RESUMO
Interactions between angiogenesis and neurogenesis regulate embryonic brain development. However, a comprehensive understanding of the stages of vascular cell maturation is lacking, especially in the prenatal human brain. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, single-cell transcriptomics, and histological and ultrastructural analyses, we show that an ensemble of endothelial and mural cell subtypes tile the brain vasculature during the second trimester. These vascular cells follow distinct developmental trajectories and utilize diverse signaling mechanisms, including collagen, laminin, and midkine, to facilitate cell-cell communication and maturation. Interestingly, our results reveal that tip cells, a subtype of endothelial cells, are highly enriched near the ventricular zone, the site of active neurogenesis. Consistent with these observations, prenatal vascular cells transplanted into cortical organoids exhibit restricted lineage potential that favors tip cells, promotes neurogenesis, and reduces cellular stress. Together, our results uncover important mechanisms into vascular maturation during this critical period of human brain development.
Assuntos
Células Endoteliais , Neovascularização Fisiológica , Encéfalo , Colágeno , Humanos , Laminina , Midkina , Neovascularização Patológica/patologia , Neovascularização Fisiológica/fisiologia , PericitosRESUMO
The gastrointestinal tract is enveloped by concentric and orthogonally aligned layers of smooth muscle; however, an understanding of the mechanisms by which these muscles become patterned and aligned in the embryo has been lacking. We find that Hedgehog acts through Bmp to delineate the position of the circumferentially oriented inner muscle layer, whereas localized Bmp inhibition is critical for allowing formation of the later-forming, longitudinally oriented outer layer. Because the layers form at different developmental stages, the muscle cells are exposed to unique mechanical stimuli that direct their alignments. Differential growth within the early gut tube generates residual strains that orient the first layer circumferentially, and when formed, the spontaneous contractions of this layer align the second layer longitudinally. Our data link morphogen-based patterning to mechanically controlled smooth muscle cell alignment and provide a mechanistic context for potentially understanding smooth muscle organization in a wide variety of tubular organs.
Assuntos
Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento/fisiologia , Mucosa Intestinal/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Desenvolvimento Muscular/genética , Músculo Liso/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Animais , Padronização Corporal/fisiologia , Proteínas Morfogenéticas Ósseas/metabolismo , Diferenciação Celular , Embrião de Galinha , Embrião de Mamíferos , Feminino , Proteínas Hedgehog/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos/embriologia , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Gravidez , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologiaRESUMO
The 9p21.3 cardiovascular disease locus is the most influential common genetic risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), accounting for â¼10%-15% of disease in non-African populations. The â¼60 kb risk haplotype is human-specific and lacks coding genes, hindering efforts to decipher its function. Here, we produce induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from risk and non-risk individuals, delete each haplotype using genome editing, and generate vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Risk VSMCs exhibit globally altered transcriptional networks that intersect with previously identified CAD risk genes and pathways, concomitant with aberrant adhesion, contraction, and proliferation. Unexpectedly, deleting the risk haplotype rescues VSMC stability, while expressing the 9p21.3-associated long non-coding RNA ANRIL induces risk phenotypes in non-risk VSMCs. This study shows that the risk haplotype selectively predisposes VSMCs to adopt a cell state associated with CAD phenotypes, defines new VSMC-based networks of CAD risk genes, and establishes haplotype-edited iPSCs as powerful tools for functionally annotating the human genome.
Assuntos
Cromossomos Humanos Par 9 , Doença da Artéria Coronariana , Edição de Genes , Haplótipos , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Cromossomos Humanos Par 9/genética , Cromossomos Humanos Par 9/metabolismo , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/genética , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/metabolismo , Doença da Artéria Coronariana/patologia , Feminino , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/patologia , Leucócitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Leucócitos Mononucleares/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Músculo Liso Vascular/metabolismo , Músculo Liso Vascular/patologia , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/patologia , RNA Longo não Codificante/genética , RNA Longo não Codificante/metabolismo , Transcrição GênicaRESUMO
Maladaptive, non-resolving inflammation contributes to chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Because macrophages remove necrotic cells, defective macrophage programs can promote chronic inflammation with persistent tissue injury. Here, we investigated the mechanisms sustaining vascular macrophages. Intravital imaging revealed a spatiotemporal macrophage niche across vascular beds alongside mural cells (MCs)-pericytes and smooth muscle cells. Single-cell transcriptomics, co-culture, and genetic deletion experiments revealed MC-derived expression of the chemokines CCL2 and MIF, which actively preserved macrophage survival and their homeostatic functions. In atherosclerosis, this positioned macrophages in viable plaque areas, away from the necrotic core, and maintained a homeostatic macrophage phenotype. Disruption of this MC-macrophage unit via MC-specific deletion of these chemokines triggered detrimental macrophage relocalizing, exacerbated plaque necrosis, inflammation, and atheroprogression. In line, CCL2 inhibition at advanced stages of atherosclerosis showed detrimental effects. This work presents a MC-driven safeguard toward maintaining the homeostatic vascular macrophage niche.
