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Warthi G, Faulkner JL, Doja J, Ghanam AR, Gao P, Yang AC, Slivano OJ, Barris CT, Kress TC, Zawieja SD, Griffin SH, Xie X, Ashworth A, Christie CK, Bryant WB, Kumar A, Davis MJ, Long X, Gan L, de Chantemèle EJB, Lyu Q, Miano JM. Generation and Comparative Analysis of an Itga8-CreER T2 Mouse with Preferential Activity in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Nat Cardiovasc Res 2022; 1:1084-1100. [PMID: 36424917 PMCID: PMC9681021 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-022-00162-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
All current smooth muscle cell (SMC) Cre mice similarly recombine floxed alleles in vascular and visceral SMCs. Here, we present an Itga8-CreER T2 knock-in mouse and compare its activity with a Myh11-CreER T2 mouse. Both Cre drivers demonstrate equivalent recombination in vascular SMCs. However, Myh11-CreER T2 mice, but not Itga8-CreER T2 mice, display high activity in visceral SMC-containing tissues such as intestine, show early tamoxifen-independent activity, and produce high levels of CreERT2 protein. Whereas Myh11-CreER T2 -mediated knockout of serum response factor (Srf) causes a lethal intestinal phenotype precluding analysis of the vasculature, loss of Srf with Itga8-CreER T2 (Srf Itga8 ) yields viable mice with no evidence of intestinal pathology. Male and female Srf Itga8 mice exhibit vascular contractile incompetence, and angiotensin II causes elevated blood pressure in wild type, but not Srf Itga8 , male mice. These findings establish the Itga8-CreER T2 mouse as an alternative to existing SMC Cre mice for unfettered phenotyping of vascular SMCs following selective gene loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh Warthi
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Jessica L. Faulkner
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Jaser Doja
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Amr R. Ghanam
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Pan Gao
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Allison C. Yang
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Orazio J. Slivano
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Candee T. Barris
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Taylor C. Kress
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Scott D. Zawieja
- Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212
| | - Susan H. Griffin
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Xiaoling Xie
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Alan Ashworth
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158
| | - Christine K. Christie
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - William B. Bryant
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Michael J. Davis
- Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212
| | - Xiaochun Long
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | - Lin Gan
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
| | | | - Qing Lyu
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
- Biomedical and Health Institute, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligence Technology, Chongqing, China 400714
- Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China 401147
| | - Joseph M. Miano
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912
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Gao P, Lyu Q, Ghanam AR, Lazzarotto CR, Newby GA, Zhang W, Choi M, Slivano OJ, Holden K, Walker JA, Kadina AP, Munroe RJ, Abratte CM, Schimenti JC, Liu DR, Tsai SQ, Long X, Miano JM. Prime editing in mice reveals the essentiality of a single base in driving tissue-specific gene expression. Genome Biol 2021; 22:83. [PMID: 33722289 PMCID: PMC7962346 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02304-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [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] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most single nucleotide variants (SNVs) occur in noncoding sequence where millions of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) reside. Here, a comparative analysis of CRISPR-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR) versus the recently reported prime editing 2 (PE2) system was carried out in mice over a TFBS called a CArG box in the Tspan2 promoter. RESULTS Quantitative RT-PCR showed loss of Tspan2 mRNA in aorta and bladder, but not heart or brain, of mice homozygous for an HDR-mediated three base pair substitution in the Tspan2 CArG box. Using the same protospacer, mice homozygous for a PE2-mediated single-base substitution in the Tspan2 CArG box displayed similar cell-specific loss of Tspan2 mRNA; expression of an overlapping long noncoding RNA was also nearly abolished in aorta and bladder. Immuno-RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization validated loss of Tspan2 in vascular smooth muscle cells of HDR and PE2 CArG box mutant mice. Targeted sequencing demonstrated variable frequencies of on-target editing in all PE2 and HDR founders. However, whereas no on-target indels were detected in any of the PE2 founders, all HDR founders showed varying levels of on-target indels. Off-target analysis by targeted sequencing revealed mutations in many HDR founders, but none in PE2 founders. CONCLUSIONS PE2 directs high-fidelity editing of a single base in a TFBS leading to cell-specific loss in expression of an mRNA/long noncoding RNA gene pair. The PE2 platform expands the genome editing toolbox for modeling and correcting relevant noncoding SNVs in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Gao
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Qing Lyu
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Amr R. Ghanam
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Cicera R. Lazzarotto
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38195 USA
| | - Gregory A. Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Mihyun Choi
- Department of Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208 USA
| | - Orazio J. Slivano
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Kevin Holden
