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Ogunsina O, Banerjee R, Knauer LA, Yang Y. Pharmacological inhibition of FOXO1 promotes lymphatic valve growth in a congenital lymphedema mouse model. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1024628. [PMID: 36742198 PMCID: PMC9890395 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1024628] [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: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in many genes that regulate lymphatic valve development are associated with congenital lymphedema. Oscillatory shear stress (OSS) from lymph provides constant signals for the growth and maintenance of valve cells throughout life. The expression of valve-forming genes in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) is upregulated by OSS. The transcription factor FOXO1 represses lymphatic valve formation by inhibiting the expression of these genes, which makes FOXO1 a potential target for treating lymphedema. Here, we tested the ability of a FOXO1 inhibitor, AS1842856, to induce the formation of new lymphatic valves. Our quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot data showed that treatment of cultured human LECs with AS1842856 for 48 h significantly increased the expression levels of valve-forming genes. To investigate the function of AS1842856 in vivo, Foxc2 +/- mice, the mouse model for lymphedema-distichiasis, were injected with AS1842856 for 2 weeks. The valve number in AS-treated Foxc2+/- mice was significantly higher than that of the vehicle-treated Foxc2+/- mice. Furthermore, since β-catenin upregulates the expression of Foxc2 and Prox1 during lymphatic valve formation, and AS1842856 treatment increased the level of active β-catenin in both cultured human LECs and in mouse mesenteric LECs in vivo, we used the mouse model with constitutive active β-catenin to rescue loss of lymphatic valves in Foxc2 +/- mice. Foxc2 +/- mice have 50% fewer lymphatic valves than control, and rescue experiments showed that the valve number was completely restored to the control level upon nuclear β-catenin activation. These findings indicate that pharmacological inhibition of FOXO1 can be explored as a viable strategy to resolve valve defects in congenital lymphedema.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ying Yang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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Davis MJ, Scallan JP, Castorena-Gonzalez JA, Kim HJ, Ying LH, Pin YK, Angeli V. Multiple aspects of lymphatic dysfunction in an ApoE -/- mouse model of hypercholesterolemia. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1098408. [PMID: 36685213 PMCID: PMC9852907 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1098408] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Rodent models of cardiovascular disease have uncovered various types of lymphatic vessel dysfunction that occur in association with atherosclerosis, type II diabetes and obesity. Previously, we presented in vivo evidence for impaired lymphatic drainage in apolipoprotein E null (ApoE -/- ) mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). Whether this impairment relates to the dysfunction of collecting lymphatics remains an open question. The ApoE -/- mouse is a well-established model of cardiovascular disease, in which a diet rich in fat and cholesterol on an ApoE deficient background accelerates the development of hypercholesteremia, atherosclerotic plaques and inflammation of the skin and other tissues. Here, we investigated various aspects of lymphatic function using ex vivo tests of collecting lymphatic vessels from ApoE +/+ or ApoE -/- mice fed a HFD. Methods: Popliteal collectors were excised from either strain and studied under defined conditions in which we could quantify changes in lymphatic contractile strength, lymph pump output, secondary valve function, and collecting vessel permeability. Results: Our results show that all these aspects of lymphatic vessel function are altered in deleterious ways in this model of hypercholesterolemia. Discussion: These findings extend previous in vivo observations suggesting significant dysfunction of lymphatic endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells from collecting vessels in association with a HFD on an ApoE-deficient background. An implication of our study is that collecting vessel dysfunction in this context may negatively impact the removal of cholesterol by the lymphatic system from the skin and the arterial wall and thereby exacerbate the progression and/or severity of atherosclerosis and associated inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Davis
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Joshua P Scallan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | - Hae Jin Kim
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Lim Hwee Ying
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yeo Kim Pin
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Veronique Angeli
- Immunology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Niimi K, Nakae J, Inagaki S, Furuyama T. FOXO1 represses lymphatic valve formation and maintenance via PRDM1. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110048. [PMID: 34852224 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Intraluminal lymphatic valves (LVs) contribute to the prevention of lymph backflow and maintain circulatory homeostasis. Several reports have investigated the molecular mechanisms which promote LV formation; however, the way in which they are suppressed is not completely clear. We show that the forkhead transcription factor FOXO1 is a suppressor of LV formation and maintenance in lymphatic endothelial cells. Oscillatory shear stress by bidirectional flow inactivates FOXO1 via Akt phosphorylation, resulting in the upregulation of a subset of LV-specific genes mediated by downregulation of a transcriptional repressor, PRDM1. Mice with an endothelial-specific Foxo1 deletion have an increase in LVs, and overexpression of Foxo1 in mice produces a decrease in LVs. Genetic reduction of PRDM1 rescues the decrease in LV by Foxo1 overexpression. In conclusion, FOXO1 plays a critical role in lymph flow homeostasis by preventing excess LV formation. This gene might be a therapeutic target for lymphatic circulatory abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Niimi
- Department of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Hara 281-1, Mure, Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0123, Japan
| | - Jun Nakae
- Department of Physiology, International University of Health and Welfare School of Medicine, 4-3 Kozu-no-Mori, Narita 286-8686, Japan
| | - Shinobu Inagaki
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-2, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan; Department of Physical Therapy, Osaka Yukioka College of Health Science, Sojiji 1-1-41, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0801, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Furuyama
- Department of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Hara 281-1, Mure, Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0123, Japan.
