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Nature Communications May 2024Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, is essential for the development of new organ systems, but transcriptional control of...
Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature, is essential for the development of new organ systems, but transcriptional control of angiogenesis remains incompletely understood. Here we show that FOXC1 is essential for retinal angiogenesis. Endothelial cell (EC)-specific loss of Foxc1 impairs retinal vascular growth and expression of Slc3a2 and Slc7a5, which encode the heterodimeric CD98 (LAT1/4F2hc) amino acid transporter and regulate the intracellular transport of essential amino acids and activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). EC-Foxc1 deficiency diminishes mTOR activity, while administration of the mTOR agonist MHY-1485 rescues perturbed retinal angiogenesis. EC-Foxc1 expression is required for retinal revascularization and resolution of neovascular tufts in a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. Foxc1 is also indispensable for pericytes, a critical component of the blood-retina barrier during retinal angiogenesis. Our findings establish FOXC1 as a crucial regulator of retinal vessels and identify therapeutic targets for treating retinal vascular disease.
Topics: Animals; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Retinal Neovascularization; Mice; Endothelial Cells; Blood-Retinal Barrier; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Pericytes; Fusion Regulatory Protein 1, Heavy Chain; Retinal Vessels; Humans; Large Neutral Amino Acid-Transporter 1; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Retina; Male; Angiogenesis
PubMed: 38755144
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48134-2 -
PLoS Pathogens May 2024
Topics: Glycocalyx; Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Endothelial Cells; Endothelium, Vascular
PubMed: 38753622
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012203 -
The Journal of Clinical Investigation May 2024Idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (ISCLS) is a rare, recurrent condition with dramatically increased blood vessel permeability and, therefore, induction of...
Idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (ISCLS) is a rare, recurrent condition with dramatically increased blood vessel permeability and, therefore, induction of systemic edema, which may lead to organ damage and death. In this issue of the JCI, Ablooglu et al. showed that ISCLS vessels were hypersensitive to agents known to increase vascular permeability, using human biopsies, cell culture, and mouse models. Several endothelium-specific proteins that regulate endothelial junctions were dysregulated and thereby compromised the vascular barrier. These findings suggest that endothelium-intrinsic dysregulation underlies hyperpermeability and implicate the cytoplasmic serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) as a potential drug target for the treatment of ISCLS.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Mice; Capillary Leak Syndrome; Protein Phosphatase 2; Capillary Permeability; Endothelium, Vascular
PubMed: 38747291
DOI: 10.1172/JCI180795 -
Inflammatory risk contributes to post-COVID endothelial dysfunction through anti-ACKR1 autoantibody.Life Science Alliance Jul 2024Subclinical vascular impairment can be exacerbated in individuals who experience sustained inflammation after COVID-19 infection. Our study explores the prevalence and...
Subclinical vascular impairment can be exacerbated in individuals who experience sustained inflammation after COVID-19 infection. Our study explores the prevalence and impact of autoantibodies on vascular dysfunction in healthy COVID-19 survivors, an area that remains inadequately investigated. Focusing on autoantibodies against the atypical chemokine receptor 1 (ACKR1), COVID-19 survivors demonstrated significantly elevated anti-ACKR1 autoantibodies, correlating with systemic cytokines, circulating damaged endothelial cells, and endothelial dysfunction. An independent cohort linked these autoantibodies to increased vascular disease outcomes during a median 6.7-yr follow-up. We analyzed a single-cell transcriptome atlas of endothelial cells from diverse mouse tissues, identifying enriched expressions in venous regions of the brain and soleus muscle vasculatures, which holds intriguing implications for tissue-specific venous thromboembolism manifestations reported in COVID-19. Functionally, purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) extracted from patient plasma did not trigger cell apoptosis or increase barrier permeability in human vein endothelial cells. Instead, plasma IgG enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mediated by patient PBMCs, a phenomenon alleviated by blocking peptide or liposome ACKR1 recombinant protein. The blocking peptide uncovered that purified IgG from COVID-19 survivors possessed potential epitopes in the N-terminal extracellular domain of ACKR1, which effectively averted antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Our findings offer insights into therapeutic development to mitigate autoantibody reactivity in blood vessels in chronic inflammation.
Topics: Humans; Autoantibodies; COVID-19; Animals; Mice; Female; Male; SARS-CoV-2; Inflammation; Middle Aged; Endothelium, Vascular; Immunoglobulin G; Endothelial Cells; Adult; Aged
PubMed: 38740432
DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402598 -
Indian Journal of Dental Research :... Oct 2023Oral intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a rare entity with only 105 cases reported so far. Labial and buccal mucosa are the commonly affected...
INTRODUCTION
Oral intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a rare entity with only 105 cases reported so far. Labial and buccal mucosa are the commonly affected sites. These sites are coincidently subjected to continuous minor trauma, which led the researchers to opine that IPEH could have a traumatic etiology with a further role of fibroblast growth factors.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
We report a case of IPEH of right buccal mucosa in a 35 years old South Indian male who clinically presented as mucocele. Histopathologically, multiple lesions were found. Immunohistochemical and histochemical findings have also been presented.
