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de Paula VF, Tardelli LP, Amaral SL. Dexamethasone-Induced Arterial Stiffening Is Attenuated by Training due to a Better Balance Between Aortic Collagen and Elastin Levels. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 2024; 38:693-703. [PMID: 36795192 DOI: 10.1007/s10557-023-07438-z] [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] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although the cardioprotective benefits of exercise training are well known, the effects of training on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced arterial stiffness are still unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the mechanisms induced by training to prevent DEX-induced arterial stiffness. METHODS Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups and submitted to combined training (aerobic and resistance exercises, on alternate days, 60% of maximal capacity, for 74 d) or were kept sedentary: sedentary control rats (SC), DEX-treated sedentary rats (DS), combined training control (CT), and DEX-treated trained rats (DT). During the last 14 d, rats were treated with DEX (50 μg/kg per body weight, per day, s.c.) or saline. RESULTS DEX increased PWV (+44% vs +5% m/s, for DS vs SC, p<0.001) and increased aortic COL 3 protein level (+75%) in DS. In addition, PWV was correlated with COL3 levels (r=0.682, p<0.0001). Aortic elastin and COL1 protein levels remained unchanged. On the other hand, the trained and treated groups showed lower PWV values (-27% m/s, p<0.001) vs DS and lower values of aortic and femoral COL3 compared with DS. CONCLUSION As DEX is widely used in several situations, the clinical relevance of this study is that the maintenance of good physical capacity throughout life can be crucial to alleviate some of its side effects, such as arterial stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius F de Paula
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, PIPGCF UFSCar/UNESP, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil
- Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Sciences, Av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, Bauru, SP, 17033-360, Brazil
| | - Lidieli P Tardelli
- Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Sciences, Av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, Bauru, SP, 17033-360, Brazil
| | - Sandra L Amaral
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, PIPGCF UFSCar/UNESP, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 235, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil.
- Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Sciences, Av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, Bauru, SP, 17033-360, Brazil.
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2
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Johnson RT, Solanki R, Wostear F, Ahmed S, Taylor JCK, Rees J, Abel G, McColl J, Jørgensen HF, Morris CJ, Bidula S, Warren DT. Piezo1-mediated regulation of smooth muscle cell volume in response to enhanced extracellular matrix rigidity. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:1576-1595. [PMID: 38044463 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16294] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Decreased aortic compliance is a precursor to numerous cardiovascular diseases. Compliance is regulated by the rigidity of the aortic wall and the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Extracellular matrix stiffening, observed during ageing, reduces compliance. In response to increased rigidity, VSMCs generate enhanced contractile forces that result in VSMC stiffening and a further reduction in compliance. Mechanisms driving VSMC response to matrix rigidity remain poorly defined. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Human aortic-VSMCs were seeded onto polyacrylamide hydrogels whose rigidity mimicked either healthy (12 kPa) or aged/diseased (72 kPa) aortae. VSMCs were treated with pharmacological agents prior to agonist stimulation to identify regulators of VSMC volume regulation. KEY RESULTS On pliable matrices, VSMCs contracted and decreased in cell area. Meanwhile, on rigid matrices VSMCs displayed a hypertrophic-like response, increasing in area and volume. Piezo1 activation stimulated increased VSMC volume by promoting calcium ion influx and subsequent activation of PKC and aquaporin-1. Pharmacological blockade of this pathway prevented the enhanced VSMC volume response on rigid matrices whilst maintaining contractility on pliable matrices. Importantly, both piezo1 and aquaporin-1 gene expression were up-regulated during VSMC phenotypic modulation in atherosclerosis and after carotid ligation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In response to extracellular matrix rigidity, VSMC volume is increased by a piezo1/PKC/aquaporin-1 mediated pathway. Pharmacological targeting of this pathway specifically blocks the matrix rigidity enhanced VSMC volume response, leaving VSMC contractility on healthy mimicking matrices intact. Importantly, upregulation of both piezo1 and aquaporin-1 gene expression is observed in disease relevant VSMC phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reesha Solanki
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Finn Wostear
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Sultan Ahmed
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - James C K Taylor
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, University of Cambridge, VPD Heart and Lung Research Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jasmine Rees
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Geraad Abel
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - James McColl
- Henry Wellcome Laboratory for Cell Imaging, University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK
| | - Helle F Jørgensen
- Section of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, University of Cambridge, VPD Heart and Lung Research Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chris J Morris
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stefan Bidula
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Derek T Warren
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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3
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Kilanowski-Doroh IM, McNally AB, Wong T, Visniauskas B, Blessinger SA, Sugi AI, Richard C, Diaz Z, Horton A, Natale CA, Ogola BO, Lindsey SH. Ovariectomy-Induced Arterial Stiffening Differs From Vascular Aging and Is Reversed by GPER Activation. Hypertension 2024; 81:e51-e62. [PMID: 38445498 PMCID: PMC11023783 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.22024] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arterial stiffness is a cardiovascular risk factor and dramatically increases as women transition through menopause. The current study assessed whether a mouse model of menopause increases arterial stiffness in a similar manner to aging and whether activation of the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor could reverse stiffness. METHODS Female C57Bl/6J mice were ovariectomized at 10 weeks of age or aged to 52 weeks, and some mice were treated with G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor agonists. RESULTS Ovariectomy and aging increased pulse wave velocity to a similar extent independent of changes in blood pressure. Aging increased carotid wall thickness, while ovariectomy increased material stiffness without altering vascular geometry. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that ovariectomy downregulated smooth muscle contractile genes. The enantiomerically pure G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor agonist, LNS8801, reversed stiffness in ovariectomy mice to a greater degree than the racemic agonist G-1. In summary, ovariectomy and aging induced arterial stiffening via potentially different mechanisms. Aging was associated with inward remodeling, while ovariectomy-induced material stiffness independent of geometry and a loss of the contractile phenotype. CONCLUSIONS This study enhances our understanding of the impact of estrogen loss on vascular health in a murine model and warrants further studies to examine the ability of LNS8801 to improve vascular health in menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tristen Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Bruna Visniauskas
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | | | | | - Chase Richard
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
| | - Zaidmara Diaz
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Alec Horton
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | | | - Benard O. Ogola
- Vascular Biology Center and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA
| | - Sarah H. Lindsey
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
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4
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Horton AC, Wilkinson MM, Kilanowski-Doroh I, Dong Z, Liu J, Ogola BO, Visniauskas B, Lindsey SH. Dihydrotestosterone induces arterial stiffening in female mice. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:9. [PMID: 38263051 PMCID: PMC10804721 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00586-3] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgens are important sex hormones in both men and women and are supplemented when endogenous levels are low, for gender transitioning, or to increase libido. Androgens also circulate at higher levels in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition that increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases including hypertension and arterial stiffness. Since our previous work shows an important role for the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in arterial stiffness, we hypothesized that other hormones including androgens may impact arterial stiffness in female mice via downregulation of GPER. METHODS The impact of the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, and the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (all 100 nM for 24 h) on GPER and ERα expression was assessed in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). To assess the in vivo impact of the DHT-induced downregulation of GPER, female ovary-intact C57Bl/6 mice at 15-16 weeks of age were treated with silastic capsules containing DHT for 4 weeks, one with a dosage expected to mimic human male DHT levels and another to double the expected human concentration (n = 8-9/group). RESULTS In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, GPER mRNA was decreased by DHT (P = 0.001) but was not impacted by dexamethasone or medroxyprogesterone. In contrast, ERα expression in cultured cells was significantly suppressed by all three hormones (P < 0.0001). In control mice or mice treated with a single or double dose of DHT, a dose-dependent increase in body weight was observed (control 22 ± 2 g, single dose 24 ± 2 g, double dose 26 ± 2 g; P = 0.0002). Intracarotid stiffness measured via pulse wave velocity showed a more than two-fold increase in both DHT-treated groups (control 1.9 ± 0.3 m/s, single dose 4.3 ± 0.8 m/s, double dose 4.8 ± 1.0 m/s). This increase in arterial stiffness occurred independent of changes in blood pressure (P = 0.59). Histological analysis of aortic sections using Masson's trichrome showed a significant decrease in collagen between the control group (24 ± 5%) and the double dose group (17 ± 3%, P = 0.007), despite no changes in aortic wall thickness or smooth muscle content. Lastly, ddPCR showed that in vivo DHT treatment decreased aortic expression of both GPER (control 20 ± 5, single dose 10.5 ± 5.6, double dose 10 ± 4 copies/ng; P = 0.001) and ERα (control 54 ± 2, single dose 24 ± 13, and double dose 23 ± 12 copies/ng; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that androgen promotes arterial stiffening and cardiovascular damage in female mice and is associated with decreased estrogen receptor expression. These data are important for transgender men, women using testosterone for fitness or reduced libido, as well as patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec C Horton
- Department of Pharmacology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Mary M Wilkinson
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Zhejun Dong
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane School of Medicine, Hayward Genetics Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jiao Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane School of Medicine, Hayward Genetics Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Benard O Ogola
- Vascular Biology Center and Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Bruna Visniauskas
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sarah H Lindsey
- Department of Pharmacology and Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
- Tulane Center of Excellence in Sex-Based Biology and Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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5
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Nava E, Trache A, Diaz A, Colantuoni A. Editorial: Vascular function and mechanisms of aging: hypertension, obesity and metabolic disorders. Front Physiol 2024; 14:1339619. [PMID: 38239885 PMCID: PMC10794715 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1339619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Nava
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Castille-La Mancha School of Medicine, Albacete, Spain
| | - Andreea Trache
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, United States
| | - Alejandro Diaz
- National University of Central Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Steppan J, Wang H, Nandakumar K, Poe A, Pak L, Brady T, Gadkari M, Berkowitz DE, Shimoda LA, Santhanam L. LOXL2 inhibition ameliorates pulmonary artery remodeling in pulmonary hypertension. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563874. [PMID: 37961202 PMCID: PMC10634806 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Conduit pulmonary arterial stiffening and the resultant increase in pulmonary vascular impedance has emerged as an important underlying driver of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Given that matrix deposition is central to vascular remodeling, we evaluated the role of the collagen crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase like 2 (LOXL2) in this study. Methods and Results Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) subjected to hypoxia showed increased LOXL2 secretion. LOXL2 activity and expression were markedly higher in primary PASMCs isolated from pulmonary arteries of the rat Sugen 5416 + hypoxia (SuHx) model of severe PH. Similarly, LOXL2 protein and mRNA levels were increased in pulmonary arteries (PA) and lungs of rats with PH (SuHx and monocrotaline (MCT) models). Pulmonary arteries (PAs) isolated from rats with PH exhibited hypercontractility to phenylephrine and attenuated vasorelaxation elicited by acetylcholine, indicating severe endothelial dysfunction. Tensile testing revealed a a significant increase in PA stiffness in PH. Treatment with PAT-1251, a novel small-molecule LOXL2 inhibitor, improved active and passive properties of the PA ex vivo. There was an improvement in right heart function as measured by right ventricular pressure volume loops in-vivo with PAT-1251. Importantly PAT-1251 treatment ameliorated PH, resulting in improved pulmonary artery pressures, right ventricular remodeling, and survival. Conclusion Hypoxia induced LOXL2 activation is a causal mechanism in pulmonary artery stiffening in PH, as well as pulmonary artery mechanical and functional decline. LOXL2 inhibition with PAT-1251 is a promising approach to improve pulmonary artery pressures, right ventricular elastance, cardiac relaxation, and survival in PAH. New & Noteworthy Pulmonary arterial stiffening contributes to the progression of PAH and the deterioration of right heart function. This study shows that LOXL2 is upregulated in rat models of PH. LOXL2 inhibition halts pulmonary vascular remodeling and improves PA contractility, endothelial function and improves PA pressure, resulting in prolonged survival. Thus, LOXL2 is an important mediator of PA remodeling and stiffening in PH and a promising target to improve PA pressures and survival in PH.
