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Al Kawas H, Saaid I, Jank P, Westhoff CC, Denkert C, Pross T, Weiler KBS, Karsten MM. How VEGF-A and its splice variants affect breast cancer development - clinical implications. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:227-239. [PMID: 35303290 PMCID: PMC9050780 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00665-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered expression levels and structural variations in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been found to play important roles in cancer development and to be associated with the overall survival and therapy response of cancer patients. Particularly VEGF-A and its splice variants have been found to affect physiological and pathological angiogenic processes, including tumor angiogenesis, correlating with tumor progression, mostly caused by overexpression. This review focuses on the expression and impact of VEGF-A splice variants under physiologic conditions and in tumors and, in particular, the distribution and role of isoform VEGF165b in breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS AND PERSPECTIVES Many publications already highlighted the importance of VEGF-A and its splice variants in tumor therapy, especially in breast cancer, which are summarized in this review. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that cytoplasmatic VEGFA/165b expression is higher in invasive breast cancer tumor cells than in normal tissues or stroma. These examples show that the detection of VEGF splice variants can be performed also on the protein level in formalin fixed tissues. Although no quantitative conclusions can be drawn, these results may be the starting point for further studies at a quantitative level, which can be a major step towards the design of targeted antibody-based (breast) cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hivin Al Kawas
- Department of Gynecology with Breast Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Inas Saaid
- Department of Gynecology with Breast Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Jank
- Institute of Pathology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Carsten Denkert
- Institute of Pathology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Therese Pross
- Department of Gynecology with Breast Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Maria Margarete Karsten
- Department of Gynecology with Breast Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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Zhao C, Heuslein JL, Zhang Y, Annex BH, Popel AS. Dynamic Multiscale Regulation of Perfusion Recovery in Experimental Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Mechanistic Computational Model. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2022; 7:28-50. [PMID: 35128207 PMCID: PMC8807862 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2021.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
A first-of-a-kind systems biology computational model is presented that describes multiscale regulation of perfusion recovery in experimental peripheral arterial disease. Multilevel model calibration and validation enable high-resolution model simulations for experimental peripheral arterial disease (mouse HLI). An integrative model-based mechanistic characterization of the intracellular, cellular, and tissue-level features critical for the dynamic reconstitution of perfusion following different patterns of occlusion-induced ischemia in HLI is described. Using a model-based virtual HLI mouse population, pharmacologic inhibition of cell necrosis is predicted as a strategy with high therapeutic potential to improve perfusion recovery; in real HLI mice, the positive impact of this new strategy is then experimentally studied and confirmed.
In peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the degree of endogenous capacity to modulate revascularization of limb muscle is central to the management of leg ischemia. To characterize the multiscale and multicellular nature of revascularization in PAD, we have developed the first computational systems biology model that mechanistically incorporates intracellular, cellular, and tissue-level features critical for the dynamic reconstitution of perfusion after occlusion-induced ischemia. The computational model was specifically formulated for a preclinical animal model of PAD (mouse hindlimb ischemia [HLI]), and it has gone through multilevel model calibration and validation against a comprehensive set of experimental data so that it accurately captures the complex cellular signaling, cell–cell communication, and function during post-HLI perfusion recovery. As an example, our model simulations generated a highly detailed description of the time-dependent spectrum-like macrophage phenotypes in HLI, and through model sensitivity analysis we identified key cellular processes with potential therapeutic significance in the pathophysiology of PAD. Furthermore, we computationally evaluated the in vivo effects of different targeted interventions on post-HLI tissue perfusion recovery in a model-based, data-driven, virtual mouse population and experimentally confirmed the therapeutic effect of a novel model-predicted intervention in real HLI mice. This novel multiscale model opens up a new avenue to use integrative systems biology modeling to facilitate translational research in PAD.