Assuntos
Aterosclerose , Placa Aterosclerótica , Humanos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Aterosclerose/metabolismo , Placa Aterosclerótica/metabolismo , Quimiocinas/metabolismo , Inflamação/metabolismo , Necrose/metabolismoRESUMO
The nervous system is critical for intestinal homeostasis and function, but questions remain regarding its impact on gut immune defense. By screening the major neurotransmitters of C. elegans, we found that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) deficiency enhanced susceptibility to pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 infection. GABAergic signaling between enteric neurons and intestinal smooth muscle promoted gut defense in a PMK-1/p38-dependent, but IIS/DAF-16- and DBL-1/TGF-ß-independent, pathway. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that the neuropeptide, FLP-6, acted downstream of enteric GABAergic signaling. Further data determined that FLP-6 was expressed and secreted by intestinal smooth muscle cells and functioned as a paracrine molecule on the intestinal epithelium. FLP-6 suppressed the transcription factors ZIP-10 and KLF-1 that worked in parallel and converged to the PMK-1/p38 pathway in the intestinal epithelia for innate immunity and gut defense. Collectively, these findings uncover an enteric neuron-muscle-epithelium axis that may be evolutionarily conserved in higher organisms.
Assuntos
Caenorhabditis elegans , Neurônios , Animais , Músculo Liso , Transdução de Sinais , Imunidade InataRESUMO
The local environment surrounding airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells has profound effects on the physiological and phenotypic properties of ASM tissues. ASM is continually subjected to the mechanical forces generated during breathing and to the constituents of its surrounding extracellular milieu. The smooth muscle cells within the airways continually modulate their properties to adapt to these changing environmental influences. Smooth muscle cells connect to the extracellular cell matrix (ECM) at membrane adhesion junctions that provide mechanical coupling between smooth muscle cells within the tissue. Membrane adhesion junctions also sense local environmental signals and transduce them to cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling pathways in the ASM cell. Adhesion junctions are composed of clusters of transmembrane integrin proteins that bind to ECM proteins outside the cell and to large multiprotein complexes in the submembranous cytoplasm. Physiological conditions and stimuli from the surrounding ECM are sensed by integrin proteins and transduced by submembranous adhesion complexes to signaling pathways to the cytoskeleton and nucleus. The transmission of information between the local environment of the cells and intracellular processes enables ASM cells to rapidly adapt their physiological properties to modulating influences in their extracellular environment: mechanical and physical forces that impinge on the cell, ECM constituents, local mediators, and metabolites. The structure and molecular organization of adhesion junction complexes and the actin cytoskeleton are dynamic and constantly changing in response to environmental influences. The ability of ASM to rapidly accommodate to the ever-changing conditions and fluctuating physical forces within its local environment is essential for its normal physiological function.
Assuntos
Contração Muscular , Músculo Liso , Contração Muscular/fisiologia , Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Miócitos de Músculo Liso , Fenótipo , Integrinas/metabolismoRESUMO
This review aims to survey the current state of mechanotransduction in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs), including their sensing of mechanical stimuli and transduction of mechanical signals that result in the acute functional modulation and longer-term transcriptomic and epigenetic regulation of blood vessels. The mechanosensors discussed include ion channels, plasma membrane-associated structures and receptors, and junction proteins. The mechanosignaling pathways presented include the cytoskeleton, integrins, extracellular matrix, and intracellular signaling molecules. These are followed by discussions on mechanical regulation of transcriptome and epigenetics, relevance of mechanotransduction to health and disease, and interactions between VSMCs and ECs. Throughout this review, we offer suggestions for specific topics that require further understanding. In the closing section on conclusions and perspectives, we summarize what is known and point out the need to treat the vasculature as a system, including not only VSMCs and ECs but also the extracellular matrix and other types of cells such as resident macrophages and pericytes, so that we can fully understand the physiology and pathophysiology of the blood vessel as a whole, thus enhancing the comprehension, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of vascular diseases.
