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Li X, Souilhol C, Canham L, Jia X, Diagbouga M, Ayllon BT, Serbanovic-Canic J, Evans PC. DLL4 promotes partial endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition at atherosclerosis-prone regions of arteries. Vascul Pharmacol 2023; 150:107178. [PMID: 37137436 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Flowing blood regulates vascular development, homeostasis and disease by generating wall shear stress which has major effects on endothelial cell (EC) physiology. Low oscillatory shear stress (LOSS) induces a form of cell plasticity called endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). This process has divergent effects; in embryos LOSS-induced EndMT drives the development of atrioventricular valves, whereas in adult arteries it is associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis. The Notch ligand DLL4 is essential for LOSS-dependent valve development; here we investigated whether DLL4 is required for responses to LOSS in adult arteries. Analysis of cultured human coronary artery EC revealed that DLL4 regulates the transcriptome to induce markers of EndMT and inflammation under LOSS conditions. Consistently, genetic deletion of Dll4 from murine EC reduced SNAIL (EndMT marker) and VCAM-1 (inflammation marker) at a LOSS region of the murine aorta. We hypothesized that endothelial Dll4 is pro-atherogenic but this analysis was confounded because endothelial Dll4 negatively regulated plasma cholesterol levels in hyperlipidemic mice. We conclude that endothelial DLL4 is required for LOSS-induction of EndMT and inflammation regulators at atheroprone regions of arteries, and is also a regulator of plasma cholesterol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuying Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, LuZhou, Sichuan 646000, PR China; Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Celine Souilhol
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK.
| | - Lindsay Canham
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Xueqi Jia
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Mannekomba Diagbouga
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Blanca Tardajos Ayllon
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Jovana Serbanovic-Canic
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Paul C Evans
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, UK; Centre for Biochemical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Barts and The London, Queen Mary University of London Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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Canham L, Sendac S, Diagbouga MR, Wolodimeroff E, Pirri D, Tardajos Ayllon B, Feng S, Souilhol C, Chico TJ, Evans PC, Serbanovic-Canic J. EVA1A (Eva-1 Homolog A) Promotes Endothelial Apoptosis and Inflammatory Activation Under Disturbed Flow Via Regulation of Autophagy. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:547-561. [PMID: 36794585 PMCID: PMC10026973 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemodynamic wall shear stress (WSS) exerted on the endothelium by flowing blood determines the spatial distribution of atherosclerotic lesions. Disturbed flow (DF) with a low WSS magnitude and reversing direction promotes atherosclerosis by regulating endothelial cell (EC) viability and function, whereas un-DF which is unidirectional and of high WSS magnitude is atheroprotective. Here, we study the role of EVA1A (eva-1 homolog A), a lysosome and endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein linked to autophagy and apoptosis, in WSS-regulated EC dysfunction. METHODS The effect of WSS on EVA1A expression was studied using porcine and mouse aortas and cultured human ECs exposed to flow. EVA1A was silenced in vitro in human ECs and in vivo in zebrafish using siRNA (small interfering RNA) and morpholinos, respectively. RESULTS EVA1A was induced by proatherogenic DF at both mRNA and protein levels. EVA1A silencing resulted in decreased EC apoptosis, permeability, and expression of inflammatory markers under DF. Assessment of autophagic flux using the autolysosome inhibitor, bafilomycin coupled to the autophagy markers LC3-II (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II) and p62, revealed that EVA1A knockdown promotes autophagy when ECs are exposed to DF, but not un-DF . Blocking autophagic flux led to increased EC apoptosis in EVA1A-knockdown cells exposed to DF, suggesting that autophagy mediates the effects of DF on EC dysfunction. Mechanistically, EVA1A expression was regulated by flow direction via TWIST1 (twist basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 1). In vivo, knockdown of EVA1A orthologue in zebrafish resulted in reduced EC apoptosis, confirming the proapoptotic role of EVA1A in the endothelium. CONCLUSIONS We identified EVA1A as a novel flow-sensitive gene that mediates the effects of proatherogenic DF on EC dysfunction by regulating autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Canham
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
| | - Sam Sendac
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
| | - Mannekomba R. Diagbouga
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
| | - Elena Wolodimeroff
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
| | - Daniela Pirri
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, United Kingdom (D.P.)
| | - Blanca Tardajos Ayllon
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
| | - Shuang Feng
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
| | - Celine Souilhol
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom (C.S.)
| | - Timothy J.A. Chico
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
| | - Paul C. Evans
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
- William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom (P.C.E.)
| | - Jovana Serbanovic-Canic
- Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom (L.C., S.S., M.R.D., E.W., B.T.A., S.F., T.J.A.C., P.C.E., J.S.-C.)
