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Vanchin B, Sol M, Gjaltema RAF, Brinker M, Kiers B, Pereira AC, Harmsen MC, Moonen JRAJ, Krenning G. Reciprocal regulation of endothelial-mesenchymal transition by MAPK7 and EZH2 in intimal hyperplasia and coronary artery disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17764. [PMID: 34493753 PMCID: PMC8423795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a form of endothelial dysfunction wherein endothelial cells acquire a mesenchymal phenotype and lose endothelial functions, which contributes to the pathogenesis of intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. The mitogen activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK7) inhibits EndMT and decreases the expression of the histone methyltransferase Enhancer-of-Zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), thereby maintaining endothelial quiescence. EZH2 is the catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 that methylates lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3). It is elusive how the crosstalk between MAPK7 and EZH2 is regulated in the endothelium and if the balance between MAPK7 and EZH2 is disturbed in vascular disease. In human coronary artery disease, we assessed the expression levels of MAPK7 and EZH2 and found that with increasing intima/media thickness ratio, MAPK7 expression decreased, whereas EZH2 expression increased. In vitro, MAPK7 activation decreased EZH2 expression, whereas endothelial cells deficient of EZH2 had increased MAPK7 activity. MAPK7 activation results in increased expression of microRNA (miR)-101, a repressor of EZH2. This loss of EZH2 in turn results in the increased expression of the miR-200 family, culminating in decreased expression of the dual-specificity phosphatases 1 and 6 who may repress MAPK7 activity. Transfection of endothelial cells with miR-200 family members decreased the endothelial sensitivity to TGFβ1-induced EndMT. In endothelial cells there is reciprocity between MAPK7 signaling and EZH2 expression and disturbances in this reciprocal signaling associate with the induction of EndMT and severity of human coronary artery disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byambasuren Vanchin
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Jamyan St 3, Ulaanbaatar, 14210, Mongolia
| | - Marloes Sol
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger A F Gjaltema
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marja Brinker
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca Kiers
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LIM13), Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Eneas C. Aguiar 44, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Alexandre C Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LIM13), Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Eneas C. Aguiar 44, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Martin C Harmsen
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan-Renier A J Moonen
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Center for Congenital Heart Diseases, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (CA40), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guido Krenning
- Laboratory for Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1 (EA11), 9713GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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