Assuntos
Células Endoteliais , Mecanotransdução Celular , Humanos , Mecanotransdução Celular/fisiologia , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Epigênese Genética , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Miócitos de Músculo Liso , Estresse MecânicoRESUMO
The elastic properties of conductance arteries are one of the most important hemodynamic functions in the body, and data continue to emerge regarding the importance of their dysfunction in vascular aging and a range of cardiovascular diseases. Here, we provide new insight into the integrative physiology of arterial stiffening and its clinical consequence. We also comprehensively review progress made on pathways/molecules that appear today as important basic determinants of arterial stiffness, particularly those mediating the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contractility, plasticity and stiffness. We focus on membrane and nuclear mechanotransduction, clearance function of the vascular wall, phenotypic switching of VSMCs, immunoinflammatory stimuli and epigenetic mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the most important advances of the latest clinical studies that revisit the classical therapeutic concepts of arterial stiffness and lead to a patient-by-patient strategy according to cardiovascular risk exposure and underlying disease.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares , Rigidez Vascular , Humanos , Mecanotransdução Celular , Artérias/metabolismo , Doenças Cardiovasculares/metabolismo , Envelhecimento/metabolismoRESUMO
The maintenance of appropriate arterial tone is critically important for normal physiological arterial function. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here, we have shown that in the mouse aorta, resident macrophages prevented arterial stiffness and collagen deposition in the steady state. Using phenotyping, transcriptional profiling, and targeted deletion of Csf1r, we have demonstrated that these macrophages-which are a feature of blood vessels invested with smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in both mouse and human tissues-expressed the hyaluronan (HA) receptor LYVE-l. Furthermore, we have shown they possessed the unique ability to modulate collagen expression in SMCs by matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9-dependent proteolysis through engagement of LYVE-1 with the HA pericellular matrix of SMCs. Our study has unveiled a hitherto unknown homeostatic contribution of arterial LYVE-1+ macrophages through the control of collagen production by SMCs and has identified a function of LYVE-1 in leukocytes.
Assuntos
Colágeno/metabolismo , Glicoproteínas/metabolismo , Receptores de Hialuronatos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Músculo Liso Vascular/citologia , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Rigidez Vascular/fisiologia , Animais , Aorta/fisiologia , Feminino , Glicoproteínas/genética , Humanos , Ácido Hialurônico/metabolismo , Masculino , Metaloproteinase 9 da Matriz/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/genéticaRESUMO
Integrin activation resulting in enhanced adhesion to the extracellular matrix plays a key role in fundamental cellular processes. Although integrin activation has been extensively studied in circulating cells such as leukocytes and platelets, much less is known about the regulation and functional impact of integrin activation in adherent cells such as smooth muscle. Here, we show that two different asthmagenic cytokines, IL-13 and IL-17A, activate type I and IL-17 cytokine receptor families, respectively, to enhance adhesion of airway smooth muscle. These cytokines also induce activation of ß1 integrins detected by the conformation-specific antibody HUTS-4. Moreover, HUTS-4 binding is increased in the smooth muscle of patients with asthma compared to nonsmokers without lung disease, suggesting a disease-relevant role for integrin activation in smooth muscle. Indeed, integrin activation induced by the ß1-activating antibody TS2/16, the divalent cation manganese, or the synthetic peptide ß1-CHAMP that forces an extended-open integrin conformation dramatically enhances force transmission in smooth muscle cells and airway rings even in the absence of cytokines. We demonstrate that cytokine-induced activation of ß1 integrins is regulated by a common pathway of NF-κB-mediated induction of RhoA and its effector Rho kinase, which in turn stimulates PIP5K1γ-mediated synthesis of PIP2 at focal adhesions, resulting in ß1 integrin activation. Taken together, these data identify a pathway by which type I and IL-17 cytokine receptor family stimulation induces functionally relevant ß1 integrin activation in adherent smooth muscle and help to explain the exaggerated force transmission that characterizes chronic airway diseases such as asthma.
