta and aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Doxycycline induced mitonuclear imbalance, reduced proliferation and diminished expression of typical contractile smooth muscle cell (SMC) proteins. To understand the underlying mechanism, we studied krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). The expression of this transcription factor was enhanced in SMCs after doxycycline treatment. Knockdown of KLF4, however, did not affect the doxycycline-induced SMC phenotypic changes. Then we used the bioenergetics drug elamipretide (SS-31). Doxycycline-induced loss of SMC contractility markers was not rescued, but mitochondrial genes and mitochondrial connectivity improved upon elamipretide. Thus while doxycycline is anti-inflammatory, it also induces mitochondrial dysfunction in aortic SMCs and causes SMC phenotypic switching, potentially contributing to aortic aneurysm pathology. The drug elamipretide helps mitigate the harmful effects of doxycycline on mitochondrial function in aortic SMC, and may be of interest for treatment of aneurysm diseases with pre-existing mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Yap
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Shaynah Wanga
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Cardiology, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rob C I Wüst
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Myology, Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bram W van Os
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maud M E Pijls
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sofie Keijzer
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva van Zanten
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David R Koolbergen
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Antoine H G Driessen
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ron Balm
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Vascular Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kak Khee Yeung
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Vascular Surgery, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Physiology, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carlie J M de Vries
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Riekelt H Houtkooper
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan H N Lindeman
- Leiden University Medical Center, Vascular Surgery, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Vivian de Waard
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Medical Biochemistry, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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11
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Luo Y, Luo J, An P, Zhao Y, Zhao W, Fang Z, Xia Y, Zhu L, Xu T, Zhang X, Zhou S, Yang M, Li J, Zhu J, Liu Y, Li H, Gong M, Liu Y, Han J, Guo H, Zhang H, Jiang W, Ren F. The activator protein-1 complex governs a vascular degenerative transcriptional programme in smooth muscle cells to trigger aortic dissection and rupture. Eur Heart J 2024; 45:287-305. [PMID: 37992083 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad534] [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: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Stanford type A aortic dissection (AD) is a degenerative aortic remodelling disease marked by an exceedingly high mortality without effective pharmacologic therapies. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) lining tunica media adopt a range of states, and their transformation from contractile to synthetic phenotypes fundamentally triggers AD. However, the underlying pathomechanisms governing this population shift and subsequent AD, particularly at distinct disease temporal stages, remain elusive. METHODS Ascending aortas from nine patients undergoing ascending aorta replacement and five individuals undergoing heart transplantation were subjected to single-cell RNA sequencing. The pathogenic targets governing the phenotypic switch of SMCs were identified by trajectory inference, functional scoring, single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering, regulon, and interactome analyses and confirmed using human ascending aortas, primary SMCs, and a β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate-induced AD model. RESULTS The transcriptional profiles of 93 397 cells revealed a dynamic temporal-specific phenotypic transition and marked elevation of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex, actively enabling synthetic SMC expansion. Mechanistically, tumour necrosis factor signalling enhanced AP-1 transcriptional activity by dampening mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Targeting this axis with the OXPHOS enhancer coenzyme Q10 or AP-1-specific inhibitor T-5224 impedes phenotypic transition and aortic degeneration while improving survival by 42.88% (58.3%-83.3% for coenzyme Q10 treatment), 150.15% (33.3%-83.3% for 2-week T-5224), and 175.38% (33.3%-91.7% for 3-week T-5224) in the β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate-induced AD model. CONCLUSIONS This cross-sectional compendium of cellular atlas of human ascending aortas during AD progression provides previously unappreciated insights into a transcriptional programme permitting aortic degeneration, highlighting a translational proof of concept for an anti-remodelling intervention as an attractive strategy to manage temporal-specific AD by modulating the tumour necrosis factor-OXPHOS-AP-1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongting Luo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Junjie Luo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Peng An
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuanfei Zhao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Wenting Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhou Fang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yi Xia
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Teng Xu
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuaishuai Zhou
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mingyan Yang
- Analytical Biosciences Limited, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiayao Li
- Analytical Biosciences Limited, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Junming Zhu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yongmin Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Haiyang Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Ming Gong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yuyong Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jie Han
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Huiyuan Guo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hongjia Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Wenjian Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Fazheng Ren
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, No. 10 Tianxiu Road, Haidian District, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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12
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Wang Y, Panicker IS, Anesi J, Sargisson O, Atchison B, Habenicht AJR. Animal Models, Pathogenesis, and Potential Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:901. [PMID: 38255976 PMCID: PMC10815651 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020901] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) has a prevalence of 0.16-0.34% and an incidence of 7.6 per 100,000 person-years, accounting for 1-2% of all deaths in Western countries. Currently, no effective pharmacological therapies have been identified to slow TAA development and prevent TAA rupture. Large TAAs are treated with open surgical repair and less invasive thoracic endovascular aortic repair, both of which have high perioperative mortality risk. Therefore, there is an urgent medical need to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying TAA development and rupture to develop new therapies. In this review, we summarize animal TAA models including recent developments in porcine and zebrafish models: porcine models can assess new therapeutic devices or intervention strategies in a large mammal and zebrafish models can employ large-scale small-molecule suppressor screening in microwells. The second part of the review covers current views of TAA pathogenesis, derived from recent studies using these animal models, with a focus on the roles of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) pathway and the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-elastin-contractile unit. The last part discusses TAA treatment options as they emerge from recent preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutang Wang
- Discipline of Life Science, Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia; (I.S.P.)
| | - Indu S. Panicker
- Discipline of Life Science, Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia; (I.S.P.)
| | - Jack Anesi
- Discipline of Life Science, Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia; (I.S.P.)
| | - Owen Sargisson
- Discipline of Life Science, Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia; (I.S.P.)
| | - Benjamin Atchison
- Discipline of Life Science, Institute of Innovation, Science and Sustainability, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, VIC 3353, Australia; (I.S.P.)
| | - Andreas J. R. Habenicht
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), 80336 Munich, Germany;
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13
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Yu L, Huang T, Zhao J, Zhou Z, Cao Z, Chi Y, Meng S, Huang Y, Xu Y, Xia L, Jiang H, Yin Z, Wang H. Branched-chain amino acid catabolic defect in vascular smooth muscle cells drives thoracic aortic dissection via mTOR hyperactivation. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 210:25-41. [PMID: 37956909 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.11.002] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic dissection (TAD). Previous researches have mainly focused on dysregulation of fatty acid or glucose metabolism, while the impact of amino acids catabolic disorder in VSMCs during the development of TAD remains elusive. Here, we identified branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolic defect as a metabolic hallmark of TAD. The bioinformatics analysis and data from human aorta revealed impaired BCAA catabolism in TAD individuals. This was accompanied by upregulated branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) expression and BCKD E1 subunit alpha (BCKDHA) phosphorylation, enhanced vascular inflammation, and hyperactivation of mTOR signaling. Further in vivo experiments demonstrated that inhibition of BCKDK with BT2 (a BCKDK allosteric inhibitor) treatment dephosphorylated BCKDHA and re-activated BCAA catabolism, attenuated VSMCs phenotypic switching, alleviated aortic remodeling, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage and vascular inflammation. Additionally, the beneficial actions of BT2 were validated in a TNF-α challenged murine VSMC cell line. Meanwhile, rapamycin conferred similar beneficial effects against VSMC phenotypic switching, cellular ROS damage as well as inflammatory response. However, co-treatment with MHY1485 (a classic mTOR activator) reversed the beneficial effects of BT2 by reactivating mTOR signaling. Taken together, the in vivo and in vitro evidence showed that impairment of BCAA catabolism resulted in aortic accumulation of BCAA and further caused VSMC phenotypic switching, mitochondrial ROS damage and inflammatory response via mTOR hyperactivation. BCKDK and mTOR signaling may serve as the potential drug targets for the prevention and treatment of TAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Jikai Zhao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Zijun Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Zijun Cao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China; Graduate School, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110847, PR China
| | - Yanbang Chi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Shan Meng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China; Graduate School, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, PR China
| | - Yuting Huang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Yinli Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Lin Xia
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Zongtao Yin
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China
| | - Huishan Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 83 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, PR China.