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Key Words
- ARG1, arginase-1
- EC, endothelial cell
- HLI, hindlimb ischemia
- HMGB1, high-mobility group box 1
- HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial call
- IFN, interferon
- IL, interleukin
- MLKL, mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein
- PAD, peripheral arterial disease
- RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
- TLR4, Toll-like receptor 4
- TNF, tumor necrosis factor
- VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor
- VMP, virtual mouse population
- hindlimb ischemia
- macrophage polarization
- mathematical modeling
- necrosis/necroptosis
- perfusion recovery
- peripheral arterial disease
- systems biology
- virtual mouse population
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joshua L Heuslein
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian H Annex
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Zhang Y, Wang H, Oliveira RHM, Zhao C, Popel AS. Systems biology of angiogenesis signaling: Computational models and omics. WIREs Mech Dis 2021; 14:e1550. [PMID: 34970866 PMCID: PMC9243197 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a highly regulated multiscale process that involves a plethora of cells, their cellular signal transduction, activation, proliferation, differentiation, as well as their intercellular communication. The coordinated execution and integration of such complex signaling programs is critical for physiological angiogenesis to take place in normal growth, development, exercise, and wound healing, while its dysregulation is critically linked to many major human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and ocular disorders; it is also crucial in regenerative medicine. Although huge efforts have been devoted to drug development for these diseases by investigation of angiogenesis‐targeted therapies, only a few therapeutics and targets have proved effective in humans due to the innate multiscale complexity and nonlinearity in the process of angiogenic signaling. As a promising approach that can help better address this challenge, systems biology modeling allows the integration of knowledge across studies and scales and provides a powerful means to mechanistically elucidate and connect the individual molecular and cellular signaling components that function in concert to regulate angiogenesis. In this review, we summarize and discuss how systems biology modeling studies, at the pathway‐, cell‐, tissue‐, and whole body‐levels, have advanced our understanding of signaling in angiogenesis and thereby delivered new translational insights for human diseases. This article is categorized under:Cardiovascular Diseases > Computational Models Cancer > Computational Models
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hanwen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebeca Hannah M Oliveira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Chen Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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4
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Abstract
The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the United States exceeds 10 million people, and PAD is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. PAD is typically caused by atherosclerotic obstructions in the large arteries to the leg(s). The most common clinical consequences of PAD include pain on walking (claudication), impaired functional capacity, pain at rest, and loss of tissue integrity in the distal limbs that may lead to lower extremity amputation. Patients with PAD also have higher than expected rates of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Despite advances in surgical and endovascular procedures, revascularization procedures may be suboptimal in relieving symptoms, and some patients with PAD cannot be treated because of comorbid conditions. In some cases, relieving obstructive disease in the large conduit arteries does not assure complete limb salvage because of severe microvascular disease. Despite several decades of investigational efforts, medical therapies to improve perfusion to the distal limb are of limited benefit. Whereas recent studies of anticoagulant (eg, rivaroxaban) and intensive lipid lowering (such as PCSK9 [proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9] inhibitors) have reduced major cardiovascular and limb events in PAD populations, chronic ischemia of the limb remains largely resistant to medical therapy. Experimental approaches to improve limb outcomes have included the administration of angiogenic cytokines (either as recombinant protein or as gene therapy) as well as cell therapy. Although early angiogenesis and cell therapy studies were promising, these studies lacked sufficient control groups and larger randomized clinical trials have yet to achieve significant benefit. This review will focus on what has been learned to advance medical revascularization for PAD and how that information might lead to novel approaches for therapeutic angiogenesis and arteriogenesis for PAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian H Annex
- Vascular Biology Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University (B.H.A.)
| | - John P Cooke
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (J.P.C.)