Assuntos
Asma , Integrina beta1 , Interleucina-13 , Interleucina-17 , Músculo Liso , NF-kappa B , Quinases Associadas a rho , Humanos , Integrina beta1/metabolismo , Interleucina-17/metabolismo , Músculo Liso/metabolismo , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Quinases Associadas a rho/metabolismo , Interleucina-13/metabolismo , Asma/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Adesão Celular , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , AnimaisRESUMO
Progerin, the protein that causes Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, triggers nuclear membrane (NM) ruptures and blebs, but the mechanisms are unclear. We suspected that the expression of progerin changes the overall structure of the nuclear lamina. High-resolution microscopy of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) revealed that lamin A and lamin B1 form independent meshworks with uniformly spaced openings (~0.085 µm2). The expression of progerin in SMCs resulted in the formation of an irregular meshwork with clusters of large openings (up to 1.4 µm2). The expression of progerin acted in a dominant-negative fashion to disrupt the morphology of the endogenous lamin B1 meshwork, triggering irregularities and large openings that closely resembled the irregularities and openings in the progerin meshwork. These abnormal meshworks were strongly associated with NM ruptures and blebs. Of note, the progerin meshwork was markedly abnormal in nuclear blebs that were deficient in lamin B1 (~50% of all blebs). That observation suggested that higher levels of lamin B1 expression might normalize the progerin meshwork and prevent NM ruptures and blebs. Indeed, increased lamin B1 expression reversed the morphological abnormalities in the progerin meshwork and markedly reduced the frequency of NM ruptures and blebs. Thus, progerin expression disrupts the overall structure of the nuclear lamina, but that effect-along with NM ruptures and blebs-can be abrogated by increased lamin B1 expression.
Assuntos
Lamina Tipo A , Lamina Tipo B , Lâmina Nuclear , Lâmina Nuclear/metabolismo , Lamina Tipo A/metabolismo , Lamina Tipo A/genética , Lamina Tipo B/metabolismo , Lamina Tipo B/genética , Humanos , Progéria/metabolismo , Progéria/genética , Progéria/patologia , Animais , Precursores de Proteínas/metabolismo , Precursores de Proteínas/genética , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/patologia , CamundongosRESUMO
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare disease caused by the expression of progerin, a mutant protein that accelerates aging and precipitates death. Given that atherosclerosis complications are the main cause of death in progeria, here, we investigated whether progerin-induced atherosclerosis is prevented in HGPSrev-Cdh5-CreERT2 and HGPSrev-SM22α-Cre mice with progerin suppression in endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), respectively. HGPSrev-Cdh5-CreERT2 mice were undistinguishable from HGPSrev mice with ubiquitous progerin expression, in contrast with the ameliorated progeroid phenotype of HGPSrev-SM22α-Cre mice. To study atherosclerosis, we generated atheroprone mouse models by overexpressing a PCSK9 gain-of-function mutant. While HGPSrev-Cdh5-CreERT2 and HGPSrev mice developed a similar level of excessive atherosclerosis, plaque development in HGPSrev-SM22α-Cre mice was reduced to wild-type levels. Our studies demonstrate that progerin suppression in VSMCs, but not in ECs, prevents exacerbated atherosclerosis in progeroid mice.
Assuntos
Aterosclerose , Células Endoteliais , Lamina Tipo A , Músculo Liso Vascular , Progéria , Animais , Camundongos , Aterosclerose/genética , Aterosclerose/metabolismo , Aterosclerose/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Células Endoteliais/patologia , Lamina Tipo A/metabolismo , Lamina Tipo A/genética , Camundongos Transgênicos , Músculo Liso Vascular/metabolismo , Músculo Liso Vascular/patologia , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/patologia , Progéria/metabolismo , Progéria/genética , Progéria/patologia , Pró-Proteína Convertase 9/metabolismo , Pró-Proteína Convertase 9/genéticaRESUMO
Resistance arteries and arterioles evolved as specialized blood vessels serving two important functions: (a) regulating peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure and (b) matching oxygen and nutrient delivery to metabolic demands of organs. These functions require control of vessel lumen cross-sectional area (vascular tone) via coordinated vascular cell responses governed by precise spatial-temporal communication between intracellular signaling pathways. Herein, we provide a contemporary overview of the significant roles that redox switches play in calcium signaling for orchestrated endothelial, smooth muscle, and red blood cell control of arterial vascular tone. Three interrelated themes are the focus: (a) smooth muscle to endothelial communication for vasoconstriction, (b) endothelial to smooth muscle cell cross talk for vasodilation, and (c) oxygen and red blood cell interregulation of vascular tone and blood flow. We intend for this thematic framework to highlight gaps in our current knowledge and potentially spark interest for cross-disciplinary studies moving forward.