- Synthego Corporation, Redwood City, CA 94025 USA
| | | | | | - Rob J. Munroe
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | | | - John C. Schimenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - David R. Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
| | - Shengdar Q. Tsai
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38195 USA
| | - Xiaochun Long
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
| | - Joseph M. Miano
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912 USA
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3
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Gao P, Gao P, Choi M, Chegireddy K, Slivano OJ, Zhao J, Zhang W, Long X. Transcriptome analysis of mouse aortae reveals multiple novel pathways regulated by aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:15603-15623. [PMID: 32805724 PMCID: PMC7467355 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Vascular aging has been documented as a vital process leading to arterial dysfunction and age-related cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of age-related phenotypes in the vascular system is incomplete. Here we performed bulk RNA sequencing in young and old mouse aortae to elucidate age-associated changes in the transcriptome. Results showed that the majority of upregulated pathways in aged aortae relate to immune response, including inflammation activation, apoptotic clearance, and phagocytosis. The top downregulated pathway in aged aortae was extracellular matrix organization. Additionally, protein folding control and stress response pathways were downregulated in the aged vessels, with an array of downregulated genes encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs). We also found that circadian core clock genes were differentially expressed in young versus old aortae. Finally, transcriptome analysis combined with protein expression examination and smooth muscle cell (SMC) lineage tracing revealed that SMCs in aged aortae retained the differentiated phenotype, with an insignificant decrease in SMC marker gene expression. Our results therefore unveiled critical pathways regulated by arterial aging in mice, which will provide important insight into strategies to defy vascular aging and age-associated vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Gao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Pan Gao
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Mihyun Choi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Kavya Chegireddy
- School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Orazio J Slivano
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Jinjing Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Xiaochun Long
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.,Vascular Biology Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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4
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Lyu Q, Dhagia V, Han Y, Guo B, Wines-Samuelson ME, Christie CK, Yin Q, Slivano OJ, Herring P, Long X, Gupte SA, Miano JM. CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Epitope Tagging Provides Accurate and Versatile Assessment of Myocardin-Brief Report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019; 38:2184-2190. [PMID: 29976770 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.118.311171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective- Unreliable antibodies often hinder the accurate detection of an endogenous protein, and this is particularly true for the cardiac and smooth muscle cofactor, MYOCD (myocardin). Accordingly, the mouse Myocd locus was targeted with 2 independent epitope tags for the unambiguous expression, localization, and activity of MYOCD protein. Approach and Results- 3cCRISPR (3-component clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) was used to engineer a carboxyl-terminal 3×FLAG or 3×HA epitope tag in mouse embryos. Western blotting with antibodies to each tag revealed a MYOCD protein product of ≈150 kDa, a size considerably larger than that reported in virtually all publications. MYOCD protein was most abundant in some adult smooth muscle-containing tissues with surprisingly low-level expression in the heart. Both alleles of Myocd are active in aorta because a 2-fold increase in protein was seen in mice homozygous versus heterozygous for FLAG-tagged Myocd. ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation)-quantitative polymerase chain reaction studies provide proof-of-principle data demonstrating the utility of this mouse line in conducting genome-wide ChIP-seq studies to ascertain the full complement of MYOCD-dependent target genes in vivo. Although FLAG-tagged MYOCD protein was undetectable in sections of adult mouse tissues, low-passaged vascular smooth muscle cells exhibited expected nuclear localization. Conclusions- This report validates new mouse models for analyzing MYOCD protein expression, localization, and binding activity in vivo and highlights the need for rigorous authentication of antibodies in biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Lyu
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
| | - Vidhi Dhagia
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla (V.D., S.A.G.)
| | - Yu Han
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
| | - Bing Guo
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
| | - Mary E Wines-Samuelson
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
| | - Christine K Christie
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
| | - Qiangzong Yin
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
| | - Orazio J Slivano
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
| | - Paul Herring
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (P.H.)
| | - Xiaochun Long
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, NY (X.L.)
| | - Sachin A Gupte
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla (V.D., S.A.G.)
| | - Joseph M Miano
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Q.L., Y.H., B.G., M.E.W.-S., C.K.C., Q.Y., O.J.S., J.M.M.)
