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Li S, Li J, Yang X, Huang J, Feng S, Xie Z, Yang N, Wang Y, Zhou N. Peripheral nervous system lymphatic vessels: A simple delivery route to promote nerve regeneration. Exp Neurol 2024; 377:114783. [PMID: 38688418 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The structural and functional features of lymphatic vessels in the peripheral nervous system (pLVs) is still unclear. Here, we clarify the existence of pLVs in rats, PROX1-EGFP transgenic mice and human, and exhibit a clear three-dimensional structure for helping understand its structural features. Moreover, two specific phenotypes of lymphatics endothelial cells (Rnd1Hi LECs and Ccl21Hi LECs) in peripheral nerves are well characterized by single-cell sequencing. Subsequently, the ability of trans-lymphatic delivery to peripheral nerves via pLVs has been dynamically demonstrated. After peripheral nerve injury (PNI), extensive lymphangiogenesis occurs in the lesion area and further enhances the efficiency of retrograde lymphatic-nerve transport. In PNI animal models, subcutaneously footpad-injected exosomes are efficiently delivered to sciatic nerve via pLVs which can promote nerve regeneration. The trans-lymphatic delivery to peripheral nerves via pLVs can subtly bypass BNB which provides an easy and alternative delivery route for PNI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senrui Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Jiangnan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Xiaoqi Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Molecular Imaging Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinsheng Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Shuai Feng
- Department of Hand and Podiatric Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Zhenjun Xie
- Department of Hand and Podiatric Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450000, China
| | - Ningning Yang
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
| | - Yuanyi Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Orthopedics Center, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
| | - Nan Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
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Fu F, Yang X, Li R, Li Y, Zhou H, Cheng K, Huang R, Wang Y, Guo F, Zhang L, Pan M, Han J, Zhen L, Li L, Lei T, Li D, Liao C. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cellular and molecular landscape of fetal cystic hygroma. BMC Med Genomics 2024; 17:96. [PMID: 38650036 PMCID: PMC11036587 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01859-x] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The molecular mechanism of fetal cystic hygroma (CH) is still unclear, and no study has previously reported the transcriptome changes of single cells in CH. In this study, single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to investigate the characteristics of cell subsets in the lesion tissues of CH patients. METHODS Lymphoid tissue collected from CH patients and control donors for scRNA-seq analysis. Differentially expressed gene enrichment in major cell subpopulations as well as cell-cell communication were analyzed. At the same time, the expression and interactions of important VEGF signaling pathway molecules were analyzed, and potential transcription factors that could bind to KDR (VEGFR2) were predicted. RESULTS The results of scRNA-seq showed that fibroblasts accounted for the largest proportion in the lymphatic lesions of CH patients. There was a significant increase in the proportion of lymphatic endothelial cell subsets between the cases and controls. The VEGF signaling pathway is enriched in lymphatic endothelial cells and participates in the regulation of cell-cell communication between lymphatic endothelial cells and other cells. The key regulatory gene KDR in the VEGF signaling pathway is highly expressed in CH patients and interacts with other differentially expressed EDN1, TAGLN, and CLDN5 Finally, we found that STAT1 could bind to the KDR promoter region, which may play an important role in promoting KDR up-regulation. CONCLUSION Our comprehensive delineation of the cellular composition in tumor tissues of CH patients using single-cell RNA-sequencing identified the enrichment of lymphatic endothelial cells in CH and highlighted the activation of the VEGF signaling pathway in lymphoid endothelial cells as a potential modulator. The molecular and cellular pathogenesis of fetal cystic hygroma (CH) remains largely unknown. This study examined the distribution and gene expression signature of each cell subpopulation and the possible role of VEGF signaling in lymphatic endothelial cells in regulating the progression of CH by single-cell transcriptome sequencing. The enrichment of lymphatic endothelial cells in CH and the activation of the VEGF signaling pathway in lymphatic endothelial cells provide some clues to the pathogenesis of CH from the perspective of cell subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Fu
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ru Li
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingsi Li
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hang Zhou
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ken Cheng
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruibin Huang
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - You Wang
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei Guo
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Pan
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Han
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Zhen
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lushan Li
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingying Lei
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dongzhi Li
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China
| | - Can Liao
- Department of Prenatal Diagnostic Centre, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Centre, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623, Guangzhou, China.
