Mural Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates Lama2 expression to promote neurovascular unit maturation

Laminins and the blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic structure that maintains brain homeostasis. BBB breakdown is a key pathological hallmark of almost all neurological diseases. Although the regulation of BBB integrity by different cells has been extensively studied, the function of its non-cellular component-the basal lamina in BBB regulation remains largely unknown. Laminin, a trimeric protein with multiple isoforms, is one of the most important constituents of the basal lamina. In the CNS, different cells synthesize distinct laminin isoforms, which differentially regulate BBB integrity in both physiological and pathological conditions. A thorough understanding of laminin expression and function in BBB integrity could lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and potentially result in effective treatments for neurological disorders involving BBB disruption. Here in this review, we first briefly introduce the BBB and basal lamina with a focus on laminin. Next, we elucidate laminin expression and its function in BBB maintenance/repair in a cell-specific manner. Potential functional compensation among laminin isoforms is also discussed. Last, current challenges in the field and future directions are summarized. Our goal is to provide a synthetic review to encourage novel ideas and stimulate new research in the field.

Glycoprotein 130 Antagonism Counteracts Metabolic and Inflammatory Alterations to Enhance Right Ventricle Function in Pulmonary Artery Banded Pigs

Background

Right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is a risk factor for death in multiple cardiovascular diseases, but RV-enhancing therapies are lacking. Inhibition of glycoprotein-130 (GP130) signaling with the small molecule SC144 improves RV function in rodent RVD via anti-inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms. However, SC144's efficacy and molecular effects in a translational large animal model of RVD are unknown.

Methods

4-week-old castrated male pigs underwent pulmonary artery banding (PAB). After 3 weeks, PAB pigs were randomized into 2 groups (daily injections of SC144 [2.2 mg/kg, PAB-SC144, n=5] or vehicle [PAB-Veh, n=5] for 3 weeks). Five age-matched pigs served as controls. Cardiac MRI quantified RV size/function. Right heart catheterization evaluated hemodynamics. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing delineated cell-type specific changes between experimental groups. Electron microscopy evaluated RV mitochondrial morphology. Phosphoproteomics identified dysregulated RV kinases. Lipidomics and metabolomics quantified lipid species and metabolites in RV tissue. Quantitative proteomics examined RV mitochondrial protein regulation.

Results

SC144 significantly improved RV ejection fraction (Control: 60±4%, PAB-Veh: 22±10%, PAB-SC144: 37±6%) despite similar RV afterload. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing demonstrated PAB-Veh pigs had lower cardiomyocyte and higher macrophage/lymphocyte/pericyte/endothelial cell abundances as compared to control, and many of these changes were blunted by SC144. SC144 combatted the downregulation of cardiomyocyte metabolic genes induced by PAB. Kinome enrichment analysis suggested SC144 counteracted RV mTORC1 activation. Correspondingly, SC144 rebalanced RV autophagy pathway proteins and improved mitochondrial morphology. Integrated lipidomics, metabolomics, and proteomics analyses revealed SC144 restored fatty acid metabolism. Finally, CellChat analysis revealed SC144 restored pericyte-endothelial cell cross-talk.

Conclusion

GP130 antagonism blunts elevated immune cell abundance, reduces pro-inflammatory gene transcription in macrophages and lymphocytes, rebalances autophagy and preserves fatty acid metabolism in cardiomyocytes, and restores endothelial cell and pericyte communication to improve RV function.

A dispensable role of mural cell-derived laminin-5 in intracerebral hemorrhage

Although most laminin isoforms are neuroprotective in stroke, mural cell-derived laminin-α5 plays a detrimental role in an ischemia-reperfusion model. To determine whether this deleterious effect is an intrinsic feature of mural cell-derived laminin-α5 or unique to ischemic stroke, we performed loss-of-function studies using middle-aged mice with laminin-α5 deficiency in mural cells (α5-PKO) in an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) model. Control and α5-PKO mice exhibited comparable changes in all parameters examined, including hematoma size, neuronal death, neurological function, blood-brain barrier integrity, and reactive gliosis. These findings highlight a minimal role of mural cell-derived laminin-α5 in ICH. Together with the detrimental role of mural cell-derived laminin-α5 in ischemic stroke, these negative results in ICH model suggest that mural cell-derived laminin-α5 may exert distinct functions in different diseases.

