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Arévalo-Martinez M, Ede J, van der Have O, Ritsvall O, Zetterberg FR, Nilsson UJ, Leffler H, Holmberg J, Albinsson S. Myocardin related transcription factor and galectin-3 drive lipid accumulation in human blood vessels. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 156:107383. [PMID: 38830455 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107383] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diabetes and hypertension are important risk factors for vascular disease, including atherosclerosis. A driving factor in this process is lipid accumulation in smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall. The glucose- and mechano-sensitive transcriptional coactivator, myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A/MKL1) can promote lipid accumulation in cultured human smooth muscle cells and contribute to the formation of smooth muscle-derived foam cells. The purpose of this study was to determine if intact human blood vessels ex vivo can be used to evaluate lipid accumulation in the vascular wall, and if this process is dependent on MRTF and/or galectin-3/LGALS3. Galectin-3 is an early marker of smooth muscle transdifferentiation and a potential mediator for foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS Human mammary arteries and saphenous veins were exposed to altered cholesterol and glucose levels in an organ culture model. Accumulation of lipids, quantified by Oil Red O, was increased by cholesterol loading and elevated glucose concentrations. Pharmacological inhibition of MRTF with CCG-203971 decreased lipid accumulation, whereas adenoviral-mediated overexpression of MRTF-A had the opposite effect. Cholesterol-induced expression of galectin-3 was decreased after inhibition of MRTF. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of galectin-3 with GB1107 reduced lipid accumulation in the vascular wall after cholesterol loading. CONCLUSION Ex vivo organ culture of human arteries and veins can be used to evaluate lipid accumulation in the intact vascular wall, as well as adenoviral transduction and pharmacological inhibition. Although MRTF and galectin-3 may have beneficial, anti-inflammatory effects under certain circumstances, our results, which demonstrate a significant decrease in lipid accumulation, support further evaluation of MRTF- and galectin-3-inhibitors for therapeutic intervention against atherosclerotic vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marycarmen Arévalo-Martinez
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jacob Ede
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oscar van der Have
- Vessel Wall Biology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Olivia Ritsvall
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Fredrik R Zetterberg
- Galecto Biotech AB, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Medicinaregatan 8 A, SE-413 46 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ulf J Nilsson
- Galecto Biotech AB, Sahlgrenska Science Park, Medicinaregatan 8 A, SE-413 46 Lund, Sweden; Department of Chemistry, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Hakon Leffler
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Section MIG, Lund University BMC-C1228b, Klinikgatan 28, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Holmberg
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Albinsson
- Molecular Vascular Physiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, BMC D12, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden.
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Shen J, Zhang C, Liu Y, Zhao M, Wang Q, Li P, Liu R, Wai Wong VK, Zhang C, Sun X. L-type calcium ion channel-mediated activation of autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells via thonningianin A (TA) alleviates vascular calcification in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 959:176084. [PMID: 37806540 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Vascular calcification (VC) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The pathogenesis of vascular calcification is incompletely understood, and until now, there have been no effective therapeutics for vascular calcification. The L-type calcium ion channel in the cell membrane is vital for Ca2+ influx. The effect of L-type calcium ion channels on autophagy remains to be elucidated. Here, the natural compound thonningianin A (TA) was found to ameliorate vascular calcification in T2DM via the activation of L-type calcium ion channels. The results showed that TA had a concentration-dependent ability to decrease the transcriptional and translational expression of the calcification-related proteins runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and osteopontin (OPN) (P < 0.01) via ATG7-dependent autophagy in β-glycerophosphate (β-GP)- and high glucose (HG)-stimulated primary mouse aortic smooth muscle cells (MASMCs) and alleviate aortic vascular calcification in VitD3-stimulated T2DM mice. However, nifedipine, an inhibitor of L-type calcium ion channels, reversed TA-induced autophagy and Ca2+ influx in MASMCs. Molecular docking analysis revealed that TA was located in the hydrophobic pocket of Cav1.2 α1C and was mainly composed of the residues Ile, Phe, Ala and Met, which confirmed the efficacy of TA in targeting the L-type calcium channel of Cav1.2 on the cell membrane. Moreover, in an in vivo model of vascular calcification in T2DM mice, nifedipine reversed the protective effects of TA on aortic calcification and the expression of the calcification-related proteins RUNX2, BMP2 and OPN (P < 0.01). Collectively, the present results reveal that the activation of cell membrane L-type calcium ion channels can induce autophagy and ameliorate vascular calcification in T2DM. Thonningianin A (TA) can target and act as a potent activator of L-type calcium ion channels. Thus, this research revealed a novel mechanism for autophagy induction via L-type calcium ion channels and provided a potential therapeutic for vascular calcification in T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialing Shen
- Department of General Surgery (Vascular Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China; Department of Vascular Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of General Surgery (Vascular Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of General Surgery (Vascular Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, 116622, China
| | - Pengyun Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Runyu Liu
- Department of General Surgery (Vascular Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Vincent Kam Wai Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Chunxiang Zhang
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acids in Medicine for National High-level Talents, Nucleic Acid Medicine of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Xiaolei Sun
- Department of General Surgery (Vascular Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China; Department of Interventional Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China; Laboratory of Nucleic Acids in Medicine for National High-level Talents, Nucleic Acid Medicine of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China; Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Luzhou, 646000, China; School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, United Kingdom.