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7
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Rahaman SG, Mahanty M, Mukherjee P, Dutta B, Rahaman SO. Mechanosensing and Mechanosignal Transduction in Atherosclerosis. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2023; 25:711-721. [PMID: 37615786 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-023-01139-6] [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] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to summarize the latest findings on mechanosensing in atherosclerosis, elucidating the molecular mechanisms, cellular players, and potential therapeutic targets. RECENT FINDINGS Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the buildup of lipid-laden plaque within arterial walls, is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease-related mortality and morbidity. Interestingly, atherosclerosis predominantly occurs in arterial areas with curves and branches. In these regions, endothelial cells encounter irregular blood flow with distinctive low-intensity fluctuating shear stress. On the other hand, straight sections of arteries, subjected to a consistent flow and related high-intensity, one-way shear stress, are relatively safeguarded against atherosclerosis due to shear-dependent, disease-preventing endothelial cell reactions. In recent years, researchers have been investigating the role of mechanosensing in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. At the core of mechanosensing is the ability of various cells to sense and respond to biomechanical forces in their environment. In the context of atherosclerosis, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and immune cells are subjected to various mechanical or physical stimuli, including shear stress, cyclic strain, and matrix stiffness. These mechanical cues play a crucial role in regulating cellular behavior and contribute to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that various mechanical or physical cues play a critical role in the development and promotion of atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suneha G Rahaman
- University of Maryland, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Manisha Mahanty
- University of Maryland, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Pritha Mukherjee
- University of Maryland, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Bidisha Dutta
- University of Maryland, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Shaik O Rahaman
- University of Maryland, Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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8
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Sporkova A, Nahar T, Cao M, Ghosh S, Sens-Albert C, Friede PAP, Nagel A, Al-Hasani J, Hecker M. Characterisation of Lipoma-Preferred Partner as a Novel Mechanotransducer in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Cells 2023; 12:2315. [PMID: 37759537 PMCID: PMC10529303 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182315] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In arteries and arterioles, a chronic increase in blood pressure raises wall tension. This continuous biomechanical strain causes a change in gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that may lead to pathological changes. Here we have characterised the functional properties of lipoma-preferred partner (LPP), a Lin11-Isl1-Mec3 (LIM)-domain protein, which is most closely related to the mechanotransducer zyxin but selectively expressed by smooth muscle cells, including VSMCs in adult mice. VSMCs isolated from the aorta of LPP knockout (LPP-KO) mice displayed a higher rate of proliferation than their wildtype (WT) counterparts, and when cultured as three-dimensional spheroids, they revealed a higher expression of the proliferation marker Ki 67 and showed greater invasion into a collagen gel. Accordingly, the gelatinase activity was increased in LPP-KO but not WT spheroids. The LPP-KO spheroids adhering to the collagen gel responded with decreased contraction to potassium chloride. The relaxation response to caffeine and norepinephrine was also smaller in the LPP-KO spheroids than in their WT counterparts. The overexpression of zyxin in LPP-KO VSMCs resulted in a reversal to a more quiescent differentiated phenotype. In native VSMCs, i.e., in isolated perfused segments of the mesenteric artery (MA), the contractile responses of LPP-KO segments to potassium chloride, phenylephrine or endothelin-1 did not vary from those in isolated perfused WT segments. In contrast, the myogenic response of LPP-KO MA segments was significantly attenuated while zyxin-deficient MA segments displayed a normal myogenic response. We propose that LPP, which we found to be expressed solely in the medial layer of different arteries from adult mice, may play an important role in controlling the quiescent contractile phenotype of VSMCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Markus Hecker
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (A.S.)
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Kilanowski-Doroh IM, McNally AB, Wong T, Visniauskas B, Blessinger SA, Imulinde Sugi A, Richard C, Diaz Z, Horton A, Natale CA, Ogola BO, Lindsey SH. Ovariectomy-Induced Arterial Stiffening Differs from Vascular Aging and is Reversed by GPER Activation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.10.552881. [PMID: 37645992 PMCID: PMC10462036 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.10.552881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Arterial stiffness is a cardiovascular risk factor and dramatically increases as women transition through menopause. The current study assessed whether a mouse model of menopause increases arterial stiffness in a similar manner to aging, and whether activation of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) could reverse stiffness. Female C57Bl/6J mice were ovariectomized (OVX) at 10 weeks of age or aged to 52 weeks, and some mice were treated with GPER agonists. OVX and aging increased pulse wave velocity to a similar extent independent of changes in blood pressure. Aging increased carotid wall thickness, while OVX increased material stiffness without altering vascular geometry. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that OVX downregulated smooth muscle contractile genes. The enantiomerically pure GPER agonist, LNS8801, reversed stiffness in OVX mice to a greater degree than the racemic agonist G-1. In summary, OVX and aging induced arterial stiffening via potentially different mechanisms. Aging was associated with inward remodeling while OVX induced material stiffness independent of geometry and a loss of the contractile phenotype. This study helps to further our understanding of the impact of menopause on vascular health and identifies LNS8801 as a potential therapy to counteract this detrimental process in women.
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10
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Pewowaruk RJ, Colebank MJ, Spronck B, Korcarz CE, Gepner AD. Biomechanics models predict increasing smooth muscle tone as a novel therapeutic target for central arterial dysfunction in hypertension. J Hypertens 2023; 41:572-579. [PMID: 36728092 PMCID: PMC9992290 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003370] [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] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vasodilation can paradoxically increase arterial stiffness in older, hypertensive adults. This study modeled increasing smooth muscle tone as a therapeutic strategy to improve central arterial dysfunction in hypertension using participant-specific simulations. METHODS Participant-specific models of the carotid artery were parameterized from vascular ultrasound measures of nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation in 18 hypertensive veterans. The acute changes in carotid artery mechanics were simulated for changes of ±2, ±4, and ±6% in smooth muscle tone and ±5, ±10, and ±15 mmHg in mean arterial pressure (MAP). The chronic carotid artery adaptations were simulated based on the hypothesis that the carotid artery will remodel wall-cross sectional area to maintain mechanical homeostasis. RESULTS A 6% increase in smooth muscle tone acutely decreased carotid pulse wave velocity from 6.89 ± 1.24 m/s to 5.83 ± 1.73 m/s, and a 15 mmHg decrease in MAP decreased carotid pulse wave velocity to 6.17 ± 1.23 m/s. A 6% increase in smooth muscle tone acutely decreased wall stress from 76.2 ± 12.3 to 64.2 ± 10.4 kPa, and a 15 mmHg decrease in MAP decreased wall stress to 60.6 ± 10.7 kPa. A 6% increase in smooth muscle tone chronically decreased wall cross-sectional area from 18.3 ± 5.4 to 15.2 ± 4.9 mm 2, and a 15 mmHg decrease in MAP decreased wall cross-sectional area to 14.3 ± 4.6 mm 2 . CONCLUSION In participant-specific simulation, increasing smooth muscle tone can have a stronger or equivalent effect on carotid artery mechanics compared with decreasing blood pressure. Increasing central arterial smooth muscle tone may be a novel therapeutic target to improve central arterial dysfunction in older, hypertensive adults and should be a focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Pewowaruk
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Mitchel J Colebank
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Irvine - Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Cardiovascular Innovation and Research Center, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Bart Spronck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia E Korcarz
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Adam D Gepner
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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11
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Power G, Padilla J. (Re)modeling high-salt diet-induced hypertension in mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 324:H470-H472. [PMID: 36827228 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00093.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Power
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States.,NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States
| | - Jaume Padilla
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States.,NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States.,Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, United States
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12
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Okuno K, Torimoto K, Cicalese SM, Preston K, Rizzo V, Hashimoto T, Coffman TM, Sparks MA, Eguchi S. Angiotensin II Type 1A Receptor Expressed in Smooth Muscle Cells is Required for Hypertensive Vascular Remodeling in Mice Infused With Angiotensin II. Hypertension 2023; 80:668-677. [PMID: 36628961 PMCID: PMC9931681 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.20601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ang II (angiotensin II) type 1 (AT1) receptors play a critical role in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. Rodents have 2 types of AT1 receptor (AT1A and AT1B) of which knock-in Tagln-mediated smooth muscle AT1A silencing attenuated Ang II-induced hypertension. Although vascular remodeling, a significant contributor to organ damage, occurs concurrently with hypertension in Ang II-infused mice, the contribution of smooth muscle AT1A in this process remains unexplored. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that smooth muscle AT1A receptors exclusively contribute to both medial thickening and adventitial fibrosis regardless of the presence of hypertension. METHODS About 1 µg/kg per minute Ang II was infused for 2 weeks in 2 distinct AT1A receptor silenced mice, knock-in Tagln-mediated constitutive smooth muscle AT1A receptor silenced mice, and Myh11-mediated inducible smooth muscle AT1A together with global AT1B silenced mice for evaluation of hypertensive cardiovascular remodeling. RESULTS Medial thickness, adventitial collagen deposition, and immune cell infiltration in aorta were increased in control mice but not in both smooth muscle AT1A receptor silenced mice. Coronary arterial perivascular fibrosis in response to Ang II infusion was also attenuated in both AT1A receptor silenced mice. Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy was attenuated in constitutive smooth muscle AT1A receptor silenced mice. However, Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy and hypertension were not altered in inducible smooth muscle AT1A receptor silenced mice. CONCLUSIONS Smooth muscle AT1A receptors mediate Ang II-induced vascular remodeling including medial hypertrophy and inflammatory perivascular fibrosis regardless of the presence of hypertension. Our data suggest an independent etiology of blood pressure elevation and hypertensive vascular remodeling in response to Ang II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Okuno
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (K.O., K.T., S.M.C., K.P., V.R., S.E.)
| | - Keiichi Torimoto
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (K.O., K.T., S.M.C., K.P., V.R., S.E.)
| | - Stephanie M Cicalese
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (K.O., K.T., S.M.C., K.P., V.R., S.E.)
| | - Kyle Preston
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (K.O., K.T., S.M.C., K.P., V.R., S.E.)
| | - Victor Rizzo
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (K.O., K.T., S.M.C., K.P., V.R., S.E.)
| | - Tomoki Hashimoto
- Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ (T.H.)
| | - Thomas M Coffman
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (T.M.C., M.A.S.)
- Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore (T.M.C.)
| | - Matthew A Sparks
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (T.M.C., M.A.S.)
| | - Satoru Eguchi
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (K.O., K.T., S.M.C., K.P., V.R., S.E.)
