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Oliveira RHDM, Annex BH, Popel AS. Endothelial cells signaling and patterning under hypoxia: a mechanistic integrative computational model including the Notch-Dll4 pathway. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1351753. [PMID: 38455844 PMCID: PMC10917925 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1351753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Several signaling pathways are activated during hypoxia to promote angiogenesis, leading to endothelial cell patterning, interaction, and downstream signaling. Understanding the mechanistic signaling differences between endothelial cells under normoxia and hypoxia and their response to different stimuli can guide therapies to modulate angiogenesis. We present a novel mechanistic model of interacting endothelial cells, including the main pathways involved in angiogenesis. Methods: We calibrate and fit the model parameters based on well-established modeling techniques that include structural and practical parameter identifiability, uncertainty quantification, and global sensitivity. Results: Our results indicate that the main pathways involved in patterning tip and stalk endothelial cells under hypoxia differ, and the time under hypoxia interferes with how different stimuli affect patterning. Additionally, our simulations indicate that Notch signaling might regulate vascular permeability and establish different Nitric Oxide release patterns for tip/stalk cells. Following simulations with various stimuli, our model suggests that factors such as time under hypoxia and oxygen availability must be considered for EC pattern control. Discussion: This project provides insights into the signaling and patterning of endothelial cells under various oxygen levels and stimulation by VEGFA and is our first integrative approach toward achieving EC control as a method for improving angiogenesis. Overall, our model provides a computational framework that can be built on to test angiogenesis-related therapies by modulation of different pathways, such as the Notch pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian H. Annex
- Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States
| | - Aleksander S. Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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2
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Röss H, Aaldijk D, Vladymyrov M, Odriozola A, Djonov V. Transluminal Pillars-Their Origin and Role in the Remodelling of the Zebrafish Caudal Vein Plexus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16703. [PMID: 38069025 PMCID: PMC10706262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Intussusceptive pillars, regarded as a hallmark of intussusceptive angiogenesis, have been described in developing vasculature of many organs and organisms. The aim of this study was to resolve the question about pillar formation and their further maturation employing zebrafish caudal vein plexus (CVP). The CVP development was monitored by in vivo confocal microscopy in high spatio-temporal resolution using the transgenic zebrafish model Fli1a:eGPF//Gata1:dsRed. We tracked back the formation of pillars (diameter ≤ 4 µm) and intercapillary meshes (diameter > 4 µm) and analysed their morphology and behaviour. Transluminal pillars in the CVP arose via a combination of sprouting, lumen expansion, and/or the creation of intraluminal folds, and those mechanisms were not associated directly with blood flow. The follow-up of pillars indicated that one-third of them disappeared between 28 and 48 h post fertilisation (hpf), and of the remaining ones, only 1/17 changed their cross-section area by >50%. The majority of the bigger meshes (39/62) increased their cross-section area by >50%. Plexus simplification and the establishment of hierarchy were dominated by the dynamics of intercapillary meshes, which formed mainly via sprouting angiogenesis. These meshes were observed to grow, reshape, and merge with each other. Our observations suggested an alternative view on intussusceptive angiogenesis in the CVP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Röss
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
| | - Dea Aaldijk
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
| | | | - Adolfo Odriozola
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
| | - Valentin Djonov
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; (H.R.); (D.A.); (A.O.)