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Souilhol C, Tardajos Ayllon B, Li X, Diagbouga MR, Zhou Z, Canham L, Roddie H, Pirri D, Chambers EV, Dunning MJ, Ariaans M, Li J, Fang Y, Jørgensen HF, Simons M, Krams R, Waltenberger J, Fragiadaki M, Ridger V, De Val S, Francis SE, Chico TJA, Serbanovic-Canic J, Evans PC. JAG1-NOTCH4 mechanosensing drives atherosclerosis. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabo7958. [PMID: 36044575 PMCID: PMC9432841 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo7958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) sensing of disturbed blood flow triggers atherosclerosis, a disease of arteries that causes heart attack and stroke, through poorly defined mechanisms. The Notch pathway plays a central role in blood vessel growth and homeostasis, but its potential role in sensing of disturbed flow has not been previously studied. Here, we show using porcine and murine arteries and cultured human coronary artery EC that disturbed flow activates the JAG1-NOTCH4 signaling pathway. Light-sheet imaging revealed enrichment of JAG1 and NOTCH4 in EC of atherosclerotic plaques, and EC-specific genetic deletion of Jag1 (Jag1ECKO) demonstrated that Jag1 promotes atherosclerosis at sites of disturbed flow. Mechanistically, single-cell RNA sequencing in Jag1ECKO mice demonstrated that Jag1 suppresses subsets of ECs that proliferate and migrate. We conclude that JAG1-NOTCH4 sensing of disturbed flow enhances atherosclerosis susceptibility by regulating EC heterogeneity and that therapeutic targeting of this pathway may treat atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Souilhol
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Blanca Tardajos Ayllon
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Xiuying Li
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, LuZhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Mannekomba R. Diagbouga
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ziqi Zhou
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lindsay Canham
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Hannah Roddie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Daniela Pirri
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Emily V. Chambers
- Sheffield Bioinformatics Core, Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mark J. Dunning
- Sheffield Bioinformatics Core, Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mark Ariaans
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jin Li
- Biological Sciences Division, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yun Fang
- Biological Sciences Division, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Helle F. Jørgensen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Centre for Clinical Investigation, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael Simons
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rob Krams
- Department of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Johannes Waltenberger
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Hirslanden Klinik im Park, Cardiovascular Medicine, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Heart Center AG, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Fragiadaki
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Victoria Ridger
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Sarah De Val
- BHF Centre of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Sheila E. Francis
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Timothy JA Chico
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jovana Serbanovic-Canic
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Paul C. Evans
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Souilhol C, Gauci I, Feng S, Tardajos Ayllon B, Mahmoud M, Canham L, Fragiadaki M, Serbanovic-Canic J, Ridger V, Evans PC. Homeobox B9 integrates bone morphogenic protein 4 with inflammation at atheroprone sites. Cardiovasc Res 2020; 116:1300-1310. [PMID: 31504243 PMCID: PMC7243277 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvz235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Atherosclerosis develops near branches and bends of arteries that are exposed to disturbed blood flow which exerts low wall shear stress (WSS). These mechanical conditions alter endothelial cells (EC) by priming them for inflammation and by inducing turnover. Homeobox (Hox) genes are developmental genes involved in the patterning of embryos along their anterior-posterior and proximal-distal axes. Here we identified Hox genes that are regulated by WSS and investigated their functions in adult arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS EC were isolated from inner (low WSS) and outer (high WSS) regions of the porcine aorta and the expression of Hox genes was analysed by quantitative real-time PCR. Several Hox genes (HoxA10, HoxB4, HoxB7, HoxB9, HoxD8, HoxD9) were significantly enriched at the low WSS compared to the high WSS region. Similarly, studies of cultured human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) or porcine aortic EC revealed that the expression of multiple Hox genes (HoxA10, HoxB9, HoxD8, HoxD9) was enhanced under low (4 dyn/cm2) compared to high (13 dyn/cm2) WSS conditions. Gene silencing studies identified Hox genes (HoxB9, HoxD8, HoxD9) that are positive regulators of inflammatory molecule expression in EC exposed to low WSS, and others (HoxB9, HoxB7, HoxB4) that regulated EC turnover. We subsequently focused on HoxB9 because it was strongly up-regulated by low WSS and, uniquely, was a driver of both inflammation and proliferation. At a mechanistic level, we demonstrate using cultured EC and murine models that bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) is an upstream regulator of HoxB9 which elicits inflammation via induction of numerous inflammatory mediators including TNF and downstream NF-κB activation. Moreover, the BMP4-HoxB9-TNF pathway was potentiated by hypercholesterolaemic conditions. CONCLUSIONS Low WSS induces multiple Hox genes that control the activation state and turnover of EC. Notably, low WSS activates a BMP4-HoxB9-TNF signalling pathway to initiate focal arterial inflammation, thereby demonstrating integration of the BMP and Hox systems in vascular pathophysiology.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Aorta, Thoracic/metabolism