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5
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Kikuchi R, Tsuboi N, Sada KE, Nakatochi M, Yokoe Y, Suzuki A, Maruyama S, Murohara T, Matsushita T, Amano K, Atsumi T, Takasaki Y, Ito S, Hasegawa H, Dobashi H, Ito T, Makino H, Matsuo S. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF-A 165b are associated with time to remission of granulomatosis with polyangiitis in a nationwide Japanese prospective cohort study. Ann Clin Biochem 2020; 58:86-94. [PMID: 33081494 DOI: 10.1177/0004563220968371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective prognostic markers are needed for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). This study evaluated the clinical associations of serum vascular endothelial growth factor-A (sVEGF-A) and sVEGF-A165b (an antiangiogenic isoform of VEGF-A) concentrations with time to remission of AAV in a nationwide Japanese prospective follow-up cohort. METHODS We collected samples from patients with AAV who were enrolled in the nationwide Japanese cohort study (RemIT-JAV-RPGN). We measured sVEGF-A and sVEGF-A165b concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 57 serum samples collected 6 months before and after initiation of AAV treatment. Patients were classified based on AAV disease subtypes: microscopic polyangiitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). RESULTS Results revealed significant reductions in sVEGF-A and sVEGF-A165b concentrations in patients with microscopic polyangiitis and EGPA, respectively. However, despite the comparable concentrations of sVEGF-A and sVEGF-A165b during the 6 months of treatment in granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients, correlation analysis revealed that the differences in log2-transformed concentrations of sVEGF-A and sVEGF-A165b were inversely correlated with time to remission in granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients. CONCLUSION These results suggest that sVEGF-A and -A165b can serve as potential markers of time to remission in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Kikuchi
- Department of Medical Technique, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Naotake Tsuboi
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ken-Ei Sada
- Department of Nephrology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakatochi
- Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuki Yokoe
- Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Atsuo Suzuki
- Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shoichi Maruyama
- Department of Nephrology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Toyoaki Murohara
- Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tadashi Matsushita
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Transfusion Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | - Koichi Amano
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Atsumi
- Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yoshinari Takasaki
- Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ito
- Department of Rheumatology, Niigata Rheumatic Center, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Hasegawa
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Dobashi
- Division of Hematology, Rheumatology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ito
- Division of Nephrology, Shimane University, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane, Japan
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6
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Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and its binding to VEGFRs is an important angiogenesis regulator, especially the earliest-known isoform, VEGF-A165a. Yet several additional splice variants play prominent roles in regulating angiogenesis in health and in vascular disease, including VEGF-A121 and an anti-angiogenic variant, VEGF-A165b. Few studies have attempted to distinguish these forms from their angiogenic counterparts, experimentally. Previous studies of VEGF-A:VEGFR binding have measured binding kinetics for VEGFA165 and VEGF-A121, but binding kinetics of the other two pro- and all anti-angiogenic splice variants are not known. We measured the binding kinetics for VEGF-A165, -A165b, and -A121 with VEGFR1 and VEGF-R2 using surface plasmon resonance. We validated our methods by reproducing the known affinities between VEGF-A165a:VEGFR1 and VEGF-A165a:VEGFR2, 1.0 pM and 10 pM respectively, and validated the known affinity VEGF-A121:VEGFR2 as KD = 0.66 nM. We found that VEGF-A121 also binds VEGFR1 with an affinity KD = 3.7 nM. We further demonstrated that the anti-angiogenic variant, VEGF-A165b selectively prefers VEGFR2 binding at an affinity = 0.67 pM while binding VEGFR1 with a weaker affinity-KD = 1.4 nM. These results suggest that the - A165b anti-angiogenic variant would preferentially bind VEGFR2. These discoveries offer a new paradigm for understanding VEGF-A, while further stressing the need to take care in differentiating the splice variants in all future VEGF-A studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer B Mamer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Ashley Wittenkeller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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7
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Abstract
