ABSTRACT
Over the past several centuries, the integration of contemporary medical techniques and innovative technologies, like genetic sequencing, have played a pivotal role in enhancing our comprehension of congenital vascular and lymphatic disorders. Nonetheless, the uncommon and complex characteristics of these disorders, especially considering their formation during the intrauterine stage, present significant obstacles in diagnosis and treatment. Here, we review the intricacies of these congenital abnormalities, offering an in-depth examination of key diagnostic approaches, genetic factors, and therapeutic methods.
Subject(s)
Lymphatic Diseases , Humans , Lymphatic Diseases/therapy , Lymphatic Diseases/genetics , Vascular Diseases/congenital , Vascular Diseases/genetics , Vascular Diseases/therapy , Vascular Diseases/diagnosis , Animals , Vascular Malformations/genetics , Vascular Malformations/therapy , Lymphatic Vessels/abnormalities , Genetic Predisposition to DiseaseABSTRACT
Viral myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the heart, causes significant morbidity and mortality. Type I interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral responses protect against myocarditis, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. We previously identified A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase domain 9 (ADAM9) as an important factor in viral pathogenesis. ADAM9 is implicated in a range of human diseases, including inflammatory diseases; however, its role in viral infection is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mice lacking ADAM9 are more susceptible to encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)-induced death and fail to mount a characteristic type I IFN response. This defect in type I IFN induction is specific to positive-sense, single-stranded RNA (+ ssRNA) viruses and involves melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5)-a key receptor for +ssRNA viruses. Mechanistically, ADAM9 binds to MDA5 and promotes its oligomerization and thereby downstream mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) activation in response to EMCV RNA stimulation. Our findings identify a role for ADAM9 in the innate antiviral response, specifically MDA5-mediated IFN production, which protects against virus-induced cardiac damage, and provide a potential therapeutic target for treatment of viral myocarditis.
Subject(s)
ADAM Proteins , Cardiovirus Infections , Encephalomyocarditis virus , Immunity, Innate , Interferon Type I , Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1 , Membrane Proteins , Myocarditis , Animals , Mice , ADAM Proteins/metabolism , ADAM Proteins/genetics , ADAM Proteins/immunology , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/immunology , Cardiovirus Infections/immunology , Cardiovirus Infections/virology , Encephalomyocarditis virus/immunology , HEK293 Cells , Interferon Type I/metabolism , Interferon Type I/immunology , Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1/metabolism , Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1/genetics , Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1/immunology , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Membrane Proteins/immunology , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Knockout , Myocarditis/immunology , Myocarditis/virology , Signal Transduction/immunologyABSTRACT
Patients afflicted with Stimulator of interferon gene (STING) gain-of-function mutations frequently present with debilitating interstitial lung disease (ILD) that is recapitulated in mice expressing the STINGV154M mutation (VM). Prior radiation chimera studies revealed an unexpected and critical role for non-hematopoietic cells in initiating ILD. To identify STING-expressing non-hematopoietic cell types required for the development of ILD, we use a conditional knockin (CKI) model and direct expression of the VM allele to hematopoietic cells, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, or endothelial cells. Only endothelial cell-targeted VM expression results in enhanced recruitment of immune cells to the lung associated with elevated chemokine expression and the formation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue, as seen in the parental VM strain. These findings reveal the importance of endothelial cells as instigators of STING-driven lung disease and suggest that therapeutic targeting of STING inhibitors to endothelial cells could potentially mitigate inflammation in the lungs of STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) patients or patients afflicted with other ILD-related disorders.