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Bréchot N, Rutault A, Marangon I, Germain S. Blood endothelium transition and phenotypic plasticity: A key regulator of integrity/permeability in response to ischemia. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 155:16-22. [PMID: 37479554 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.07.004] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
In the human body, the 1013 blood endothelial cells (ECs) which cover a surface of 500-700 m2 (Mai et al., 2013) are key players of tissue homeostasis, remodeling and regeneration. Blood vessel ECs play a major role in the regulation of metabolic and gaz exchanges, cell trafficking, blood coagulation, vascular tone, blood flow and fluid extravasation (also referred to as blood vascular permeability). ECs are heterogeneous in various capillary beds and have the exquisite capacity to cope with environmental changes by regulating their gene expression. Ischemia has major detrimental effects on the endothelium and ischemia-induced regulation of vascular integrity is of paramount importance for human health, as small amounts of fluid accumulation in the interstitium may be responsible for major effects on organ functions and patients outcome. In this review, we will here focus on the stimuli and the molecular mechanisms that control blood endothelium maintenance and phenotypic plasticity/transition involved in controlling blood capillary leakage that might open new avenues for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Bréchot
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université PSL, Paris, France; Intensive Care Medicine Department, Université de Paris Cité, Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, AP-HP, AP-HP.CUP, 75015 Paris, France.
| | - Alexandre Rutault
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Iris Marangon
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Germain
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, College de France, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Université PSL, Paris, France.
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Sathe A, Ayala C, Bai X, Grimes SM, Lee B, Kin C, Shelton A, Poultsides G, Ji HP. GITR and TIGIT immunotherapy provokes divergent multicellular responses in the tumor microenvironment of gastrointestinal cancers. Genome Med 2023; 15:100. [PMID: 38008725 PMCID: PMC10680277 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the mechanistic effects of novel immunotherapy agents is critical to improving their successful clinical translation. These effects need to be studied in preclinical models that maintain the heterogenous tumor microenvironment (TME) and dysfunctional cell states found in a patient's tumor. We investigated immunotherapy perturbations targeting co-stimulatory molecule GITR and co-inhibitory immune checkpoint TIGIT in a patient-derived ex vivo system that maintains the TME in its near-native state. Leveraging single-cell genomics, we identified cell type-specific transcriptional reprogramming in response to immunotherapy perturbations. METHODS We generated ex vivo tumor slice cultures from fresh surgical resections of gastric and colon cancer and treated them with GITR agonist or TIGIT antagonist antibodies. We applied paired single-cell RNA and TCR sequencing to the original surgical resections, control, and treated ex vivo tumor slice cultures. We additionally confirmed target expression using multiplex immunofluorescence and validated our findings with RNA in situ hybridization. RESULTS We confirmed that tumor slice cultures maintained the cell types, transcriptional cell states and proportions of the original surgical resection. The GITR agonist was limited to increasing effector gene expression only in cytotoxic CD8 T cells. Dysfunctional exhausted CD8 T cells did not respond to GITR agonist. In contrast, the TIGIT antagonist increased TCR signaling and activated both cytotoxic and dysfunctional CD8 T cells. This included cells corresponding to TCR clonotypes with features indicative of potential tumor antigen reactivity. The TIGIT antagonist also activated T follicular helper-like cells and dendritic cells, and reduced markers of immunosuppression in regulatory T cells. CONCLUSIONS We identified novel cellular mechanisms of action of GITR and TIGIT immunotherapy in the patients' TME. Unlike the GITR agonist that generated a limited transcriptional response, TIGIT antagonist orchestrated a multicellular response involving CD8 T cells, T follicular helper-like cells, dendritic cells, and regulatory T cells. Our experimental strategy combining single-cell genomics with preclinical models can successfully identify mechanisms of action of novel immunotherapy agents. Understanding the cellular and transcriptional mechanisms of response or resistance will aid in prioritization of targets and their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuja Sathe