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Guo B, Lyu Q, Slivano OJ, Dirkx R, Christie CK, Czyzyk J, Hezel AF, Gharavi AG, Small EM, Miano JM. Serum Response Factor Is Essential for Maintenance of Podocyte Structure and Function. J Am Soc Nephrol 2017; 29:416-422. [PMID: 29114040 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2017050473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Podocytes contain an intricate actin cytoskeleton that is essential for the specialized function of this cell type in renal filtration. Serum response factor (SRF) is a master transcription factor for the actin cytoskeleton, but the in vivo expression and function of SRF in podocytes are unknown. We found that SRF protein colocalizes with podocyte markers in human and mouse kidneys. Compared with littermate controls, mice in which the Srf gene was conditionally inactivated with NPHS2-Cre exhibited early postnatal proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and azotemia. Histologic changes in the mutant mice included glomerular capillary dilation and mild glomerulosclerosis, with reduced expression of multiple canonical podocyte markers. We also noted tubular dilation, cell proliferation, and protein casts as well as reactive changes in mesangial cells and interstitial inflammation. Ultrastructure analysis disclosed foot process effacement with loss of slit diaphragms. To ascertain the importance of SRF cofactors in podocyte function, we disabled the myocardin-related transcription factor A and B genes. Although loss of either SRF cofactor alone had no observable effect in the kidney, deficiency of both recapitulated the Srf-null phenotype. These results establish a vital role for SRF and two SRF cofactors in the maintenance of podocyte structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Guo
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Lyu
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Orazio J Slivano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Ronald Dirkx
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Christine K Christie
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Jan Czyzyk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and
| | - Aram F Hezel
- James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York; and
| | - Ali G Gharavi
- Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Eric M Small
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Joseph M Miano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York;
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6
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Lee MY, Park C, Ha SE, Park PJ, Berent RM, Jorgensen BG, Corrigan RD, Grainger N, Blair PJ, Slivano OJ, Miano JM, Ward SM, Smith TK, Sanders KM, Ro S. Serum response factor regulates smooth muscle contractility via myotonic dystrophy protein kinases and L-type calcium channels. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171262. [PMID: 28152551 PMCID: PMC5289827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum response factor (SRF) transcriptionally regulates expression of contractile genes in smooth muscle cells (SMC). Lack or decrease of SRF is directly linked to a phenotypic change of SMC, leading to hypomotility of smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, the molecular mechanism behind SRF-induced hypomotility in GI smooth muscle is largely unknown. We describe here how SRF plays a functional role in the regulation of the SMC contractility via myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) and L-type calcium channel CACNA1C. GI SMC expressed Dmpk and Cacna1c genes into multiple alternative transcriptional isoforms. Deficiency of SRF in SMC of Srf knockout (KO) mice led to reduction of SRF-dependent DMPK, which down-regulated the expression of CACNA1C. Reduction of CACNA1C in KO SMC not only decreased intracellular Ca2+ spikes but also disrupted their coupling between cells resulting in decreased contractility. The role of SRF in the regulation of SMC phenotype and function provides new insight into how SMC lose their contractility leading to hypomotility in pathophysiological conditions within the GI tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon Young Lee
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
- Department of Physiology, Wonkwang Digestive Disease Research Institute and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chonbuk, Korea
| | - Chanjae Park
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Se Eun Ha
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Paul J. Park
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Robyn M. Berent
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Brian G. Jorgensen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Robert D. Corrigan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Nathan Grainger
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Blair
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Orazio J. Slivano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Joseph M. Miano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Sean M. Ward
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Terence K. Smith
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Kenton M. Sanders
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Seungil Ro
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Han Y, Slivano OJ, Christie CK, Cheng AW, Miano JM. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing of a single regulatory element nearly abolishes target gene expression in mice--brief report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2015; 35:312-5. [PMID: 25538209 PMCID: PMC4304932 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.114.305017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To ascertain the importance of a single regulatory element in the control of Cnn1 expression using CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9) genome editing. APPROACH AND RESULTS The CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to produce 3 of 18 founder mice carrying point mutations in an intronic CArG box of the smooth muscle cell-restricted Cnn1 gene. Each founder was bred for germline transmission of the mutant CArG box and littermate interbreeding to generate homozygous mutant (Cnn1(ΔCArG/ΔCArG)) mice. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed dramatic reductions in Cnn1 mRNA and CNN1 protein expression in Cnn1(ΔCArG/ΔCArG) mice with no change in other smooth muscle cell-restricted genes and little evidence of off-target edits elsewhere in the genome. In vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed a sharp decrease in binding of serum response factor to the mutant CArG box. Loss of CNN1 expression was coincident with an increase in Ki-67 positive cells in the normal vessel wall. CONCLUSIONS CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of a single CArG box nearly abolishes Cnn1 expression in vivo and evokes increases in smooth muscle cell DNA synthesis. This facile genome editing system paves the way for a new generation of studies designed to test the importance of individual regulatory elements in living animals, including regulatory variants in conserved sequence blocks linked to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Han
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Y.H., O.J.S., C.K.C., J.M.M.); and Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME (A.W.C.)