Healthy adipose tissue expansion and metabolism during weight gain require coordinated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. These vascular growth processes rely on the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family of ligands and receptors (VEGFRs). Several studies have shown that controlling vascular growth by regulating VEGF:VEGFR signaling can be beneficial for treating obesity; however, dysregulated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are associated with several chronic tissue inflammation symptoms, including hypoxia, immune cell accumulation, and fibrosis, leading to obesity-related metabolic disorders. An ideal obesity treatment should minimize adipose tissue expansion and the advent of adverse metabolic consequences, which could be achieved by normalizing VEGF:VEGFR signaling. Toward this goal, a systematic investigation of the interdependency of vascular and metabolic systems in obesity and tools to predict personalized treatment ranges are necessary to improve patient outcomes through vascular-targeted therapies. Systems biology can identify the critical VEGF:VEGFR signaling mechanisms that can be targeted to regress adipose tissue expansion and can predict the metabolic consequences of different vascular-targeted approaches. Establishing a predictive, biologically faithful platform requires appropriate computational models and quantitative tissue-specific data. Here, we discuss the involvement of VEGF:VEGFR signaling in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, adipogenesis, and macrophage specification – key mechanisms that regulate adipose tissue expansion and metabolism. We then provide useful computational approaches for simulating these mechanisms, and detail quantitative techniques for acquiring tissue-specific parameters. Systems biology, through computational models and quantitative data, will enable an accurate representation of obese adipose tissue that can be used to direct the development of vascular-targeted therapies for obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingye Fang
- Imoukhuede Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Tomasz Kaszuba
- Imoukhuede Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - P I Imoukhuede
- Imoukhuede Systems Biology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, McKelvey School of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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8
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Kühn C, Checa S. Computational Modeling to Quantify the Contributions of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and Lateral Inhibition in Sprouting Angiogenesis. Front Physiol 2019; 10:288. [PMID: 30971939 PMCID: PMC6445957 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sprouting angiogenesis is a necessary process in regeneration and development as well as in tumorigenesis. VEGF-A is the main pro-angiogenic chemoattractant and it can bind to the decoy receptor VEGFR1 or to VEGFR2 to induce sprouting. Active sprout cells express Dll4, which binds to Notch1 on neighboring cells, in turn inhibiting VEGFR2 expression. It is known that the balance between VEGFR2 and VEGFR1 determines tip selection and network architecture, however the quantitative interrelationship of the receptors and their interrelated balances, also with relation to Dll4-Notch1 signaling, remains yet largely unknown. Here, we present an agent-based computer model of sprouting angiogenesis, integrating VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in a detailed model of cellular signaling. Our model reproduces experimental data on VEGFR1 knockout. We show that soluble VEGFR1 improves the efficiency of angiogenesis by directing sprouts away from existing cells over a wide range of parameters. Our analysis unravels the relevance of the stability of the active notch intracellular domain as a dominating hub in this regulatory network. Our analysis quantitatively dissects the regulatory interactions in sprouting angiogenesis. Because we use a detailed model of intracellular signaling, the results of our analysis are directly linked to biological entities. We provide our computational model and simulation engine for integration in complementary modeling approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Kühn
- Julius Wolff Institute, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Checa
- Julius Wolff Institute, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, Charite - UIniversitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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9
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Brodowski L, Zindler T, von Hardenberg S, Schröder-Heurich B, von Kaisenberg CS, Frieling H, Hubel CA, Dörk T, von Versen-Höynck F. Preeclampsia-Associated Alteration of DNA Methylation in Fetal Endothelial Progenitor Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:32. [PMID: 30949477 PMCID: PMC6436196 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The pregnancy complication preeclampsia represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Our previous research shows a diminished function of fetal endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC), a proliferative subgroup of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to further investigate whether DNA methylation of fetal EPC is affected in preeclampsia. Methods The genomic methylation pattern of fetal ECFC from uncomplicated and preeclamptic pregnancies was compared for 865918 CpG sites, and genes were classified into gene networks. Low and advanced cell culture passages were compared to explore whether expansion of fetal ECFC in cell culture leads to changes in global methylation status and if methylation characteristics in preeclampsia are maintained with increasing passage. Results A differential methylation pattern of fetal ECFC from preeclampsia compared to uncomplicated pregnancy was detected for a total of 1266 CpG sites in passage 3, and for 2362 sites in passage 5. Key features of primary networks implicated by methylation differences included cell metabolism, cell cycle and transcription and, more specifically, genes involved in cell-cell interaction and Wnt signaling. We identified an overlap between differentially regulated pathways in preeclampsia and cardiovascular system development and function. Cell culture passages 3 and 5 showed similar gene network profiles, and 1260 out of 1266 preeclampsia-associated methylation changes detected in passage 3 were confirmed in passage 5. Conclusion Methylation modification caused by preeclampsia is stable and detectable even in higher cell culture passages. An epigenetically modified endothelial precursor may influence both normal morphogenesis and postnatal vascular repair capacity. Further studies on epigenetic modifications in complicated pregnancies are needed to facilitate development of EPC based therapies for cardiovascular alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Brodowski