Assuntos
Vasoconstrição , Vasodilatação , Humanos , Microcirculação , Vasodilatação/fisiologia , Vasoconstrição/fisiologia , Oxirredução , OxigênioRESUMO
Membrane contact sites between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plasma membrane (PM), or ER-PM junctions, are found in all eukaryotic cells. In excitable cells they play unique roles in organizing diverse forms of Ca2+ signaling as triggered by membrane depolarization. ER-PM junctions underlie crucial physiological processes such as excitation-contraction coupling, smooth muscle contraction and relaxation, and various forms of activity-dependent signaling and plasticity in neurons. In many cases the structure and molecular composition of ER-PM junctions in excitable cells comprise important regulatory feedback loops linking depolarization-induced Ca2+ signaling at these sites to the regulation of membrane potential. Here, we describe recent findings on physiological roles and molecular composition of native ER-PM junctions in excitable cells. We focus on recent studies that provide new insights into canonical forms of depolarization-induced Ca2+ signaling occurring at junctional triads and dyads of striated muscle, as well as the diversity of ER-PM junctions in these cells and in smooth muscle and neurons.
Assuntos
Retículo Endoplasmático , Proteínas de Membrana , Humanos , Proteínas de Membrana/fisiologia , Retículo Endoplasmático/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Neurônios/metabolismo , Sinalização do Cálcio/fisiologia , Cálcio/metabolismoRESUMO
The vasculature consists of vessels of different sizes that are arranged in a hierarchical pattern. Two cell populations work in concert to establish this pattern during embryonic development and adopt it to changes in blood flow demand later in life: endothelial cells that line the inner surface of blood vessels, and adjacent vascular mural cells, including smooth muscle cells and pericytes. Despite recent progress in elucidating the signalling pathways controlling their crosstalk, much debate remains with regard to how mural cells influence endothelial cell biology and thereby contribute to the regulation of blood vessel formation and diameters. In this Review, I discuss mural cell functions and their interactions with endothelial cells, focusing on how these interactions ensure optimal blood flow patterns. Subsequently, I introduce the signalling pathways controlling mural cell development followed by an overview of mural cell ontogeny with an emphasis on the distinguishing features of mural cells located on different types of blood vessels. Ultimately, I explore therapeutic strategies involving mural cells to alleviate tissue ischemia and improve vascular efficiency in a variety of diseases.
Assuntos
Células Sanguíneas , Células Endoteliais , Feminino , Gravidez , Humanos , Diferenciação Celular , Desenvolvimento Embrionário , BiologiaRESUMO
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a vascular endothelial cell boundary that partitions the circulation from the central nervous system to promote normal brain health. We have a limited understanding of how the BBB is formed during development and maintained in adulthood. We used quantitative transcriptional profiling to investigate whether specific adhesion molecules are involved in BBB functions, with an emphasis on understanding how astrocytes interact with endothelial cells. Our results reveal a striking enrichment of multiple genes encoding laminin subunits as well as the laminin receptor gene Itga7, which encodes the alpha7 integrin subunit, in astrocytes. Genetic ablation of Itga7 in mice led to aberrant BBB permeability and progressive neurological pathologies. Itga7-/- mice also showed a reduction in laminin protein expression in parenchymal basement membranes. Blood vessels in the Itga7-/- brain showed separation from surrounding astrocytes and had reduced expression of the tight junction proteins claudin 5 and ZO-1. We propose that the alpha7 integrin subunit in astrocytes via adhesion to laminins promotes endothelial cell junction integrity, all of which is required to properly form and maintain a functional BBB.
