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Zheng ZH, Wang JJ, Lin JG, Ye WL, Zou JM, Liang LY, Yang PL, Qiu WL, Li YY, Yang SJ, Zhao M, Zhou Q, Li CZ, Li M, Li ZM, Zhang DM, Liu PQ, Liu ZP. Cytosolic DNA initiates a vicious circle of aging-related endothelial inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction via STING: the inhibitory effect of Cilostazol. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1879-1897. [PMID: 38689095 PMCID: PMC11336235 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01281-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial senescence, aging-related inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction are prominent features of vascular aging and contribute to the development of aging-associated vascular disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that DNA damage occurs in aging vascular cells, especially in endothelial cells (ECs). However, the mechanism of EC senescence has not been completely elucidated, and so far, there is no specific drug in the clinic to treat EC senescence and vascular aging. Here we show that various aging stimuli induce nuclear DNA and mitochondrial damage in ECs, thus facilitating the release of cytoplasmic free DNA (cfDNA), which activates the DNA-sensing adapter protein STING. STING activation led to a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), thereby releasing pro-aging cytokines and cfDNA to further exacerbate mitochondrial damage and EC senescence, thus forming a vicious circle, all of which can be suppressed by STING knockdown or inhibition. Using next-generation RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that STING activation stimulates, whereas STING inhibition disrupts pathways associated with cell senescence and SASP. In vivo studies unravel that endothelial-specific Sting deficiency alleviates aging-related endothelial inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction and prevents the development of atherosclerosis in mice. By screening FDA-approved vasoprotective drugs, we identified Cilostazol as a new STING inhibitor that attenuates aging-related endothelial inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that Cilostazol significantly inhibited STING translocation from the ER to the Golgi apparatus during STING activation by targeting S162 and S243 residues of STING. These results disclose the deleterious effects of a cfDNA-STING-SASP-cfDNA vicious circle on EC senescence and atherogenesis and suggest that the STING pathway is a promising therapeutic target for vascular aging-related diseases. A proposed model illustrates the central role of STING in mediating a vicious circle of cfDNA-STING-SASP-cfDNA to aggravate age-related endothelial inflammation and mitochondrial damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Hua Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Laboratory of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- National and Local United Engineering Lab of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jiao-Jiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jiu-Guo Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Wei-le Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jia-Mi Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Li-Yin Liang
- Laboratory of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ping-Lian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Wan-Lu Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Si-Jia Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Man Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical school, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Cheng-Zhi Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Min Li
- Laboratory of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- National and Local United Engineering Lab of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhuo-Ming Li
- Laboratory of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Dong-Mei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Pei-Qing Liu
- Laboratory of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- National and Local United Engineering Lab of Druggability and New Drugs Evaluation, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Zhi-Ping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Pernomian L, Waigi EW, Nguyen V, Mohammed AD, da Costa TJ, Fontes MT, Kubinak JL, Aitken A, Biancardi VC, Sinclair DA, McCarthy CG, Wang Y, Tan W, Wenceslau CF. A Single-Short Partial Reprogramming of the Endothelial Cells decreases Blood Pressure via attenuation of EndMT in Hypertensive Mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.20.595057. [PMID: 38826452 PMCID: PMC11142064 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.20.595057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Background Small artery remodeling and endothelial dysfunction are hallmarks of hypertension. Growing evidence supports a likely causal association between cardiovascular diseases and the presence of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), a cellular transdifferentiation process in which endothelial cells (ECs) partially lose their identity and acquire additional mesenchymal phenotypes. EC reprogramming represents an innovative strategy in regenerative medicine to prevent deleterious effects induced by cardiovascular diseases. Methods Using a partial reprogramming of ECs, via overexpression of Oct-3/4, Sox-2, and Klf-4 (OSK) transcription factors, we aimed to bring ECs back to a youthful phenotype in hypertensive mice. Primary ECs were infected with lentiviral vectors (LV) containing the specific EC marker cadherin 5 (Cdh5) and the fluorescent reporter enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) with empty vector (LVCO) or with OSK (LV-OSK). Confocal microscopy and western blotting analysis were used to confirm the OSK overexpression. Cellular migration, senescence, and apoptosis were evaluated. Human aortic ECs (HAoECs) from male and female normotensive and hypertensive patients were analyzed after OSK or control treatments for their endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels, nitric oxide (NO), and genetic profile. Male and female normotensive (BPN/3J) and hypertensive (BPH/2J) mice were treated with an intravenous (i.v.) injection of LVCO or LV-OSK and evaluated 10 days post-infection. The blood pressure, cardiac function, vascular reactivity of small arteries, in vivo EGFP signal and EndMT inhibition were analyzed. Results OSK overexpression induced partial EC reprogramming in vitro , and these cells showed endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-like features with lower migratory capability. OSK treatment of hypertensive BPH/2J mice normalized blood pressure and resistance arteries hypercontractility, via the attenuation of EndMT and elastin breaks. EGFP signal was detected in vivo in the prefrontal cortex of both BPN/3J and BPH/2J-treated mice, but OSK induced angiogenesis only in male BPN/3J mice. OSK-treated human ECs from hypertensive patients showed high eNOS activation and NO production, with low ROS formation. Single-cell RNA analysis showed that OSK alleviated EC senescence and EndMT, restoring their phenotypes in human ECs from hypertensive patients. Conclusion Overall, these data indicate that OSK treatment and EC reprogramming can decrease blood pressure and reverse hypertension-induced vascular damage.