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13
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Clara FM, Alfie J, Scandurra A, Fita M. The Diastolic Oscillation Amplitude Used as an Arterial Aging Indicator. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2023; 19:193-200. [PMID: 37038502 PMCID: PMC10082575 DOI: 10.2147/vhrm.s381452] [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: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The compliance of the distal arteries depends on their vasoconstrictor tone and distensibility and is sensitive to endothelial function and aging. C2, a component of the Windkessel model, is a measure of distal arterial compliance, and establishes the magnitude of the pressure rise during early diastole. It is calculated from the diastolic portion of the radial pulse wave using sophisticated analyses. C2 is used as a cardiovascular risk indicator since it decreases with aging, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Here, we propose an alternative method to assess the distal arteries distensibility by measuring the amplitude of the oscillation that occurs at the beginning of diastole. Methods Peripheral pulse wave was evaluated noninvasively by applanation tonometry in 511 individuals (264 women) aged between 13 and 70 years. Diastolic amplitude (DA) was measured as the peak-to-peak amplitude of the diastolic oscillation. Radial augmentation index (RAIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were also calculated. Results DA decreased approximately 2% per decade of life between 16 and 70 years from 19% to 7%, and was higher in men than in women (p<0.0001). Linear regression analysis identified RAIx as the strongest predictor of AD (p<0.0001), followed by age and height. Sex modified the age-related decrease in DA (p< 0.001). By applying the method to measure DA from previously published data, we found a strong linear correlation with C2. Conclusion DA decreased linearly with age in a reciprocal manner to the increase in radial augmentation index, was greater in men than women, and was independent of blood pressure and heart rate, as previously reported for C2. We propose that measuring DA could provide an alternative index to evaluate distal arterial compliance and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando M Clara
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas en Electrónica, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata/ CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Unidad Cardiometabólica, Centro de Especialidades Médicas Ambulatorias, Mar del Plata, Argentina
- Correspondence: Fernando M Clara, ICyTE, UNMDP/CONICET, Av. Juan B. Justo 4302, Mar del Plata, B7600, Argentina, Tel +54 0223 481-0046, Email
| | - José Alfie
- Unidad de Hipertensión Arterial, Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriana Scandurra
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas en Electrónica, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata/ CONICET, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Mariana Fita
- Unidad Cardiometabólica, Centro de Especialidades Médicas Ambulatorias, Mar del Plata, Argentina
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14
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McCallinhart PE, Lee YU, Lee A, Anghelescu M, Tonniges JR, Calomeni E, Agarwal G, Lincoln J, Trask AJ. Dissociation of pulse wave velocity and aortic wall stiffness in diabetic db/db mice: The influence of blood pressure. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1154454. [PMID: 37035668 PMCID: PMC10080125 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1154454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Vascular stiffness is a predictor of cardiovascular disease and pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the current standard for measuring in vivo vascular stiffness. Mean arterial pressure is the largest confounding variable to PWV; therefore, in this study we aimed to test the hypothesis that increased aortic PWV in type 2 diabetic mice is driven by increased blood pressure rather than vascular biomechanics. Methods and Results: Using a combination of in vivo PWV and ex vivo pressure myography, our data demonstrate no difference in ex vivo passive mechanics, including outer diameter, inner diameter, compliance (Db/db: 0.0094 ± 0.0018 mm2/mmHg vs. db/db: 0.0080 ± 0.0008 mm2/mmHg, p > 0.05 at 100 mmHg), and incremental modulus (Db/db: 801.52 ± 135.87 kPa vs. db/db: 838.12 ± 44.90 kPa, p > 0.05 at 100 mmHg), in normal versus diabetic 16 week old mice. We further report no difference in basal or active aorta biomechanics in normal versus diabetic 16 week old mice. Finally, we show here that the increase in diabetic in vivo aortic pulse wave velocity at baseline was completely abolished when measured at equivalent pharmacologically-modulated blood pressures, indicating that the elevated PWV was attributed to the concomitant increase in blood pressure at baseline, and therefore "stiffness." Conclusions: Together, these animal model data suggest an intimate regulation of blood pressure during collection of pulse wave velocity when determining in vivo vascular stiffness. These data further indicate caution should be exerted when interpreting elevated PWV as the pure marker of vascular stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia E. McCallinhart
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Yong Ung Lee
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Tissue Engineering Program and Surgical Research, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Avione Lee
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Tissue Engineering Program and Surgical Research, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Mircea Anghelescu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Suwanee, GA, United States
| | - Jeffrey R. Tonniges
- Biophysics Graduate Program at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ed Calomeni
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Gunjan Agarwal
- Biophysics Graduate Program at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Joy Lincoln
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Aaron J. Trask
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Aaron J. Trask,
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15
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β-II tubulin isotype directs stiffness and differentiation of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2022:10.1007/s11010-022-04649-0. [PMID: 36585545 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04649-0] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
β-tubulin isotypes regulate the structure and bundling of microtubule (MT) lattice, its dynamics, and resulting functions. They exhibit differential tissue expression, varying due to physical and biochemical cues. In this work, we investigated the effect of transient heat shock at 42 °C on the nuclear and cytoplasmic stiffness of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells through atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the variations in the expression of β-tubulin isotypes as a heat shock response were also monitored. The heat-exposed cells endured a recovery at 37 °C for 24 h and they manifested an increase of cytoplasmic stiffness by 130 ± 25% with respect to untreated controls. The expression of β-II tubulin isotype in heat-recovered cells is augmented by 51 ± 5% whereas the levels of total tubulin and β-III tubulin isotype remain unaltered. Upon depletion of β-II tubulin isotype using shRNA, the increase in cytoplasmic stiffness was dampened. However, it remained unaffected upon depletion with β-III tubulin isotype shRNA. This features the role of the β-II tubulin isotype in regulating cellular stiffness. In addition, neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells undergo differentiation by initiating neuritogenesis and prior evidence suggests the indispensable role of β-II tubulin isotype in this process. The heat-recovered cells which expressed higher levels of β-II tubulin isotype expedited the differentiation process in 3-day which was around 5-day for control cells, however, upon depletion of β-II tubulin isotype, the cells almost lost their differentiation potential. Altogether, this work highlights the role of β-II tubulin isotype as a biomarker for cellular stiffness.
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16
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Jurrissen TJ, Ramirez-Perez FI, Cabral-Amador FJ, Soares RN, Pettit-Mee RJ, Betancourt-Cortes EE, McMillan NJ, Sharma N, Rocha HNM, Fujie S, Morales-Quinones M, Lazo-Fernandez Y, Butler AA, Banerjee S, Sacks HS, Ibdah JA, Parks EJ, Rector RS, Manrique-Acevedo C, Martinez-Lemus LA, Padilla J. Role of adropin in arterial stiffening associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 323:H879-H891. [PMID: 36083795 PMCID: PMC9602697 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00385.2022] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Adropin is a peptide largely secreted by the liver and known to regulate energy homeostasis; however, it also exerts cardiovascular effects. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that low circulating levels of adropin in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) contribute to arterial stiffening. In support of this hypothesis, we report that obesity and T2D are associated with reduced levels of adropin (in liver and plasma) and increased arterial stiffness in mice and humans. Establishing causation, we show that mesenteric arteries from adropin knockout mice are also stiffer, relative to arteries from wild-type counterparts, thus recapitulating the stiffening phenotype observed in T2D db/db mice. Given the above, we performed a set of follow-up experiments, in which we found that 1) exposure of endothelial cells or isolated mesenteric arteries from db/db mice to adropin reduces filamentous actin (F-actin) stress fibers and stiffness, 2) adropin-induced reduction of F-actin and stiffness in endothelial cells and db/db mesenteric arteries is abrogated by inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and 3) stimulation of smooth muscle cells or db/db mesenteric arteries with a NO mimetic reduces stiffness. Lastly, we demonstrated that in vivo treatment of db/db mice with adropin for 4 wk reduces stiffness in mesenteric arteries. Collectively, these findings indicate that adropin can regulate arterial stiffness, likely via endothelium-derived NO, and thus support the notion that "hypoadropinemia" should be considered as a putative target for the prevention and treatment of arterial stiffening in obesity and T2D.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Arterial stiffening, a characteristic feature of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), contributes to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. Herein we establish that adropin is decreased in obese and T2D models and furthermore provide evidence that reduced adropin may directly contribute to arterial stiffening. Collectively, findings from this work support the notion that "hypoadropinemia" should be considered as a putative target for the prevention and treatment of arterial stiffening in obesity and T2D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Jurrissen
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | | | - Rogerio N Soares
- Department of Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Ryan J Pettit-Mee
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Neil J McMillan
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Neekun Sharma
- Department of Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Helena N M Rocha
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Brazil
| | - Shumpei Fujie
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
| | - Mariana Morales-Quinones
- Department of Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Yoskaly Lazo-Fernandez
- Department of Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Andrew A Butler
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiological Sciences, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Subhashis Banerjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiological Sciences, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Harold S Sacks
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jamal A Ibdah
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Elizabeth J Parks
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - R Scott Rector
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Camila Manrique-Acevedo
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Luis A Martinez-Lemus
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Jaume Padilla
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, Missouri
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17
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Vallée A. Arterial Stiffness and the Canonical WNT/β-catenin Pathway. Curr Hypertens Rep 2022; 24:499-507. [PMID: 35727523 DOI: 10.1007/s11906-022-01211-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Arterial stiffness (AS) was mainly associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a hypertensive patient. Some risk factors contribute to the development of AS, such as aging, high blood pressure, vascular calcification, inflammation, and diabetes mellitus. The WNT/β-catenin pathway is implicated in numerous signaling and regulating pathways, including embryogenesis, cell proliferation, migration and polarity, apoptosis, and organogenesis. The activation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway is associated with the development of these risk factors. RECENT FINDINGS Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) is measured to determine AS, and in peripheral artery disease patients, PWV is higher than controls. An augmentation in PWV by 1 m/s has been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular events by 14%. AS measured by PWV is characterized by the deregulation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway by the inactivation of its two inhibitors, i.e., DKK1 and sclerostin. Thus, this review focuses on the role of the WNT/β-catenin pathway which contributes to the development of arterial stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Vallée
- Department of Epidemiology - Data - Biostatistics, Delegation of Clinical Research and Innovation, Foch Hospital, 92150, Suresnes, France.
