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Coutts CW, Baldwin AM, Jebeli M, Jolin GE, Mungai RW, Billiar KL. The Role of Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in a Cell Spheroid Model of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Cells 2023; 13:45. [PMID: 38201249 PMCID: PMC10778193 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010045] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common heart valve disease among aging populations. There are two reported pathways of CAVD: osteogenic and dystrophic, the latter being more prevalent. Current two-dimensional (2D) in vitro CAVD models have shed light on the disease but lack three-dimensional (3D) cell-ECM interactions, and current 3D models require osteogenic media to induce calcification. The goal of this work is to develop a 3D dystrophic calcification model. We hypothesize that, as with 2D cell-based CAVD models, programmed cell death (apoptosis) is integral to calcification. We model the cell aggregation observed in CAVD by creating porcine valvular interstitial cell spheroids in agarose microwells. Upon culture in complete growth media (DMEM with serum), calcium nodules form in the spheroids within a few days. Inhibiting apoptosis with Z-VAD significantly reduced calcification, indicating that the calcification observed in this model is dystrophic rather than osteogenic. To determine the relative roles of oxidative stress and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in the induction of apoptosis and subsequent calcification, the media was supplemented with antioxidants with differing effects on ECM formation (ascorbic acid (AA), Trolox, or Methionine). All three antioxidants significantly reduced calcification as measured by Von Kossa staining, with the percentages of calcification per area of AA, Trolox, Methionine, and the non-antioxidant-treated control on day 7 equaling 0.17%, 2.5%, 6.0%, and 7.7%, respectively. As ZVAD and AA almost entirely inhibit calcification, apoptosis does not appear to be caused by a lack of diffusion of oxygen and metabolites within the small spheroids. Further, the observation that AA treatment reduces calcification significantly more than the other antioxidants indicates that the ECM stimulatory effect of AA plays a role inhibiting apoptosis and calcification in the spheroids. We conclude that, in this 3D in vitro model, both oxidative stress and ECM production play crucial roles in dystrophic calcification and may be viable therapeutic targets for preventing CAVD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kristen L. Billiar
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA (G.E.J.)
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Candellier A, Issa N, Grissi M, Brouette T, Avondo C, Gomila C, Blot G, Gubler B, Touati G, Bennis Y, Caus T, Brazier M, Choukroun G, Tribouilloy C, Kamel S, Boudot C, Hénaut L. Indoxyl-sulfate activation of the AhR- NF-κB pathway promotes interleukin-6 secretion and the subsequent osteogenic differentiation of human valvular interstitial cells from the aortic valve. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 179:18-29. [PMID: 36967106 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.011] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) is more prevalent, occurs earlier, progresses faster and has worse outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) is powerful predictor of cardiovascular mortality in these patients and a strong promoter of ectopic calcification whose role in CAS remains poorly studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether IS influences the mineralization of primary human valvular interstitial cells (hVICs) from the aortic valve. METHODS Primary hVICs were exposed to increasing concentrations of IS in osteogenic medium (OM). The hVICs' osteogenic transition was monitored by qRT-PCRs for BMP2 and RUNX2 mRNA. Cell mineralization was assayed using the o-cresolphthalein complexone method. Inflammation was assessed by monitoring NF-κB activation using Western blots as well as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α secretion by ELISAs. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) approaches enabled us to determine which signaling pathways were involved. RESULTS Indoxyl-sulfate increased OM-induced hVICs osteogenic transition and calcification in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was blocked by silencing the receptor for IS (the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, AhR). Exposure to IS promoted p65 phosphorylation, the blockade of which inhibited IS-induced mineralization. Exposure to IS promoted IL-6 secretion by hVICs, a phenomenon blocked by silencing AhR or p65. Incubation with an anti-IL-6 antibody neutralized IS's pro-calcific effects. CONCLUSION IS promotes hVIC mineralization through AhR-dependent activation of the NF-κB pathway and the subsequent release of IL-6. Further research should seek to determine whether targeting inflammatory pathways can reduce the onset and progression of CKD-related CAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Candellier
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France; Department of Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France
| | - Nervana Issa
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Maria Grissi
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Théo Brouette
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Carine Avondo
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Cathy Gomila
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Gérémy Blot
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Brigitte Gubler
- Department of Immunology, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France; Department of Molecular Oncobiology, Amiens University Hospital, 80054, France; EA4666 - HEMATIM, CURS, Picardie Jules Verne University, Amiens 80054, France
| | - Gilles Touati
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France
| | - Youssef Bennis
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Thierry Caus