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CCSR 2245, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Carlos Ayala
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xiangqi Bai
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CCSR 2245, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Susan M Grimes
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CCSR 2245, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Byrne Lee
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cindy Kin
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Shelton
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - George Poultsides
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Hanlee P Ji
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CCSR 2245, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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Viúdez-Pareja C, Kreft E, García-Caballero M. Immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1235812. [PMID: 37744339 PMCID: PMC10512957 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1235812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an intricate complex and dynamic structure composed of various cell types, including tumor, stromal and immune cells. Within this complex network, lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) play a crucial role in regulating immune responses and influencing tumor progression and metastatic dissemination to lymph node and distant organs. Interestingly, LECs possess unique immunomodulatory properties that can either promote or inhibit anti-tumor immune responses. In fact, tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis can facilitate tumor cell dissemination and metastasis supporting immunoevasion, but also, different molecular mechanisms involved in LEC-mediated anti-tumor immunity have been already described. In this context, the crosstalk between cancer cells, LECs and immune cells and how this communication can shape the immune landscape in the TME is gaining increased interest in recent years. In this review, we present a comprehensive and updated report about the immunomodulatory properties of the lymphatic endothelium within the TME, with special focus on primary tumors and tumor-draining lymph nodes. Furthermore, we outline emerging research investigating the potential therapeutic strategies targeting the lymphatic endothelium to enhance anti-tumor immune responses. Understanding the intricate mechanisms involved in LEC-mediated immune modulation in the TME opens up new possibilities for the development of innovative approaches to fight cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Viúdez-Pareja
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Andalucía Tech, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ewa Kreft
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Andalucía Tech, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
| | - Melissa García-Caballero
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Andalucía Tech, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
- IBIMA (Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga)-Plataforma BIONAND, Málaga, Spain
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Abstract
Kidney disease is associated with adverse consequences in many organs beyond the kidney, including the heart, lungs, brain, and intestines. The kidney-intestinal cross talk involves intestinal epithelial damage, dysbiosis, and generation of uremic toxins. Recent studies reveal that kidney injury expands the intestinal lymphatics, increases lymphatic flow, and alters the composition of mesenteric lymph. The intestinal lymphatics, like blood vessels, are a route for transporting potentially harmful substances generated by the intestines. The lymphatic architecture and actions are uniquely suited to take up and transport large macromolecules, functions that differentiate them from blood vessels, allowing them to play a distinct role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Here, we focus on the mechanisms by which kidney diseases result in deleterious changes in intestinal lymphatics and consider a novel paradigm of a vicious cycle of detrimental organ cross talk. This concept involves kidney injury-induced modulation of intestinal lymphatics that promotes production and distribution of harmful factors, which in turn contributes to disease progression in distant organ systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Zhong
- Department of Pediatrics (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F., E.L.S., V.K.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Annet Kirabo
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (A.K.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (A.K.)