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Hossain MMN, Hu NW, Abdelhamid M, Singh S, Murfee WL, Balogh P. Angiogenic Microvascular Wall Shear Stress Patterns Revealed Through Three-dimensional Red Blood Cell Resolved Modeling. Function (Oxf) 2023; 4:zqad046. [PMID: 37753184 PMCID: PMC10519277 DOI: 10.1093/function/zqad046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The wall shear stress (WSS) exerted by blood flowing through microvascular capillaries is an established driver of new blood vessel growth, or angiogenesis. Such adaptations are central to many physiological processes in both health and disease, yet three-dimensional (3D) WSS characteristics in real angiogenic microvascular networks are largely unknown. This marks a major knowledge gap because angiogenesis, naturally, is a 3D process. To advance current understanding, we model 3D red blood cells (RBCs) flowing through rat angiogenic microvascular networks using state-of-the-art simulation. The high-resolution fluid dynamics reveal 3D WSS patterns occurring at sub-endothelial cell (EC) scales that derive from distinct angiogenic morphologies, including microvascular loops and vessel tortuosity. We identify the existence of WSS hot and cold spots caused by angiogenic surface shapes and RBCs, and notably enhancement of low WSS regions by RBCs. Spatiotemporal characteristics further reveal how fluctuations follow timescales of RBC "footprints." Altogether, this work provides a new conceptual framework for understanding how shear stress might regulate EC dynamics in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir Md Nasim Hossain
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07114, USA
| | - Nien-Wen Hu
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Maram Abdelhamid
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07114, USA
| | - Simerpreet Singh
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07114, USA
| | - Walter L Murfee
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Peter Balogh
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07114, USA
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Wirth G, Juusola G, Tarvainen S, Laakkonen JP, Korpisalo P, Ylä-Herttuala S. Capillary Dynamics Regulate Post-Ischemic Muscle Damage and Regeneration in Experimental Hindlimb Ischemia. Cells 2023; 12:2060. [PMID: 37626870 PMCID: PMC10453415 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to show the significance of capillary function in post-ischemic recovery from the perspective of physiological parameters, such as blood flow, hemoglobin oxygenation and tissue regeneration. Muscle-level microvascular alterations of blood flow and hemoglobin oxygenation, and post-ischemic myofiber and capillary responses were analyzed in aged, healthy C57Bl/6J mice (n = 48) and aged, hyperlipidemic LDLR-/-ApoB100/100 mice (n = 69) after the induction of acute hindlimb ischemia using contrast ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging and histological analyses, respectively. The capillary responses that led to successful post-ischemic muscle repair in C57Bl/6J mice included an early capillary dilation phase, preceding the return of arterial driving pressure, followed by an increase in capillary density that further supported satellite cell-induced muscle regeneration. Initial capillary enlargement was absent in the LDLR-/-ApoB100/100 mice with lifelong moderate hypercholesterolemia and led to an inability to recover arterial driving pressure, with a resulting increase in distal necrosis, chronic tissue damage and a delay in the overall recovery after ischemia. To conclude, this manuscript highlights, beyond arterial collateralization, the importance of the proper function of the capillary endothelium in post-ischemic recovery and displays how post-ischemic capillary dynamics associate beyond tissue blood flow to both hemoglobin oxygenation and tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Wirth
- Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, FI-70200 Kuopio, Finland (P.K.)
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Greta Juusola
- Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, FI-70200 Kuopio, Finland (P.K.)
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Santeri Tarvainen
- Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, FI-70200 Kuopio, Finland (P.K.)
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna P. Laakkonen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petra Korpisalo
- Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, FI-70200 Kuopio, Finland (P.K.)
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- Heart Center, Kuopio University Hospital, FI-70200 Kuopio, Finland (P.K.)
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Oliveira RHM, Annex BH, Popel AS. Endothelial cells signaling and patterning under hypoxia: a mechanistic integrative computational model including the Notch-Dll4 pathway. bioRxiv 2023:2023.05.03.539270. [PMID: 37205581 PMCID: PMC10187169 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.03.539270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Several signaling pathways are activated during hypoxia to promote angiogenesis, leading to endothelial cell patterning, interaction, and downstream signaling. Understanding the mechanistic signaling differences between normoxia and hypoxia can guide therapies to modulate angiogenesis. We present a novel mechanistic model of interacting endothelial cells, including the main pathways involved in angiogenesis. We calibrate and fit the model parameters based on well-established modeling techniques. Our results indicate that the main pathways involved in the patterning of tip and stalk endothelial cells under hypoxia differ, and the time under hypoxia affects how a reaction affects patterning. Interestingly, the interaction of receptors with Neuropilin1 is also relevant for cell patterning. Our simulations under different oxygen concentrations indicate time- and oxygen-availability-dependent responses for the two cells. Following simulations with various stimuli, our model suggests that factors such as period under hypoxia and oxygen availability must be considered for pattern control. This project provides insights into the signaling and patterning of endothelial cells under hypoxia, contributing to studies in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Hannah M Oliveira
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA
| | - Brian H Annex
- Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA
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Laschke MW, Gu Y, Menger MD. Replacement in angiogenesis research: Studying mechanisms of blood vessel development by animal-free in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches. Front Physiol 2022; 13:981161. [PMID: 36060683 PMCID: PMC9428454 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.981161] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is an essential process determining numerous physiological and pathological conditions. Accordingly, there is a high demand for research approaches allowing the investigation of angiogenic mechanisms and the assessment of pro- and anti-angiogenic therapeutics. The present review provides a selective overview and critical discussion of such approaches, which, in line with the 3R principle, all share the common feature that they are not based on animal experiments. They include in vitro assays to study the viability, proliferation, migration, tube formation and sprouting activity of endothelial cells in two- and three-dimensional environments, the degradation of extracellular matrix compounds as well as the impact of hemodynamic forces on blood vessel formation. These assays can be complemented by in vivo analyses of microvascular network formation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay and early stages of zebrafish larvae. In addition, the combination of experimental data and physical laws enables the mathematical modeling of tissue-specific vascularization, blood flow patterns, interstitial fluid flow as well as oxygen, nutrient and drug distribution. All these animal-free approaches markedly contribute to an improved understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms underlying angiogenesis. Hence, they do not only represent essential tools in basic science but also in early stages of drug development. Moreover, their advancement bears the great potential to analyze angiogenesis in all its complexity and, thus, to make animal experiments superfluous in the future.