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18
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Kiema M, Sarin JK, Kauhanen SP, Torniainen J, Matikka H, Luoto ES, Jaakkola P, Saari P, Liimatainen T, Vanninen R, Ylä-Herttuala S, Hedman M, Laakkonen JP. Wall Shear Stress Predicts Media Degeneration and Biomechanical Changes in Thoracic Aorta. Front Physiol 2022; 13:934941. [PMID: 35874533 PMCID: PMC9301078 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.934941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: In thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) of the ascending aorta (AA), AA is progressively dilating due to the weakening of the aortic wall. Predicting and preventing aortic dissections and ruptures in TAA continues to be challenging, and more accurate assessment of the AA dilatation, identification of high-risk patients, and timing of repair surgery are required. We investigated whether wall shear stress (WSS) predicts pathological and biomechanical changes in the aortic wall in TAA. Methods: The study included 12 patients with bicuspid (BAV) and 20 patients with the tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). 4D flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed a day before aortic replacement surgery. Biomechanical and histological parameters, including assessing of wall strength, media degeneration, elastin, and cell content were analyzed from the resected AA samples. Results: WSSs were greater in the outer curves of the AA compared to the inner curves in all TAA patients. WSSs correlated with media degeneration of the aortic wall (ρ = -0.48, p < 0.01), elastin content (ρ = 0.47, p < 0.01), and aortic wall strength (ρ = -0.49, p = 0.029). Subsequently, the media of the outer curves was thinner, more rigid, and tolerated lower failure strains. Failure values were shown to correlate with smooth muscle cell (SMC) density (ρ = -0.45, p < 0.02), and indicated the more MYH10+ SMCs the lower the strength of the aortic wall structure. More macrophages were detected in patients with severe media degeneration and the areas with lower WSSs. Conclusion: The findings indicate that MRI-derived WSS predicts pathological and biomechanical changes in the aortic wall in patients with TAA and could be used for identification of high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miika Kiema
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jaakko K. Sarin
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Medical Physics, Medical Imaging Center, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere, Finland
| | - S. Petteri Kauhanen
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Torniainen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hanna Matikka
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Emma-Sofia Luoto
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pekka Jaakkola
- Department of Heart and Thoracic Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Heart Center, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petri Saari
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Timo Liimatainen
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ritva Vanninen
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Science Service Center, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Gene Therapy Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marja Hedman
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Heart and Thoracic Surgery, Kuopio University Hospital, Heart Center, Kuopio, Finland
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna P. Laakkonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- *Correspondence: Johanna P. Laakkonen,
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19
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Ojha KR, Shin SY, Padgham S, Leon Olmedo F, Guo B, Han G, Woodman C, Trache A. Age-Associated Dysregulation of Integrin Function in Vascular Smooth Muscle. Front Physiol 2022; 13:913673. [PMID: 35874532 PMCID: PMC9301045 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.913673] [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: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Arterial aging results in a progressive reduction in elasticity of the vessel wall and an impaired ability of aged blood vessels to control local blood flow and pressure. Recently, a new concept has emerged that the stiffness and decreased contractility of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells are important contributors to age-induced arterial dysfunction. This study investigated the hypothesis that aging alters integrin function in a matrix stiffness-dependent manner, which contributes to decreased VSM contractility in aged soleus muscle feed arteries (SFA). The effect of RGD-binding integrins on contractile function of cannulated SFA isolated from young (4 months) and old (24 months) Fischer 344 rats was assessed by measuring constrictor responses to norepinephrine, phenylephrine, and angiotensin II. Results indicated that constrictor responses in presence of RGD were impaired in old compared to young SFA. VSM cells isolated from young and old SFA were used for functional experiments using atomic force microscopy and high-resolution imaging. Aging was associated with a modulation of integrin β1 recruitment at cell-matrix adhesions that was matrix and substrate stiffness dependent. Our data showed that substrate stiffening drives altered integrin β1 expression in aging, while soft substrates abolish age-induced differences in overall integrin β1 expression. In addition, substrate stiffness and matrix composition contribute to the modulation of SMα-actin cytoskeleton architecture with soft substrates reducing age effects. Our results provide new insights into age-induced structural changes at VSM cell level that translates to decreased functionality of aged resistance soleus feed arteries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Raj Ojha
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Song Yi Shin
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Samuel Padgham
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Frida Leon Olmedo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Bohong Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Gang Han
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Christopher Woodman
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Andreea Trache
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Andreea Trache,
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20
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Mukherjee P, Rahaman SG, Goswami R, Dutta B, Mahanty M, Rahaman SO. Role of mechanosensitive channels/receptors in atherosclerosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 322:C927-C938. [PMID: 35353635 PMCID: PMC9109792 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00396.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical forces are critical physical cues that can affect numerous cellular processes regulating the development, tissue maintenance, and functionality of cells. The contribution of mechanical forces is especially crucial in the vascular system where it is required for embryogenesis and for maintenance of physiological function in vascular cells including aortic endothelial cells, resident macrophages, and smooth muscle cells. Emerging evidence has also identified a role of these mechanical cues in pathological conditions of the vascular system such as atherosclerosis and associated diseases like hypertension. Of the different mechanotransducers, mechanosensitive ion channels/receptors are gaining prominence due to their involvement in numerous physiological and pathological conditions. However, only a handful of potential mechanosensory ion channels/receptors have been shown to be involved in atherosclerosis, and their precise role in disease development and progression remains poorly understood. Here, we provide a comprehensive account of recent studies investigating the role of mechanosensitive ion channels/receptors in atherosclerosis. We discuss the different groups of mechanosensitive proteins and their specific roles in inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, macrophage foam cell formation, and lesion development, which are crucial for the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Results of the studies discussed here will help in developing an understanding of the current state of mechanobiology in vascular diseases, specifically in atherosclerosis, which may be important for the development of innovative and targeted therapeutics for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritha Mukherjee
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | | | - Rishov Goswami
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Bidisha Dutta
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Manisha Mahanty
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Shaik O Rahaman
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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21
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Wang Y, Shi R, Zhai R, Yang S, Peng T, Zheng F, Shen Y, Li M, Li L. Matrix stiffness regulates macrophage polarization in atherosclerosis. Pharmacol Res 2022; 179:106236. [PMID: 35483516 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and the pathological basis of many fatal cardiovascular diseases. Macrophages, the main inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic plaque, have a paradox role in disease progression. In response to different microenvironments, macrophages mainly have two polarized directions: pro-inflammatory macrophages and anti-inflammatory macrophages. More and more evidence shows that macrophage is mechanosensitive and matrix stiffness regulate macrophage phenotypes in atherosclerosis. However, the molecular mechanism of matrix stiffness regulating macrophage polarization still lacks in-depth research, which hinders the development of new anti-atherosclerotic therapies. In this review, we discuss the important role of matrix stiffness in regulating macrophage polarization through mechanical signal transduction (Hippo, Piezo, cytoskeleton, and integrin) and epigenetic mechanisms (miRNA, DNA methylation, and histone). We hope to provide a new perspective for atherosclerosis therapy by targeting matrix stiffness and macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ruotong Shi
- Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ran Zhai
- Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shiyan Yang
- Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Tianqi Peng
- Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Fuwen Zheng
- Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - YanNan Shen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Meiying Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Lisha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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22
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Soares RN, Ramirez-Perez FI, Cabral-Amador FJ, Morales-Quinones M, Foote CA, Ghiarone T, Sharma N, Power G, Smith JA, Rector RS, Martinez-Lemus LA, Padilla J, Manrique-Acevedo C. SGLT2 inhibition attenuates arterial dysfunction and decreases vascular F-actin content and expression of proteins associated with oxidative stress in aged mice. GeroScience 2022; 44:1657-1675. [PMID: 35426600 PMCID: PMC9213629 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00563-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging of the vasculature is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffening, two key events in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Treatment with sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors is now known to decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes. However, whether SGLT2 inhibition attenuates vascular aging is unknown. We first confirmed in a cohort of adult subjects that aging is associated with impaired endothelial function and increased arterial stiffness and that these two variables are inversely correlated. Next, we investigated whether SGLT2 inhibition with empagliflozin (Empa) ameliorates endothelial dysfunction and reduces arterial stiffness in aged mice with confirmed vascular dysfunction. Specifically, we assessed mesenteric artery endothelial function and stiffness (via flow-mediated dilation and pressure myography mechanical responses, respectively) and aortic stiffness (in vivo via pulse wave velocity and ex vivo via atomic force microscopy) in Empa-treated (14 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks) and control 80-week-old C57BL/6 J male mice. We report that Empa-treated mice exhibited improved mesenteric endothelial function compared with control, in parallel with reduced mesenteric artery and aortic stiffness. Additionally, Empa-treated mice had greater vascular endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation, lower phosphorylated cofilin, and filamentous actin content, with downregulation of pathways involved in production of reactive oxygen species. Our findings demonstrate that Empa improves endothelial function and reduces arterial stiffness in a preclinical model of aging, making SGLT2 inhibition a potential therapeutic alternative to reduce the progression of CVD in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Christopher A. Foote
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Thaysa Ghiarone
- Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Neekun Sharma
- Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Gavin Power
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - James A. Smith
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - R. Scott Rector
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO USA ,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Luis A. Martinez-Lemus
- Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Jaume Padilla
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Camila Manrique-Acevedo
- Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO USA ,Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA ,Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
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23
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De Munck DG, Leloup AJA, De Moudt S, De Meyer GRY, Martinet W, Fransen P. Mouse aortic biomechanics are affected by short-term defective autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells. J Physiol Sci 2022; 72:7. [PMID: 35277137 PMCID: PMC10717727 DOI: 10.1186/s12576-022-00829-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The physiology of vascular smooth muscle (VSMC) cells is affected by autophagy, a catabolic cellular mechanism responsible for nutrient recycling. Autophagy-inducing compounds may reverse arterial stiffening, whereas congenital VSMC-specific autophagy deficiency promotes arterial stiffening. The elevated aortic stiffness in 3.5-month-old C57Bl/6 mice, in which the essential autophagy-related gene Atg7 was specifically deleted in the VSMCs (Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice) was mainly due to passive aortic wall remodeling. The present study investigated whether aortic stiffness was also modulated by a shorter duration of autophagy deficiency. Therefore, aortic segments of 2-month-old Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice were studied. Similarly to the older mice, autophagy deficiency in VSMCs promoted aortic stiffening by elastin degradation and elastin breaks, and increased the expression of the calcium binding protein S100A4 (+ 157%), the aortic wall thickness (+ 27%), the sensitivity of the VSMCs to depolarization and the contribution of VGCC mediated Ca2+ influx to α1 adrenergic contractions. Hence, all these phenomena occurred before the age of 2 months. When compared to autophagy deficiency in VSMCs at 3.5 months, shorter term autophagy deficiency led to higher segment diameter at 80 mmHg (+ 7% versus - 2%), normal baseline tonus (versus increased), unchanged IP3-mediated phasic contractions (versus enhanced), and enhanced endothelial cell function (versus normal). Overall, and because in vivo cardiac parameters or aortic pulse wave velocity were not affected, these observations indicate that congenital autophagy deficiency in VSMCs of Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice initiates compensatory mechanisms to maintain circulatory homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien G De Munck
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Arthur J A Leloup
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sofie De Moudt
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guido R Y De Meyer
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Martinet
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul Fransen
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
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24