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14
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Wang M, Ching-Johnson JA, Yin H, O’Neil C, Li AX, Chu MWA, Bartha R, Pickering JG. Mapping microarchitectural degeneration in the dilated ascending aorta with ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging. EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL OPEN 2024; 4:oead128. [PMID: 38162403 PMCID: PMC10755346 DOI: 10.1093/ehjopen/oead128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Aims Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) carry a risk of catastrophic dissection. Current strategies to evaluate this risk entail measuring aortic diameter but do not image medial degeneration, the cause of TAAs. We sought to determine if the advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition strategy, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), could delineate medial degeneration in the ascending thoracic aorta. Methods and results Porcine ascending aortas were subjected to enzyme microinjection, which yielded local aortic medial degeneration. These lesions were detected by DTI, using a 9.4 T MRI scanner, based on tensor disorientation, disrupted diffusion tracts, and altered DTI metrics. High-resolution spatial analysis revealed that fractional anisotropy positively correlated, and mean and radial diffusivity inversely correlated, with smooth muscle cell (SMC) and elastin content (P < 0.001 for all). Ten operatively harvested human ascending aorta samples (mean subject age 61.6 ± 13.3 years, diameter range 29-64 mm) showed medial pathology that was more diffuse and more complex. Nonetheless, DTI metrics within an aorta spatially correlated with SMC, elastin, and, especially, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. Moreover, there were inter-individual differences in slice-averaged DTI metrics. Glycosaminoglycan accumulation and elastin degradation were captured by reduced fractional anisotropy (R2 = 0.47, P = 0.043; R2 = 0.76, P = 0.002), with GAG accumulation also captured by increased mean diffusivity (R2 = 0.46, P = 0.045) and increased radial diffusivity (R2 = 0.60, P = 0.015). Conclusion Ex vivo high-field DTI can detect ascending aorta medial degeneration and can differentiate TAAs in accordance with their histopathology, especially elastin and GAG changes. This non-destructive window into aortic medial microstructure raises prospects for probing the risks of TAAs beyond lumen dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mofei Wang
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 5B7
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 3K7
| | - Justin A Ching-Johnson
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 5B7
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 3K7
| | - Hao Yin
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Caroline O’Neil
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Alex X Li
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 5B7
| | - Michael W A Chu
- Department of Surgery, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 3K7
- London Health Sciences Centre, 339 Windermere Rd, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5A5
| | - Robert Bartha
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 5B7
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 3K7
| | - J Geoffrey Pickering
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 5B7
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 3K7
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada, N6A 3K7
- London Health Sciences Centre, 339 Windermere Rd, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5A5
- Department of Medicine, Western University, 1151 Richmond St. N. London, Canada N6A 3K7
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15
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Ruiz-Rodríguez MJ, Oller J, Martínez-Martínez S, Alarcón-Ruiz I, Toral M, Sun Y, Colmenar Á, Méndez-Olivares MJ, López-Maderuelo D, Kern CB, Nistal JF, Evangelista A, Teixido-Tura G, Campanero MR, Redondo JM. Versican accumulation drives Nos2 induction and aortic disease in Marfan syndrome via Akt activation. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:132-157. [PMID: 38177536 PMCID: PMC10897446 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00009-7] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is a life-threatening condition associated with Marfan syndrome (MFS), a disease caused by fibrillin-1 gene mutations. While various conditions causing TAAD exhibit aortic accumulation of the proteoglycans versican (Vcan) and aggrecan (Acan), it is unclear whether these ECM proteins are involved in aortic disease. Here, we find that Vcan, but not Acan, accumulated in Fbn1C1041G/+ aortas, a mouse model of MFS. Vcan haploinsufficiency protected MFS mice against aortic dilation, and its silencing reverted aortic disease by reducing Nos2 protein expression. Our results suggest that Acan is not an essential contributor to MFS aortopathy. We further demonstrate that Vcan triggers Akt activation and that pharmacological Akt pathway inhibition rapidly regresses aortic dilation and Nos2 expression in MFS mice. Analysis of aortic tissue from MFS human patients revealed accumulation of VCAN and elevated pAKT-S473 staining. Together, these findings reveal that Vcan plays a causative role in MFS aortic disease in vivo by inducing Nos2 via Akt activation and identify Akt signaling pathway components as candidate therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús Ruiz-Rodríguez
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Oller
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Laboratory of Vascular Pathology, Hospital IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Martínez-Martínez
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Iván Alarcón-Ruiz
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Toral
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yilin Sun
- Cell-Cell Communication & Inflammation Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Ángel Colmenar
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Méndez-Olivares
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolores López-Maderuelo
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
| | - Christine B Kern
- Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - J Francisco Nistal
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Cardiovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, 39005, Spain
| | | | - Gisela Teixido-Tura
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Barcelona, 08035, Spain
| | - Miguel R Campanero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain.
- Cell-Cell Communication & Inflammation Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.
| | - Juan Miguel Redondo
- Gene Regulation in Cardiovascular Remodeling and Inflammation Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, 28029, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Madrid, Spain.
- Cell-Cell Communication & Inflammation Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBMSO), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, 28049, Spain.
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16
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Behrmann A, Zhong D, Li L, Xie S, Mead M, Sabaeifard P, Goodarzi M, Lemoff A, Kozlitina J, Towler DA. Wnt16 Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Contractile Phenotype and Function via Taz (Wwtr1) Activation in Male LDLR-/- Mice. Endocrinology 2023; 165:bqad192. [PMID: 38123514 PMCID: PMC10765280 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad192] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Wnt16 is expressed in bone and arteries, and maintains bone mass in mice and humans, but its role in cardiovascular physiology is unknown. We show that Wnt16 protein accumulates in murine and human vascular smooth muscle (VSM). WNT16 genotypes that convey risk for bone frailty also convey risk for cardiovascular events in the Dallas Heart Study. Murine Wnt16 deficiency, which causes postnatal bone loss, also reduced systolic blood pressure. Electron microscopy demonstrated abnormal VSM mitochondrial morphology in Wnt16-null mice, with reductions in mitochondrial respiration. Following angiotensin-II (AngII) infusion, thoracic ascending aorta (TAA) dilatation was greater in Wnt16-/- vs Wnt16+/+ mice (LDLR-/- background). Acta2 (vascular smooth muscle alpha actin) deficiency has been shown to impair contractile phenotype and worsen TAA aneurysm with concomitant reductions in blood pressure. Wnt16 deficiency reduced expression of Acta2, SM22 (transgelin), and other contractile genes, and reduced VSM contraction induced by TGFβ. Acta2 and SM22 proteins were reduced in Wnt16-/- VSM as was Ankrd1, a prototypic contractile target of Yap1 and Taz activation via TEA domain (TEAD)-directed transcription. Wnt16-/- VSM exhibited reduced nuclear Taz and Yap1 protein accumulation. SiRNA targeting Wnt16 or Taz, but not Yap1, phenocopied Wnt16 deficiency, and Taz siRNA inhibited contractile gene upregulation by Wnt16. Wnt16 incubation stimulated mitochondrial respiration and contraction (reversed by verteporfin, a Yap/Taz inhibitor). SiRNA targeting Taz inhibitors Ccm2 and Lats1/2 mimicked Wnt16 treatment. Wnt16 stimulated Taz binding to Acta2 chromatin and H3K4me3 methylation. TEAD cognates in the Acta2 promoter conveyed transcriptional responses to Wnt16 and Taz. Wnt16 regulates cardiovascular physiology and VSM contractile phenotype, mediated via Taz signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Behrmann
- Internal Medicine—Endocrine Division and the Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Dalian Zhong
- Internal Medicine—Endocrine Division and the Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Li Li
- Internal Medicine—Endocrine Division and the Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Shangkui Xie
- Internal Medicine—Endocrine Division and the Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Megan Mead
- Internal Medicine—Endocrine Division and the Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Parastoo Sabaeifard
- Internal Medicine—Endocrine Division and the Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | | | - Andrew Lemoff
- Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Julia Kozlitina
- McDermott Center for Human Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Dwight A Towler
- Internal Medicine—Endocrine Division and the Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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17
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Alrazim AM, Burk JK, Wilder TJ, Park WM, Yoon WJ, Cho JS. Recurrent symptomatic aortic aneurysm in a young girl with tuberous sclerosis complex and review of the literature. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech 2023; 9:101261. [PMID: 38106352 PMCID: PMC10725066 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101261] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare occurrence in pediatric populations. When present, it is usually associated with an underlying etiology such as a connective tissue disorder, inflammatory process, or noninflammatory medial degeneration. In the present report, we describe the case of a girl with tuberous sclerosis complex who underwent successful emergency open repair of a symptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and recurrent type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman M. Alrazim
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH
| | - Joshua K. Burk
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH
| | - Travis J. Wilder
- Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH
| | - Woosup Michael Park
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH
| | - William J. Yoon
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH
| | - Jae S. Cho
- Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals, Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH
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18
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Szafron JM, Yang W, Feinstein JA, Rabinovitch M, Marsden AL. A computational growth and remodeling framework for adaptive and maladaptive pulmonary arterial hemodynamics. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:1935-1951. [PMID: 37658985 PMCID: PMC10929588 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01744-z] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Hemodynamic loading is known to contribute to the development and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This loading drives changes in mechanobiological stimuli that affect cellular phenotypes and lead to pulmonary vascular remodeling. Computational models have been used to simulate mechanobiological metrics of interest, such as wall shear stress, at single time points for PAH patients. However, there is a need for new approaches that simulate disease evolution to allow for prediction of long-term outcomes. In this work, we develop a framework that models the pulmonary arterial tree through adaptive and maladaptive responses to mechanical and biological perturbations. We coupled a constrained mixture theory-based growth and remodeling framework for the vessel wall with a morphometric tree representation of the pulmonary arterial vasculature. We show that non-uniform mechanical behavior is important to establish the homeostatic state of the pulmonary arterial tree, and that hemodynamic feedback is essential for simulating disease time courses. We also employed a series of maladaptive constitutive models, such as smooth muscle hyperproliferation and stiffening, to identify critical contributors to development of PAH phenotypes. Together, these simulations demonstrate an important step toward predicting changes in metrics of clinical interest for PAH patients and simulating potential treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Szafron
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Weiguang Yang
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Feinstein
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Marlene Rabinovitch
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Alison L Marsden
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA.
