Foxc1 and Foxc2 deletion causes abnormal lymphangiogenesis and correlates with ERK hyperactivation

The lymphatic vasculature is essential for maintaining interstitial fluid homeostasis, and dysfunctional lymphangiogenesis contributes to various pathological processes, including inflammatory disease and tumor metastasis. Mutations in FOXC2 are dominantly associated with late-onset lymphedema; however, the precise role of FOXC2 and a closely related factor, FOXC1, in the lymphatic system remains largely unknown. Here we identified a molecular cascade by which FOXC1 and FOXC2 regulate ERK signaling in lymphatic vessel growth. In mice, lymphatic endothelial cell-specific (LEC-specific) deletion of Foxc1, Foxc2, or both resulted in increased LEC proliferation, enlarged lymphatic vessels, and abnormal lymphatic vessel morphogenesis. Compared with LECs from control animals, LECs from mice lacking both Foxc1 and Foxc2 exhibited aberrant expression of Ras regulators, and embryos with LEC-specific deletion of Foxc1 and Foxc2, alone or in combination, exhibited ERK hyperactivation. Pharmacological ERK inhibition in utero abolished the abnormally enlarged lymphatic vessels in FOXC-deficient embryos. Together, these results identify FOXC1 and FOXC2 as essential regulators of lymphangiogenesis and indicate a new potential mechanistic basis for lymphatic-associated diseases.

A randomized, controlled pilot study of autologous CD34+ cell therapy for critical limb ischemia

BACKGROUND

Critical limb ischemia portends a risk of major amputation of 25% to 35% within 1 year of diagnosis. Preclinical studies provide evidence that intramuscular injection of autologous CD34+ cells improves limb perfusion and reduces amputation risk. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of intramuscular injections of autologous CD34+ cells in subjects with moderate or high-risk critical limb ischemia, who were poor or noncandidates for surgical or percutaneous revascularization (ACT34-CLI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-eight critical limb ischemia subjects were randomized and treated: 7 to 1 × 10(5) (low-dose) and 9 to 1 × 10(6) (high-dose) autologous CD34+ cells/kg; and 12 to placebo (control). Intramuscular injections were distributed into 8 sites within the ischemic lower extremity. At 6 months postinjection, 67% of control subjects experienced a major or minor amputation versus 43% of low-dose and 22% of high-dose cell-treated subjects (P=0.137). This trend continued at 12 months, with 75% of control subjects experiencing any amputation versus 43% of low-dose and 22% of high-dose cell-treated subjects (P=0.058). Amputation incidence was lower in the combined cell-treated groups compared with control group (6 months: P=0.125; 12 months: P=0.054), with the low-dose and high-dose groups individually showing trends toward improved amputation-free survival at 6 months and 12 months. No adverse safety signal was associated with cell administration.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that intramuscular administration of autologous CD34+ cells was safe in this patient population. Favorable trends toward reduced amputation rates in cell-treated versus control subjects were observed. These findings warrant further exploration in later-phase clinical trials.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00616980.

Generation of conditional alleles for Foxc1 and Foxc2 in mice

The Forkhead box transcription factors, Foxc1 and Foxc2, are crucial for development of the eye, cardiovascular network, and other physiological systems, but their cell-type specific and postdevelopmental functions are unknown, in part because conventional (i.e., whole-organism) homozygous-null mutations of either factor result in perinatal death. Here, we describe the generation of mice with conditional-null Foxc1(flox) and Foxc2(flox) mutations that are induced via Cre-mediated recombination. Mice homozygous for the unrecombined alleles are viable and fertile, indicating that the conditional alleles retain their wild-type function. The embryos of Foxc1(flox) or Foxc2(flox) mice crossed with Cre-deleter mice that are homozygous for the recombined allele (i.e., Foxc1(Δ/Δ) or Foxc2(Δ/Δ) embryos) lack expression of the corresponding gene and show the same developmental defects observed in conventional homozygous mutant embryos. We expect these conditional mutations to enable characterization of the cell-type specific functions of Foxc1 and Foxc2 in development, disease, and adult animals.