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Tuttle T, Darios E, Watts SW, Roccabianca S. Aortic stiffness is lower when perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is included: a novel ex vivo mechanics study. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 322:H1003-H1013. [PMID: 35275760 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00574.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is increasingly recognized as an essential layer of the functional vasculature, being responsible for producing vasoactive substances and assisting arterial stress relaxation. Here we test the hypothesis that PVAT reduces aortic stiffness. Our model was the thoracic aorta of the male Sprague Dawley rat. Uniaxial mechanical tests for three groups of tissue were performed: aorta +PVAT (+PVAT), aorta - PVAT (-PVAT), and isolated PVAT (PVAT only). The output of the mechanical test is reported in the form of a Cauchy stress-stretch curve. This work presents a novel, physiologically relevant approach to measure mechanical stiffness ex vivo in isolated PVAT. Low-stress stiffness (), high-stress stiffness (), and the stress corresponding to a stretch of 1.2 () were measured as metrics of distensibility. The low-stress stiffness was largest in the -PVAT samples and smallest in PVAT only samples. Both the high-stress stiffness and the stress at 1.2 stretch were significantly higher in -PVAT samples when compared to +PVAT samples. Taken together these results suggest that -PVAT samples are stiffer (less distensible) both at low stress (not significant) as well as at high stress (significant) when compared to +PVAT samples. These conclusions are supported by the results of the continuum mechanics material model we also used to interpret the same experimental data. Thus, tissue stiffness is significantly lower when considering PVAT as part of the aortic wall. As such, PVAT should be considered as a target for improving vascular function in diseases with elevated aortic stiffness, including hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Tuttle
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Emma Darios
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Stephanie W Watts
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Sara Roccabianca
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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25
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Takehara Y. Clinical Application of 4D Flow MR Imaging for the Abdominal Aorta. Magn Reson Med Sci 2022; 21:354-364. [PMID: 35185062 PMCID: PMC9680546 DOI: 10.2463/mrms.rev.2021-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood vessels can be regarded as autonomous organs. The endothelial cells on the vessel surface serve as mechanosensors or mechanoreceptors for the flow velocity and turbulence of the blood flow in terms of wall shear stress (WSS), thereby monitoring changes in the flow velocity. Accordingly, the endothelial cells regulate the flow velocity by releasing numerous mediators. Such regulatory systems also trigger atherosclerosis, where the WSS decreases or fluctuates to maintain the flow velocity or local WSS. As occurrences of abdominal aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection are closely related to atherosclerosis, understanding the hemodynamics of the abdominal aorta is necessary to obtain useful information concerning the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and interventions. 4D flow MRI is beneficial for measuring the hemodynamics through comprehensive retrospective flowmetry of the entire spatio-temporal distributions of the flow vectors. This section focuses on abdominal aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection as representative examples of abdominal aortic diseases. Their hemodynamic characteristics and how hemodynamics is involved in their progression are described, and how 4D flow MRI can contribute to their assessment is also explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Takehara
- Departments of Fundamental Development for Low Invasive Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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26
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Pewowaruk RJ, Gepner AD. Smooth muscle tone alters arterial stiffness: the importance of the extracellular matrix to vascular smooth muscle stiffness ratio. J Hypertens 2022; 40:512-519. [PMID: 34751172 PMCID: PMC8810580 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies show that vascular smooth muscle (VSM) is more important to elastic artery mechanics than previously believed. It remains unclear whether increased VSM tone increases or decreases arterial stiffness. METHODS AND RESULTS We developed a novel arterial mechanics model based on pressure-diameter relationships that incorporates the contributions of extracellular matrix (ECM) and VSM to arterial stiffness measures. This model is advantageous because it simple enough to use with limited clinical data but has biologically relevant parameters which include ECM stiffness, VSM stiffness, and VSM tone. The model was used to retrospectively analyze the effects of nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation in four clinical studies. Stiffness parameters were modeled for five arterial regions including both elastic and muscular arteries. The model describes complex experimental data with changing VSM tone and blood pressure. Our analysis found that when ECM is less stiff than VSM, increasing VSM tone increases arterial stiffness. The opposite is seen when ECM is stiffer than VSM, increasing VSM tone decreases stiffness. Our results also suggest that VSM tone is a compensatory mechanism for elevated ECM stiffness in hypertensive individuals. CONCLUSION Based on retrospective analysis of four clinical studies, we propose a simple hypothesis for the role of VSM tone on arterial stiffness: increased VSM tone increases arterial stiffness when VSM is stiffer than ECM and decreases arterial stiffness when ECM is stiffer than VSM. This hypothesis and the methods used in this study could have important implications for understanding arterial physiology in both hypertension and cardiovascular disease and deserve further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Pewowaruk
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Adam D Gepner
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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27
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Mammoto A, Matus K, Mammoto T. Extracellular Matrix in Aging Aorta. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:822561. [PMID: 35265616 PMCID: PMC8898904 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.822561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The aging population is booming all over the world and arterial aging causes various age-associated pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aorta is the largest elastic artery, and transforms pulsatile flow generated by the left ventricle into steady flow to maintain circulation in distal tissues and organs. Age-associated structural and functional changes in the aortic wall such as dilation, tortuousness, stiffening and losing elasticity hamper stable peripheral circulation, lead to tissue and organ dysfunctions in aged people. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a three-dimensional network of macromolecules produced by resident cells. The composition and organization of key ECM components determine the structure-function relationships of the aorta and therefore maintaining their homeostasis is critical for a healthy performance. Age-associated remodeling of the ECM structural components, including fragmentation of elastic fibers and excessive deposition and crosslinking of collagens, is a hallmark of aging and leads to functional stiffening of the aorta. In this mini review, we discuss age-associated alterations of the ECM in the aortic wall and shed light on how understanding the mechanisms of aortic aging can lead to the development of efficient strategy for aortic pathologies and CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Mammoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- *Correspondence: Akiko Mammoto, ; Tadanori Mammoto,
| | - Kienna Matus
- Department of Pediatrics, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Tadanori Mammoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- *Correspondence: Akiko Mammoto, ; Tadanori Mammoto,
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28
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Yue L, Chen S, Ren Q, Niu S, Pan X, Chen X, Li Z, Chen X. Effects of semaglutide on vascular structure and proteomics in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:995007. [PMID: 36419767 PMCID: PMC9676360 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.995007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. To determine whether semaglutide could improve aortic injury in obese C57BL/6J mice, and further explore its molecular mechanism of action using proteomics. METHODS 24 C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into normal diet group (NCD group), high-fat diet group (HFD group) and high-fat diet + semaglutide group (Sema group, semaglutide (30 nmol/kg/d) for 12 weeks). The serum samples were collected from mice to detect blood glucose, insulin and blood lipid concentrations. Aortic stiffness was detected by Doppler pulse wave velocity (PWV). Changes in vascular structure were detected by HE, masson, EVG staining and electron microscopy. The aorta-related protein expression profiles were detected by proteomic techniques, and proteins with potential molecular mechanisms were identified. RESULTS Semaglutide could reduce body weight, the concentrations of blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and reduce the aortic PWV and ameliorate vascular damage in obese mice. The results of proteomic analysis showed there were 537 up-regulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and 322 down-regulated DEPs in NCD/HFD group, 251 up-regulated DEPs and 237 down-regulated proteins in HFD/Sema group. There were a total of 25 meaningful overlapping DEPs in the NCD/HFD and HFD/Sema groups. GO enrichment analysis of overlapping DEPs found that these differential proteins were mainly located in the signaling pathways of the extracellular matrix. The most obvious changes of extracellular matrix associated proteins in the three experimental groups were Coll5a1, Lama4, Sparc. CONCLUSION Semaglutide may protect vascular structure and improve endothelial permeability by reducing the levels of Coll5a1, Lama4, Sparc in extracellular matrix, so as to improve vascular function and achieve vascular protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yue
- Department of Internal Medical, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Endocrinology, The Third Hospital of Shijiazhuang, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shuchun Chen
- Department of Internal Medical, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Internal Medical, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Shuchun Chen,
| | - Qingjuan Ren
- Department of Endocrinology, Shijiazhuang People’s Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shu Niu
- Department of Endocrinology, Shijiazhuang People’s Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Pan
- Department of Internal Medical, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xing Chen
- Department of Internal Medical, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zelin Li
- Department of Internal Medical, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaoyi Chen
- Department of Internal Medical, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China
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29
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Vatner SF, Zhang J, Vyzas C, Mishra K, Graham RM, Vatner DE. Vascular Stiffness in Aging and Disease. Front Physiol 2021; 12:762437. [PMID: 34950048 PMCID: PMC8688960 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.762437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review is to provide further understanding of increased vascular stiffness with aging, and how it contributes to the adverse effects of major human diseases. Differences in stiffness down the aortic tree are discussed, a topic requiring further research, because most prior work only examined one location in the aorta. It is also important to understand the divergent effects of increased aortic stiffness between males and females, principally due to the protective role of female sex hormones prior to menopause. Another goal is to review human and non-human primate data and contrast them with data in rodents. This is particularly important for understanding sex differences in vascular stiffness with aging as well as the changes in vascular stiffness before and after menopause in females, as this is controversial. This area of research necessitates studies in humans and non-human primates, since rodents do not go through menopause. The most important mechanism studied as a cause of age-related increases in vascular stiffness is an alteration in the vascular extracellular matrix resulting from an increase in collagen and decrease in elastin. However, there are other mechanisms mediating increased vascular stiffness, such as collagen and elastin disarray, calcium deposition, endothelial dysfunction, and the number of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Populations with increased longevity, who live in areas called “Blue Zones,” are also discussed as they provide additional insights into mechanisms that protect against age-related increases in vascular stiffness. Such increases in vascular stiffness are important in mediating the adverse effects of major cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension and diabetes, but require further research into their mechanisms and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Vatner
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Christina Vyzas
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Kalee Mishra
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Robert M Graham
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, University of New South Wales, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Dorothy E Vatner
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
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30
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Johnson RT, Solanki R, Warren DT. Mechanical programming of arterial smooth muscle cells in health and ageing. Biophys Rev 2021; 13:757-768. [PMID: 34745374 PMCID: PMC8553715 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00833-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), the predominant cell type within the arterial wall, detect and respond to external mechanical forces. These forces can be derived from blood flow (i.e. pressure and stretch) or from the supporting extracellular matrix (i.e. stiffness and topography). The healthy arterial wall is elastic, allowing the artery to change shape in response to changes in blood pressure, a property known as arterial compliance. As we age, the mechanical forces applied to ASMCs change; blood pressure and arterial wall rigidity increase and result in a reduction in arterial compliance. These changes in mechanical environment enhance ASMC contractility and promote disease-associated changes in ASMC phenotype. For mechanical stimuli to programme ASMCs, forces must influence the cell's load-bearing apparatus, the cytoskeleton. Comprised of an interconnected network of actin filaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments, each cytoskeletal component has distinct mechanical properties that enable ASMCs to respond to changes within the mechanical environment whilst maintaining cell integrity. In this review, we discuss how mechanically driven cytoskeletal reorganisation programmes ASMC function and phenotypic switching.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reesha Solanki
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Derek T. Warren
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ UK
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31
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Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are now considered important contributors to the pathophysiological and biophysical mechanisms underlying arterial stiffening in aging. Here, we review mechanisms whereby VSMC stiffening alters vascular function and contributes to the changes in vascular stiffening observed in aging and cardiovascular disease. Vascular stiffening in arterial aging was historically associated with changes in the extracellular matrix; however, new evidence suggests that endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell stiffness also contribute to overall blood vessel stiffness. Furthermore, VSMC play an integral role in regulating matrix deposition and vessel wall contractility via interaction between the actomyosin contractile unit and adhesion structures that anchor the cell within the extracellular matrix. Aged-induce phenotypic modulation of VSMC from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype is associated with decreased cellular contractility and increased cell stiffness. Aged VSMC also display reduced mechanosensitivity and adaptation to mechanical signals from their microenvironment due to impaired intracellular signaling. Finally, evidence for decreased contractility in arteries from aged animals demonstrate that changes at the cellular level result in decreased functional properties at the tissue level.