Glutamatergic neuronal activity regulates angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier maturation via Norrin/β-catenin signaling

Interactions among neuronal, glial, and vascular components are crucial for retinal angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) maturation. Although synaptic dysfunction precedes vascular abnormalities in many retinal pathologies, how neuronal activity, specifically glutamatergic activity, regulates retinal angiogenesis and BRB maturation remains unclear. Using in vivo genetic studies in mice, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and functional validation, we show that deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation are delayed in Vglut1-/- retinas where neurons fail to release glutamate. By contrast, deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation are accelerated in Gnat1-/- retinas, where constitutively depolarized rods release excessive glutamate. Norrin expression and endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling are downregulated in Vglut1-/- retinas and upregulated in Gnat1-/- retinas. Pharmacological activation of endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling in Vglut1-/- retinas rescues defects in deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation. Our findings demonstrate that glutamatergic neuronal activity regulates retinal angiogenesis and BRB maturation by modulating endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling.

Oligodendrocyte-derived laminin-γ1 regulates the blood-brain barrier and CNS myelination in mice

Although oligodendrocytes (OLs) synthesize laminin-γ1, the most widely used γ subunit, its functional significance in the CNS remains unknown. To answer this important question, we generated a conditional knockout mouse line with laminin-γ1 deficiency in OL lineage cells (γ1-OKO). γ1-OKO mice exhibit weakness/paralysis and die by post-natal day 33. Additionally, they develop blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in the cortex and striatum. Subsequent studies reveal decreased major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2a expression and increased endothelial caveolae vesicles, but unaltered tight junction protein expression and tight junction ultrastructure, indicating a transcellular, rather than a paracellular, mechanism of BBB breakdown. Furthermore, significantly reduced OL lineage cells, OL precursor cells (OPCs), proliferating OPCs, and mature OLs are observed in γ1-OKO brains in a region-specific manner. Consistent with this finding, various defects in myelination are detected in γ1-OKO brains at biochemical and ultrastructural levels. Overall, these results highlight important roles of OL-derived laminin-γ1 in BBB maintenance and OL biology (proliferation, differentiation, and myelination).

Hemodynamics regulate spatiotemporal artery muscularization in the developing circle of Willis

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) envelop vertebrate brain arteries, playing a crucial role in regulating cerebral blood flow and neurovascular coupling. The dedifferentiation of VSMCs is implicated in cerebrovascular diseases and neurodegeneration. Despite its importance, the process of VSMC differentiation on brain arteries during development remains inadequately characterized. Understanding this process could aid in reprogramming and regenerating differentiated VSMCs in cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated VSMC differentiation on the zebrafish circle of Willis (CoW), comprising major arteries that supply blood to the vertebrate brain. We observed that the arterial expression of CoW endothelial cells (ECs) occurs after their migration from the cranial venous plexus to form CoW arteries. Subsequently, acta2+ VSMCs differentiate from pdgfrb+ mural cell progenitors upon recruitment to CoW arteries. The progression of VSMC differentiation exhibits a spatiotemporal pattern, advancing from anterior to posterior CoW arteries. Analysis of blood flow suggests that earlier VSMC differentiation in anterior CoW arteries correlates with higher red blood cell velocity wall shear stress. Furthermore, pulsatile blood flow is required for differentiation of human brain pdgfrb+ mural cells into VSMCs as well as VSMC differentiation on zebrafish CoW arteries. Consistently, the flow-responsive transcription factor klf2a is activated in ECs of CoW arteries prior to VSMC differentiation, and klf2a knockdown delays VSMC differentiation on anterior CoW arteries. In summary, our findings highlight the role of blood flow activation of endothelial klf2a as a mechanism regulating the initial VSMC differentiation on vertebrate brain arteries.

Vascular development, remodeling and maturation

The development of the vascular system is crucial in supporting the growth and health of all other organs in the body, and vascular system dysfunction is the major cause of human morbidity and mortality. This chapter discusses three successive processes that govern vascular system development, starting with the differentiation of the primitive vascular system in early embryonic development, followed by its remodeling into a functional circulatory system composed of arteries and veins, and its final maturation and acquisition of an organ specific semi-permeable barrier that controls nutrient uptake into tissues and hence controls organ physiology. Along these steps, endothelial cells forming the inner lining of all blood vessels acquire extensive heterogeneity in terms of gene expression patterns and function, that we are only beginning to understand. These advances contribute to overall knowledge of vascular biology and are predicted to unlock the unprecedented therapeutic potential of the endothelium as an avenue for treatment of diseases associated with dysfunctional vasculature.

Endothelial and mural laminin-α5 contributes to neurovascular integrity maintenance

BACKGROUND

Laminin-α5, a major component of the basal lamina, is predominantly synthesized by endothelial and mural cells (pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells) in the CNS. Loss of laminin-α5 in either population fails to induce any abnormalities due to functional redundancy. Thus, the functional significance of laminin-α5 in neurovascular integrity remains unknown. Here, we hypothesize that ablation of laminin-α5 in both endothelial and mural cells increases neurovascular permeability.