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Wang P, Konja D, Singh S, Zhang B, Wang Y. Endothelial Senescence: From Macro- to Micro-Vasculature and Its Implications on Cardiovascular Health. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1978. [PMID: 38396653 PMCID: PMC10889199 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041978] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells line at the most inner layer of blood vessels. They act to control hemostasis, arterial tone/reactivity, wound healing, tissue oxygen, and nutrient supply. With age, endothelial cells become senescent, characterized by reduced regeneration capacity, inflammation, and abnormal secretory profile. Endothelial senescence represents one of the earliest features of arterial ageing and contributes to many age-related diseases. Compared to those in arteries and veins, endothelial cells of the microcirculation exhibit a greater extent of heterogeneity. Microcirculatory endothelial senescence leads to a declined capillary density, reduced angiogenic potentials, decreased blood flow, impaired barrier properties, and hypoperfusion in a tissue or organ-dependent manner. The heterogeneous phenotypes of microvascular endothelial cells in a particular vascular bed and across different tissues remain largely unknown. Accordingly, the mechanisms underlying macro- and micro-vascular endothelial senescence vary in different pathophysiological conditions, thus offering specific target(s) for therapeutic development of senolytic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peichun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (P.W.); (D.K.); (S.S.); (B.Z.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Daniels Konja
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (P.W.); (D.K.); (S.S.); (B.Z.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sandeep Singh
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (P.W.); (D.K.); (S.S.); (B.Z.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Beijia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (P.W.); (D.K.); (S.S.); (B.Z.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (P.W.); (D.K.); (S.S.); (B.Z.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Chen B, Yang W, Luo Y, Tan EK, Wang Q. Non-pharmacological and drug treatment of autonomic dysfunction in multiple system atrophy: current status and future directions. J Neurol 2023; 270:5251-5273. [PMID: 37477834 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11876-y] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic, fatal, and rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology that is clinically characterized by autonomic failure, parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, and pyramidal signs in any combination. Early onset and extensive autonomic dysfunction, including cardiovascular dysfunction characterized by orthostatic hypotension (OH) and supine hypertension, urinary dysfunction characterized by overactive bladder and incomplete bladder emptying, sexual dysfunction characterized by sexual desire deficiency and erectile dysfunction, and gastrointestinal dysfunction characterized by delayed gastric emptying and constipation, are the main features of MSA. Autonomic dysfunction greatly reduces quality of life and increases mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention are urgently needed to benefit MSA patients. In this review, we aim to discuss the systematic treatment of autonomic dysfunction in MSA, and focus on the current methods, starting from non-pharmacological methods, such as patient education, psychotherapy, diet change, surgery, and neuromodulation, to various drug treatments targeting autonomic nerve and its projection fibers. In addition, we also draw attention to the interactions among various treatments, and introduce novel methods proposed in recent years, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and neural prosthesis implantation. Furthermore, we elaborate on the specific targets and mechanisms of action of various drugs. We would like to call for large-scale research to determine the efficacy of these methods in the future. Finally, we point out that studies on the pathogenesis of MSA and pathophysiological mechanisms of various autonomic dysfunction would also contribute to the development of new promising treatments and concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- BaoLing Chen
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Gongye Road 253, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanlin Yang
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Gongye Road 253, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqi Luo
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Gongye Road 253, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Eng-King Tan
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Gongye Road 253, Guangzhou, 510282, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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