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32
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Baraban JM, Tuday E, Berkowitz DE, Das S. Deciphering the Role of microRNAs in Large-Artery Stiffness Associated With Aging: Focus on miR-181b. Front Physiol 2021; 12:747789. [PMID: 34646165 PMCID: PMC8504676 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.747789] [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: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Large artery stiffness (LAS) is a major, independent risk factor underlying cardiovascular disease that increases with aging. The emergence of microRNA signaling as a key regulator of vascular structure and function has stimulated interest in assessing its role in the pathophysiology of LAS. Identification of several microRNAs that display age-associated changes in expression in aorta has focused attention on defining their molecular targets and deciphering their role in age-associated arterial stiffening. Inactivation of the microRNA-degrading enzyme, translin/trax, which reverses the age-dependent decline in miR-181b, confers protection from aging-associated arterial stiffening, suggesting that inhibitors targeting this enzyme may have translational potential. As LAS poses a major public health challenge, we anticipate that future studies based on these advances will yield innovative strategies to combat aging-associated arterial stiffening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay M Baraban
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, ML, United States
| | - Eric Tuday
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.,Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Dan E Berkowitz
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Sam Das
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, ML, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, ML, United States
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33
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Vascular consequences of inflammation: a position statement from the ESH Working Group on Vascular Structure and Function and the ARTERY Society. J Hypertens 2021; 38:1682-1698. [PMID: 32649623 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000002508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
: Inflammation is a physiological response to aggression of pathogenic agents aimed at eliminating the aggressor agent and promoting healing. Excessive inflammation, however, may contribute to tissue damage and an alteration of arterial structure and function. Increased arterial stiffness is a well recognized cardiovascular risk factor independent of blood pressure levels and an intermediate endpoint for cardiovascular events. In the present review, we discuss immune-mediated mechanisms by which inflammation can influence arterial physiology and lead to vascular dysfunction such as atherosclerosis and arterial stiffening. We also show that acute inflammation predisposes the vasculature to arterial dysfunction and stiffening, and alteration of endothelial function and that chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis are accompanied by profound arterial dysfunction which is proportional to the severity of inflammation. Current findings suggest that treatment of inflammation by targeted drugs leads to regression of arterial dysfunction. There is hope that these treatments will improve outcomes for patients.
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34
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Hu S, Luo J, Fu M, Luo L, Cai Y, Li W, Li Y, Dong R, Yang Y, Tu L, Xu X. Soluble epoxide hydrolase deletion attenuated nicotine-induced arterial stiffness via limiting the loss of SIRT1. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 321:H353-H368. [PMID: 34142887 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00979.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Arterial stiffness, a consequence of smoking, is an underlying risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), hydrolyzed by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), have beneficial effects against vascular dysfunction. However, the role of sEH knockout in nicotine-induced arterial stiffness was not characterized. We hypothesized that sEH knockout could prevent nicotine-induced arterial stiffness. In the present study, Ephx2 (the gene encodes sEH enzyme) null (Ephx2-/-) mice and wild-type (WT) littermate mice were infused with or without nicotine and administered with or without nicotinamide [NAM, sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) inhibitor] simultaneously for 4 wk. Nicotine treatment increased sEH expression and activity in the aortas of WT mice. Nicotine infusion significantly induced vascular remodeling, arterial stiffness, and SIRT1 deactivation in WT mice, which was attenuated in Ephx2 knockout mice (Ephx2-/- mice) without NAM treatment. However, the arterial protective effects were gone in Ephx2-/- mice with NAM treatment. In vitro, 11,12-EET treatment attenuated nicotine-induced matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) upregulation via SIRT1-mediated yes-associated protein (YAP) deacetylation. In conclusion, sEH knockout attenuated nicotine-induced arterial stiffness and vascular remodeling via SIRT1-induced YAP deacetylation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We presently show that sEH knockout repressed nicotine-induced arterial stiffness and extracellular matrix remodeling via SIRT1-induced YAP deacetylation, which highlights that sEH is a potential therapeutic target in smoking-induced arterial stiffness and vascular remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiqing Hu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinlan Luo
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Menglu Fu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liman Luo
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yueting Cai
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenhua Li
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruolan Dong
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Tu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xizhen Xu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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Hill MA, Yang Y, Zhang L, Sun Z, Jia G, Parrish AR, Sowers JR. Insulin resistance, cardiovascular stiffening and cardiovascular disease. Metabolism 2021; 119:154766. [PMID: 33766485 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2021.154766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 263] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) and obesity are typically characterized by a state of metabolic insulin resistance. As global and US rates of obesity increase there is an acceleration of the incidence and prevalence of insulin resistance along with associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Under physiological conditions insulin regulates glucose homeostasis by enhancing glucose disposal in insulin sensitive tissues while also regulating delivery of nutrients through its vasodilation actions on small feed arteries. Specifically, insulin-mediated production of nitric oxide (NO) from the vascular endothelium leads to increased blood flow enhancing disposal of glucose. Typically, insulin resistance is considered as a decrease in sensitivity or responsiveness to the metabolic actions of insulin including insulin-mediated glucose disposal. However, a decreased sensitivity to the normal vascular actions of insulin, especially diminished nitric oxide production, plays an additional important role in the development of CVD in states of insulin resistance. One mechanism by which insulin resistance and attendant hyperinsulinemia promote CVD is via increases in vascular stiffness. Although obesity and insulin resistance are known to be associated with substantial increases in the prevalence of vascular fibrosis and stiffness the mechanisms and mediators that underlie vascular stiffening in insulin resistant states are complex and have only recently begun to be addressed. Current evidence supports the role of increased plasma levels of aldosterone and insulin and attendant reductions in bioavailable NO in the pathogenesis of impaired vascular relaxation and vascular stiffness in the CMS and obesity. Aldosterone and insulin both increase the activity of serum and glucocorticoid kinase 1 (SGK-1) which in turn is a major regulator of vascular and renal sodium (Na+) channel activity.The importance of SGK-1 in the pathogenesis of the CMS is highlighted by observations that gain of function mutations in SGK-1 in humans promotes hypertension, insulin resistance and obesity. In endothelial cells, an increase in Na+ flux contributes to remodeling of the cytoskeleton, reduced NO bioavailability and vascular stiffening. Thus, endothelial SGK-1 may represent a point of convergence for insulin and aldosterone signaling in arterial stiffness associated with obesity and the CMS. This review examines our contemporary understanding of the link between insulin resistance and increased vascular stiffness with emphasis placed on a role for enhanced SGK-1 signaling as a key node in this pathological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Hill
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
| | - Yan Yang
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Liping Zhang
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Zhe Sun
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Guanghong Jia
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Diabetes and Cardiovascular Center, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Alan R Parrish
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - James R Sowers
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Diabetes and Cardiovascular Center, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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Mao X, Tan Y, Wang H, Li S, Zhou Y. Substrate Stiffness Regulates Cholesterol Efflux in Smooth Muscle Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:648715. [PMID: 34084769 PMCID: PMC8168435 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.648715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The infiltration and deposition of cholesterol in the arterial wall play an important role in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are the major cell type in the intima. Upon exposure to cholesterol, SMCs may undergo a phenotype switching into foam cells. Meanwhile, the pathological processes of the blood vessel such as cholesterol deposition and calcification induce the changes in the substrate stiffness around SMCs. However, whether substrate stiffness affects the cholesterol accumulation in SMCs and the formation of foam cells is not well-understood. In this study, SMCs were cultured on the substrates with different stiffnesses ranging from 1 to 100 kPa and treated with cholesterol. We found that cholesterol accumulation in SMCs was higher on 1 and 100 kPa substrates than that on intermediate stiffness at 40 kPa; consistently, total cholesterol (TC) content on 1 and 100 kPa substrates was also higher. As a result, the accumulation of cholesterol increased the expression of macrophage marker CD68 and downregulated SMC contractile marker smooth muscle α-actin (ACTA2). Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression level of cholesterol efflux gene ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) was much higher on 40 kPa substrate. With the treatment of a liver X receptor (LXR) agonist GW3965, the expression of ABCA1 increased and cholesterol loading decreased, showing an additive effect with substrate stiffness. In contrast, inhibition of LXR decreased ABCA1 gene expression and increased cholesterol accumulation in SMCs. Consistently, when ABCA1 gene was knockdown, the cholesterol accumulation was increased in SMCs on all substrates with different stiffness. These results revealed that substrate stiffness played an important role on SMCs cholesterol accumulation by regulating the ABCA1 expression. Our findings on the effects of substrate stiffness on cholesterol efflux unravel a new mechanism of biophysical regulation of cholesterol metabolism and SMC phenotype, and provide a rational basis for the development of novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuli Mao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiling Tan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huali Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Song Li
- Department of Bioengineering and Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yue Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Overweight and obesity are strongly associated with comorbidities such as hypertension and insulin resistance, which collectively contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases and resultant morbidity and mortality. Forty-two percent of adults in the United States are obese, and a total of 1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight or obese. These alarming numbers, which continue to climb, represent a major health and economic burden. Adipose tissue is a highly dynamic organ that can be classified based on the cellular composition of different depots and their distinct anatomical localization. Massive expansion and remodeling of adipose tissue during obesity differentially affects specific adipose tissue depots and significantly contributes to vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases. Visceral adipose tissue accumulation results in increased immune cell infiltration and secretion of vasoconstrictor mediators, whereas expansion of subcutaneous adipose tissue is less harmful. Therefore, fat distribution more than overall body weight is a key determinant of the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Thermogenic brown and beige adipose tissue, in contrast to white adipose tissue, is associated with beneficial effects on the vasculature. The relationship between the type of adipose tissue and its influence on vascular function becomes particularly evident in the context of the heterogenous phenotype of perivascular adipose tissue that is strongly location dependent. In this review, we address the abnormal remodeling of specific adipose tissue depots during obesity and how this critically contributes to the development of hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular stiffness. We also discuss the local and systemic roles of adipose tissue derived secreted factors and increased systemic inflammation during obesity and highlight their detrimental impact on cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mascha Koenen
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York (M.K., P.C.)
| | - Michael A Hill
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia (M.A.H., J.R.S.)
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology (M.A.H., J.R.S.), University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia
| | - Paul Cohen
- Laboratory of Molecular Metabolism, The Rockefeller University, New York (M.K., P.C.)
| | - James R Sowers
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia (M.A.H., J.R.S.)