- Aorta, Thoracic/pathology
- Aorta, Thoracic/physiopathology
- Aortic Diseases/genetics
- Aortic Diseases/metabolism
- Aortic Diseases/pathology
- Aortic Diseases/physiopathology
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- Atherosclerosis/pathology
- Atherosclerosis/physiopathology
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/genetics
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Disease Models, Animal
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/pathology
- Humans
- Inflammation/genetics
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Inflammation/pathology
- Inflammation/physiopathology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout, ApoE
- Plaque, Atherosclerotic
- Regional Blood Flow
- Signal Transduction
- Stress, Mechanical
- Sus scrofa
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Souilhol
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Ismael Gauci
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Shuang Feng
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Blanca Tardajos Ayllon
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Marwa Mahmoud
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Lindsay Canham
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Maria Fragiadaki
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Jovana Serbanovic-Canic
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Victoria Ridger
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Paul Charles Evans
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, Bateson Centre for Lifecourse Biology, INSIGNEO Institute for Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health, Beech Hill Road, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
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5
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Feng S, Bowden N, Fragiadaki M, Souilhol C, Hsiao S, Mahmoud M, Allen S, Pirri D, Ayllon BT, Akhtar S, Thompson AAR, Jo H, Weber C, Ridger V, Schober A, Evans PC. Mechanical Activation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1α Drives Endothelial Dysfunction at Atheroprone Sites. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2017; 37:2087-2101. [PMID: 28882872 PMCID: PMC5659306 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.117.309249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objective— Atherosclerosis develops near branches and bends of arteries that are exposed to low shear stress (mechanical drag). These sites are characterized by excessive endothelial cell (EC) proliferation and inflammation that promote lesion initiation. The transcription factor HIF1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α) is canonically activated by hypoxia and has a role in plaque neovascularization. We studied the influence of shear stress on HIF1α activation and the contribution of this noncanonical pathway to lesion initiation. Approach and Results— Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and en face staining revealed that HIF1α was expressed preferentially at low shear stress regions of porcine and murine arteries. Low shear stress induced HIF1α in cultured EC in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. The mechanism involves the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB that induced HIF1α transcripts and induction of the deubiquitinating enzyme Cezanne that stabilized HIF1α protein. Gene silencing revealed that HIF1α enhanced proliferation and inflammatory activation in EC exposed to low shear stress via induction of glycolysis enzymes. We validated this observation by imposing low shear stress in murine carotid arteries (partial ligation) that upregulated the expression of HIF1α, glycolysis enzymes, and inflammatory genes and enhanced EC proliferation. EC-specific genetic deletion of HIF1α in hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E–defecient mice reduced inflammation and endothelial proliferation in partially ligated arteries, indicating that HIF1α drives inflammation and vascular dysfunction at low shear stress regions. Conclusions— Mechanical low shear stress activates HIF1α at atheroprone regions of arteries via nuclear factor-κB and Cezanne. HIF1α promotes atherosclerosis initiation at these sites by inducing excessive EC proliferation and inflammation via the induction of glycolysis enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Feng
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Neil Bowden
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Maria Fragiadaki
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Celine Souilhol
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Sarah Hsiao
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Marwa Mahmoud
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Scott Allen
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Daniela Pirri
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Blanca Tardajos Ayllon
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Shamima Akhtar
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - A A Roger Thompson
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Hanjoong Jo
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Christian Weber
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Victoria Ridger
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Andreas Schober
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.)
| | - Paul C Evans
- From the Department of Infection, Immunity, and Cardiovascular Disease, INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, and the Bateson Centre (S.F., N.B., M.F., C.S., H.S., M.M., D.P., B.T.A., A.A.R.T., V.R., P.C.E.) and Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (S.A.), University of Sheffield, United Kingdom; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich and DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Germany (S.A., C.W., A.S.); and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta (H.J.).
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