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19
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Huang SS, Liu R, Chang S, Li X, Weng X, Ge J. Gut Microbiota-Derived Tryptophan Metabolite Indole-3-aldehyde Ameliorates Aortic Dissection. Nutrients 2023; 15:4150. [PMID: 37836434 PMCID: PMC10574575 DOI: 10.3390/nu15194150] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan, an essential dietary amino acid, is metabolized into various metabolites within both gut microbiota and tissue cells. These metabolites have demonstrated potential associations with panvascular diseases. However, the specific relationship between tryptophan metabolism, particularly Indole-3-aldehyde (3-IAId), and the occurrence of aortic dissection (AD) remains unclear. 3-IAId showed an inverse association with advanced atherosclerosis, a risk factor for AD. In this study, we employed a well-established β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate (BAPN)-induced AD murine model to investigate the impact of 3-IAId treatment on the progression of AD. Our results reveal compelling evidence that the administration of 3-IAId significantly mitigated aortic dissection and rupture rates (BAPN + 3-IAId vs. BAPN, 45% vs. 90%) and led to a notable reduction in mortality rates (BAPN + 3-IAId vs. BAPN, 20% vs. 55%). Furthermore, our study elucidates that 3-IAId exerts its beneficial effects by inhibiting the phenotype transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from a contractile to a synthetic state. It also mitigates extracellular matrix degradation, attenuates macrophage infiltration, and suppresses the expression of inflammatory cytokines, collectively contributing to the attenuation of AD development. Our findings underscore the potential of 3-IAId as a promising intervention strategy for the prevention of thoracic aortic dissection, thus providing valuable insights into the realm of vascular disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sui-Shane Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; (S.-S.H.); (R.L.); (S.C.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Rongle Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; (S.-S.H.); (R.L.); (S.C.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shufu Chang
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; (S.-S.H.); (R.L.); (S.C.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; (S.-S.H.); (R.L.); (S.C.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xinyu Weng
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; (S.-S.H.); (R.L.); (S.C.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Junbo Ge
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Shanghai 200032, China; (S.-S.H.); (R.L.); (S.C.); (X.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, National Health Commission, Shanghai 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Viral Heart Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
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20
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Chakraborty A, Li Y, Zhang C, Li Y, Rebello KR, Li S, Xu S, Vasquez HG, Zhang L, Luo W, Wang G, Chen K, Coselli JS, LeMaire SA, Shen YH. Epigenetic Induction of Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Alterations in Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections. Circulation 2023; 148:959-977. [PMID: 37555319 PMCID: PMC10529114 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.063332] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic switching has been increasingly detected in aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) tissues. However, the diverse SMC phenotypes in AAD tissues and the mechanisms driving SMC phenotypic alterations remain to be identified. METHODS We examined the transcriptomic and epigenomic dynamics of aortic SMC phenotypic changes in mice with angiotensin II-induced AAD by using single-cell RNA sequencing and single-cell sequencing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin. SMC phenotypic alteration in aortas from patients with ascending thoracic AAD was examined by using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed that aortic stress induced the transition of SMCs from a primary contractile phenotype to proliferative, extracellular matrix-producing, and inflammatory phenotypes. Lineage tracing showed the complete transformation of SMCs to fibroblasts and macrophages. Single-cell sequencing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin analysis indicated that these phenotypic alterations were controlled by chromatin remodeling marked by the reduced chromatin accessibility of contractile genes and the induced chromatin accessibility of genes involved in proliferation, extracellular matrix, and inflammation. IRF3 (interferon regulatory factor 3), a proinflammatory transcription factor activated by cytosolic DNA, was identified as a key driver of the transition of aortic SMCs from a contractile phenotype to an inflammatory phenotype. In cultured SMCs, cytosolic DNA signaled through its sensor STING (stimulator of interferon genes)-TBK1 (tank-binding kinase 1) to activate IRF3, which bound and recruited EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) to contractile genes to induce repressive H3K27me3 modification and gene suppression. In contrast, double-stranded DNA-STING-IRF3 signaling induced inflammatory gene expression in SMCs. In Sting-/- mice, the aortic stress-induced transition of SMCs into an inflammatory phenotype was prevented, and SMC populations were preserved. Finally, profound SMC phenotypic alterations toward diverse directions were detected in human ascending thoracic AAD tissues. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals the dynamic epigenetic induction of SMC phenotypic alterations in AAD. DNA damage and cytosolic leakage drive SMCs from a contractile phenotype to an inflammatory phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Chakraborty
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Yanming Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Chen Zhang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Yang Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Kimberly R Rebello
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Shengyu Li
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (S.L., G.W.)
| | - Samantha Xu
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Hernan G Vasquez
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Lin Zhang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Wei Luo
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Guangyu Wang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (S.L., G.W.)
| | - Kaifu Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.C.)
| | - Joseph S Coselli
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Scott A LeMaire
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L.)
| | - Ying H Shen
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (A.C., Y.L., C.Z., K.R.R., Y.L., S.X., W.L., H.G.V., L.Z., J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (J.S.C., S.A.L., Y.H.S.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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21
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Murtada SI, Kawamura Y, Cavinato C, Wang M, Ramachandra AB, Spronck B, Li DS, Tellides G, Humphrey JD. Biomechanical and transcriptional evidence that smooth muscle cell death drives an osteochondrogenic phenotype and severe proximal vascular disease in progeria. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:1333-1347. [PMID: 37149823 PMCID: PMC10544720 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01722-5] [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: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome results in rapid aging and severe cardiovascular sequelae that accelerate near end-of-life. We found a progressive disease process in proximal elastic arteries that was less evident in distal muscular arteries. Changes in aortic structure and function were then associated with changes in transcriptomics assessed via both bulk and single cell RNA sequencing, which suggested a novel sequence of progressive aortic disease: adverse extracellular matrix remodeling followed by mechanical stress-induced smooth muscle cell death, leading a subset of remnant smooth muscle cells to an osteochondrogenic phenotype that results in an accumulation of proteoglycans that thickens the aortic wall and increases pulse wave velocity, with late calcification exacerbating these effects. Increased central artery pulse wave velocity is known to drive left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, the primary diagnosis in progeria children. It appears that mechanical stresses above ~ 80 kPa initiate this progressive aortic disease process, explaining why elastic lamellar structures that are organized early in development under low wall stresses appear to be nearly normal whereas other medial constituents worsen progressively in adulthood. Mitigating early mechanical stress-driven smooth muscle cell loss/phenotypic modulation promises to have important cardiovascular implications in progeria patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sae-Il Murtada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yuki Kawamura
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cristina Cavinato
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Molly Wang
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Bart Spronck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - David S Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - George Tellides
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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22
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Yodsanit N, Shirasu T, Huang Y, Yin L, Islam ZH, Gregg AC, Riccio AM, Tang R, Kent EW, Wang Y, Xie R, Zhao Y, Ye M, Zhu J, Huang Y, Hoyt N, Zhang M, Hossack JA, Salmon M, Kent KC, Guo LW, Gong S, Wang B. Targeted PERK inhibition with biomimetic nanoclusters confers preventative and interventional benefits to elastase-induced abdominal aortic aneurysms. Bioact Mater 2023; 26:52-63. [PMID: 36875050 PMCID: PMC9975632 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.02.009] [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: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a progressive aortic dilatation, causing ∼80% mortality upon rupture. Currently, there is no approved drug therapy for AAA. Surgical repairs are invasive and risky and thus not recommended to patients with small AAAs which, however, account for ∼90% of the newly diagnosed cases. It is therefore a compelling unmet clinical need to discover effective non-invasive strategies to prevent or slow down AAA progression. We contend that the first AAA drug therapy will only arise through discoveries of both effective drug targets and innovative delivery methods. There is substantial evidence that degenerative smooth muscle cells (SMCs) orchestrate AAA pathogenesis and progression. In this study, we made an exciting finding that PERK, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress Protein Kinase R-like ER Kinase, is a potent driver of SMC degeneration and hence a potential therapeutic target. Indeed, local knockdown of PERK in elastase-challenged aorta significantly attenuated AAA lesions in vivo. In parallel, we also conceived a biomimetic nanocluster (NC) design uniquely tailored to AAA-targeting drug delivery. This NC demonstrated excellent AAA homing via a platelet-derived biomembrane coating; and when loaded with a selective PERK inhibitor (PERKi, GSK2656157), the NC therapy conferred remarkable benefits in both preventing aneurysm development and halting the progression of pre-existing aneurysmal lesions in two distinct rodent models of AAA. In summary, our current study not only establishes a new intervention target for mitigating SMC degeneration and aneurysmal pathogenesis, but also provides a powerful tool to facilitate the development of effective drug therapy of AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisakorn Yodsanit
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Takuro Shirasu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Yitao Huang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- The Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BIMS), School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Li Yin
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Zain Husain Islam
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | | | - Alessandra Marie Riccio
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Runze Tang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Eric William Kent
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Yuyuan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Ruosen Xie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Yi Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Mingzhou Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Jingcheng Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Nicholas Hoyt
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Mengxue Zhang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - John A. Hossack
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Morgan Salmon
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - K. Craig Kent
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Lian-Wang Guo
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Shaoqin Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Bowen Wang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
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23