Subject(s)
Endothelial Cells , Gain of Function Mutation , Lung , Membrane Proteins , Animals , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Endothelial Cells/pathology , Mice , Lung/pathology , Lung/metabolism , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/pathology , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/genetics , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , HumansABSTRACT
Patients afflicted with STING gain-of-function mutations frequently present with debilitating interstitial lung disease ( ILD ) that is recapitulated in mice expressing the STING V154M mutation ( VM ). Prior radiation chimera studies revealed an unexpected and critical role for non-hematopoietic cells in the initiation of ILD. To identify STING-expressing non-hematopoietic cell types relevant to ILD, we generated a conditional knock-in ( CKI ) model in which expression of the VM allele was directed to hematopoietic cells, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, or endothelial cells. Only endothelial cell-targeted expression of the mutant allele resulted in the recruitment of immune cells to the lung and the formation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue, as seen in the parental VM strain. These findings reveal the importance of endothelial cells as instigators of STING-driven lung disease and suggest that therapeutic targeting of STING inhibitors to endothelial cells could potentially mitigate inflammation in the lungs of SAVI patients or patients afflicted with other ILD-related disorders. Summary: Patients with STING gain-of-function (GOF) mutations develop life-threatening lung autoinflammation. In this study, Gao et al. utilize a mouse model of conditional STING GOF to demonstrate a role for endothelial STING GOF in initiating immune cell recruitment into lung tissues of SAVI mice.
ABSTRACT
Adaptive thermogenesis by brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates calories as heat, making it an attractive anti-obesity target. Yet how BAT contributes to circulating metabolite exchange remains unclear. Here, we quantified metabolite exchange in BAT and skeletal muscle by arteriovenous metabolomics during cold exposure in fed male mice. This identified unexpected metabolites consumed, released and shared between organs. Quantitative analysis of tissue fluxes showed that glucose and lactate provide ~85% of carbon for adaptive thermogenesis and that cold and CL316,243 trigger markedly divergent fuel utilization profiles. In cold adaptation, BAT also dramatically increases nitrogen uptake by net consuming amino acids, except glutamine. Isotope tracing and functional studies suggest glutamine catabolism concurrent with synthesis via glutamine synthetase, which avoids ammonia buildup and boosts fuel oxidation. These data underscore the ability of BAT to function as a glucose and amino acid sink and provide a quantitative and comprehensive landscape of BAT fuel utilization to guide translational studies.
Subject(s)
Adipose Tissue, Brown , Glutamine , Male , Animals , Mice , Adipose Tissue, Brown/metabolism , Glutamine/metabolism , Glucose/metabolism , Thermogenesis/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/metabolismABSTRACT
Lymphangiectasia, an anomalous dilation of lymphatic vessels first described in the 17th century, is frequently associated with chylous effusion, respiratory failure, and high mortality in young patients, yet the underlying molecular pathogenesis and effective treatments remain elusive. Here, we identify an unexpected causal link between MAPK activation and defective development of the lymphatic basement membrane that drives lymphangiectasia. Human pathological tissue samples from patients diagnosed with lymphangiectasia revealed sustained MAPK activation within lymphatic endothelial cells. Endothelial KRASG12D-mediated sustained MAPK activation in newborn mice caused severe pulmonary and intercostal lymphangiectasia, accumulation of chyle in the pleural space, and complete lethality. Pathological activation of MAPK in murine vasculature inhibited the Nfatc1-dependent genetic program required for laminin interactions, collagen crosslinking, and anchoring fibril formation, driving defective development of the lymphatic basement membrane. Treatment with ravoxertinib, a pharmacological inhibitor of MAPK, reverses nuclear-to-cytoplasmic localization of Nfatc1, basement membrane development defects, lymphangiectasia, and chyle accumulation, ultimately improving survival of endothelial KRAS mutant neonatal mice. These results reveal defective lymphatic basement membrane assembly and composition as major causes of thoracic lymphangiectasia and provide a potential treatment.
Subject(s)
Endothelial Cells , Lymphatic Vessels , Animals , Basement Membrane , Endothelial Cells/physiology , Humans , Lymphatic System , Lymphatic Vessels/pathology , Mice , Pyridones , PyrimidinesABSTRACT
Vascular malformations, affecting ≈1% to 1.5% of the population, comprise a spectrum of developmental patterning defects of capillaries, arteries, veins, and/or lymphatics. The majority of vascular malformations occur sporadically; however, inherited malformations exist as a part of complex congenital diseases. The malformations, ranging from birthmarks to life-threatening conditions, are present at birth, but may reveal signs and symptoms-including pain, bleeding, disfigurement, and functional defects of vital organs-in infancy, childhood, or adulthood. Vascular malformations often exhibit recurrent patterns at affected sites due to the lack of curative treatments. This review series provides a state-of-the-art assessment of vascular malformation research at basic, clinical, genetic, and translational levels.