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Salyers ZR, Coleman M, Le D, Ryan TE. AAV-mediated expression of PFKFB3 in myofibers, but not endothelial cells, improves ischemic muscle function in mice with critical limb ischemia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 323:H424-H436. [PMID: 35867710 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00121.2022] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) is a powerful driver of angiogenesis through its modulation of glycolytic metabolism within endothelial cells. Recent work has demonstrated that PFKFB3 modulates the response to muscle ischemia, however the cell specificity of these effects is not fully understood. In this study, we tested the impact of viral mediated expression of PFKFB3, driven by gene promoters specific for myofibers or endothelial cells, on ischemic hindlimb revascularization and muscle function. We hypothesized that both endothelium- and muscle-specific expression of PFKFB3 would attenuate limb pathology following femoral artery ligation. Male and female BALB/cJ mice were injected with adeno-associated virus encoding the either a green fluorescent protein (GFP) or PFKFB3 driven by either the human skeletal actin (ACTA1) or cadherin-5 (Cdh5) promoters. Four weeks after AAV treatment, mice were subjected to unilateral femoral artery ligation and limb perfusion and muscle function were assessed. Both endothelium- and muscle-specific PFKFB3 expression resulted in significantly more perfused capillaries within the ischemic limb muscle, but neither changed myofiber size/area. Muscle-, but not endothelium-specific, PFKFB3 expression significantly improved maximal force production in ischemic muscle (P=0.0005). Notably, there was a significant effect of sex on maximal force levels in both cohorts of mice (P=0.0075 and P=0.0481), indicating that female mice had higher ischemic muscle strength compared to male mice, regardless of treatment group. Taken together, these data demonstrate that while both muscle- and endothelium-specific expression of PFKFB3 enhanced ischemic revascularization, only muscle-specific PFKFB3 expression improved muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary R Salyers
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Madeline Coleman
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Dennis Le
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Terence E Ryan
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Center for Exercise Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Xu Y, Ward AD, Goldman D, Yin H, Arpino JM, Nong Z, Lee JJ, O'Neil C, Pickering JG. Arteriolar dysgenesis in ischemic, regenerating skeletal muscle revealed by automated micro-morphometry, computational modeling, and perfusion analysis. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 323:H38-H48. [PMID: 35522554 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00010.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rebuilding the local vasculature is central to restoring the health of muscles subjected to ischemic injury. Arteriogenesis yields remodeled collateral arteries that circumvent the obstruction, and angiogenesis produces capillaries to perfuse the regenerating myofibers. However, the vital intervening network of arterioles that feed the regenerated capillaries is poorly understood and an investigative challenge. We used machine learning and automated micro-morphometry to quantify the arteriolar landscape in distal hindlimb muscles in mice that have regenerated after femoral artery excision. Assessment of 1546 arteriolar sections revealed a striking (> 2-fold) increase in arteriolar density in regenerated muscle 14 and 28 days after ischemic injury. Lumen caliber was initially similar to that of control arterioles but after 4 weeks lumen area was reduced by 46%. In addition, the critical smooth muscle layer was attenuated throughout the arteriolar network, across a 150 to 5 µm diameter range. To understand the consequences of the reshaped distal hindlimb arterioles, we undertook computational flow modeling which revealed blunted flow augmentation. Moreover, impaired flow reserve was confirmed in vivo by laser Doppler analyses of flow in response to directly applied sodium nitroprusside. Thus, in hindlimb muscles regenerating after ischemic injury, the arteriolar network is amplified, inwardly remodels, and is diffusely under-muscularized. These defects and the associated flow restraints could contribute to the deleterious course of peripheral artery disease and merit attention when considering therapeutic innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Xu
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron D Ward
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Goldman
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hao Yin
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - John-Michael Arpino
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zengxuan Nong
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason J Lee
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caroline O'Neil
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - J Geoffrey Pickering
- Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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