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Shin M, Lawson ND. Back and forth: History of and new insights on the vertebrate lymphatic valve. Dev Growth Differ 2021; 63:523-535. [PMID: 34716915 PMCID: PMC9299638 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12757] [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: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Lymphatic valves develop from pre‐existing endothelial cells through a step‐wise process involving complex changes in cell shape and orientation, along with extracellular matrix interactions, to form two intraluminal leaflets. Once formed, valves prevent back‐flow within the lymphatic system to ensure drainage of interstitial fluid back into the circulatory system, thereby serving a critical role in maintaining fluid homeostasis. Despite the extensive anatomical characterization of lymphatic systems across numerous genus and species dating back several hundred years, valves were largely thought to be phylogenetically restricted to mammals. Accordingly, most insights into molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in lymphatic valve development have derived from mouse knockouts, as well as rare diseases in humans. However, we have recently used a combination of imaging and genetic analysis in the zebrafish to demonstrate that valves are a conserved feature of the teleost lymphatic system. Here, we provide a historical overview of comparative lymphatic valve anatomy together with recent efforts to define molecular pathways that contribute to lymphatic valve morphogenesis. Finally, we integrate our findings in zebrafish with previous work and highlight the benefits that this model provides for investigating lymphatic valve development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Shin
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nathan D Lawson
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Norden PR, Sabine A, Wang Y, Demir CS, Liu T, Petrova TV, Kume T. Shear stimulation of FOXC1 and FOXC2 differentially regulates cytoskeletal activity during lymphatic valve maturation. eLife 2020; 9:53814. [PMID: 32510325 PMCID: PMC7302880 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [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: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the transcription factor FOXC2 are predominately associated with lymphedema. Herein, we demonstrate a key role for related factor FOXC1, in addition to FOXC2, in regulating cytoskeletal activity in lymphatic valves. FOXC1 is induced by laminar, but not oscillatory, shear and inducible, endothelial-specific deletion impaired postnatal lymphatic valve maturation in mice. However, deletion of Foxc2 induced valve degeneration, which is exacerbated in Foxc1; Foxc2 mutants. FOXC1 knockdown (KD) in human lymphatic endothelial cells increased focal adhesions and actin stress fibers whereas FOXC2-KD increased focal adherens and disrupted cell junctions, mediated by increased ROCK activation. ROCK inhibition rescued cytoskeletal or junctional integrity changes induced by inactivation of FOXC1 and FOXC2 invitro and vivo respectively, but only ameliorated valve degeneration in Foxc2 mutants. These results identify both FOXC1 and FOXC2 as mediators of mechanotransduction in the postnatal lymphatic vasculature and posit cytoskeletal signaling as a therapeutic target in lymphatic pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pieter R Norden
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
| | - Amélie Sabine
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, United States
| | - Cansaran Saygili Demir
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Ting Liu
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
| | - Tatiana V Petrova
- Department of Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Tsutomu Kume
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, United States
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Shin M, Nozaki T, Idrizi F, Isogai S, Ogasawara K, Ishida K, Yuge S, Roscoe B, Wolfe SA, Fukuhara S, Mochizuki N, Deguchi T, Lawson ND. Valves Are a Conserved Feature of the Zebrafish Lymphatic System. Dev Cell 2019; 51:374-386.e5. [PMID: 31564611 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The lymphatic system comprises blind-ended tubes that collect interstitial fluid and return it to the circulatory system. In mammals, unidirectional lymphatic flow is driven by muscle contraction working in conjunction with valves. Accordingly, defective lymphatic valve morphogenesis results in backflow leading to edema. In fish species, studies dating to the 18th century failed to identify lymphatic valves, a precedent that currently persists, raising the question of whether the zebrafish could be used to study the development of these structures. Here, we provide functional and morphological evidence of valves in the zebrafish lymphatic system. Electron microscopy revealed valve ultrastructure similar to mammals, while live imaging using transgenic lines identified the developmental origins of lymphatic valve progenitors. Zebrafish embryos bearing mutations in genes required for mammalian valve morphogenesis show defective lymphatic valve formation and edema. Together, our observations provide a foundation from which to further investigate lymphatic valve formation in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Shin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Takayuki Nozaki