METHODS

The compound knockout mice were generated by crossing laminin-α5 floxed mice with Tie2-Cre and PDGFRβ-Cre, which target endothelial cells and mural cells, respectively. Neurovascular permeability in these mutants was determined with both exogenous and endogenous tracers. Endothelial paracellular and transcellular permeability was assessed by examining the expression of tight junction proteins and transcytosis-associated proteins. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to visualize tight junction ultrastructure and endothelial caveolae vesicles. Defects in pericytes and astrocytes were investigated by examining pericyte coverage/contact and astrocyte polarity.

RESULTS

Elevated neurovascular permeability was observed in the mutants. Subsequent studies found increased Caveolin-1 and decreased major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2a (MFSD2A) expression, but unaltered Claudin-5 or zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression. Consistent with these results, mutant mice exhibited increased endothelial caveolae vesicle number with intact tight junction structure under TEM. Additionally, pericyte coverage and contact were also decreased in the mutant mice, while astrocyte polarity was unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

These results strongly indicate that endothelial and mural cell-derived laminin-α5 actively maintains neurovascular integrity via the transcellular rather than paracellular mechanism.

Glutamatergic neuronal activity regulates angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier maturation via Norrin/β-catenin signaling

Interactions among neuronal, glial and vascular components are crucial for retinal angiogenesis and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) maturation. Although synaptic dysfunction precedes vascular abnormalities in many retinal pathologies, how neuronal activity, specifically glutamatergic activity, regulates retinal angiogenesis and BRB maturation remains unclear. Using in vivo genetic studies in mice, single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional validation, we show that deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation are delayed in Vglut1 -/- retinas where neurons fail to release glutamate. In contrast, deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation are accelerated in Gnat1 -/- retinas where constitutively depolarized rods release excessive glutamate. Norrin expression and endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling are downregulated in Vglut1 -/- retinas, and upregulated in Gnat1 -/- retinas. Pharmacological activation of endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling in Vglut1 -/- retinas rescued defects in deep plexus angiogenesis and paracellular BRB maturation. Our findings demonstrate that glutamatergic neuronal activity regulates retinal angiogenesis and BRB maturation by modulating endothelial Norrin/β-catenin signaling.

Meningeal macrophages inhibit chemokine signaling in pre-tumor cells to suppress mouse medulloblastoma initiation

The microenvironment profoundly influences tumor initiation across numerous tissues but remains understudied in brain tumors. In the cerebellum, canonical Wnt signaling controlled by Norrin/Frizzled4 (Fzd4) activation in meningeal endothelial cells is a potent inhibitor of preneoplasia and tumor progression in mouse models of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma (Shh-MB). Single-cell transcriptome profiling and phenotyping of the meninges indicate that Norrin/Frizzled4 sustains the activation of meningeal macrophages (mMΦs), characterized by Lyve1 and CXCL4 expression, during the critical preneoplastic period. Depleting mMΦs during this period enhances preneoplasia and tumorigenesis, phenocopying the effects of Norrin loss. The anti-tumorigenic function of mMΦs is derived from the expression of CXCL4, which counters CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in pre-tumor cells, thereby inhibiting cell-cycle progression and promoting migration away from the pre-tumor niche. These findings identify a pivotal role for mMΦs as key mediators in chemokine-regulated anti-cancer crosstalk between the stroma and pre-tumor cells in the control of MB initiation.

A novel signature of the ligand and receptor genes associated with disulfidoptosis for prediction of prognosis, immunologic therapy responses in hepatocellular carcinoma

Backgroud

We aimed to explore the prognostic features of ligand and receptor genes associated with disulfidoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and establish a risk signature utilizing these genes to predict the prognosis of HCC patients.

Methods

We used scRNA-seq data from GSE166635 to differentiate malignant cells from normal cells using "copykat".The study thoroughly examined the disparities in disulfidoptosis scores and the associated gene expressions between malignant and normal cells.We identified key ligand and receptor genes that are specific to HCC cells.Subsequently, Correlation analysis was conducted to ascertain the ligand and receptor genes associated with disulfidoptosis.We performed univariate Cox regression analysis to identify prognostic ligand and receptor genes associated with disulfidoptosis.We employed LASSO to construct a risk signature using prognostic ligand and receptor genes associated with disulfidoptosis.Lastly, we developed a nomogram model that integrates the risk signature with clinicopathological characteristics.