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Hu Y, Cai Z, He B. Smooth Muscle Heterogeneity and Plasticity in Health and Aortic Aneurysmal Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11701. [PMID: 37511460 PMCID: PMC10380637 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the predominant cell type in the medial layer of the aorta, which plays a critical role in the maintenance of aortic wall integrity. VSMCs have been suggested to have contractile and synthetic phenotypes and undergo phenotypic switching to contribute to the deteriorating aortic wall structure. Recently, the unprecedented heterogeneity and diversity of VSMCs and their complex relationship to aortic aneurysms (AAs) have been revealed by high-resolution research methods, such as lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing. The aortic wall consists of VSMCs from different embryonic origins that respond unevenly to genetic defects that directly or indirectly regulate VSMC contractile phenotype. This difference predisposes to hereditary AAs in the aortic root and ascending aorta. Several VSMC phenotypes with different functions, for example, secreting VSMCs, proliferative VSMCs, mesenchymal stem cell-like VSMCs, immune-related VSMCs, proinflammatory VSMCs, senescent VSMCs, and stressed VSMCs are identified in non-hereditary AAs. The transformation of VSMCs into different phenotypes is an adaptive response to deleterious stimuli but can also trigger pathological remodeling that exacerbates the pathogenesis and development of AAs. This review is intended to contribute to the understanding of VSMC diversity in health and aneurysmal diseases. Papers that give an update on VSMC phenotype diversity in health and aneurysmal disease are summarized and recent insights on the role of VSMCs in AAs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunwen Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Zhaohua Cai
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Ben He
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
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24
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Nakamura K, Dalal AR, Yokoyama N, Pedroza AJ, Kusadokoro S, Mitchel O, Gilles C, Masoudian B, Leipzig M, Casey KM, Hiesinger W, Uchida T, Fischbein MP. Lineage-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Smooth Muscle Cell Modeling Predicts Integrin Alpha-V Antagonism Reduces Aortic Root Aneurysm Formation in Marfan Syndrome Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:1134-1153. [PMID: 37078287 PMCID: PMC10330156 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318448] [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: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of increased smooth muscle cell (SMC) integrin αv signaling in Marfan syndrome (MFS) aortic aneurysm remains unclear. Herein, we examine the mechanism and potential efficacy of integrin αv blockade as a therapeutic strategy to reduce aneurysm progression in MFS. METHODS Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were differentiated into aortic SMCs of the second heart field (SHF) and neural crest (NC) lineages, enabling in vitro modeling of MFS thoracic aortic aneurysms. The pathological role of integrin αv during aneurysm formation was confirmed by blockade of integrin αv with GLPG0187 in Fbn1C1039G/+ MFS mice. RESULTS iPSC-derived MFS SHF SMCs overexpress integrin αv relative to MFS NC and healthy control SHF cells. Furthermore, integrin αv downstream targets (FAK [focal adhesion kinase]/AktThr308/mTORC1 [mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1]) were activated, especially in MFS SHF. Treatment of MFS SHF SMCs with GLPG0187 reduced p-FAK/p-AktThr308/mTORC1 activity back to control SHF levels. Functionally, MFS SHF SMCs had increased proliferation and migration compared to MFS NC SMCs and control SMCs, which normalized with GLPG0187 treatment. In the Fbn1C1039G/+ MFS mouse model, integrin αv, p-AktThr308, and downstream targets of mTORC1 proteins were elevated in the aortic root/ascending segment compared to littermate wild-type control. Mice treated with GLPG0187 (age 6-14 weeks) had reduced aneurysm growth, elastin fragmentation, and reduction of the FAK/AktThr308/mTORC1 pathway. GLPG0187 treatment reduced the amount and severity of SMC modulation assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing. CONCLUSIONS The integrin αv-FAK-AktThr308 signaling pathway is activated in iPSC SMCs from MFS patients, specifically from the SHF lineage. Mechanistically, this signaling pathway promotes SMC proliferation and migration in vitro. As biological proof of concept, GLPG0187 treatment slowed aneurysm growth and p-AktThr308 signaling in Fbn1C1039G/+ mice. Integrin αv blockade via GLPG0187 may be a promising therapeutic approach to inhibit MFS aneurysmal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Nakamura
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Alex R. Dalal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Nobu Yokoyama
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Albert J. Pedroza
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Sho Kusadokoro
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Olivia Mitchel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Casey Gilles
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Bahar Masoudian
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Matthew Leipzig
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Kerriann M. Casey
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - William Hiesinger
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
| | - Tetsuro Uchida
- Second Department of Surgery, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine. Yamagata, Japan
| | - Michael P. Fischbein
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Stanford CA, USA
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25
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Li G, Hu J, Cho C, Cui J, Li A, Ren P, Zhou J, Wei W, Zhang T, Liu X. Everolimus combined with PD-1 blockade inhibits progression of triple-negative breast cancer. Cell Signal 2023:110729. [PMID: 37257766 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Due to rapid progression and a lack of targetable receptors, TNBC is exceptionally difficult to treat. Available treatment options are nonspecific cytotoxic agents, which have had modest success; thus, there is a need for novel therapies for TNBC. The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in TNBC, and this pathway has been shown to promote cancer cell survival and chemoresistance. As such, mTOR inhibition has been considered a potential therapeutic strategy for TNBC. The mTOR inhibitor everolimus (EVE) has been approved for the treatment of estrogen positive breast cancer; however, its efficacy in TNBC is still undetermined. In this study, we evaluated the effects of EVE monotherapy and the mechanism of EVE resistance in the 4 T1 model of TNBC. Whereas EVE monotherapy inhibited mTOR signaling activity, it did not attenuate tumor progression. Additionally, tumors from EVE-treated mice had abnormal vasculature characterized by disorganized architecture and hyperpermeability. We also found that treatment with EVE increased PD-L1 expression in intratumoral vascular endothelial cells, and this increase in endothelial cell-associated PD-L1 corresponded to reduced CD8 + T cell tumor infiltration. Importantly, combination treatment with anti-PD-1 antibody and EVE normalized the tumor vasculature, rescued CD8 + T cell tumor infiltration, and reduced tumor growth. Taken together, our findings improve our current understanding of mechanisms underlying mTOR inhibition resistance in TNBC and identify a novel combination treatment strategy in the treatment of mTOR resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxin Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiajia Hu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Christina Cho
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Junwei Cui
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ao Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Pengwei Ren
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jichun Zhou
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tianxiang Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Xiaoling Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
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26
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高 文, 余 泓, 张 瑶, 钱 宏, 刘 肖. [Latest Findings on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Thoracic Aortic Dissection]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2023; 54:699-704. [PMID: 37248608 PMCID: PMC10475406 DOI: 10.12182/20230260101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a cardiovascular disease entailing a high lethality between 65% and 85%. Surgery-assissed implant/interventional stenting is the prevailing treatment of TAD. However, surgical treatment can cause severe postoperative complications and patients incur a relatively higher risk of postoperative mortality. Since the pathogenic mechanism underlying TAD is not clear, effective medication therapies are still not available. In recent years, along with advances in single-cell sequencing and other molecular biological technologies, there have been prelimiary findings suggesting the special role of dysfunctional vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in the pathogenesis and development of TAD. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms regulating the dysfunction of VSMCs have been initially explored. It is expected that these new findings will contribute to the development of new strategies to prevent TAD and lead to new ideas for the identifiction of potential drug therapeutic targets. Herein, we summarized the critical role of dysfunctional VSMCs in the pathogenesis and development of TAD and presented in detail the biological factors and the related molecular mechanisms that regulate the dysfunction of VSMCs. We hope this review will provide a reference for further investigation into the central role of dysfunctional VSMCs in the pathogenesis and development of TAD and exploration for effective molecular drug targets for TAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- 文博 高
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 泓池 余
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 瑶佳 张
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 宏 钱
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 肖珩 刘
- 四川大学华西基础医学与法医学院 生物医学工程研究室 (成都 610041)Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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27
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JIANG B, LI X, WANG M, LI GX, REN PW, WANG YQ, XIN SJ, QIN LF. Trehalose attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm formation by inducing autophagy in smooth muscle cells. J Geriatr Cardiol 2023; 20:214-222. [PMID: 37091261 PMCID: PMC10114191 DOI: 10.26599/1671-5411.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trehalose is a naturally occurring disaccharide, which has been identified as an autophagy inducer and exhibits protective effect in cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infraction and atherosclerosis. However, the functional role of trehalose in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains undefined. METHODS To study the effect of trehalose in AAA, trehalose (1 g/kg per day) were given for 14 continuous days in a mouse model of elastase-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm. On day 14, ultrasound was performed to measure aortic diameter before the abdominal aortas were harvested and processed for further analysis. Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining and TUNEL staining were performed on paraffin sections to evaluate vascular histology and apoptosis, immunofluorescence staining and Western-blot were performed to evaluate expression of autophagy markers. RESULTS Echocardiography and in situ pictures demonstrated that trehalose attenuated infrarenal aorta dilation. Verhoeff-Van Gieson staining showed elastin degradation was improved in trehalose-treated group. Compared with vehicle-treated mice, trehalose treatment restored smooth muscle cell contractile phenotype with increased α-SMA, Calponin and Myh11 expression. Furthermore, trehalose also attenuated cell apoptosis and leukocytes infiltration. Importantly, trehalose induced autophagy with decrease SQSTM1/p62 accumulation, increased lamp2 expression and LC3B conversion. CONCLUSION Trehalose attenuated AAA progression with decreased inflammation and restored SMC contractile phenotype by inducing autophagy. These results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of trehalose in AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo JIANG
- Department of Vascular Surgery, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuan LI
- Department of Vascular Surgery, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, China
| | - Mo WANG
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Guang-Xin LI
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peng-Wei REN
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yu-Qi WANG
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shi-Jie XIN
- Department of Vascular Surgery, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, China
- (XIN SJ)
| | - Ling-Feng QIN
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- (QIN LF)
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28
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Zhu L, An P, Zhao W, Xia Y, Qi J, Luo J, Luo Y. Low Zinc Alleviates the Progression of Thoracic Aortic Dissection by Inhibiting Inflammation. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15071640. [PMID: 37049478 PMCID: PMC10096567 DOI: 10.3390/nu15071640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular inflammation triggers the development of thoracic aortic dissection (TAD). Zinc deficiency could dampen tissue inflammation. However, the role of zinc as a nutritional intervention in the progression of TAD remains elusive. In this study, we employed a classical β-aminopropionitrile monofumarate (BAPN)-induced TAD model in mice treated with low zinc and observed that the TAD progression was greatly ameliorated under low zinc conditions. Our results showed that low zinc could significantly improve aortic dissection and rupture (BAPN + low zinc vs. BAPN, 36% vs. 100%) and reduce mortality (BAPN + low zinc vs. BAPN, 22% vs. 57%). Mechanically, low zinc attenuated the infiltration of macrophages and inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines, suppressed the phenotype switch of vascular smooth muscle cells from contractile to synthetic types, and eventually alleviated the development of TAD. In conclusion, this study suggested that low zinc may serve as a potential nutritional intervention approach for TAD prevention.
