Cgnl1, an endothelial junction complex protein, regulates GTPase mediated angiogenesis.

AIMS: The formation of cell-cell and cell-extra cellular matrix (ECM) contacts by endothelial cells (ECs) is crucial for the stability and integrity of a vascular network. We previously identified cingulin-like 1 (Cgnl1) in a transcriptomic screen for new angiogenic modulators. Here we aim to study the function of the cell-cell junction associated protein Cgnl1 during vessel formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Unlike family member cingulin, Cgnl1 expression is enriched in ECs during vascular growth. Cgnl1 is important for the formation of multicellular tubule structures, as shown in vitro using loss-of function assays in a 3D matrix co-culture system that uses primary human ECs and supporting mural cells. Further studies revealed that Cgnl1 regulates vascular growth by promoting Ve-cadherin association with the actin cytoskeleton, thereby stabilizing adherens junctions. Cgnl1 also regulates focal adhesion assembly in response to ECM contact, promoting vinculin and paxillin recruitment and focal adhesion kinase signalling. In vivo, we demonstrate in a postnatal retinal vascular development model in mice that Cgnl1 function is crucial for sustaining neovascular growth and stability. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate a functional relevance for Cgnl1 as a defining factor in new vessel formation both in vitro and in vivo.

THSD1 preserves vascular integrity and protects against intraplaque haemorrhaging in ApoE-/- mice.

AIMS: Impairment of the endothelial barrier leads to microvascular breakdown in cardiovascular disease and is involved in intraplaque haemorrhaging and the progression of advanced atherosclerotic lesions that are vulnerable to rupture. The exact mechanism that regulates vascular integrity requires further definition. Using a microarray screen for angiogenesis-associated genes during murine embryogenesis, we identified thrombospondin type I domain 1 (THSD1) as a new putative angiopotent factor with unknown biological function. We sought to characterize the role of THSD1 in endothelial cells during vascular development and cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Functional knockdown of Thsd1 in zebrafish embryos and in a murine retina vascularization model induced severe haemorrhaging without affecting neovascular growth. In human carotid endarterectomy specimens, THSD1 expression by endothelial cells was detected in advanced atherosclerotic lesions with intraplaque haemorrhaging, but was absent in stable lesions, implying involvement of THSD1 in neovascular bleeding. In vitro, stimulation with pro-atherogenic factors (3% O2 and TNFα) decreased THSD1 expression in human endothelial cells, whereas stimulation with an anti-atherogenic factor (IL10) showed opposite effect. Therapeutic evaluation in a murine advanced atherosclerosis model showed that Thsd1 overexpression decreased plaque vulnerability by attenuating intraplaque vascular leakage, subsequently reducing macrophage accumulation and necrotic core size. Mechanistic studies in human endothelial cells demonstrated that THSD1 activates FAK-PI3K, leading to Rac1-mediated actin cytoskeleton regulation of adherens junctions and focal adhesion assembly. CONCLUSION: THSD1 is a new regulator of endothelial barrier function during vascular development and protects intraplaque microvessels against haemorrhaging in advanced atherosclerotic lesions.

Endothelial cell-specific FGD5 involvement in vascular pruning defines neovessel fate in mice.

BACKGROUND: New vessel formation contributes to organ development during embryogenesis and tissue repair in response to mechanical damage, inflammation, and ischemia in adult organisms. Early angiogenesis includes formation of an excessive primitive network that needs to be reorganized into a secondary vascular network with higher hierarchical structure. Vascular pruning, the removal of aberrant neovessels by apoptosis, is a vital step in this process. Although multiple molecular pathways for early angiogenesis have been identified, little is known about the genetic regulators of secondary network development. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a transcriptomics approach, we identified a new endothelial specific gene named FYVE, RhoGEF, and PH domain-containing 5 (FGD5) that plays a crucial role in vascular pruning. Loss- and gain-of-function studies demonstrate that FGD5 inhibits neovascularization, indicated by in vitro tube-formation, aortic-ring, and coated-bead assays and by in vivo coated-bead plug assays and studies in the murine retina model. FGD5 promotes apoptosis-induced vaso-obliteration via induction of the hey1-p53 pathway by direct binding and activation of cdc42. Indeed, FGD5 correlates with apoptosis in endothelial cells during vascular remodeling and was linked to rising p21(CIP1) levels in aging mice. CONCLUSION: We have identified FGD5 as a novel genetic regulator of vascular pruning by activation of endothelial cell-targeted apoptosis.

PDGF-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells is inhibited by heme oxygenase-1 via VEGFR2 upregulation and subsequent assembly of inactive VEGFR2/PDGFRß heterodimers.

OBJECTIVE: In cardiovascular regulation, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity has been shown to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation by promoting cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase. However, the effect of HO-1 on VSMC migration remains unclear. We aim to elucidate the mechanism by which HO-1 regulates PDGFBB-induced VSMC migration. METHODS AND RESULTS: Transduction of HO-1 cDNA adenoviral vector severely impeded human VSMC migration in a scratch, transmembrane, and directional migration assay in response to PDGFBB stimulation. Similarly, HO-1 overexpression in the remodeling process during murine retinal vasculature development attenuated VSMC coverage over the major arterial branches as compared with sham vector-transduced eyes. HO-1 expression in VSMCs significantly upregulated VEGFA and VEGFR2 expression, which subsequently promoted the formation of inactive PDGFRß/VEGFR2 complexes. This compromised PDGFRß phosphorylation and impeded the downstream cascade of FAK-p38 signaling. siRNA-mediated silencing of VEGFA or VEGFR2 could reverse the inhibitory effect of HO-1 on VSMC migration. CONCLUSIONS: These findings identify a potent antimigratory function of HO-1 in VSMCs, a mechanism that involves VEGFA and VEGFR2 upregulation, followed by assembly of inactive VEGFR2/PDGFRß complexes that attenuates effective PDGFRß signaling.