DISCUSSION
The case is supported by a plausible mechanism involved in the pathogenesis. Thus, IPEH must be included in the clinical differential diagnosis of oral mucoceles and hemangioma.
TAKEAWAY LESSONS
Being a reactive lesion, it does not require extensive treatment. Clinicians and histopathologists must be aware of this uncommon yet benign condition for appropriate therapy.
Topics: Humans; Male; Mucocele; Mouth Mucosa; Hyperplasia; Diagnosis, Differential; Adult; Mouth Diseases; Endothelium, Vascular
PubMed: 38739829
DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.ijdr_258_22 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Neointimal hyperplasia is the main cause of vascular graft failure in the medium term. Vitamin D receptor activation modulates the biology of vascular smooth muscle...
Neointimal hyperplasia is the main cause of vascular graft failure in the medium term. Vitamin D receptor activation modulates the biology of vascular smooth muscle cells and has been reported to protect from neointimal hyperplasia following endothelial injury. However, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. We have now explored the impact of the selective vitamin D receptor activator, paricalcitol, on neointimal hyperplasia, following guidewire-induced endothelial cell injury in rats, and we have assessed the impact of paricalcitol or vehicle on the expression of key cell stress factors. Guidewire-induced endothelial cell injury caused neointimal hyperplasia and luminal stenosis and upregulated the expression of the growth factor growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), the cytokine receptor CD74, NFκB-inducing kinase (NIK, an upstream regulator of the proinflammatory transcription factor NFκB) and the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the increased expression of the cellular proteins CD74 and NIK. Paricalcitol (administered in doses of 750 ng/kg of body weight, every other day) had a non-significant impact on neointimal hyperplasia and luminal stenosis. However, it significantly decreased GDF-15, CD74, NIK and MCP-1/CCL2 mRNA expression, which in paricalcitol-injured arteries remained within the levels found in control vehicle sham arteries. In conclusion, paricalcitol had a dramatic effect, suppressing the stress response to guidewire-induced endothelial cell injury, despite a limited impact on neointimal hyperplasia and luminal stenosis. This observation identifies novel molecular targets of paricalcitol in the vascular system, whose differential expression cannot be justified as a consequence of improved tissue injury.
Topics: Animals; Hyperplasia; Rats; Ergocalciferols; Male; Chemokine CCL2; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Neointima; Growth Differentiation Factor 15; Tunica Intima; Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte; Endothelial Cells; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
PubMed: 38732029
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094814 -
Respiratory Research May 2024Obesity is the main risk factor leading to the development of various respiratory diseases, such as asthma and pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary microvascular...
BACKGROUND
Obesity is the main risk factor leading to the development of various respiratory diseases, such as asthma and pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) play a significant role in the development of lung diseases. Aconitate decarboxylase 1 (Acod1) mediates the production of itaconate, and Acod1/itaconate axis has been reported to play a protective role in multiple diseases. However, the roles of Acod1/itaconate axis in the PMVECs of obese mice are still unclear.
METHODS
mRNA-seq was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high-fat diet (HFD)-induced PMVECs and chow-fed PMVECs in mice (|log fold change| ≥ 1, p ≤ 0.05). Free fatty acid (FFA) was used to induce cell injury, inflammation and mitochondrial oxidative stress in mouse PMVECs after transfection with the Acod1 overexpressed plasmid or 4-Octyl Itaconate (4-OI) administration. In addition, we investigated whether the nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2) pathway was involved in the effects of Acod1/itaconate in FFA-induced PMVECs.
RESULTS
Down-regulated Acod1 was identified in HFD mouse PMVECs by mRNA-seq. Acod1 expression was also reduced in FFA-treated PMVECs. Acod1 overexpression inhibited cell injury, inflammation and mitochondrial oxidative stress induced by FFA in mouse PMVECs. 4-OI administration showed the consistent results in FFA-treated mouse PMVECs. Moreover, silencing Nrf2 reversed the effects of Acod1 overexpression and 4-OI administration in FFA-treated PMVECs, indicating that Nrf2 activation was required for the protective effects of Acod1/itaconate.
CONCLUSION
Our results demonstrated that Acod1/Itaconate axis might protect mouse PMVECs from FFA-induced injury, inflammation and mitochondrial oxidative stress via activating Nrf2 pathway. It was meaningful for the treatment of obesity-caused pulmonary microvascular endotheliopathy.
Topics: Animals; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Mice; Endothelial Cells; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Carboxy-Lyases; Obesity; Male; Succinates; Lung; Cells, Cultured; Microvessels; Oxidative Stress; Diet, High-Fat; Endothelium, Vascular; Hydro-Lyases
PubMed: 38730297
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02827-w -
Thrombosis Research Jun 2024Plaque erosion, a type of coronary atherothrombosis, involves superficial injury to smooth muscle cell (SMC)-rich plaques. Elevated levels of coagulation factor VIII...