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology (M.A.H., J.R.S.), University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia
- Diabetes and Cardiovascular Center (J.R.S.), University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia
- Department of Medicine (J.R.S.), University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia
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Tuktarov AM, Kazanceva TS, Filippov AE, Obrezan AG. The Relationship of Modifiable Risk Factors with Indicators of Arterial Stiffness and Vascular Age in Patients with Arterial Hypertension. RATIONAL PHARMACOTHERAPY IN CARDIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.20996/1819-6446-2021-02-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim. To study the relationship of modifiable risk factors (RF) with indicators of arterial stiffness and vascular age based on the contour analysis of the pulse wave velocity in hypertensive patients.Material and methods. The material of the study was the data from a survey of patients undergoing clinical observation at the polyclinic of MMC SOGAZ. A total of 107 patients were examined, in which 70 were men and 37 were women. The average age was 52.3±18.29. Photoplethysmography was used as a special research method, performed using the AngioScan-01 diagnostic complex. The main indicators used to evaluate the stiffness of large vessels were: stiffness index (SI), reflection index (RI), augmentation index (Alp75), age index (AGI), pulse wave types (PV) and vascular age (VA).Results. The mean values of arterial stiffness indices in patients with essential arterial hypertension (AH) and healthy individuals (control) had significant differences. The mean SI, Alp75, and VA values in the group of patients with AH were 7.8±1.03, 7.0±14.44 and 50.8±15.93 versus 7.2±1.73, 0.5±18.02 and 43.8±16.94, respectively (p< 0.05). In both groups, a strong inverse correlation of passport age with C-type PV was revealed (r=0.74, p< 0.01), which reflected the dynamics of a gradual age-dependent decrease in vascular compliance. The average VA value in the control group was 63.1±16.99 years with an average passport age of 59.5±8.79 years, which significantly differed from VA in hypertensive patients (p< 0,05). Overweight, hypercholesterolemia, elevated low-density lipoprotein levels, lack of adequate antihypertensive control, and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were significantly associated with early vascular (arterial) aging.Conclusion. Patients with hypertension, in addition to high blood pressure, significantly differ from normotensive control in terms of arterial stiffness. The lack of control over modifiable RF of patients with hypertension is associated with early vascular aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. M. Tuktarov
- St. Petersburg State University;
LLC “International Medical Center “SOGAZ”
| | | | - A. E. Filippov
- St. Petersburg State University;
LLC “International Medical Center “SOGAZ”
| | - A. G. Obrezan
- St. Petersburg State University;
LLC “International Medical Center “SOGAZ”
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Tardelli LP, Duchatsch F, Herrera NA, Vicentini CA, Okoshi K, Amaral SL. Differential effects of dexamethasone on arterial stiffness, myocardial remodeling and blood pressure between normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Appl Toxicol 2021; 41:1673-1686. [PMID: 33629383 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Dexamethasone (DEX)-induced hypertension is observed in normotensive rats, but little is known about the effects of DEX on spontaneously hypertensive animals (SHR). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of DEX on hemodynamics, cardiac hypertrophy and arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Wistar rats and SHR were treated with DEX (50 μg/kg s.c., 14 d) or saline. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), echocardiographic parameters, blood pressure (BP), autonomic modulation and histological analyses of heart and thoracic aorta were performed. SHR had higher BP compared with Wistar, associated with autonomic unbalance to the heart. Echocardiographic changes in SHR (vs. Wistar) were suggestive of cardiac remodeling: higher relative wall thickness (RWT, +28%) and left ventricle mass index (LVMI, +26%) and lower left ventricle systolic diameter (LVSD, -19%) and LV diastolic diameter (LVDD, -10%), with slightly systolic dysfunction and preserved diastolic dysfunction. Also, SHR had lower myocardial capillary density and similar collagen deposition area. PWV was higher in SHR due to higher aortic collagen deposition. DEX-treated Wistar rats presented higher BP (~23%) and autonomic unbalance. DEX did not change cardiac structure in Wistar, but PWV (+21%) and aortic collagen deposition area (+21%) were higher compared with control. On the other side, DEX did not change BP or autonomic balance to the heart in SHR, but reduced RWT and LV collagen deposition area (-12% vs. SHRCT ). In conclusion, the results suggest a differential effect of dexamethasone on arterial stiffness, myocardial remodeling and blood pressure between normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidieli P Tardelli
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, PIPGCF UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Francine Duchatsch
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, PIPGCF UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Naiara A Herrera
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, PIPGCF UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil
| | | | - Katashi Okoshi
- Department of Medical Clinic, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Sandra L Amaral
- Joint Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences, PIPGCF UFSCar/UNESP, São Carlos, Brazil.,Department of Physical Education, School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru, Brazil
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Li X, Lu L, Chen J, Zhang C, Chen H, Huang H. New Insight into the Mechanisms of Ginkgo Biloba Extract in Vascular Aging Prevention. Curr Vasc Pharmacol 2020; 18:334-345. [PMID: 31223090 DOI: 10.2174/1570161117666190621150725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging-associated vascular dysfunction promotes cardiovascular diseases. Recently, Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) has attracted considerable attention in the prevention of aged vasculature. METHODS This review discusses the pathophysiological alterations in aged vasculature and the underlying mechanisms of GBE in vascular aging suppression. RESULTS Both arterial stiffening and endothelial dysfunction are critical aging-related vascular phenotypes that result in the progression of cardiovascular diseases in the general population. Consistent oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction lead to vascular dysfunction. GBE ameliorates aging-related vascular dysfunction, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The main effects of GBE in aged vasculature might be associated with the longevity signaling pathways. GBE also attenuates the progression of vascular aging in diabetes mellitus via regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION GBE plays an important role in the prevention of vascular aging process. It is a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate aging-related vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Li
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liuyi Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Vascular Biology Program and Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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41
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Navarrete A, Chen Z, Aranda P, Poblete D, Utrera A, García-Herrera CM, Gonzalez-Candia A, Beñaldo FA, Ebensperger G, Reyes RV, Herrera EA, Llanos AJ. Study of the Effect of Treatment With Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) and Cinaciguat in Chronic Hypoxic Neonatal Lambs on Residual Strain and Microstructure of the Arteries. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:590488. [PMID: 33244466 PMCID: PMC7683788 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.590488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we assessed the effects of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) and Cinaciguat, as experimental medicines to treat neonatal lambs exposed to chronic hypoxic conditions. To compare the different treatments, the mechanical responses of aorta, carotid, and femoral arterial walls were analyzed by means of axial pre-stretch and ring-opening tests, through a study with n = 6 animals for each group analyzed. The axial pre-stretch test measures the level of shortening in different zones of the arteries when extracted from lambs, while the ring-opening test is used to quantify the degree of residual circumferential deformation in a given zone of an artery. In addition, histological studies were carried out to measure elastin, collagen, and smooth muscle cell (SMC) nuclei densities, both in control and treated groups. The results show that mechanical response is related with histological results, specifically in the proximal abdominal aorta (PAA) and distal carotid zones (DCA), where the cell nuclei content is related to a decrease of residual deformations. The opening angle and the elastic fibers of the aorta artery were statistically correlated (p < 0.05). Specifically, in PAA zone, there are significant differences of opening angle and cell nuclei density values between control and treated groups (p-values to opening angle: Control-ANP = 2 ⋅ 10-2, Control-Cinaciguat = 1 ⋅ 10-2; p-values to cell nuclei density: Control-ANP = 5 ⋅ 10-4, Control-Cinaciguat = 2 ⋅ 10-2). Respect to distal carotid zone (DCA), significant differences between Control and Cinaciguat groups were observed to opening angle (p-value = 4 ⋅ 10-2), and cell nuclei density (p-value = 1 ⋅ 10-2). Our findings add evidence that medical treatments may have effects on the mechanical responses of arterial walls and should be taken into account when evaluating the complete medical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Navarrete
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zhuoming Chen
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pedro Aranda
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Poblete
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrés Utrera
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Alejandro Gonzalez-Candia
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de O’Higgins, Rancagua, Chile
- Pathophysiology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe A. Beñaldo
- Pathophysiology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - German Ebensperger
- Pathophysiology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Roberto V. Reyes
- Pathophysiology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- International Center for Andean Studies (INCAS), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Emilio A. Herrera
- Pathophysiology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- International Center for Andean Studies (INCAS), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Anibal J. Llanos
- Pathophysiology Program, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- International Center for Andean Studies (INCAS), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Hill MA, Jaisser F, Sowers JR. Role of the vascular endothelial sodium channel activation in the genesis of pathologically increased cardiovascular stiffness. Cardiovasc Res 2020; 118:130-140. [PMID: 33188592 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular (CV) stiffening represents a complex series of events evolving from pathological changes in individual cells of the vasculature and heart which leads to overt tissue fibrosis. While vascular stiffening occurs naturally with ageing it is accelerated in states of insulin (INS) resistance, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. CV stiffening is clinically manifested as increased arterial pulse wave velocity and myocardial fibrosis-induced diastolic dysfunction. A key question that remains is how are these events mechanistically linked. In this regard, heightened activation of vascular mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and hyperinsulinaemia occur in obesity and INS resistance states. Further, a downstream mediator of MR and INS receptor activation, the endothelial cell Na+ channel (EnNaC), has recently been identified as a key molecular determinant of endothelial dysfunction and CV fibrosis and stiffening. Increased activity of the EnNaC results in a number of negative consequences including stiffening of the cortical actin cytoskeleton in endothelial cells, impaired endothelial NO release, increased oxidative stress-meditated NO destruction, increased vascular permeability, and stimulation of an inflammatory environment. Such endothelial alterations impact vascular function and stiffening through regulation of vascular tone and stimulation of tissue remodelling including fibrosis. In the case of the heart, obesity and INS resistance are associated with coronary vascular endothelial stiffening and associated reductions in bioavailable NO leading to heart failure with preserved systolic function (HFpEF). After a brief discussion on mechanisms leading to vascular stiffness per se, this review then focuses on recent findings regarding the role of INS and aldosterone to enhance EnNaC activity and associated CV stiffness in obesity/INS resistance states. Finally, we discuss how coronary artery-mediated EnNaC activation may lead to cardiac fibrosis and HFpEF, a condition that is especially pronounced in obese and diabetic females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Hill
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, 134 Research Park Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Frederic Jaisser
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Université de Paris, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - James R Sowers
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.,Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, 134 Research Park Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.,Diabetes and Cardiovascular Center, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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Michel JB. Phylogenic Determinants of Cardiovascular Frailty, Focus on Hemodynamics and Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells. Physiol Rev 2020; 100:1779-1837. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00022.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of the circulatory system from invertebrates to mammals has involved the passage from an open system to a closed in-parallel system via a closed in-series system, accompanying the increasing complexity and efficiency of life’s biological functions. The archaic heart enables pulsatile motion waves of hemolymph in invertebrates, and the in-series circulation in fish occurs with only an endothelium, whereas mural smooth muscle cells appear later. The present review focuses on evolution of the circulatory system. In particular, we address how and why this evolution took place from a closed, flowing, longitudinal conductance at low pressure to a flowing, highly pressurized and bifurcating arterial compartment. However, although arterial pressure was the latest acquired hemodynamic variable, the general teleonomy of the evolution of species is the differentiation of individual organ function, supported by specific fueling allowing and favoring partial metabolic autonomy. This was achieved via the establishment of an active contractile tone in resistance arteries, which permitted the regulation of blood supply to specific organ activities via its localized function-dependent inhibition (active vasodilation). The global resistance to viscous blood flow is the peripheral increase in frictional forces caused by the tonic change in arterial and arteriolar radius, which backscatter as systemic arterial blood pressure. Consequently, the arterial pressure gradient from circulating blood to the adventitial interstitium generates the unidirectional outward radial advective conductance of plasma solutes across the wall of conductance arteries. This hemodynamic evolution was accompanied by important changes in arterial wall structure, supported by smooth muscle cell functional plasticity, including contractility, matrix synthesis and proliferation, endocytosis and phagocytosis, etc. These adaptive phenotypic shifts are due to epigenetic regulation, mainly related to mechanotransduction. These paradigms actively participate in cardio-arterial pathologies such as atheroma, valve disease, heart failure, aneurysms, hypertension, and physiological aging.
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Okuno K, Cicalese S, Elliott KJ, Kawai T, Hashimoto T, Eguchi S. Targeting Molecular Mechanism of Vascular Smooth Muscle Senescence Induced by Angiotensin II, A Potential Therapy via Senolytics and Senomorphics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186579. [PMID: 32916794 PMCID: PMC7555774 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a prevalent issue in the global aging population. Premature vascular aging such as elevated arterial stiffness appears to be a major risk factor for CVD. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are one of the essential parts of arterial pathology and prone to stress-induced senescence. The pervasiveness of senescent VSMCs in the vasculature increases with age and can be further expedited by various stressing events such as oxidative stress, mitochondria dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and chronic inflammation. Angiotensin II (AngII) can induce many of these responses in VSMCs and is thus considered a key regulator of VSMC senescence associated with CVD. Understanding the precise mechanisms and consequences of senescent cell accumulation may uncover a new generation of therapies including senolytic and senomorphic compounds against CVD. Accordingly, in this review article, we discuss potential molecular mechanisms of VSMC senescence such as those induced by AngII and the therapeutic manipulations of senescence to control age-related CVD and associated conditions such as by senolytic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Okuno
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; (K.O.); (S.C.); (K.J.E.); (T.K.)
| | - Stephanie Cicalese
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; (K.O.); (S.C.); (K.J.E.); (T.K.)
| | - Katherine J. Elliott
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; (K.O.); (S.C.); (K.J.E.); (T.K.)
| | - Tatsuo Kawai
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; (K.O.); (S.C.); (K.J.E.); (T.K.)
| | - Tomoki Hashimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA;
| | - Satoru Eguchi
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3500 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; (K.O.); (S.C.); (K.J.E.); (T.K.)