Subject(s)
Blood Vessels/abnormalities , Lymphatic Abnormalities , Lymphatic Vessels/abnormalities , Vascular Malformations , Animals , Blood Vessels/metabolism , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genetic Variation , Humans , Lymphatic Abnormalities/genetics , Lymphatic Abnormalities/metabolism , Lymphatic Abnormalities/pathology , Lymphatic Abnormalities/therapy , Lymphatic Vessels/metabolism , Phenotype , Risk Factors , Vascular Malformations/genetics , Vascular Malformations/metabolism , Vascular Malformations/pathology , Vascular Malformations/therapySubject(s)
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid/metabolism , Vascular Neoplasms/metabolism , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Animals , Antigens, CD/genetics , Antigens, CD/metabolism , Cadherins/genetics , Cadherins/metabolism , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology , Endothelial Cells/pathology , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid/genetics , Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid/pathology , Humans , Mice, Transgenic , Signal Transduction , Transcription Factors/genetics , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Vascular Neoplasms/genetics , Vascular Neoplasms/pathology , YAP-Signaling ProteinsSubject(s)
Epigenomics , Transcriptome , Enhancer Elements, Genetic , Histone Code , Humans , OrganogenesisABSTRACT
Human hepatic vascular cavernomas, the most common benign tumor of the liver, were described in the mid-1800s, yet the mechanisms for their formation and effective treatments remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate gain-of-function mutations in KRAS or BRAF genes within liver endothelial cells as a causal mechanism for hepatic vascular cavernomas. We identified gain-of-function mutations in KRAS or BRAF genes in pathological liver tissue samples from patients with hepatic vascular cavernomas. Mice expressing these human KRASG12D or BRAFV600E mutations in hepatic endothelial cells recapitulated the human hepatic vascular cavernoma phenotype of dilated sinusoidal capillaries with defective branching patterns. KRASG12D or BRAFV600E induced "zipper-like" contiguous expression of junctional proteins at sinusoidal endothelial cell-cell contacts, switching capillaries from branching to cavernous expansion. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of the endothelial RAS-MAPK1 signaling pathway rescued hepatic vascular cavernoma formation in endothelial KRASG12D- or BRAFV600E-expressing mice. These results uncover a major cause of hepatic vascular cavernomas and provide a road map for their personalized treatment.
Subject(s)
Liver/blood supply , Liver/pathology , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors , Mutation/genetics , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics , Adherens Junctions/metabolism , Adult , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Cell Communication/drug effects , Embryo Loss/pathology , Endothelial Cells/drug effects , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Female , Gain of Function Mutation/genetics , Humans , Liver/drug effects , Liver/enzymology , Macrophages/drug effects , Macrophages/metabolism , Macrophages/pathology , Male , Mice , Middle Aged , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolismABSTRACT
Cryptic transcription occurs widely across the eukaryotic genome; however, its regulation during vertebrate development is not understood. Here, we show that two class I histone deacetylases, Hdac1 and Hdac2, silence cryptic transcription to promote mitochondrial function in developing murine hearts. Mice lacking Hdac1 and Hdac2 in heart exhibit defective developmental switch from anaerobic to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), severe defects in mitochondrial mass, mitochondrial function, and complete embryonic lethality. Hdac1/Hdac2 promotes the transition to OXPHOS by enforcing transcriptional fidelity of metabolic gene programs. Mechanistically, Hdac1/Hdac2 deacetylates histone residues including H3K23, H3K14, and H4K16 to suppress cryptic transcriptional initiation within the coding regions of actively transcribed metabolic genes. Thus, Hdac1/2-mediated epigenetic silencing of cryptic transcription is essential for mitochondrial function during early vertebrate development.