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29
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Wu J, Wang L, Cui Y, Liu F, Zhang J. Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus: A Comprehensive Review of Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28062485. [PMID: 36985457 PMCID: PMC10054501 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The dried bulbs of Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus (AMB) are called “薤白” in China and are mainly distributed in Asia. The plant species included in the 2020 Edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) are Allium macrostemon Bunge (called xiaogensuan in Chinese, A. macrostemon) and Allium chinense G. Don (called xie in Chinese, A. chinense), respectively. In the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theoretical system, AMB is warm in nature, acrid-bitter taste, and attributive to the heart, lung, stomach, large intestine meridian. AMB has the function of activating Yang and removing stasis, regulating Qi and eliminating stagnation. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that AMB has anti-platelet aggregation, hypolipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, cardiomyocyte, vascular endothelial cell protection, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-asthmatic, and anti-oxidant effects. In some Asian countries, AMB is often used to treat coronary heart disease (CHD), angina pectoris (AP), asthma, and diarrhea. This review collates the botanical background, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, quality control, and toxicological studies of AMB, and provides an outlook on the current research deficiencies and future research priorities of AMB, intending to provide ideas for future research directions and commercial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfa Wu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Lulu Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, China
| | - Ying Cui
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, China
- Correspondence:
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30
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Du LJ, Sun JY, Zhang WC, Liu Y, Liu Y, Lin WZ, Liu T, Zhu H, Wang YL, Shao S, Zhou LJ, Chen BY, Lu H, Li RG, Jia F, Duan SZ. NCOR1 maintains the homeostasis of vascular smooth muscle cells and protects against aortic aneurysm. Cell Death Differ 2023; 30:618-631. [PMID: 36151473 PMCID: PMC9984378 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-022-01065-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm (AA). The function of nuclear receptor corepressor1 (NCOR1) in regulation of VSMC phenotype and AA is unclear. Herein, using smooth muscle NCOR1 knockout mice, we demonstrated that smooth muscle NCOR1 deficiency decreased both mRNA and protein levels of contractile genes, impaired stress fibers formation and RhoA pathway activation, reduced synthesis of elastin and collagens, and induced the expression and activity of MMPs, manifesting a switch from contractile to degradative phenotype of VSMCs. NCOR1 modulated VSMC phenotype through 3 different mechanisms. First, NCOR1 deficiency increased acetylated FOXO3a to inhibit the expression of Myocd, which downregulated contractile genes. Second, deletion of NCOR1 derepressed NFAT5 to induce the expression of Rgs1, thus impeding RhoA activation. Third, NCOR1 deficiency increased the expression of Mmp12 and Mmp13 by derepressing ATF3. Finally, a mouse model combined apoE knockout mice with angiotensin II was used to study the role of smooth muscle NCOR1 in the development of AA. The results showed that smooth muscle NCOR1 deficiency increased the incidence of aortic aneurysms and exacerbated medial degeneration in angiotensin II-induced AA mouse model. Collectively, our data illustrated that NCOR1 interacts with FOXO3a, NFAT5, and ATF3 to maintain contractile phenotype of VSMCs and suppress AA development. Manipulation of smooth muscle NCOR1 may be a potential approach for AA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Juan Du
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Jian-Yong Sun
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Wu-Chang Zhang
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Wen-Zhen Lin
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yong-Li Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Shuai Shao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Lu-Jun Zhou
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Bo-Yan Chen
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Hongjian Lu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Nantong First People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Ruo-Gu Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Feng Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nantong First People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China.
| | - Sheng-Zhong Duan
- Laboratory of Oral Microbiota and Systemic Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China.
- National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, 200011, China.
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals Macrophages Are Involved in the Pathogenesis of Human Sporadic Acute Type A Aortic Dissection. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020399. [PMID: 36830768 PMCID: PMC9952989 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages play an important role in the progression of sporadic acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The aim of this study was to characterize the cellular heterogeneity of macrophages in ATAAD tissues by scRNA-seq. Ascending aortic wall tissue from six ATAAD patients and three heart transplant donors was assessed by scRNA-seq and then analyzed and validated by various bioinformatic algorithms and histopathology experiments. The results revealed that the proportion of macrophages in ATAAD tissues (24.51%) was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (13.69%). Among the six macrophage subclusters, pro-inflammatory macrophages accounted for 14.96% of macrophages in the AD group and 0.18% in the normal group. Chemokine- and inflammation-related genes (CCL2, CCL20, S100A8, and S100A9) were expressed more intensively in macrophages in ATAAD tissue than in those in normal tissue. Additionally, intercellular communication analysis and transcription factor analysis indicated the activation of inflammation and degradation of the extracellular matrix in ATAAD tissue. Finally, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot experiments confirmed the overexpression of macrophage marker genes (CD68 and CD163) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP9 and MMP2) in ATAAD tissue. Collectively, our study provides a preliminary evaluation of the role of macrophages in ATAAD, and the results could aid in the development of therapeutic options in the future.
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Ouhaddi Y, Charbonnier B, Porge J, Zhang YL, Garcia I, Gbureck U, Grover L, Gilardino M, Harvey E, Makhoul N, Barralet J. Development of Neovasculature in Axially Vascularized Calcium Phosphate Cement Scaffolds. J Funct Biomater 2023; 14:jfb14020105. [PMID: 36826904 PMCID: PMC9966587 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14020105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Augmenting the vascular supply to generate new tissues, a crucial aspect in regenerative medicine, has been challenging. Recently, our group showed that calcium phosphate can induce the formation of a functional neo-angiosome without the need for microsurgical arterial anastomosis. This was a preclinical proof of concept for biomaterial-induced luminal sprouting of large-diameter vessels. In this study, we investigated if sprouting was a general response to surgical injury or placement of an inorganic construct around the vessel. Cylindrical biocement scaffolds of differing chemistries were placed around the femoral vein. A contrast agent was used to visualize vessel ingrowth into the scaffolds. Cell populations in the scaffold were mapped using immunohistochemistry. Calcium phosphate scaffolds induced 2.7-3 times greater volume of blood vessels than calcium sulphate or magnesium phosphate scaffolds. Macrophage and vSMC populations were identified that changed spatially and temporally within the scaffold during implantation. NLRP3 inflammasome activation peaked at weeks 2 and 4 and then declined; however, IL-1β expression was sustained over the course of the experiment. IL-8, a promoter of angiogenesis, was also detected, and together, these responses suggest a role of sterile inflammation. Unexpectedly, the effect was distinct from an injury response as a result of surgical placement and also was not simply a foreign body reaction as a result of placing a rigid bioceramic next to a vein, since, while the materials tested had similar microstructures, only the calcium phosphates tested elicited an angiogenic response. This finding then reveals a potential path towards a new strategy for creating better pro-regenerative biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassine Ouhaddi
- Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Baptiste Charbonnier
- Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Juliette Porge
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Yu-Ling Zhang
- Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Isadora Garcia
- Division of Operative Dentistry, Department of General Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Uwe Gbureck
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Würzburg, D-97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Liam Grover
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Mirko Gilardino
- Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Edward Harvey
- Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Nicholas Makhoul
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Jake Barralet
- Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Zhong A, Cai Y, Zhou Y, Ding N, Yang G, Chai X. Identification and Analysis of Hub Genes and Immune Cells Associated with the Formation of Acute Aortic Dissection. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2023; 2023:8072369. [PMID: 36818541 PMCID: PMC9936456 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8072369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Background Acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) is a catastrophic disease with high mortality, but the pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. This study is aimed at identifying hub genes and immune cells associated with the pathogenesis of AAD. Methods The datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and differential analysis were performed. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were intersected with specific genes collected from MSigDB. The gene function and pathway enrichment analysis were also performed on intersecting genes. The key modules were selected by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Hub genes were identified by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis and were verified in the metadataset. The immune cell infiltration was analyzed by CIBERSORT, and the relationship between hub genes and immune cells was performed by Pearson's correlation analysis. The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset was used to verify the differences in DNA damage and repair signaling pathways and hub genes in different cell types. Results The results of GSEA and GSVA indicated that DNA damage and repair processes were activated in the occurrence of AAD. The gene function and pathway enrichment analysis on differentially expressed DNA damage- and repair-related genes showed that these genes were mainly involved in the regulation of the cell cycle process, cellular response to DNA damage stimulus, response to wounding, p53 signaling pathway, and cellular senescence. Three key modules were identified by WGCNA. Five genes were screened as hub genes, including CDK2, EIF4A1, GLRX, NNMT, and SLCO2A1. Naive B cells and Gamma delta T cells (γδ T cells) were decreased in AAD, but monocytes and M0 macrophages were increased. scRNA-seq analysis included that DNA damage and repair processes were activated in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), tissue stem cells, and monocytes in the aortic wall of patients with AAD. Conclusions Our results suggested that DNA damage- and repair-related genes may be involved in the occurrence of AAD by regulating many biological processes. The hub genes and immune cells reported in this study also increase the understanding of AAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifang Zhong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yuzhong Cai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guifang Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiangping Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Trauma Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Murtada SI, Kawamura Y, Cavinato C, Wang M, Ramachandra AB, Spronck B, Tellides G, Humphrey JD. Smooth Muscle Cell Death Drives an Osteochondrogenic Phenotype and Severe Proximal Vascular Disease in Progeria. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.10.523266. [PMID: 36711514 PMCID: PMC9882088 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.10.523266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome results in rapid aging and severe cardiovascular sequelae that accelerate near end of life. We associate progressive deterioration of arterial structure and function with single cell transcriptional changes, which reveals a rapid disease process in proximal elastic arteries that largely spares distal muscular arteries. These data suggest a novel sequence of progressive vascular disease in progeria: initial extracellular matrix remodeling followed by mechanical stress-induced smooth muscle cell death in proximal arteries, leading a subset of remnant smooth muscle cells to an osteochondrogenic phenotypic modulation that results in an accumulation of proteoglycans that thickens the wall and increases pulse wave velocity, with late calcification exacerbating these effects. Increased pulse wave velocity drives left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, the primary diagnosis in progeria children. Mitigating smooth muscle cell loss / phenotypic modulation promises to have important cardiovascular implications in progeria patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sae-Il Murtada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yuki Kawamura