Results

Malignant cells displayed a marked increase in disulfidoptosis scores and the expression of associated genes compared to normal cells.We identified 110 receptor and ligand genes significantly associated with disulfidoptosis, and narrowed them down to create a risk signature comprising eight genes.Multivariate analysis confirmed the risk signature as an independent prognostic factor for HCC and validated its predictive value for immunotherapy outcomes.A novel nomogram was developed, incorporating stage information and the risk signature derived from disulfidoptosis-related receptor and ligand genes, demonstrating excellent predictive accuracy and reliability in HCC prognosis prediction.

Conclusion

Risk signatures based on disulfidoptosis-associated ligand and receptor genes can effectively predict HCC prognosis and may inform immunotherapy strategies.

Astroglial Hmgb1 regulates postnatal astrocyte morphogenesis and cerebrovascular maturation

Astrocytes are intimately linked with brain blood vessels, an essential relationship for neuronal function. However, astroglial factors driving these physical and functional associations during postnatal brain development have yet to be identified. By characterizing structural and transcriptional changes in mouse cortical astrocytes during the first two postnatal weeks, we find that high-mobility group box 1 (Hmgb1), normally upregulated with injury and involved in adult cerebrovascular repair, is highly expressed in astrocytes at birth and then decreases rapidly. Astrocyte-selective ablation of Hmgb1 at birth affects astrocyte morphology and endfoot placement, alters distribution of endfoot proteins connexin43 and aquaporin-4, induces transcriptional changes in astrocytes related to cytoskeleton remodeling, and profoundly disrupts endothelial ultrastructure. While lack of astroglial Hmgb1 does not affect the blood-brain barrier or angiogenesis postnatally, it impairs neurovascular coupling and behavior in adult mice. These findings identify astroglial Hmgb1 as an important player in postnatal gliovascular maturation.

Distinct Th17 effector cytokines differentially promote microglial and blood-brain barrier inflammatory responses during post-infectious encephalitis

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections can cause neuropsychiatric sequelae in children due to post-infectious encephalitis. Multiple GAS infections induce migration of Th17 lymphocytes from the nose into the brain, which are critical for microglial activation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) and neural circuit impairment in a mouse disease model. How endothelial cells (ECs) and microglia respond to GAS infections, and which Th17-derived cytokines are essential for these responses are unknown. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we found that ECs downregulate BBB genes and microglia upregulate interferon-response, chemokine and antigen-presentation genes after GAS infections. Several microglial-derived chemokines were elevated in patient sera. Administration of a neutralizing antibody against interleukin-17A (IL-17A), but not ablation of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in T cells, partially rescued BBB dysfunction and microglial expression of chemokine genes. Thus, IL-17A is critical for neuropsychiatric sequelae of GAS infections and may be targeted to treat these disorders.

Exogenous laminin exhibits a unique vascular pattern in the brain via binding to dystroglycan and integrins

BACKGROUND

Unlike other proteins that exhibit a diffusion pattern after intracerebral injection, laminin displays a vascular pattern. It remains unclear if this unique vascular pattern is caused by laminin-receptor interaction or laminin self-assembly.

METHODS

We compared the distribution of various wild-type laminin isoforms in the brain after intracerebral injection. To determine what causes the unique vascular pattern of laminin in the brain, laminin mutants with impaired receptor-binding and/or self-assembly activities and function-blocking antibodies to laminin receptors were used. In addition, the dynamics of laminin distribution and elimination were examined at multiple time points after intracerebral injection.

RESULTS

We found that β2-containing laminins had higher affinity for the vessels compared to β1-containing laminins. In addition, laminin mutants lacking receptor-binding domains but not that lacking self-assembly capability showed substantially reduced vascular pattern. Consistent with this finding, dystroglycan (DAG1) function-blocking antibody significantly reduced the vascular pattern of wild-type laminin-111. Although failed to affect the vascular pattern when used alone, integrin-β1 function-blocking antibody further decreased the vascular pattern when combined with DAG1 antibody. EDTA, which impaired laminini-DAG1 interaction by chelating Ca²⁺, also attenuated the vascular pattern. Immunohistochemistry revealed that laminins were predominantly located in the perivascular space in capillaries and venules/veins but not arterioles/arteries. The time-course study showed that laminin mutants with impaired receptor-engaging activity were more efficiently eliminated from the brain compared to their wild-type counterparts. Concordantly, significantly higher levels of mutant laminins were detected in the cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that intracerebrally injected laminins are enriched in the perivascular space in a receptor (DAG1/integrin)-dependent rather than self-assembly-dependent manner and eliminated from the brain mainly via the perivascular clearance system.