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Liu JL, Zhang L, Huang Y, Li XH, Liu YF, Zhang SM, Zhao YE, Chen XJ, Liu Y, He LY, Dong Z, Liu FY, Sun L, Xiao L. Epsin1-mediated exosomal sorting of Dll4 modulates the tubular-macrophage crosstalk in diabetic nephropathy. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1451-1467. [PMID: 37016580 PMCID: PMC10188907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.027] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tubular epithelial cells (TECs) play critical roles in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and can activate macrophages through the secretion of exosomes. However, the mechanism(s) of TEC-exosomes in macrophage activation under DN remains unknown. By mass spectrometry, 1,644 differentially expressed proteins, especially Dll4, were detected in the urine exosomes of DN patients compared with controls, which was confirmed by western blot assay. Elevated Epsin1 and Dll4/N1ICD expression was observed in kidney tissues in both DN patients and db/db mice and was positively associated with tubulointerstitial damage. Exosomes from high glucose (HG)-treated tubular cells (HK-2) with Epsin1 knockdown (KD) ameliorated macrophage activation, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression, and tubulointerstitial damage in C57BL/6 mice in vivo. In an in vitro study, enriched Dll4 was confirmed in HK-2 cells stimulated with HG, which was captured by THP-1 cells and promoted M1 macrophage activation. In addition, Epsin1 modulated the content of Dll4 in TEC-exosomes stimulated with HG. TEC-exosomes with Epsin1-KD significantly inhibited N1ICD activation and iNOS expression in THP-1 cells compared with incubation with HG alone. These findings suggested that Epsin1 could modulate tubular-macrophage crosstalk in DN by mediating exosomal sorting of Dll4 and Notch1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Lu Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Li
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Fei Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shu-Min Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yue-E Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li-Yu He
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Dong
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Fu-You Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lin Sun
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li Xiao
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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Dong Y, Wang B, Du M, Zhu B, Cui K, Li K, Yuan K, Cowan DB, Bhattacharjee S, Wong S, Shi J, Wang DZ, Chen K, Bischoff J, Linton MF, Chen H. Targeting Epsins to Inhibit Fibroblast Growth Factor Signaling While Potentiating Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Constrains Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2023; 147:669-685. [PMID: 36591786 PMCID: PMC10136057 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.063075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epsin endocytic adaptor proteins are implicated in the progression of atherosclerosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully defined. In this study, we determined how epsins enhance endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) in atherosclerosis and assessed the efficacy of a therapeutic peptide in a preclinical model of this disease. METHODS Using single-cell RNA sequencing combined with molecular, cellular, and biochemical analyses, we investigated the role of epsins in stimulating EndoMT using knockout in Apoe-/- and lineage tracing/proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 serine protease mutant viral-induced atherosclerotic mouse models. The therapeutic efficacy of a synthetic peptide targeting atherosclerotic plaques was then assessed in Apoe-/- mice. RESULTS Single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing revealed that epsins 1 and 2 promote EndoMT and that the loss of endothelial epsins inhibits EndoMT marker expression and transforming growth factor-β signaling in vitro and in atherosclerotic mice, which is associated with smaller lesions in the Apoe-/- mouse model. Mechanistically, the loss of endothelial cell epsins results in increased fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 expression, which inhibits transforming growth factor-β signaling and EndoMT. Epsins directly bind ubiquitinated fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 through their ubiquitin-interacting motif, which results in endocytosis and degradation of this receptor complex. Consequently, administration of a synthetic ubiquitin-interacting motif-containing peptide atheroma ubiquitin-interacting motif peptide inhibitor significantly attenuates EndoMT and progression of atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that epsins potentiate EndoMT during atherogenesis by increasing transforming growth factor-β signaling through fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 internalization and degradation. Inhibition of EndoMT by reducing epsin-fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 interaction with a therapeutic peptide may represent a novel treatment strategy for atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunzhou Dong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Beibei Wang
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Mulong Du
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Bo Zhu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Kui Cui
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Kathryn Li
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Ke Yuan
- Department of Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Douglas B. Cowan
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Sudarshan Bhattacharjee
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Scott Wong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Jinjun Shi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115
- Department of Anæsthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Da-Zhi Wang
- USF Heart Institute, Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Kaifu Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Joyce Bischoff
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
| | - MacRae F. Linton
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Hong Chen
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
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Cui K, Gao X, Wang B, Wu H, Arulsamy K, Dong Y, Xiao Y, Jiang X, Malovichko MV, Li K, Peng Q, Lu YW, Zhu B, Zheng R, Wong S, Cowan DB, Linton M, Srivastava S, Shi J, Chen K, Chen H. Epsin Nanotherapy Regulates Cholesterol Transport to Fortify Atheroma Regression. Circ Res 2023; 132:e22-e42. [PMID: 36444722 PMCID: PMC9822875 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.122.321723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excess cholesterol accumulation in lesional macrophages elicits complex responses in atherosclerosis. Epsins, a family of endocytic adaptors, fuel the progression of atherosclerosis; however, the underlying mechanism and therapeutic potential of targeting Epsins remains unknown. In this study, we determined the role of Epsins in macrophage-mediated metabolic regulation. We then developed an innovative method to therapeutically target macrophage Epsins with specially designed S2P-conjugated lipid nanoparticles, which encapsulate small-interfering RNAs to suppress Epsins. METHODS We used single-cell RNA sequencing with our newly developed algorithm MEBOCOST (Metabolite-mediated Cell Communication Modeling by Single Cell Transcriptome) to study cell-cell communications mediated by metabolites from sender cells and sensor proteins on receiver cells. Biomedical, cellular, and molecular approaches were utilized to investigate the role of macrophage Epsins in regulating lipid metabolism and transport. We performed this study using myeloid-specific Epsin double knockout (LysM-DKO) mice and mice with a genetic reduction of ABCG1 (ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 1; LysM-DKO-ABCG1fl/+). The nanoparticles targeting lesional macrophages were developed to encapsulate interfering RNAs to treat atherosclerosis. RESULTS We revealed that Epsins regulate lipid metabolism and transport in atherosclerotic macrophages. Inhibiting Epsins by nanotherapy halts inflammation and accelerates atheroma resolution. Harnessing lesional macrophage-specific nanoparticle delivery of Epsin small-interfering RNAs, we showed that silencing of macrophage Epsins diminished atherosclerotic plaque size and promoted plaque regression. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Epsins bound to CD36 to facilitate lipid uptake by enhancing CD36 endocytosis and recycling. Conversely, Epsins promoted ABCG1 degradation via lysosomes and hampered ABCG1-mediated cholesterol efflux and reverse cholesterol transport. In a LysM-DKO-ABCG1fl/+ mouse model, enhanced cholesterol efflux and reverse transport due to Epsin deficiency was suppressed by the reduction of ABCG1. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that targeting Epsins in lesional macrophages may offer therapeutic benefits for advanced atherosclerosis by reducing CD36-mediated lipid uptake and increasing ABCG1-mediated cholesterol efflux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Cui
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xinlei Gao
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Beibei Wang
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kulandaisamy Arulsamy
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yunzhou Dong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yuling Xiao
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Xingya Jiang
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Marina V. Malovichko
- Division of Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Kathryn Li
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Qianman Peng
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yao Wei Lu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bo Zhu
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Rongbin Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Scott Wong
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Douglas B. Cowan
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - MacRae Linton
- Atherosclerosis Research Unit, Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Sanjay Srivastava
- Division of Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Jinjun Shi
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kaifu Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children’s Hospital and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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