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cristina Cavinato
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mo Wang
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Bart Spronck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - George Tellides
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jay D. Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Déglise S, Bechelli C, Allagnat F. Vascular smooth muscle cells in intimal hyperplasia, an update. Front Physiol 2023; 13:1081881. [PMID: 36685215 PMCID: PMC9845604 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1081881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Arterial occlusive disease is the leading cause of death in Western countries. Core contemporary therapies for this disease include angioplasties, stents, endarterectomies and bypass surgery. However, these treatments suffer from high failure rates due to re-occlusive vascular wall adaptations and restenosis. Restenosis following vascular surgery is largely due to intimal hyperplasia. Intimal hyperplasia develops in response to vessel injury, leading to inflammation, vascular smooth muscle cells dedifferentiation, migration, proliferation and secretion of extra-cellular matrix into the vessel's innermost layer or intima. In this review, we describe the current state of knowledge on the origin and mechanisms underlying the dysregulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in intimal hyperplasia, and we present the new avenues of research targeting VSMC phenotype and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Florent Allagnat
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Liu X, Liu Y, Yang RX, Ding XJ, Liang ES. Loss of myeloid Tsc2 predisposes to angiotensin II-induced aortic aneurysm formation in mice. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:972. [PMID: 36400753 PMCID: PMC9674579 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05423-2] [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: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Genetic studies have proved the involvement of Tuberous sclerosis complex subunit 2 (Tsc2) in aortic aneurysm. However, the exact role of macrophage Tsc2 in the vascular system remains unclear. Here, we examined the potential function of macrophage Tsc2 in the development of aortic remodeling and aortic aneurysms. METHODS AND RESULTS Conditional gene knockout strategy combined with histology and whole-transcriptomic analysis showed that Tsc2 deficiency in macrophages aggravated the progression of aortic aneurysms along with an upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metallopeptidase-9 in the angiotensin II-induced mouse model. G protein-coupled receptor 68 (Gpr68), a proton-sensing receptor for detecting the extracellular acidic pH, was identified as the most up-regulated gene in Tsc2 deficient macrophages compared with control macrophages. Additionally, Tsc2 deficient macrophages displayed higher glycolysis and glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose treatment partially attenuated the level of Gpr68. We further demonstrated an Tsc2-Gpr68-CREB network in macrophages that regulates the inflammatory response, proteolytic degradation and vascular homeostasis. Gpr68 inhibition largely abrogated the progression of aortic aneurysms caused by Tsc2 deficiency in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS The findings reveal that Tsc2 deficiency in macrophages contributes to aortic aneurysm formation, at least in part, by upregulating Gpr68 expression, which subsequently drives proinflammatory processes and matrix metallopeptidase activation. The data also provide a novel therapeutic strategy to limit the progression of the aneurysm resulting from Tsc2 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Liu
- grid.452402.50000 0004 1808 3430The 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 of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Liu
- grid.452402.50000 0004 1808 3430The 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 of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Rui-xue Yang
- grid.452402.50000 0004 1808 3430The 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 of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiang-jiu Ding
- grid.452402.50000 0004 1808 3430Department of Vascular Surgery, General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Er-shun Liang
- grid.452402.50000 0004 1808 3430The 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 of Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Li Y, Ma X, Mei S, Ji Y, Wang D, He L, Sun D, Yan J. mRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA expression profiles in a new aortic dissection murine model induced by hypoxia and Ang II. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:984087. [PMID: 36386298 PMCID: PMC9643159 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.984087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Aortic dissection (AD) is a cardiovascular emergency with degeneration of the aortic media. Mounting evidence indicates obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as an independent risk factor for AD development with unknown mechanisms. This study aims to establish a stable murine model of OSA-related AD (OSA-AD) and uncover the potential changes in gene transcripts in OSA-AD. Materials and methods ApoE–/– mice were exposed to the chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) system combined with Ang II administration to establish the OSA-AD model. Pathological staining was performed to exhibit the physiological structure of the mouse aorta. The SBC mouse ceRNA microarray was used to identify significantly differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, DE long-non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs), and DE circular RNAs (DEcircRNAs) in OSA-AD tissues. Subsequently, bioinformatics analysis, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG), and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses, were performed to evaluate the function of the significantly differentially expressed transcripts (DETs). The hub genes were confirmed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results ApoE–/– mice exposed to CIH and Ang II showed a high ratio of aortic accident (73.33%) and significant aortic diameter dilatation (1.96 ± 0.175 mm). A total of 1,742 mRNAs, 2,625 lncRNAs, and 537 circRNAs were identified as DETs (LogFC ≥ 1.5 or ≤ –1.5, P < 0.05). GO and KEGG analyses demonstrated that the differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were most enriched in cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, inflammation, and hypoxia-related terms, which are closely related to aortic structural homeostasis. The PPI network contained 609 nodes and 934 connections, the hub genes were highlighted with the CytoHubba plugin and confirmed by qRT-PCR in AD tissues. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the cis-regulated genes of DElncRNAs and circRNAs-host genes were enriched in aortic structural homeostasis-related pathways. Conclusion Our findings help establish a de novo OSA-AD animal model using ApoE–/– mice. Many DEmRNAs, DElncRNAs, and DEcircRNAs were screened for the first time in OSA-AD tissues. Our findings provide useful bioinformatics data for understanding the molecular mechanism of OSA-AD and developing potential therapeutic strategies for OSA-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaozhu Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuai Mei
- Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yueping Ji
- Department of Cardiology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Liqun He
- Department of Cardiology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
- Liqun He,
| | - Dating Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Cardiology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
- Dating Sun,
| | - Jiangtao Yan
- Department of Cardiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Jiangtao Yan,
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Zaradzki M, Mohr F, Lont S, Soethoff J, Remes A, Arif R, Müller OJ, Karck M, Hecker M, Wagner AH. Short-term rapamycin treatment increases life span and attenuates aortic aneurysm in a murine model of Marfan-Syndrome. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 205:115280. [PMID: 36198355 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic disorder leading to medial aortic degeneration and life-limiting dissections. To date, there is no causal prevention or therapy. Rapamycin is a potent and selective inhibitor of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein kinase, regulating cell growth and metabolism. The mgR/mgR mice represent an accepted MFS model for studying aortic pathologies to understand the underlying molecular pathomechanisms. This study investigated whether rapamycin inhibits the development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections in mgR/mgR mice. METHODS Isolated primary aortic smooth muscle cells (mAoSMCs) from mgR/mgR mice were used for in vitro studies. Two mg kg/BW rapamycin was injected intraperitoneally daily for two weeks, beginning at 7-8 weeks of age. Mice were sacrificed 30 days post-treatment. Histopathological and immunofluorescence analyses were performed using adequate tissue specimens and techniques. Animal survival was evaluated accompanied by periodic echocardiographic examinations of the aorta. RESULTS The protein level of the phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (p-RPS6), a downstream target of mTOR, was significantly increased in the aortic tissue of mgR/mgR mice. In mAoSMCs isolated from these animals, expression of mTOR, p-RPS6, tumour necrosis factor α, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 was significantly suppressed by rapamycin, demonstrating its anti-inflammatory capacity. Short-term rapamycin treatment of Marfan mice was associated with delayed aneurysm formation, medial aortic elastolysis and improved survival. CONCLUSIONS Short-term rapamycin-mediated mTOR inhibition significantly reduces aortic aneurysm formation and thus increases survival in mgR/mgR mice. Our results may offer the first causal treatment option to prevent aortic complications in MFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zaradzki
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - F Mohr
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - S Lont
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Soethoff
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Remes
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Germany
| | - R Arif
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - O J Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Kiel and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Germany
| | - M Karck
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Hecker
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A H Wagner
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Irons L, Estrada AC, Humphrey JD. Intracellular signaling control of mechanical homeostasis in the aorta. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2022; 21:1339-1355. [PMID: 35867282 PMCID: PMC10547132 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-022-01593-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mature arteries exhibit a preferred biomechanical state in health evidenced by a narrow range of intramural and wall shear stresses. When stresses are perturbed by changes in blood pressure or flow, homeostatic mechanisms tend to restore target values via altered contractility and/or cell and matrix turnover. In contrast, vascular disease associates with compromised homeostasis, hence we must understand mechanisms underlying mechanical homeostasis and its robustness. Here, we use a multiscale computational model wherein mechanosensitive intracellular signaling pathways drive arterial growth and remodeling. First, we identify an ensemble of cell-level parameterizations where tissue-level responses are well-regulated and adaptive to hemodynamic perturbations. The responsible mechanism is persistent multiscale negative feedback whereby mechanosensitive signaling drives mass turnover until homeostatic target stresses are reached. This demonstrates how robustness emerges despite inevitable cell and individual heterogeneity. Second, we investigate tissue-level effects of signaling node knockdowns (ATIR, ROCK, TGF[Formula: see text]RII, PDGFR, ERK1/2) and find general agreement with experimental reports of fault tolerance. Robustness against structural changes manifests via low engagement of the node under baseline stresses or compensatory multiscale feedback via upregulation of additional pathways. Third, we show how knockdowns affect collagen and smooth muscle turnover at baseline and with perturbed stresses. In several cases, basal production is not remarkably affected, but sensitivities to stress deviations, which influence feedback strength, are reduced. Such reductions can impair adaptive responses, consistent with previously reported aortic vulnerability despite grossly normal appearances. Reduced stress sensitivities thus form a candidate mechanism for how robustness is lost, enabling transitions from health towards disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Irons
