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Yi D, Liu B, Ding H, Li S, Li R, Pan J, Ramirez K, Xia X, Kala M, Ye Q, Lee WH, Frye RE, Wang T, Zhao Y, Knox KS, Glembotski CC, Fallon MB, Dai Z. E2F1 Mediates SOX17 Deficiency-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension. Hypertension 2023; 80:2357-2371. [PMID: 37737027 PMCID: PMC10591929 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.21241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rare genetic variants and genetic variation at loci in an enhancer in SOX17 (SRY-box transcription factor 17) are identified in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PAH with congenital heart disease. However, the exact role of genetic variants or mutations in SOX17 in PAH pathogenesis has not been reported. METHODS SOX17 expression was evaluated in the lungs and pulmonary endothelial cells (ECs) of patients with idiopathic PAH. Mice with Tie2Cre-mediated Sox17 knockdown and EC-specific Sox17 deletion were generated to determine the role of SOX17 deficiency in the pathogenesis of PAH. Human pulmonary ECs were cultured to understand the role of SOX17 deficiency. Single-cell RNA sequencing, RNA-sequencing analysis, and luciferase assay were performed to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of SOX17 deficiency-induced PAH. E2F1 (E2F transcription factor 1) inhibitor HLM006474 was used in EC-specific Sox17 mice. RESULTS SOX17 expression was downregulated in the lung and pulmonary ECs from patients with idiopathic PAH. Mice with Tie2Cre-mediated Sox17 knockdown and EC-specific Sox17 deletion induced spontaneously mild pulmonary hypertension. Loss of endothelial Sox17 in EC exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice. Loss of SOX17 in lung ECs induced endothelial dysfunctions including upregulation of cell cycle programming, proliferative and antiapoptotic phenotypes, augmentation of paracrine effect on pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, impaired cellular junction, and BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) signaling. E2F1 signaling was shown to mediate the SOX17 deficiency-induced EC dysfunction. Pharmacological inhibition of E2F1 in Sox17 EC-deficient mice attenuated pulmonary hypertension development. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that endothelial SOX17 deficiency induces pulmonary hypertension through E2F1. Thus, targeting E2F1 signaling represents a promising approach in patients with PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Hongxu Ding
- Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Shuai Li
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Rebecca Li
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Jiakai Pan
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Karina Ramirez
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Xiaomei Xia
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Mrinalini Kala
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Qinmao Ye
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Won Hee Lee
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Ting Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Science and Center of Translational Science, Florida International University, Port Saint Lucie, Florida, USA
| | - Yutong Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kenneth S. Knox
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Christopher C. Glembotski
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael B. Fallon
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Zhiyu Dai
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Translational Cardiovascular Research Center, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Wan Q, Liu H, Xu Y, Zhang Q, Tao L. Upregulated miR-194-5p suppresses retinal microvascular endothelial cell dysfunction and mitigates the symptoms of hypertensive retinopathy in mice by targeting SOX17 and VEGF signaling. Cell Cycle 2023; 22:331-346. [PMID: 36200131 PMCID: PMC9851258 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2022.2119514] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is a retinal disease that may lead to vision loss and blindness. Sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box (SOX) family transcription factors have been reported to be involved in HR development. In this study, the role and upstream mechanism of SRY-box transcription factor 17 (SOX17) in HR pathogenesis were investigated. METHODS SOX17 and miR-194-5p levels in Angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) and retinas of mice were detected by RT-qPCR. SOX17 protein level as well as levels of tight junction proteins and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling-associated proteins were quantified by western blotting. Tube formation assays were performed to evaluate angiogenesis in HRMECs. The structure of mouse retinal tissues was observed by H&E staining. The interaction between miR-194-5p and SOX17 was confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS SOX17 was upregulated in HRMECs treated with Ang II. SOX17 knockdown inhibited angiogenesis in Ang II-stimulated HRMECs and increased tight junction protein levels. Mechanically, SOX17 was targeted by miR-194-5p. Moreover, miR-194-5p upregulation restrained angiogenesis and increased tight junction protein levels in Ang II-treated HRMECs, and the effect was reversed by SOX17 overexpression. MiR-194-5p elevation inactivated VEGF signaling via targeting SOX17. miR-194-5p alleviated pathological symptoms of HR in Ang II-treated mice, and its expression was negatively correlated with SOX17 expression in the retinas of model mice. CONCLUSIONS MiR-194-5p upregulation suppressed Ang II-stimulated HRMEC dysfunction and mitigates the symptoms of HR in mice by regulating the SOX17/VEGF signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University institution, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Heting Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University institution, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuxin Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University institution, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University institution, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Liming Tao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University institution, Hefei, Anhui, China
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