Assuntos
Astrócitos , Barreira Hematoencefálica , Camundongos , Animais , Barreira Hematoencefálica/metabolismo , Laminina/metabolismo , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Integrinas/metabolismo , Junções Íntimas/metabolismoRESUMO
Aortic aneurysms are life-threatening conditions with effective treatments mainly limited to emergency surgery or trans-arterial endovascular stent grafts, thus calling for the identification of specific molecular targets. Genetic studies have highlighted controversial roles of transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) signaling in aneurysm development. Here, we report on aneurysms developing in adult mice after smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific inactivation of Smad4, an intracellular transducer of TGF-ß. The results revealed that Smad4 inhibition activated interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in SMCs. This danger signal later recruited innate immunity in the adventitia through chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) and modified the mechanical properties of the aortic wall, thus favoring vessel dilation. SMC-specific Smad4 deletion in Il1r1- or Ccr2-null mice resulted in milder aortic pathology. A chronic treatment with anti-IL-1ß antibody effectively hampered aneurysm development. These findings identify a mechanistic target for controlling the progression of aneurysms with compromised TGF-ß signaling, such as those driven by SMAD4 mutations.
Assuntos
Aneurisma Aórtico/prevenção & controle , Interleucina-1beta/antagonistas & inibidores , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta/fisiologia , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Quimiocina CCL2/antagonistas & inibidores , Interleucina-1beta/biossíntese , Camundongos , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/imunologia , NF-kappa B/fisiologia , Receptores CCR2/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteína Smad4/fisiologia , Tamoxifeno/farmacologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The long isoform of the Wnk1 (with-no-lysine [K] kinase 1) is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase, but its role in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) pathophysiology remains unknown. METHODS: AngII (angiotensin II) was infused in Apoe-/- to induce experimental aortic aneurysm. Mice carrying an Sm22-Cre allele were cross-bred with mice carrying a floxed Wnk1 allele to specifically investigate the functional role of Wnk1 in VSMCs. RESULTS: Single-cell RNA-sequencing of the aneurysmal abdominal aorta from AngII-infused Apoe-/- mice revealed that VSMCs that did not express Wnk1 showed lower expression of contractile phenotype markers and increased inflammatory activity. Interestingly, WNK1 gene expression in VSMCs was decreased in human abdominal aortic aneurysm. Wnk1-deficient VSMCs lost their contractile function and exhibited a proinflammatory phenotype, characterized by the production of matrix metalloproteases, as well as cytokines and chemokines, which contributed to local accumulation of inflammatory macrophages, Ly6Chi monocytes, and γδ T cells. Sm22Cre+Wnk1lox/lox mice spontaneously developed aortitis in the infrarenal abdominal aorta, which extended to the thoracic area over time without any negative effect on long-term survival. AngII infusion in Sm22Cre+Wnk1lox/lox mice aggravated the aortic disease, with the formation of lethal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Pharmacological blockade of γδ T-cell recruitment using neutralizing anti-CXCL9 (anti-CXC motif chemokine ligand 9) antibody treatment, or of monocyte/macrophage using Ki20227, a selective inhibitor of CSF1 receptor, attenuated aortitis. Wnk1 deletion in VSMCs led to aortic wall remodeling with destruction of elastin layers, increased collagen content, and enhanced local TGF-ß (transforming growth factor-beta) 1 expression. Finally, in vivo TGF-ß blockade using neutralizing anti-TGF-ß antibody promoted saccular aneurysm formation and aorta rupture in Sm22 Cre+ Wnk1lox/lox mice but not in control animals. CONCLUSION: Wnk1 is a key regulator of VSMC function. Wnk1 deletion promotes VSMC phenotype switch toward a pathogenic proinflammatory phenotype, orchestrating deleterious vascular remodeling and spontaneous severe aortitis in mice.