| | - Orazio J Slivano
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Y.H., O.J.S., C.K.C., J.M.M.); and Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME (A.W.C.)
| | - Christine K Christie
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Y.H., O.J.S., C.K.C., J.M.M.); and Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME (A.W.C.)
| | - Albert W Cheng
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Y.H., O.J.S., C.K.C., J.M.M.); and Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME (A.W.C.)
| | - Joseph M Miano
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY (Y.H., O.J.S., C.K.C., J.M.M.); and Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME (A.W.C.).
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8
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Imamura M, Sugino Y, Long X, Slivano OJ, Nishikawa N, Yoshimura N, Miano JM. Myocardin and microRNA-1 modulate bladder activity through connexin 43 expression during post-natal development. J Cell Physiol 2013; 228:1819-26. [PMID: 23359472 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a pervasive clinical problem involving alterations in both neurogenic and myogenic activity. While there has been some progress in understanding neurogenic inputs to OAB, the mechanisms controlling myogenic bladder activity are unclear. We report the involvement of myocardin (MYOCD) and microRNA-1 (miR-1) in the regulation of connexin 43 (GJA1), a major gap junction in bladder smooth muscle, and the collective role of these molecules during post-natal bladder development. Wild-type (WT) mouse bladders showed normal development from early post-natal to adult including increases in bladder capacity and maintenance of normal sensitivity to cholinergic agents concurrent with down-regulation of MYOCD and several smooth muscle cell (SMC) contractile genes. Myocardin heterozygous-knockout mice exhibited reduced expression of Myocd mRNA and several SMC contractile genes concurrent with bladder SMC hypersensitivity that was mediated by gap junctions. In both cultured rat bladder SMC and in vivo bladders, MYOCD down-regulated GJA1 expression through miR-1 up-regulation. Interestingly, adult myocardin heterozygous-knockout mice showed normal increases in bladder and body weight but lower bladder capacity compared to WT mice. These results suggest that MYOCD down-regulates GJA1 expression via miR-1 up-regulation, thereby contributing to maintenance of normal sensitivity and development of bladder capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Imamura
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA.
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Chen Z, Mantha RR, Chen JS, Slivano OJ, Takahashi H. Non-invasive genotyping of transgenic animals using fecal DNA. Lab Anim (NY) 2012; 41:102-7. [DOI: 10.1038/laban0412-102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2011] [Accepted: 01/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Long X, Slivano OJ, Cowan SL, Georger MA, Lee TH, Miano JM. Smooth muscle calponin: an unconventional CArG-dependent gene that antagonizes neointimal formation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2011; 31:2172-80. [PMID: 21817093 PMCID: PMC3179981 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.111.232785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Smooth muscle calponin (CNN1) contains multiple conserved intronic CArG elements that bind serum response factor and display enhancer activity in vitro. The objectives here were to evaluate these CArG elements for activity in transgenic mice and determine the effect of human CNN1 on injury-induced vascular remodeling. METHODS AND RESULTS Mice carrying a lacZ reporter under control of intronic CArG elements in the human CNN1 gene failed to show smooth muscle cell (SMC)-restricted activity. However, deletion of the orthologous sequences in mice abolished endogenous Cnn1 promoter activity, suggesting their necessity for in vivo Cnn1 expression. Mice carrying a 38-kb bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) harboring the human CNN1 gene displayed SMC- restricted expression of the corresponding CNN1 protein, as measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Extensive BAC recombineering studies revealed the absolute necessity of a single intronic CArG element for correct SMC-restricted expression of human CNN1. Overexpressing human CNN1 suppressed neointimal formation following arterial injury. Mice with an identical BAC carrying mutations in CArG elements that inhibit human CNN1 expression showed outward remodeling and neointimal formation. CONCLUSIONS A single intronic CArG element is necessary but insufficient for proper CNN1 expression in vivo. CNN1 overexpression antagonizes arterial injury-induced neointimal formation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Binding Sites
- Blotting, Western
- Calcium-Binding Proteins/deficiency
- Calcium-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Carotid Arteries/metabolism
- Carotid Arteries/pathology
- Carotid Artery Injuries/genetics
- Carotid Artery Injuries/metabolism
- Carotid Artery Injuries/pathology
- Cell Line
- Cell Proliferation
- Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Genes, Reporter
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Introns
- Lac Operon
- Luciferases/genetics
- Luciferases/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Microfilament Proteins/deficiency
- Microfilament Proteins/genetics
- Microfilament Proteins/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Rats
- Serum Response Element
- Serum Response Factor/metabolism
- Transfection
- Tunica Intima/metabolism