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ana C Estrada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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40
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Yin L, Gregg AC, Riccio AM, Hoyt N, Islam ZH, Ahn J, Le Q, Patel P, Zhang M, He X, McKinney M, Kent E, Wang B. Dietary therapy in abdominal aortic aneurysm - Insights from clinical and experimental studies. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:949262. [PMID: 36211542 PMCID: PMC9532600 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.949262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a prevalent vascular disease with high mortality rates upon rupture. Despite its prevalence in elderly populations, there remain limited treatment options; invasive surgical repair, while risky, is the only therapeutic intervention with proven clinical benefits. Dietary factors have long been suggested to be closely associated with AAA risks, and dietary therapies recently emerged as promising avenues to achieve non-invasive management of a wide spectrum of diseases. However, the role of dietary therapies in AAA remains elusive. In this article, we will summarize the recent clinical and pre-clinical efforts in understanding the therapeutic and mechanistic implications of various dietary patterns and therapeutic approaches in AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yin
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | | | - Alessandra Marie Riccio
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Nicholas Hoyt
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States,School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Zain Hussain Islam
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jungeun Ahn
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Quang Le
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Paranjay Patel
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Mengxue Zhang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Xinran He
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Matthew McKinney
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Eric Kent
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Bowen Wang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States,*Correspondence: Bowen Wang
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41
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Fang ZM, Feng X, Chen Y, Luo H, Jiang DS, Yi X. Targeting autophagy in aortic aneurysm and dissection. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113547. [PMID: 36076620 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
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42
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Karakaya C, van Turnhout MC, Visser VL, Ristori T, Bouten CVC, Sahlgren CM, Loerakker S. Notch signaling regulates strain-mediated phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:910503. [PMID: 36036000 PMCID: PMC9412035 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.910503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli experienced by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and mechanosensitive Notch signaling are important regulators of vascular growth and remodeling. However, the interplay between mechanical cues and Notch signaling, and its contribution to regulate the VSMC phenotype are still unclear. Here, we investigated the role of Notch signaling in regulating strain-mediated changes in VSMC phenotype. Synthetic and contractile VSMCs were cyclically stretched for 48 h to determine the temporal changes in phenotypic features. Different magnitudes of strain were applied to investigate its effect on Notch mechanosensitivity and the phenotypic regulation of VSMCs. In addition, Notch signaling was inhibited via DAPT treatment and activated with immobilized Jagged1 ligands to understand the role of Notch on strain-mediated phenotypic changes of VSMCs. Our data demonstrate that cyclic strain induces a decrease in Notch signaling along with a loss of VSMC contractile features. Accordingly, the activation of Notch signaling during cyclic stretching partially rescued the contractile features of VSMCs. These findings demonstrate that Notch signaling has an important role in regulating strain-mediated phenotypic switching of VSMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cansu Karakaya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Mark C. van Turnhout
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Valery L. Visser
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Tommaso Ristori
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Carlijn V. C. Bouten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Cecilia M. Sahlgren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Sandra Loerakker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Sandra Loerakker,
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43
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Jauhiainen S, Kiema M, Hedman M, Laakkonen JP. Large Vessel Cell Heterogeneity and Plasticity: Focus in Aortic Aneurysms. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:811-818. [PMID: 35587695 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.121.316237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells have a remarkable level of plasticity in vascular pathologies. In thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, smooth muscle cells have been suggested to undergo phenotypic switching and to contribute to degradation of the aortic wall structure in response to, for example, inflammatory mediators, dysregulation of growth factor signaling or oxidative stress. Recently, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and a clonal expansion of degradative smooth muscle cells and immune cells, as well as mesenchymal stem-like cells have been suggested to contribute to the progression of aortic aneurysms. What are the factors driving the aortic cell phenotype changes and how vascular flow, known to affect aortic wall structure and to be altered in aortic aneurysms, could affect aortic cell remodeling? In this review, we summarize the current literature on aortic cell heterogeneity and phenotypic switching in relation to changes in vascular flow and aortic wall structure in aortic aneurysms in clinical samples with special focus on smooth muscle and endothelial cells. The differences between thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Jauhiainen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences (S.J., M.K., J.P.L.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
| | - Miika Kiema
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences (S.J., M.K., J.P.L.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
| | - Marja Hedman
- Institute of Clinical Medicine (M.H.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland (M.H.)
- Department of Heart and Thoracic Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Heart Center, Kuopio, Finland (M.H.)
| | - Johanna P Laakkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences (S.J., M.K., J.P.L.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio
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44
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Yin ZQ, Han H, Yan X, Zheng QJ. Research progress on the pathogenesis of aortic dissection. Curr Probl Cardiol 2022:101249. [PMID: 35568084 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is a critical cardiovascular disease due to the separation of media and adventitia caused by the rupture of vascular wall intima. The disease has a high mortality rate of about 1% to 3% for each additional hour, since the adventitia of the aorta can rupture and bleed to death at any time. Although great progress has been made in clinical treatment of aortic dissection, and the mortality rate has been significantly reduced, the pathogenesis is still not very clear. At present, related studies have confirmed that inflammation of aortic wall promotes the occurrence and development of AD. Although the mechanism of aortic dissection is more complicated, some studies have shown that the infiltration of monocytes/macrophages into the aortic wall is the main pathogenic mechanism of the disease. This review introduces the latest research results on the mechanism of macrophage infiltration and plasticity in aortic dissection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qiang Yin
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University); The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Hua Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Xianchun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Qi-Jun Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University); The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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45
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Rombouts KB, van Merrienboer TAR, Ket JCF, Bogunovic N, van der Velden J, Yeung KK. The role of vascular smooth muscle cells in the development of aortic aneurysms and dissections. Eur J Clin Invest 2022; 52:e13697. [PMID: 34698377 PMCID: PMC9285394 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aortic aneurysms (AA) are pathological dilations of the aorta, associated with an overall mortality rate up to 90% in case of rupture. In addition to dilation, the aortic layers can separate by a tear within the layers, defined as aortic dissections (AD). Vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMC) are the predominant cell type within the aortic wall and dysregulation of vSMC functions contributes to AA and AD development and progression. However, since the exact underlying mechanism is poorly understood, finding potential therapeutic targets for AA and AD is challenging and surgery remains the only treatment option. METHODS In this review, we summarize current knowledge about vSMC functions within the aortic wall and give an overview of how vSMC functions are altered in AA and AD pathogenesis, organized per anatomical location (abdominal or thoracic aorta). RESULTS Important functions of vSMC in healthy or diseased conditions are apoptosis, phenotypic switch, extracellular matrix regeneration and degradation, proliferation and contractility. Stressors within the aortic wall, including inflammatory cell infiltration and (epi)genetic changes, modulate vSMC functions and cause disturbance of processes within vSMC, such as changes in TGF-β signalling and regulatory RNA expression. CONCLUSION This review underscores a central role of vSMC dysfunction in abdominal and thoracic AA and AD development and progression. Further research focused on vSMC dysfunction in the aortic wall is necessary to find potential targets for noninvasive AA and AD treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karlijn B Rombouts
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tara A R van Merrienboer
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Natalija Bogunovic
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda van der Velden
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kak Khee Yeung
- Department of Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center and AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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46
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He X, Li X, Han Y, Chen G, Xu T, Cai D, Sun Y, Wang S, Lai Y, Teng Z, Huang S, Liao W, Liao Y, Bin J, Xiu J. CircRNA Chordc1 protects mice from abdominal aortic aneurysm by contributing to the phenotype and growth of vascular smooth muscle cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:81-98. [PMID: 34938608 PMCID: PMC8649900 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have important potential in modulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activity, but their roles in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are unknown. We performed in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry and determined that circChordc1 (cysteine and histidine-rich domain containing 1) was markedly downregulated in aneurysm tissue compared with normal arteries. A gene gain and loss strategy was used to confirm that circChordc1 transformed VSMCs into a contracted phenotype and improved their growth, which significantly suppressed aneurysm formation and reduced the risk of rupture in mouse models of angiotensin (Ang) II- and CaCl2-induced AAA. RNA pull-down, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblotting indicated that circChordc1 facilitated the VSMC phenotype and growth determination by binding to vimentin and ANXA2 (annexin A2), which not only increased vimentin phosphorylation to promote its degradation but also promoted the interaction between ANXA2 and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) to induce the nuclear entry of β-catenin. Thus, our present study revealed that circChordc1 optimized the VSMC phenotype and improved their growth by inducing vimentin degradation and increasing the activity of the GSK3β/β-catenin pathway, thereby extenuating vascular wall remodeling and reversing pathological aneurysm progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang He