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France; Department of Cardiac Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France
| | - Michel Brazier
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France; Department of Biochemistry, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France
| | - Gabriel Choukroun
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France; Department of Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France
| | - Christophe Tribouilloy
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France; Department of Cardiology, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France
| | - Saïd Kamel
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France; Department of Biochemistry, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France
| | - Cédric Boudot
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Lucie Hénaut
- UR UPJV 7517, MP3CV, CURS, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
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Zhang Q, Ye J, Yang G, Yang L, Chen Z, Yang K, Sun JT, Liu Y. Role of follistatin-like 1 levels and functions in calcific aortic stenosis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1050310. [PMID: 36684598 PMCID: PMC9852832 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1050310] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive disease resulting in severe calcific aortic stenosis (AS), and there is increasing interest in the discovery of novel biomarkers to identify patients with potential future calcific AS at an early stage. This study aimed to determine whether follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) is associated with calcific AS events and its exact role in aortic valve calcification. Methods A prospective observational cohort study involving 656 patients was performed to investigate the relationship between serum FSTL1 and calcific AS incidence during a follow-up of 5 years. Furthermore, we detected FSTL1 levels in valvular interstitial cells (VICs) from calcified valves and explored the effects of FSTL1 on VIC osteogenic differentiation in vitro as well as the signaling pathways involved. Results During a median follow-up of 5 years, lower FSTL1 levels were associated with a significantly higher risk of calcific AS events (log rank test, P = 0.007). In addition, Cox multivariable regression analyses verified the predictive value of FSTL1 after adjusting for both demographic features and laboratory confounders. Consistent with our results for serum, a lower concentration of FSTL1 was observed in calcified human valves (n = 11) and mainly colocalized with VICs. Recombinant human FSTL1 (rhFSTL1) stimulation inhibited calcium deposition, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and osteogenic gene expression partly through the downregulation of the ERK1/2 pathway. Conclusion Taken together, this study provides a strong rationale to consider FSTL1 as a potential therapeutic target for calcific AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianru Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiawen Ye
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Gan Yang
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongli Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Arrhythmia Center, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ke Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China,Ke Yang,
| | - Jia Teng Sun
- Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,Jia Teng Sun,
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Yan Liu,
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Nelson V, Patil V, Simon LR, Schmidt K, McCoy CM, Masters KS. Angiogenic Secretion Profile of Valvular Interstitial Cells Varies With Cellular Sex and Phenotype. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:736303. [PMID: 34527715 PMCID: PMC8435671 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.736303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a hallmark of fibrocalcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). An imbalance of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors is thought to play a role in driving this disease process, and valvular interstitial cells (VICs) may act as a significant source of these factors. CAVD is also known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in its presentation, and previous work suggested that VICs may exhibit cellular-scale sex differences in the context of angiogenesis. The current study sought to investigate the production of angiogenesis-related factors by male and female VICs possessing quiescent (qVIC) or activated (aVIC) phenotypes. Production of several pro-angiogenic growth factors was elevated in porcine aVICs relative to qVICs, with sex differences found in both the total amounts secreted and their distribution across media vs. lysate. Porcine valvular endothelial cells (VECs) were also sex-separated in culture and found to behave similarly with respect to metabolic activity, viability, and tubulogenesis, but male VECs exhibited higher proliferation rates than female VECs. VECs responded to sex-matched media conditioned by VICs with increased tubulogenesis, but decreased proliferation, particularly upon treatment with aVIC-derived media. It is likely that this attenuation of proliferation resulted from a combination of decreased basic fibroblast growth factor and increased thrombospondin-2 (TSP2) secreted by aVICs. Overall, this study indicates that VICs regulate angiogenic VEC behavior via an array of paracrine molecules, whose secretion and sequestration are affected by both VIC phenotype and sex. Moreover, strong sex differences in TSP2 secretion by VICs may have implications for understanding sexual dimorphism in valve fibrosis, as TSP2 is also a powerful regulator of fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Nelson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Vaidehi Patil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - LaTonya