| | - Hai-Chun Yang
- Department of Pediatrics (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F., E.L.S., V.K.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Agnes B Fogo
- Department of Pediatrics (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F., E.L.S., V.K.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
- Department of Medicine (A.B.F.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Elaine L Shelton
- Department of Pediatrics (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F., E.L.S., V.K.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Valentina Kon
- Department of Pediatrics (J.Z., H.-C.Y., A.B.F., E.L.S., V.K.), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
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Abstract
Vascular endothelial cells form the inner layer of blood vessels where they have a key role in the development and maintenance of the functional circulatory system and provide paracrine support to surrounding non-vascular cells. Technical advances in the past 5 years in single-cell genomics and in in vivo genetic labelling have facilitated greater insights into endothelial cell development, plasticity and heterogeneity. These advances have also contributed to a new understanding of the timing of endothelial cell subtype differentiation and its relationship to the cell cycle. Identification of novel tissue-specific gene expression patterns in endothelial cells has led to the discovery of crucial signalling pathways and new interactions with other cell types that have key roles in both tissue maintenance and disease pathology. In this Review, we describe the latest findings in vascular endothelial cell development and diversity, which are often supported by large-scale, single-cell studies, and discuss the implications of these findings for vascular medicine. In addition, we highlight how techniques such as single-cell multimodal omics, which have become increasingly sophisticated over the past 2 years, are being utilized to study normal vascular physiology as well as functional perturbations in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Trimm
- Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Biophysics Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kristy Red-Horse
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Editorial for Special Issue “Advances in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases”. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158415. [PMID: 35955550 PMCID: PMC9369144 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This Special Issue focuses on the rapidly evolving field of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and the achievements that were made over the last 10 years [...]
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Role of Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation in Lymphatic Endothelial Cell Development. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101692. [PMID: 35626729 PMCID: PMC9139870 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The lymphatic system is critical for maintaining the homeostasis of lipids and interstitial fluid and regulating the immune cell development and functions. Developmental anomaly-induced lymphatic dysfunction is associated with various pathological conditions, including lymphedema, inflammation, and cancer. Most lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) are derived from a subset of endothelial cells in the cardinal vein. However, recent studies have reported that the developmental origin of LECs is heterogeneous. Multiple regulatory mechanisms, including those mediated by signaling pathways, transcription factors, and epigenetic pathways, are involved in lymphatic development and functions. Recent studies have demonstrated that the epigenetic regulation of transcription is critical for embryonic LEC development and functions. In addition to the chromatin structures, epigenetic modifications may modulate transcriptional signatures during the development or differentiation of LECs. Therefore, the understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the development and function of the lymphatic system can aid in the management of various congenital or acquired lymphatic disorders. Future studies must determine the role of other epigenetic factors and changes in mammalian lymphatic development and function. Here, the recent findings on key factors involved in the development of the lymphatic system and their epigenetic regulation, LEC origins from different organs, and lymphatic diseases are reviewed.
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Gifre-Renom L, Daems M, Luttun A, Jones EAV. Organ-Specific Endothelial Cell Differentiation and Impact of Microenvironmental Cues on Endothelial Heterogeneity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031477. [PMID: 35163400 PMCID: PMC8836165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells throughout the body are heterogeneous, and this is tightly linked to the specific functions of organs and tissues. Heterogeneity is already determined from development onwards and ranges from arterial/venous specification to microvascular fate determination in organ-specific differentiation. Acknowledging the different phenotypes of endothelial cells and the implications of this diversity is key for the development of more specialized tissue engineering and vascular repair approaches. However, although novel technologies in transcriptomics and proteomics are facilitating the unraveling of vascular bed-specific endothelial cell signatures, still much research is based on the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells. Endothelial cells are not only heterogeneous, but their specialized phenotypes are also dynamic and adapt to changes in their microenvironment. During the last decades, strong collaborations between molecular biology, mechanobiology, and computational disciplines have led to a better understanding of how endothelial cells are modulated by their mechanical and biochemical contexts. Yet, because of the use of insufficiently specialized endothelial cells, there is still a huge lack of knowledge in how tissue-specific biomechanical factors determine organ-specific phenotypes. With this review, we want to put the focus on how organ-specific endothelial cell signatures are determined from development onwards and conditioned by their microenvironments during adulthood. We discuss the latest research performed on endothelial cells, pointing out the important implications of mimicking tissue-specific biomechanical cues in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Gifre-Renom
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Margo Daems
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Aernout Luttun
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
| | - Elizabeth A. V. Jones
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium; (L.G.-R.); (M.D.); (A.L.)
- Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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