BACKGROUND
Plaque erosion, a type of coronary atherothrombosis, involves superficial injury to smooth muscle cell (SMC)-rich plaques. Elevated levels of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) correlate with an increased ischemic heart disease risk. FVIII may contribute to thrombus formation on eroded plaques.
AIMS
We aimed to elucidate the role of elevated FVIII in arterial thrombus formation within SMC-rich neointima in rabbits.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We assessed the effect of recombinant human FVIII (rFVIII) on blood coagulation in vitro and platelet aggregation ex vivo. An SMC-rich neointima was induced through balloon injury to the unilateral femoral artery. Three weeks after the first balloon injury, superficial erosive injury and thrombus formation were initiated with a second balloon injury of the bilateral femoral arteries 45 min after the administration of rFVIII (100 IU/kg) or saline. The thrombus area and contents were histologically measured 15 min after the second balloon injury. rFVIII administration reduced the activated partial thromboplastin time and augmented botrocetin-induced, but not collagen- or adenosine 5'-diphosphate-induced, platelet aggregation. While rFVIII did not influence platelet-thrombus formation in normal intima, it increased thrombus formation on SMC-rich neointima post-superficial erosive injury. Enhanced immunopositivity for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and fibrin was observed in rFVIII-administered SMC-rich neointima. Neutrophil count in the arterial thrombus on the SMC-rich neointima correlated positively with thrombus size in the control group, unlike the rFVIII group.
CONCLUSIONS
Increased FVIII contributes to thrombus propagation within erosive SMC-rich neointima, highlighting FVIII's potential role in plaque erosion-related atherothrombosis.
Topics: Rabbits; Animals; Factor VIII; Neointima; Thrombosis; Male; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Tunica Intima; Humans; Platelet Aggregation; Femoral Artery
PubMed: 38729030
DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2024.04.025 -
Communications Biology May 2024Age-related diseases pose great challenges to health care systems worldwide. During aging, endothelial senescence increases the risk for cardiovascular disease....
Age-related diseases pose great challenges to health care systems worldwide. During aging, endothelial senescence increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. Recently, it was described that Phosphatase 1 Nuclear Targeting Subunit (PNUTS) has a central role in cardiomyocyte aging and homeostasis. Here, we determine the role of PNUTS in endothelial cell aging. We confirm that PNUTS is repressed in senescent endothelial cells (ECs). Moreover, PNUTS silencing elicits several of the hallmarks of endothelial aging: senescence, reduced angiogenesis and loss of barrier function. Findings are validate in vivo using endothelial-specific inducible PNUTS-deficient mice (Cdh5-CreERT2;PNUTS), termed PNUTS. Two weeks after PNUTS deletion, PNUTS mice present severe multiorgan failure and vascular leakage. Transcriptomic analysis of PNUTS-silenced HUVECs and lungs of PNUTS mice reveal that the PNUTS-PP1 axis tightly regulates the expression of semaphorin 3B (SEMA3B). Indeed, silencing of SEMA3B completely restores barrier function after PNUTS loss-of-function. These results reveal a pivotal role for PNUTS in endothelial homeostasis through a SEMA3B downstream pathway that provides a potential target against the effects of aging in ECs.
Topics: Animals; Mice, Knockout; Mice; Humans; Semaphorins; Cellular Senescence; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Endothelial Cells; Aging; RNA-Binding Proteins; DNA-Binding Proteins; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Membrane Glycoproteins; Endothelium, Vascular
PubMed: 38714838
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06230-5 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) covers the inner surface of the vessels and plays a role in vascular homeostasis. Syndecan is considered the "backbone" of this structure....
Endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) covers the inner surface of the vessels and plays a role in vascular homeostasis. Syndecan is considered the "backbone" of this structure. Several studies have shown eGC shedding in sepsis and its involvement in organ dysfunction. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) contribute to eGC shedding through their ability for syndecan-1 cleavage. This study aimed to investigate if doxycycline, a potent MMP inhibitor, could protect against eGC shedding in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis and if it could interrupt the vascular hyperpermeability, neutrophil transmigration, and microvascular impairment. Rats that received pretreatment with doxycycline before LPS displayed ultrastructural preservation of the eGC observed using transmission electronic microscopy of the lung and heart. In addition, these animals exhibited lower serum syndecan-1 levels, a biomarker of eGC injury, and lower perfused boundary region (PBR) in the mesenteric video capillaroscopy, which is inversely related to the eGC thickness compared with rats that only received LPS. Furthermore, this study revealed that doxycycline decreased sepsis-related vascular hyperpermeability in the lung and heart, reduced neutrophil transmigration in the peritoneal lavage and inside the lungs, and improved some microvascular parameters. These findings suggest that doxycycline protects against LPS-induced eGC shedding, and it could reduce vascular hyperpermeability, neutrophils transmigration, and microvascular impairment.
Topics: Glycocalyx; Animals; Sepsis; Doxycycline; Rats; Male; Lipopolysaccharides; Capillary Permeability; Lung; Syndecan-1; Rats, Wistar; Endothelium, Vascular; Endothelial Cells; Neutrophils; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
PubMed: 38714743
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60919-5