R. Simon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kelsey Schmidt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Chloe M. McCoy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kristyn S. Masters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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Porras AM, van Engeland NCA, Marchbanks E, McCormack A, Bouten CVC, Yacoub MH, Latif N, Masters KS. Robust Generation of Quiescent Porcine Valvular Interstitial Cell Cultures. J Am Heart Assoc 2017; 6:JAHA.116.005041. [PMID: 28292746 PMCID: PMC5524027 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.116.005041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) in the healthy aortic valve leaflet exhibit a quiescent phenotype, with <5% of VICs exhibiting an activated phenotype. Yet, in vitro culture of VICs on tissue culture polystyrene surfaces in standard growth medium results in rapid transformation to an activated phenotype in >90% of cells. The inability to preserve a healthy VIC phenotype during in vitro studies has hampered the elucidation of mechanisms involved in calcific aortic valve disease. This study describes the generation of quiescent populations of porcine VICs in 2‐dimensional in vitro culture and their utility in studying valve pathobiology. Methods and Results Within 4 days of isolation from fresh porcine hearts, VICs cultured in standard growth conditions were predominantly myofibroblastic (activated VICs). This myofibroblastic phenotype was partially reversed within 4 days, and fully reversed within 9 days, following application of a combination of a fibroblast media formulation with culture on collagen coatings. Specifically, culture in this combination significantly reduced several markers of VIC activation, including proliferation, apoptosis, α‐smooth muscle actin expression, and matrix production, relative to standard growth conditions. Moreover, VICs raised in a fibroblast media formulation with culture on collagen coatings exhibited dramatically increased sensitivity to treatment with transforming growth factor β1, a known pathological stimulus, compared with VICs raised in either standard culture or medium with a fibroblast media formulation. Conclusions The approach using a fibroblast media formulation with culture on collagen coatings generates quiescent VICs that more accurately mimic a healthy VIC population and thus has the potential to transform the study of the mechanisms of VIC activation and dysfunction involved in the early stages of calcific aortic valve disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Porras
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Nicole C A van Engeland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Evelyn Marchbanks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
| | - Ann McCormack
- Tissue Engineering, Magdi Yacoub Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carlijn V C Bouten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Magdi H Yacoub
- Tissue Engineering, Magdi Yacoub Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Najma Latif
- Tissue Engineering, Magdi Yacoub Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kristyn S Masters
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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Monzack EL, Masters KS. Can valvular interstitial cells become true osteoblasts? A side-by-side comparison. J Heart Valve Dis 2011; 20:449-463. [PMID: 21863660 PMCID: PMC3285463] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Aortic valve calcification is believed to involve the differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) into either a myofibroblastic or an osteoblast-like phenotype. Despite purported similarities between diseased VICs and osteoblasts, few studies have directly compared VICs and osteoblasts in side-by-side experiments. In the present study, VICs were compared against multiple osteoblastic cell types at different stages of differentiation. These findings may help to resolve whether VICs progress through a myofibroblastic phenotype before reaching an osteoblast-like stage. METHODS Three cell types representing a range of osteoblastic lineage commitment and differentiation were used in the phenotypic comparison against VICs. Specifically, VICs, embryonic fibroblasts (C3H10T1/2), pre-osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1), and mature primary osteoblasts were cultured on tissue-culture polystyrene in control or mineralization medium, and harvested for qPCR, DNA, and protein analysis at time points ranging from one to eight days. RESULTS Culture of VICs in mineralization medium decreased the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA; a myofibroblast marker), with no peak in alpha-SMA gene or protein expression in mineralization medium at any time point. The application of a mineralization medium led to increased expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP; an early mineralization marker) for all cell types, although the magnitude of the increase in ALP was drastically smaller for VICs than for the osteogenic cell types. Only the osteogenic cell types demonstrated an appreciable increase in osteocalcin (an indicator of later-stage mineralization). CONCLUSION While the addition of mineralization medium generally increased the expression of osteogenic markers and decreased the expression of myofibroblastic markers, VICs displayed different levels and patterns of expression than the osteoblastic cell types used for comparison. Additionally, the lack of an alpha-SMA increase at any point after the addition of mineralization medium to VICs indicated that these cells may not need to progress through a myofibroblastic stage before reaching an osteoblast-like gene expression profile.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristyn S. Masters
- Corresponding author: Kristyn S. Masters, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, 1550 Engineering Drive, #2152, Madison, WI 53706, , phone: (608) 265-4052, fax: (608) 265-9239
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