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Cai Y, Sun Z, Shao C, Wang Z, Li L. Role of galectin-3 in vascular calcification. Glycoconj J 2023; 40:149-158. [PMID: 36807052 DOI: 10.1007/s10719-023-10106-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Vascular calcification is an abnormal process in which bone specific hydroxyapatite crystals are actively deposited on the vascular wall mediated by phenotypic differentiated smooth muscle cells and other mesenchymal cells under various pathological conditions. It is one of the important characteristics in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis, prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes and advanced chronic kidney disease, especially those requiring maintenance hemodialysis, with severely threatening human health. Previous studies have shown that the early diagnosis and control of vascular calcification is of great significance for cardiovascular risk stratification, prevention of acute cardiovascular events, which can greatly improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients. Galectins are a family of lectin superfamily. It is widely distributed in various animals and plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes, such as cell adhesion, apoptosis, inflammatory response, tumor metastasis and so on. Many biomarker-and association-related studies and Preclinical-mechanistic studies have suggested that galactose-specific lectin-3 (galectin-3) plays an important role in vascular calcification and vascular intimal calcification (VIC) calcification induced by Wnt/βcatenin signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway and ERK1/2 signaling pathway. This paper mainly expounds the role and mechanism of galectin-3 in vascular calcification under different pathological conditions including atherosclerosis, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyao Cai
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Zhen Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Chen Shao
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Zhongqun Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Lihua Li
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
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Woo SH, Kyung D, Lee SH, Park KS, Kim M, Kim K, Kwon HJ, Won YS, Choi I, Park YJ, Go DM, Oh JS, Yoon WK, Paik SS, Kim JH, Kim YH, Choi JH, Kim DY. TXNIP Suppresses the Osteochondrogenic Switch of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerosis. Circ Res 2023; 132:52-71. [PMID: 36448450 PMCID: PMC9829043 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.321538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The osteochondrogenic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a pivotal cellular process in atherosclerotic calcification. However, the exact molecular mechanism of the osteochondrogenic transition of VSMCs remains to be elucidated. Here, we explore the regulatory role of TXNIP (thioredoxin-interacting protein) in the phenotypical transitioning of VSMCs toward osteochondrogenic cells responsible for atherosclerotic calcification. METHODS The atherosclerotic phenotypes of Txnip-/- mice were analyzed in combination with single-cell RNA-sequencing. The atherosclerotic phenotypes of Tagln-Cre; Txnipflox/flox mice (smooth muscle cell-specific Txnip ablation model), and the mice transplanted with the bone marrow of Txnip-/- mice were analyzed. Public single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset (GSE159677) was reanalyzed to define the gene expression of TXNIP in human calcified atherosclerotic plaques. The effect of TXNIP suppression on the osteochondrogenic phenotypic changes in primary aortic VSMCs was analyzed. RESULTS Atherosclerotic lesions of Txnip-/- mice presented significantly increased calcification and deposition of collagen content. Subsequent single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis identified the modulated VSMC and osteochondrogenic clusters, which were VSMC-derived populations. The osteochondrogenic cluster was markedly expanded in Txnip-/- mice. The pathway analysis of the VSMC-derived cells revealed enrichment of bone- and cartilage-formation-related pathways and bone morphogenetic protein signaling in Txnip-/- mice. Reanalyzing public single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset revealed that TXNIP was downregulated in the modulated VSMC and osteochondrogenic clusters of human calcified atherosclerotic lesions. Tagln-Cre; Txnipflox/flox mice recapitulated the calcification and collagen-rich atherosclerotic phenotypes of Txnip-/- mice, whereas the hematopoietic deficiency of TXNIP did not affect the lesion phenotype. Suppression of TXNIP in cultured VSMCs accelerates osteodifferentiation and upregulates bone morphogenetic protein signaling. Treatment with the bone morphogenetic protein signaling inhibitor K02288 abrogated the effect of TXNIP suppression on osteodifferentiation. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that TXNIP is a novel regulator of atherosclerotic calcification by suppressing bone morphogenetic protein signaling to inhibit the transition of VSMCs toward an osteochondrogenic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Ho Woo
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
| | - Dongsoo Kyung
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (D.K.)