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Tristan Zindler
- Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Helge Frieling
- Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Carl A Hubel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Thilo Dörk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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10
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Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that pathologic interactions between the heart and the kidney can contribute to the progressive dysfunction of both organs. Recently, there has been an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to increasing obesity rates. It has been reported that obesity causes various heart and renal disorders and appears to accelerate their progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a major regulator of angiogenesis and vessel permeability, and is associated with CVD and CKD. It is now recognized that alternative VEGF-A gene splicing generates VEGF-A isoforms that differ in their biological actions. Proximal splicing that includes an exon 8a sequence results in pro-angiogenic VEGF-A165a, whereas distal splicing inclusive of exon 8b yields the anti-angiogenic isoform of VEGF-A (VEGF-A165b). This review highlights several recent preclinical and clinical studies on the role of VEGF-A165b in CVD and CKD as a novel function of VEGF-A. This review also discusses potential therapeutic approaches of the use of VEGF-A in clinical settings as a potential circulating biomarker for CVD and CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Kikuchi
- Department of Medical Technique, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
| | - Megan Stevens
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Kazuhiro Harada
- Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Sebastian Oltean
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Toyoaki Murohara
- Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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11
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Zhang H, Jia E, Xia W, Lu C, Zhu W. VEGF165b mutant with a prolonged half-life and enhanced anti-tumor potency in a mouse model. J Biotechnol 2018; 284:84-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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12
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Bazzazi H, Zhang Y, Jafarnejad M, Popel AS. Computational modeling of synergistic interaction between αVβ3 integrin and VEGFR2 in endothelial cells: Implications for the mechanism of action of angiogenesis-modulating integrin-binding peptides. J Theor Biol 2018; 455:212-221. [PMID: 30036530 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Cooperation between VEGFR2 and integrin αVβ3 is critical for neovascularization in wound healing, cardiovascular ischemic diseases, ocular diseases, and tumor angiogenesis. In the present study, we developed a rule-based computational model to investigate the potential mechanism by which the Src-induced integrin association with VEGFR2 enhances VEGFR2 activation. Simulations demonstrated that the main function of integrin is to reduce the degradation of VEGFR2 and hence stabilize the activation signal. In addition, receptor synthesis rate and recruitment from internal compartment were found to be sensitive determinants of the activation state of VEGFR2. The model was then applied to simulate the effect of integrin-binding peptides such as tumstatin and cilengitide on VEGFR2 signaling. Further, computational modeling proposed potential molecular mechanisms for the angiogenesis-modulating activity of other integrin-binding peptides. The model highlights the complexity of the crosstalk between αVβ3 integrin and VEGFR2 and the necessity of utilizing models to elucidate potential mechanisms in angiogenesis-modulating peptide therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hojjat Bazzazi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States.
| | - Mohammad Jafarnejad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
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13
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Bazzazi H, Zhang Y, Jafarnejad M, Isenberg JS, Annex BH, Popel AS. Computer Simulation of TSP1 Inhibition of VEGF-Akt-eNOS: An Angiogenesis Triple Threat. Front Physiol 2018; 9:644. [PMID: 29899706 PMCID: PMC5988849 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The matricellular protein thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. Specifically, TSP1 has been experimentally shown to inhibit signaling downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The molecular mechanism of this inhibition is not entirely clear. We developed a detailed computational model of VEGF signaling to Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to investigate the quantitative molecular mechanism of TSP1 inhibition. The model demonstrated that TSP1 acceleration of VEGFR2 degradation is sufficient to explain the inhibition of VEGFR2 and eNOS phosphorylation. However, Akt inhibition requires TSP1-induced phosphatase recruitment to VEGFR2. The model was then utilized to test various strategies for the rescue of VEGF signaling to Akt and eNOS. Inhibiting TSP1 was predicted to be not as effective as CD47 depletion in rescuing signaling to Akt. The model further predicts that combination strategy involving depletion of CD47 and inhibition of TSP1 binding to CD47 is necessary for effective recovery of signaling to eNOS. In all, computational modeling offers insight to molecular mechanisms involving TSP1 interaction with VEGF signaling and provides strategies for rescuing angiogenesis by targeting TSP1-CD47 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hojjat Bazzazi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mohammad Jafarnejad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jeffrey S Isenberg
- Heart, Lung, Blood and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Brian H Annex
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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