Assuntos
Angiotensina II , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal , Aortite , Músculo Liso Vascular , Miócitos de Músculo Liso , Proteína Quinase 1 Deficiente de Lisina WNK , Animais , Aortite/genética , Aortite/metabolismo , Aortite/patologia , Camundongos , Músculo Liso Vascular/metabolismo , Músculo Liso Vascular/patologia , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/patologia , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal/genética , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal/metabolismo , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal/patologia , Humanos , Proteína Quinase 1 Deficiente de Lisina WNK/genética , Proteína Quinase 1 Deficiente de Lisina WNK/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Masculino , Células Cultivadas , Camundongos Knockout para ApoE , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Inflamação/metabolismo , Inflamação/genética , Inflamação/patologia , Aorta Abdominal/metabolismo , Aorta Abdominal/patologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a catastrophic disease with little effective therapy, likely due to the limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying AAA development and progression. ATF3 (activating transcription factor 3) has been increasingly recognized as a key regulator of cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of ATF3 in AAA development and progression remains elusive. METHODS: Genome-wide RNA sequencing analysis was performed on the aorta isolated from saline or Ang II (angiotensin II)-induced AAA mice, and ATF3 was identified as the potential key gene for AAA development. To examine the role of ATF3 in AAA development, vascular smooth muscle cell-specific ATF3 knockdown or overexpressed mice by recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 9 vectors carrying ATF3, or shRNA-ATF3 with SM22α (smooth muscle protein 22-α) promoter were used in Ang II-induced AAA mice. In human and murine vascular smooth muscle cells, gain or loss of function experiments were performed to investigate the role of ATF3 in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis. RESULTS: In both Ang II-induced AAA mice and patients with AAA, the expression of ATF3 was reduced in aneurysm tissues but increased in aortic lesion tissues. The deficiency of ATF3 in vascular smooth muscle cell promoted AAA formation in Ang II-induced AAA mice. PDGFRB (platelet-derived growth factor receptor ß) was identified as the target of ATF3, which mediated vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in response to TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-α) at the early stage of AAA. ATF3 suppressed the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis at the advanced stage by upregulating its direct target BCL2. Our chromatin immunoprecipitation results also demonstrated that the recruitment of NFκB1 and P300/BAF/H3K27ac complex to the ATF3 promoter induces ATF3 transcription via enhancer activation. NFKB1 inhibitor (andrographolide) inhibits the expression of ATF3 by blocking the recruiters NFKB1 and ATF3-enhancer to the ATF3-promoter region, ultimately leading to AAA development. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a previously unrecognized role of ATF3 in AAA development and progression, and ATF3 may serve as a novel therapeutic and prognostic marker for AAA.
Assuntos
Fator 3 Ativador da Transcrição , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal , Músculo Liso Vascular , Miócitos de Músculo Liso , Fator 3 Ativador da Transcrição/genética , Fator 3 Ativador da Transcrição/metabolismo , Animais , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal/metabolismo , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal/patologia , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal/genética , Aneurisma da Aorta Abdominal/induzido quimicamente , Humanos , Músculo Liso Vascular/metabolismo , Músculo Liso Vascular/patologia , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Miócitos de Músculo Liso/patologia , Camundongos , Masculino , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Apoptose , Células Cultivadas , Angiotensina II , Proliferação de Células , Aorta Abdominal/patologia , Aorta Abdominal/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de DoençasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Vascular large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel, composed of the α-subunit (BK-α) and the ß1-subunit (BK-ß1), is a key determinant of coronary vasorelaxation and its function is impaired in diabetic vessels. However, our knowledge of diabetic BK channel dysregulation is incomplete. The Sorbs2 (Sorbin homology [SoHo] and Src homology 3 [SH3] domains-containing protein 2), is ubiquitously expressed in arteries, but its role in vascular pathophysiology is unknown. METHODS: The role of Sorbs2 in regulating vascular BK channel activity was determined using patch-clamp recordings, molecular biological techniques, and in silico analysis. RESULTS: Sorbs2 is not only a cytoskeletal protein but also an RNA-binding protein that binds to BK channel proteins and BK-α mRNA, regulating BK channel expression and function in coronary smooth muscle cells. Molecular biological studies reveal that the SH3 domain of Sorbs2 is necessary for Sorbs2 interaction with BK-α subunits, while both the SH3 and SoHo domains of Sorbs2 interact with BK-ß1 subunits. Deletion of the SH3 or SoHo domains abolishes the Sorbs2 effect on the BK-α/BK-ß1 channel current density. Additionally, Sorbs2 is a target gene of the Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2), which binds to the promoter of Sorbs2 and regulates Sorbs2 expression in coronary smooth muscle cells. In vivo studies demonstrate that Sorbs2 knockout mice at 4 months of age display a significant decrease in BK channel expression and function, accompanied by impaired BK channel Ca2+-sensitivity and BK channel-mediated vasodilation in coronary arteries, without altering their body weights and blood glucose levels. Importantly, Sorbs2 expression is significantly downregulated in the coronary arteries of db/db type 2 diabetic mice. CONCLUSIONS: Sorbs2, a downstream target of Nrf2, plays an important role in regulating BK channel expression and function in vascular smooth muscle cells. Vascular Sorbs2 is downregulated in diabetes. Genetic knockout of Sorbs2 manifests coronary BK channelopathy and vasculopathy observed in diabetic mice, independent of obesity and glucotoxicity.