- Tunica Intima/pathology
- Calponins
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Long
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Orazio J. Slivano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Sarah L. Cowan
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Mary A. Georger
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Ting-Hein Lee
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Joseph M. Miano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642
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Streb JW, Long X, Lee TH, Sun Q, Kitchen CM, Georger MA, Slivano OJ, Blaner WS, Carr DW, Gelman IH, Miano JM. Retinoid-induced expression and activity of an immediate early tumor suppressor gene in vascular smooth muscle cells. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18538. [PMID: 21483686 PMCID: PMC3071728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2010] [Accepted: 03/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoids are used clinically to treat a number of hyper-proliferative disorders and have been shown in experimental animals to attenuate vascular occlusive diseases, presumably through nuclear receptors bound to retinoic acid response elements (RARE) located in target genes. Here, we show that natural or synthetic retinoids rapidly induce mRNA and protein expression of a specific isoform of A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 12 (AKAP12β) in cultured smooth muscle cells (SMC) as well as the intact vessel wall. Expression kinetics and actinomycin D studies indicate Akap12β is a retinoid-induced, immediate-early gene. Akap12β promoter analyses reveal a conserved RARE mildly induced with atRA in a region that exhibits hyper-acetylation. Immunofluorescence microscopy and protein kinase A (PKA) regulatory subunit overlay assays in SMC suggest a physical association between AKAP12β and PKA following retinoid treatment. Consistent with its designation as a tumor suppressor, inducible expression of AKAP12β attenuates SMC growth in vitro. Further, immunohistochemistry studies establish marked decreases in AKAP12 expression in experimentally-injured vessels of mice as well as atheromatous lesions in humans. Collectively, these results demonstrate a novel role for retinoids in the induction of an AKAP tumor suppressor that blocks vascular SMC growth thus providing new molecular insight into how retiniods may exert their anti-proliferative effects in the injured vessel wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey W. Streb
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Xiaochun Long
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Ting-Hein Lee
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Qiang Sun
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Chad M. Kitchen
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Mary A. Georger
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Orazio J. Slivano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - William S. Blaner
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Daniel W. Carr
- Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Irwin H. Gelman
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Joseph M. Miano
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Long X, Tharp DL, Georger MA, Slivano OJ, Lee MY, Wamhoff BR, Bowles DK, Miano JM. The smooth muscle cell-restricted KCNMB1 ion channel subunit is a direct transcriptional target of serum response factor and myocardin. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:33671-82. [PMID: 19801679 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.050419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Large conductance calcium-activated potassium (MaxiK) channels play a pivotal role in maintaining normal arterial tone by regulating the excitation-contraction coupling process. MaxiK channels comprise alpha and beta subunits encoded by Kcnma and the cell-restricted Kcnmb genes, respectively. Although the functionality of MaxiK channel subunits has been well studied, the molecular regulation of their transcription and modulation in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is incomplete. Using several model systems, we demonstrate down-regulation of Kcnmb1 mRNA upon SMC phenotypic modulation in vitro and in vivo. As part of a broad effort to define all functional CArG elements in the genome (i.e. the CArGome), we discovered two conserved CArG boxes located in the proximal promoter and first intron of the human KCNMB1 gene. Gel shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed serum response factor (SRF) binding to both CArG elements. A luciferase assay showed myocardin (MYOCD)-mediated transactivation of the KCNMB1 promoter in a CArG element-dependent manner. In vivo analysis of the human KCNMB1 promoter disclosed activity in embryonic heart and aortic SMCs; mutation of both conserved CArG elements completely abolished in vivo promoter activity. Forced expression of MYOCD increased Kcnmb1 expression in a variety of rodent and human non-SMC lines with no effect on expression of the Kcnma1 subunit. Conversely, knockdown of Srf resulted in decreases of endogenous Kcnmb1. Functional studies demonstrated MYOCD-induced, iberiotoxin-sensitive potassium currents in porcine coronary SMCs. These results reveal the first ion channel subunit as a direct target of SRF-MYOCD transactivation, providing further insight into the role of MYOCD as a master regulator of the SMC contractile phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Long
- Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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