- Correspondence:
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45
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Gao P, Gao P, Choi M, Chegireddy K, Slivano OJ, Zhao J, Zhang W, Long X. Transcriptome analysis of mouse aortae reveals multiple novel pathways regulated by aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:15603-15623. [PMID: 32805724 PMCID: PMC7467355 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Vascular aging has been documented as a vital process leading to arterial dysfunction and age-related cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of age-related phenotypes in the vascular system is incomplete. Here we performed bulk RNA sequencing in young and old mouse aortae to elucidate age-associated changes in the transcriptome. Results showed that the majority of upregulated pathways in aged aortae relate to immune response, including inflammation activation, apoptotic clearance, and phagocytosis. The top downregulated pathway in aged aortae was extracellular matrix organization. Additionally, protein folding control and stress response pathways were downregulated in the aged vessels, with an array of downregulated genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs). We also found that circadian core clock genes were differentially expressed in young versus old aortae. Finally, transcriptome analysis combined with protein expression examination and smooth muscle cell (SMC) lineage tracing revealed that SMCs in aged aortae retained the differentiated phenotype, with an insignificant decrease in SMC marker gene expression. Our results therefore unveiled critical pathways regulated by arterial aging in mice, which will provide important insight into strategies to defy vascular aging and age-associated vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Gao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Pan Gao
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Mihyun Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Kavya Chegireddy
- School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Orazio J Slivano
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Jinjing Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Xiaochun Long
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Steppan J, Jandu S, Savage W, Wang H, Kang S, Narayanan R, Nyhan D, Santhanam L. Restoring Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Mice Fails to Fully Reverse Vascular Stiffness. Front Physiol 2020; 11:824. [PMID: 32792976 PMCID: PMC7385310 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypertension is a well-established driver of vascular remodeling and stiffening. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether restoring normal blood pressure (BP) fully restores vascular stiffness toward that of normotensive controls. Methods C57Bl6/J male mice received angiotensin II (angII; 1 μg/kg/min) via infusion pump for 8 weeks (hypertension group: HH), angII for 4 weeks (hypertension group: H4), angII for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks of recovery (reversal group: HN), or sham treatment (normotensive group: NN). BP, heart rate, and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured longitudinally. At the end of the study period, aortas were harvested for testing of vasoreactivity, passive mechanical properties, and vessel structure. Results The HH group exhibited a sustained increase in BP and PWV over the 8-week period (p < 0.01). In the HN group, BP and PWV increased during the 4-week angII infusion, and, though BP was restored during the 4-week recovery, PWV exhibited only partial restoration (p < 0.05). Heart rate was similar in all cohorts. Compared to NN controls, both HH and HN groups had significantly increased wall thickness (p < 0.05 HH vs. NN, p < 0.01 HN vs. NN), mucosal extracellular matrix accumulation (p < 0.0001 HH vs. NN, p < 0.05 HN vs. NN), and intralamellar distance (p < 0.001 HH vs. NN, p < 0.01 HN vs. NN). Both intact and decellularized vessels were noted to have significantly higher passive stiffness in the HH and H4 cohorts than in NN controls (p < 0.0001). However, in the HN cohort, intact vessels were only modestly stiffer than those of NN controls, and decellularized HN vessels were identical to those from the NN controls. Compared to NN controls, the HH and HN cohorts exhibited significantly diminished phenylephrine-induced contraction (p < 0.0001) and endothelium-dependent vasodilation (p < 0.05). Conclusion Hypertension causes a significant increase in in vivo aortic stiffness that is only partially reversible after BP normalization. Although hypertension does lead to matrix stiffening, restoration of BP restores matrix mechanics to levels similar to those of normotensive controls. Nevertheless, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction persist after restoration of normotension. This dysfunction is, in part, responsible for augmented PWV after restoration of BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Steppan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sandeep Jandu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - William Savage
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Huilei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sara Kang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Roshini Narayanan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Daniel Nyhan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Lakshmi Santhanam
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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47
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Ma Z, Mao C, Jia Y, Fu Y, Kong W. Extracellular matrix dynamics in vascular remodeling. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2020; 319:C481-C499. [PMID: 32579472 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00147.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Vascular remodeling is the adaptive response to various physiological and pathophysiological alterations that are closely related to aging and vascular diseases. Understanding the mechanistic regulation of vascular remodeling may be favorable for discovering potential therapeutic targets and strategies. The extracellular matrix (ECM), including matrix proteins and their degradative metalloproteases, serves as the main component of the microenvironment and exhibits dynamic changes during vascular remodeling. This process involves mainly the altered composition of matrix proteins, metalloprotease-mediated degradation, posttranslational modification of ECM proteins, and altered topographical features of the ECM. To date, adequate studies have demonstrated that ECM dynamics also play a critical role in vascular remodeling in various diseases. Here, we review these related studies, summarize how ECM dynamics control vascular remodeling, and further indicate potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the ECM for corresponding vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Ma
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Chenfeng Mao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yiting Jia
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Fu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Kong
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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48
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De Munck DG, Leloup AJA, De Meyer GRY, Martinet W, Fransen P. Defective autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells increases passive stiffness of the mouse aortic vessel wall. Pflugers Arch 2020; 472:1031-1040. [PMID: 32488322 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02408-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aging and associated progressive arterial stiffening are both important predictors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence showed that autophagy, a catabolic cellular mechanism responsible for nutrient recycling, plays a major role in the physiology of vascular cells such as endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Moreover, several autophagy inducing compounds are effective in treating arterial stiffness. Yet, a direct link between VSMC autophagy and arterial stiffness remains largely unidentified. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a VSMC-specific deletion of the essential autophagy-related gene Atg7 in young mice (3.5 months) (Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice) on the biomechanical properties of the aorta, using an in-house developed Rodent Oscillatory Tension Set-up to study Arterial Compliance (ROTSAC). Aortic segments of Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice displayed attenuated compliance and higher arterial stiffness, which was more evident at higher distention pressures. Passive aortic wall remodeling, rather than differences in VSMC tone, is responsible for these phenomena, since differences in compliance and stiffness between Atg7+/+ SM22α-Cre+ and Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ aortas were more pronounced when VSMCs were completely relaxed by the addition of exogenous nitric oxide. These observations are supported by histological data showing a 13% increase in medial wall thickness and a 14% decrease in elastin along with elevated elastin fragmentation. In addition, expression of the calcium-binding protein S100A4, which is linked to matrix remodeling, was elevated in aortic segments of Atg7F/F SM22α-Cre+ mice. Overall, these findings illustrate that autophagy exerts a crucial role in defining arterial wall compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien G De Munck
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Arthur J A Leloup
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guido R Y De Meyer
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wim Martinet
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul Fransen
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
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49
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Lee S, Byun JK, Park M, Woo Kim S, Lee S, Kim JG, Lee IK, Choi YK, Park KG. Melatonin inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis through upregulation of Sestrin2. Exp Ther Med 2020; 19:3454-3460. [PMID: 32373191 PMCID: PMC7197251 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and restenosis. Furthermore, apoptosis of VSMCs accelerates plaque rupture in the atherosclerotic vessels. Therefore, a strategy that regulates both VSMC proliferation and apoptosis is essential for the development of novel pharmacological tools for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Despite mounting evidence supporting the benefits of melatonin in diverse metabolic diseases, the role of melatonin in VSMC growth remains largely unknown. The present study revealed that melatonin inhibited both proliferation and apoptosis of primary cultured rat VSMCs. Melatonin induced mitochondrial energetic stress in VSMCs and subsequent induction of Sestrin2 via C/EBPβ. Melatonin-induced Sestrin2 suppressed mTORC1 activity in VSMCs, contributing to suppression of VSMC proliferation. Additionally, melatonin-induced upregulation of Sestrin2 blocked apoptosis by preventing excessive ROS generation. The results demonstrated that melatonin controlled VSMC proliferation and apoptosis via Sestrin2-mediated inhibition of mTORC1 and ROS scavenging. Therefore, melatonin should be considered as a lead compound for therapies aimed at preventing vessel lumen constriction during the course of atherosclerosis and restenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghyeong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.,BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Kyu Byun
- Research Institute of Aging and Metabolism, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Mihyang Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.,BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Woo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungwoo Lee
- New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu 41061, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Guk Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Kyu Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon-Kyung Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Keun-Gyu Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.,Research Institute of Aging and Metabolism, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
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50
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Massett MP, Bywaters BC, Gibbs HC, Trzeciakowski JP, Padgham S, Chen J, Rivera G, Yeh AT, Milewicz DM, Trache A. Loss of smooth muscle α-actin effects on mechanosensing and cell-matrix adhesions. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2020; 245:374-384. [PMID: 32064918 PMCID: PMC7370591 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220903012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in ACTA2 , encoding smooth muscle α-actin, are a frequent cause of heritable thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissections. These mutations are associated with impaired vascular smooth muscle cell function, which leads to decreased ability of the cell to sense matrix-mediated mechanical stimuli. This study investigates how loss of smooth muscle α-actin affects cytoskeletal tension development and cell adhesion using smooth muscle cells explanted from aorta of mice lacking smooth muscle α-actin. We tested the hypothesis that reduced vascular smooth muscle contractility due to a loss of smooth muscle α-actin decreases cellular mechanosensing by dysregulating cell adhesion to the matrix. Assessment of functional mechanical properties of the aorta by stress relaxation measurements in thoracic aortic rings suggested two functional regimes for Acta2 −/− mice. Lower stress relaxation was recorded in aortic rings from Acta2 −/− mice at tensions below 10 mN compared with wild type, likely driven by cytoskeletal-dependent contractility. However, no differences were recorded between the two groups above the 10 mN threshold, since at higher tension the matrix-dependent contractility may be predominant. In addition, our results showed that at any given level of stretch, transmural pressure is lower in aortic rings from Acta2 −/− mice than wild type mice. In addition, a three-dimensional collagen matrix contractility assay showed that collagen pellets containing Acta2 −/− smooth muscle cells contracted less than the pellets containing the wild type cells. Moreover, second harmonic generation non-linear microscopy revealed that Acta2 −/− cells locally remodeled the collagen matrix fibers to a lesser extent than wild type cells. Quantification of protein fluorescence measurements in cells also showed that in absence of smooth muscle α-actin, there is a compensatory increase in smooth muscle γ-actin. Moreover, specific integrin recruitment at cell–matrix adhesions was reduced in Acta2 −/− cells. Thus, our findings suggest that Acta2 −/− cells are unable to generate external forces to remodel the matrix due to reduced contractility and interaction with the matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- MP Massett
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - BC Bywaters
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - HC Gibbs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - JP Trzeciakowski
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - S Padgham
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
| | - J Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - G Rivera
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - AT Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - DM Milewicz
- Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - A Trache
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
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