Sonic hedgehog-modified human CD34+ cells preserve cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction

RATIONALE

Ischemic cardiovascular disease represents one of the largest epidemics currently facing the aging population. Current literature has illustrated the efficacy of autologous, stem cell therapies as novel strategies for treating these disorders. The CD34+ hematopoetic stem cell has shown significant promise in addressing myocardial ischemia by promoting angiogenesis that helps preserve the functionality of ischemic myocardium. Unfortunately, both viability and angiogenic quality of autologous CD34+ cells decline with advanced age and diminished cardiovascular health.

OBJECTIVE

To offset age- and health-related angiogenic declines in CD34+ cells, we explored whether the therapeutic efficacy of human CD34+ cells could be enhanced by augmenting their secretion of the known angiogenic factor, sonic hedgehog (Shh).

METHODS AND RESULTS

When injected into the border zone of mice after acute myocardial infarction, Shh-modified CD34+ cells (CD34(Shh)) protected against ventricular dilation and cardiac functional declines associated with acute myocardial infarction. Treatment with CD34(Shh) also reduced infarct size and increased border zone capillary density compared with unmodified CD34 cells or cells transfected with the empty vector. CD34(Shh) primarily store and secrete Shh protein in exosomes and this storage process appears to be cell-type specific. In vitro analysis of exosomes derived from CD34(Shh) revealed that (1) exosomes transfer Shh protein to other cell types, and (2) exosomal transfer of functional Shh elicits induction of the canonical Shh signaling pathway in recipient cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Exosome-mediated delivery of Shh to ischemic myocardium represents a major mechanism explaining the observed preservation of cardiac function in mice treated with CD34(Shh) cells.

Abstract P019: Exosomes from Human CD34+ Cells: Critical Mediators of Proangiogenic Paracrine Effect of EPCs

Local transplantation of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells has been shown to promote neovascularization in pre-clinical studies in models of myocardial and limb ischemia. In early phase clinical trials, transplantation of CD34+ cells has been associated with reduced angina, improved exercise time and reduced amputation rates. Several studies have suggested that paracrine effects by these pro-angiogenic cells mediate the effects induced by cell transplantation. We hypothesized that CD34+ cells secrete exosomes (Exo), which mediate at least a part of the therapeutic function of the cells.

Methods and Results: We isolated Exo from the conditioned media of adult human peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cells. The angiogenic and therapeutic potency of CD34+ Exo was compared with the intact CD34+ cells and also with PB mononuclear cell (MNC) Exo. Exo from both CD34+ cells and MNC are 50–90nm in size, have cup shaped morphology, and carry known Exo-marker proteins such as CD63, TSG101 and Annexin V as shown by electron microscopy, Western blot and flow cytometry. Compared to CD34+ cells or MNC Exo, CD34+ Exo significantly induces in vitro angiogenic activities such as viability, proliferation and tube formation of HUVECs on matrigel- in a dose dependent manner. In vivo, CD34+ Exo stimulated significant neovascularization in mouse corneal angiogenesis assay (14±4 mm v MNC Exo, 4±1 mm, p<0.01) and incorporation of endothelial (CD31+) cells in mouse matrigel-plug assay (6±1.7% v CD34+ cells, 2±0.8%, p<0.01). Finally, in a mouse model of hind limb ischemia (HLI), CD34+ Exo significantly improved perfusion (ratio: 1.01±0.04 v 0.57±0.1, P<0.05), increased capillary density (1.8±0.3/HPF v 0.9±0.1/HPF, p<0.001) and prevented ischemic leg amputation (16% v 100%), as compared with MNC Exo.

Conclusions: These data demonstrate that CD34+ Exo induce angiogenic activity and ischemic tissue repair in the absence of CD34+ cells, and suggest that Exo represent important mediators of the therapeutic effects associated with CD34+ cell therapy. We speculate that Exo derived from CD34+ cells may represent a significant component of the paracrine effect of progenitor-cell transplantation for therapeutic angiogenesis.

CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 accelerates impaired wound healing in diabetic mice

The antagonism of CXC-chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) with AMD3100 improves cardiac performance after myocardial infarction by augmenting the recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from the bone marrow to the regenerating vasculature. We investigated whether AMD3100 may accelerate diabetes-impaired wound healing through a similar mechanism. Skin wounds were made on the backs of leptin-receptor–deficient mice and treated with AMD3100 or saline. Fourteen days after treatment, wound closure was significantly more complete in AMD3100-treated mice (AMD3100: 87.0±2.6%, Saline: 33.1±1.8%; P<0.0001) and was accompanied by greater collagen-fiber formation, capillary density, smooth-muscle-containing vessel density, and monocyte/macrophage infiltration. On day 7 after treatment, AMD3100 was associated with higher circulating EPC and macrophage counts and with significantly upregulated mRNA levels of stromal-cell–derived factor 1 and platelet-derived growth-factor B in the wound bed. AMD3100 also promoted macrophage proliferation and phagocytosis and the migration and proliferation of diabetic mouse primary dermal fibroblasts and 3T3 fibroblasts, which express very little CXCR4. In conclusion, a single topical application of AMD3100 promoted wound healing in diabetic mice by increasing cytokine production, mobilizing bone-marrow EPCs, and enhancing the activity of fibroblasts and monocytes/macrophages, thereby increasing both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Not all of the AMD3100-mediated effects evolved through CXCR4 antagonism.

Exosomes from human CD34(+) stem cells mediate their proangiogenic paracrine activity

RATIONALE

Transplantation of human CD34(+) stem cells to ischemic tissues has been associated with reduced angina, improved exercise time, and reduced amputation rates in phase 2 clinical trials and has been shown to induce neovascularization in preclinical models. Previous studies have suggested that paracrine factors secreted by these proangiogenic cells are responsible, at least in part, for the angiogenic effects induced by CD34(+) cell transplantation.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to investigate the mechanism of CD34(+) stem cell-induced proangiogenic paracrine effects and to examine if exosomes, a component of paracrine secretion, are involved.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Exosomes collected from the conditioned media of mobilized human CD34(+) cells had the characteristic size (40 to 90 nm; determined by dynamic light scattering), cup-shaped morphology (electron microscopy), expressed exosome-marker proteins CD63, phosphatidylserine (flow cytometry) and TSG101 (immunoblotting), besides expressing CD34(+) cell lineage marker protein, CD34. In vitro, CD34(+) exosomes replicated the angiogenic activity of CD34(+) cells by increasing endothelial cell viability, proliferation, and tube formation on Matrigel. In vivo, the CD34(+) exosomes stimulated angiogenesis in Matrigel plug and corneal assays. Interestingly, exosomes from CD34(+) cells but not from CD34(+) cell-depleted mononuclear cells had angiogenic activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrate that human CD34(+) cells secrete exosomes that have independent angiogenic activity both in vitro and in vivo. CD34(+) exosomes may represent a significant component of the paracrine effect of progenitor cell transplantation for therapeutic angiogenesis.

The Hedgehog transcription factor Gli3 modulates angiogenesis

RATIONALE

The Gli transcription factors are mediators of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling and have been shown to play critical roles during embryogenesis. Previously, we have demonstrated that the Hh pathway is reactivated by ischemia in adult mammals, and that this pathway can be stimulated for therapeutic benefit; however, the specific roles of the Gli transcription factors during ischemia-induced Hh signaling have not been elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of Gli3 in ischemic tissue repair.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Gli3-haploinsufficient (Gli3(+/-)) mice and their wild-type littermates were physiologically similar in the absence of ischemia; however, histological assessments of capillary density and echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular ejection fractions were reduced in Gli3(+/-) mice compared to wild-type mice after surgically induced myocardial infarction, and fibrosis was increased. Gli3-deficient mice also displayed reduced capillary density after induction of hindlimb ischemia and an impaired angiogenic response to vascular endothelial growth factor in the corneal angiogenesis model. In endothelial cells, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Gli3 promoted migration (modified Boyden chamber), small interfering RNA-mediated downregulation of Gli3 delayed tube formation (Matrigel), and Western analyses identified increases in Akt phosphorylation, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation, and c-Fos expression; however, promoter-reporter assays indicated that Gli3 overexpression does not modulate Gli-dependent transcription. Furthermore, the induction of endothelial cell migration by Gli3 was dependent on Akt and ERK1/2 activation.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, these observations indicate that Gli3 contributes to vessel growth under both ischemic and nonischemic conditions and provide the first evidence that Gli3 regulates angiogenesis and endothelial cell activity in adult mammals.