- Technical Support Center for Life Science Research, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Feston Idrizi
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sumio Isogai
- Department of Medical Education, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Katsutoshi Ogasawara
- Technical Support Center for Life Science Research, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Kinji Ishida
- Technical Support Center for Life Science Research, Iwate Medical University, Shiwa, Iwate 028-3694, Japan
| | - Shinya Yuge
- Department of Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Nippon Medical School, 1-396 Kosugi-machi, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 211-8533, Japan
| | - Benjamin Roscoe
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Scot A Wolfe
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shigetomo Fukuhara
- Department of Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Nippon Medical School, 1-396 Kosugi-machi, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 211-8533, Japan
| | - Naoki Mochizuki
- Department of Cell Biology and AMED-CREST, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Research Institute, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Tomonori Deguchi
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577, Japan
| | - Nathan D Lawson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE We have recently provided evidence showing that luminal lymphatic valves are formed right after the onset of corneal inflammatory lymphangiogenesis (LG). The purpose of this study was to further characterize the long-term time course, spatial distribution, directional orientation, and functional implications of the valve formation in relation to corneal LG. METHODS Corneal LG was induced in normal adult BALB/c mice by a modified suture placement model with equal distribution in the nasal and temporal side. Whole-mount corneas were harvested every 2 weeks for up to 8 weeks post suturing for immunofluorescent microscopic assays. Quantitative analysis on both lymphatic vessels and valves was performed by using National Institutes of Health ImageJ software. Corneal lymphatic live imaging was performed to show functional drainage of the valves. RESULTS Lymphatic vessel invasion areas at 4, 6, and 8 weeks were significantly less than the peak at 2 weeks post corneal suturing. In contrast, the ratio of lymphatic valves to vessel invasion area was at its lowest at 2 weeks with a peak approximately at 6 weeks post suturing. Lymphatic valves were more localized in the nasal quadrant at all time points studied, and most of the well-formed valves were directionally oriented toward the limbus. The lymphatic valves function to guide lymphatic drainage outside the cornea. CONCLUSIONS This study presents new insights into corneal lymphatic valve formation and function in inflammatory LG. Further investigation on lymphatic valves may provide novel strategies to interfere with lymphatic maturation and function and to treat lymphatic-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tan Truong
- Graduate Group in Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, California
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Kanady JD, Simon AM. Lymphatic communication: connexin junction, what's your function? Lymphology 2011; 44:95-102. [PMID: 22165579 PMCID: PMC3520433] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews recent findings on expression and function of connexin proteins--the structural subunits of gap junction intercellular channels in the lymphatic vasculature--both during development and in the mature lymphatic vessel. Highlighted in particular are recent mouse connexin knockout studies which show that connexins are crucial for normal lymphatic development. We discuss, in general terms, both channel-dependent as well as channel-independent functions of connexins and raise some of the many unanswered questions about the mechanism(s) of action and physiological roles of connexins in the lymphatic vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander M. Simon
- Author for correspondence: Alexander M. Simon, Ph.D., Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, PO Box 245051, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA, Phone: 520-621-9778, Fax: 520-626-2383,
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