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Shock and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinzhong Li
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Shock and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Han
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Shock and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guojun Chen
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Tong Xu
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Donghua Cai
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yili Sun
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Shifei Wang
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanxian Lai
- Department of Cardiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, 1 Panfu Road, Guangzhou 510180, China
| | - Zhonghua Teng
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Senlin Huang
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Wangjun Liao
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yulin Liao
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianping Bin
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Shock and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiancheng Xiu
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Shock and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, China
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47
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Petit C, Karkhaneh Yousefi AA, Guilbot M, Barnier V, Avril S. AFM Stiffness Mapping in Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:1133331. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4053657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (SMCs) play a vital role in maintaining mechanical homeostasis in the aorta. We recently found that SMCs of aneurysmal aortas apply larger traction forces than SMCs of healthy aortas. This result was explained by the significant increase of hypertrophic SMCs abundance in aneurysms. In the present study, we investigate whether the cytoskeleton stiffness of SMCs may also be altered in aneurysmal aortas. For that, we use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation with a specific mode that allows subcellular-resolution mapping of the local stiffness across a specified region of interest of the cell. Aortic SMCs from a commercial human lineage (AoSMCs, Lonza) and primary aneurysmal SMCs (AnevSMCs) are cultured in conditions promoting the development of their contractile apparatus, and seeded on hydrogels with stiffness properties of 12kPa and 25kPa. Results show that all SMC exhibit globally a lognormal stiffness distribution, with medians in the range 10-30 kPa. The mean of stiffness distributions is slightly higher in aneurysmal SMCs than in healthy cells (16 kPa versus 12 kPa) but the differences are not statistically significant due to the large dispersion of AFM nanoindentation stiffness. We conclude that the possible alterations previously found in aneurysmal SMCs do not affect significantly the AFM nanoindentation stiffness of their cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudie Petit
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Université de Lyon, INSERM, U 1059 SAINBIOSE, F - 42023 Saint-Etienne France
| | | | - Marine Guilbot
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Université de Lyon, INSERM, U 1059 SAINBIOSE, F - 42023 Saint-Etienne France
| | - Vincent Barnier
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Université de Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5307 LGF, F - 42023 Saint-Etienne France
| | - Stephane Avril
- Mines Saint-Etienne, Université de Lyon, INSERM, U 1059 SAINBIOSE, F - 42023 Saint-Etienne France
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48
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Estrada AC, Irons L, Rego BV, Li G, Tellides G, Humphrey JD. Roles of mTOR in thoracic aortopathy understood by complex intracellular signaling interactions. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009683. [PMID: 34898595 PMCID: PMC8700007 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortopathy–aneurysm, dissection, and rupture–is increasingly responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Advances in medical genetics and imaging have improved diagnosis and thus enabled earlier prophylactic surgical intervention in many cases. There remains a pressing need, however, to understand better the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms with the hope of finding robust pharmacotherapies. Diverse studies in patients and mouse models of aortopathy have revealed critical changes in multiple smooth muscle cell signaling pathways that associate with disease, yet integrating information across studies and models has remained challenging. We present a new quantitative network model that includes many of the key smooth muscle cell signaling pathways and validate the model using a detailed data set that focuses on hyperactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and its inhibition using rapamycin. We show that the model can be parameterized to capture the primary experimental findings both qualitatively and quantitatively. We further show that simulating a population of cells by varying receptor reaction weights leads to distinct proteomic clusters within the population, and that these clusters emerge due to a bistable switch driven by positive feedback in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Cell signaling drives changes across scales, from altered transcription at the single-cell level to tissue-level growth and remodeling. Studying complex interactions within cell signaling pathways can lead to a better understanding of the progression of disease. In particular, we are interested in how vascular cells can change their phenotype in a way that exacerbates aortopathy, namely, the development of aneurysms, dissections, and rupture. In this study we built a novel cell signaling network model of a vascular smooth muscle cell using archival data and used it to capture the effects of a genetic knock-out and subsequent pharmacologic rescue. We then used the model to simulate populations of smooth muscle cells and found that small perturbations to the strength of signaling can lead to distinct clusters of cells. With further analysis of the network substructures, we found that a positive feedback loop within the network was responsible for the distinct phenotypes we saw in our clusters of simulated cells. We believe that this work not only helps us to understand changes in smooth muscle cell phenotype but also opens the possibility to study other signaling perturbations associated with aortopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Estrada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Linda Irons
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Bruno V. Rego
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Guangxin Li
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - George Tellides
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jay D. Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine; New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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49
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Skrzypczyk P, Wabik AM, Szyszka M, Józwiak S, Bombiński P, Jakimów-Kostrzewa A, Brzewski M, Pańczyk-Tomaszewska M. Early Vascular Aging in Children With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:767394. [PMID: 34912759 PMCID: PMC8667666 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.767394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Experimental data indicate that activating mutations in the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway may lead to abnormal arterial wall structure. Vascular anomalies like arterial stenoses are reported in pediatric patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). In addition, large renal lesions (angiomyolipoma-AML and cysts) are risk factors for arterial hypertension in adult patients with TSC. This study aimed to assess blood pressure, including central blood pressure and arterial damage (early vascular aging-EVA) in children with TSC. Materials and Methods: In a group of 33 pediatric patients with TSC (11.13 ± 4.03 years, 15 boys, 18 girls), we evaluated peripheral and central office blood pressure, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, and arterial damage: aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) [m/s], [Z-score], augmentation index (AIx75HR [%]), common carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT) [mm], [Z-score], stiffness of common carotid artery (E-tracking), renal lesions in magnetic resonance and ultrasonography, and selected biochemical parameters. The control group consisted of 33 healthy children (11.23 ± 3.28 years, 15 boys, 18 girls). Results: In TSC group 7 (21.2%) children had arterial hypertension, 27 (81.8%) children had renal angiomyolipomas, 26 (78.8%)-renal cysts, and 4 (12.1%) patients were treated with mTOR inhibitors (2 patients with everolimus and 2 patients with sirolimus) at the moment of evaluation. Children with TSC had higher central systolic blood pressure (AoSBP) (98.63 ± 9.65 vs. 90.45 ± 6.87 [mm Hg], p < 0.001), cIMT (0.42 ± 0.05 vs. 0.39 ± 0.03 [mm], p = 0.011), cIMT Z-score (0.81 ± 1.21 vs. 0.16 ± 0.57, p = 0.007), aPWV (4.78 ± 0.81 vs. 4.25 ± 0.56 [m/s], p = 0.003) and aPWV Z-score (-0.14 ± 1.15 vs. -0.96 ± 0.87, p = 0.002) compared to healthy children, without differences in AIx75HR (8.71 ± 15.90 vs. 5.24 ± 11.12 [%], p = 0.319) and stiffness of common carotid artery. In children with TSC AoSBP correlated positively with serum cystatin C concentration (r = 0.377, p = 0.030) and with maximum diameter of renal cyst (R = 0.419, p = 0.033); mean arterial pressure (MAP) 24 h Z-score correlated with serum cystatin C concentration (R = 0.433, p = 0.013); and aPWV Z-score with daily urinary albumin loss [mg/24 h] (R = 0.412, p = 0.029). Conclusions: Children with tuberous sclerosis complex are at risk of elevated central blood pressure and early vascular aging. In children with TSC, blood pressure and arterial stiffness are related to renal involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Skrzypczyk
- Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Maria Wabik
- Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Szyszka
- Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology, Doctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sergiusz Józwiak
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Michał Brzewski
- Department of Pediatric Radiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Targeting the Ang2/Tie2 Axis with Tanshinone IIA Elicits Vascular Normalization in Ischemic Injury and Colon Cancer. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:7037786. [PMID: 34804370 PMCID: PMC8598375 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7037786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pathological angiogenesis, as exhibited by aberrant vascular structure and function, has been well deemed to be a hallmark of cancer and various ischemic diseases. Therefore, strategies to normalize vasculature are of potential therapeutic interest in these diseases. Recently, identifying bioactive compounds from medicinal plant extracts to reverse abnormal vasculature has been gaining increasing attention. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), an active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been shown to play significant roles in improving blood circulation and delaying tumor progression. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects of Tan IIA are not fully understood. Herein, we established animal models of HT-29 human colon cancer xenograft and hind limb ischemia to investigate the role of Tan IIA in regulating abnormal vasculature. Interestingly, our results demonstrated that Tan IIA could significantly promote the blood flow, alleviate the hypoxia, improve the muscle quality, and ameliorate the pathological damage after ischemic insult. Meanwhile, we also revealed that Tan IIA promoted the integrity of vascular structure, reduced vascular leakage, and attenuated the hypoxia in HT-29 tumors. Moreover, the circulating angiopoietin 2 (Ang2), which is extremely high in these two pathological states, was substantially depleted in the presence of Tan IIA. Also, the activation of Tie2 was potentiated by Tan IIA, resulting in decreased vascular permeability and elevated vascular integrity. Mechanistically, we uncovered that Tan IIA maintained vascular stability by targeting the Ang2-Tie2-AKT-MLCK cascade. Collectively, our data suggest that Tan IIA normalizes vessels in tumors and ischemic injury via regulating the Ang2/Tie2 signaling pathway.
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