| | - Seung Hyun Lee
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Kyu Seong Park
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Minkyu Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Kibyeong Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Hyo-Jung Kwon
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea (H.-J.K.)
| | - Young-Suk Won
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Cheongju, Korea (Y.-S.W., W.K.Y.)
| | - Inpyo Choi
- Immunotherapy Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea (I.C.)
| | - Young-Jun Park
- Enviornmental Diseases Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, Korea (Y.-J.P.)
| | - Du-Min Go
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
| | - Jeong-Seop Oh
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
| | - Won Kee Yoon
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Cheongju, Korea (Y.-S.W., W.K.Y.)
| | - Seung Sam Paik
- Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Medical College, Seoul, Korea (S.S.P., J.H.K.)
| | - Ji Hyeon Kim
- Department of Pathology, Hanyang University Medical College, Seoul, Korea (S.S.P., J.H.K.)
| | - Yong-Hwan Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Research Institute of Women’s Health, College of Natural Sciences, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, Korea (Y.-H.K.)
| | - Jae-Hoon Choi
- Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Sciences, Research Institute for Convergence of Basic Sciences, Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea (S.H.L., K.S.P., M.K., K.K., J.-H.C.)
| | - Dae-Yong Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea (S.-H.W., D.-M.G., J.-S.O., D.-Y.K.)
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Pisano C, Terriaca S, Scioli MG, Nardi P, Altieri C, Orlandi A, Ruvolo G, Balistreri CR. The Endothelial Transcription Factor ERG Mediates a Differential Role in the Aneurysmatic Ascending Aorta with Bicuspid or Tricuspid Aorta Valve: A Preliminary Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810848. [PMID: 36142762 PMCID: PMC9502538 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathobiology of ascending aorta aneurysms (AAA) onset and progression is not well understood and only partially characterized. AAA are also complicated in case of bicuspid aorta valve (BAV) anatomy. There is emerging evidence about the crucial role of endothelium-related pathways, which show in AAA an altered expression and function. Here, we examined the involvement of ERG-related pathways in the differential progression of disease in aortic tissues from patients having a BAV or tricuspid aorta valve (TAV) with or without AAA. Our findings identified ERG as a novel endothelial-specific regulator of TGF-β-SMAD, Notch, and NO pathways, by modulating a differential fibrotic or calcified AAA progression in BAV and TAV aortas. We provided evidence that calcification is correlated to different ERG expression (as gene and protein), which appears to be under control of Notch signaling. The latter, when increased, associated with an early calcification in aortas with BAV valve and aneurysmatic, was demonstrated to favor the progression versus severe complications, i.e., dissection or rupture. In TAV aneurysmatic aortas, ERG appeared to modulate fibrosis. Therefore, we proposed that ERG may represent a sensitive tissue biomarker to monitor AAA progression and a target to develop therapeutic strategies and influence surgical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calogera Pisano
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Polyclinic, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Terriaca
- Pathological Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Scioli
- Pathological Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Nardi
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Polyclinic, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Altieri
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Polyclinic, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Augusto Orlandi
- Pathological Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University of Our Lady of Good Counsel, 1001 Tirana, Albania
| | - Giovanni Ruvolo
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Polyclinic, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmela Rita Balistreri
- Cellular and Molecular Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence:
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