Disturbed Cyclical Stretch of Endothelial Cells Promotes Nuclear Expression of the Pro-Atherogenic Transcription Factor NF-κB

Background/Aims: Estrogen has been reported to have beneficial effects on vascular biology through direct actions on endothelium. Together with transcription factors, miRNAs are the major drivers of gene expression and signaling networks. The objective of this study was to identify a comprehensive regulatory network (miRNA-transcription factor-downstream genes) that controls the transcriptomic changes observed in endothelial cells exposed to estradiol. Methods: miRNA/mRNA interactions were assembled using our previous microarray data of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) (1 nmol/L, 24 h). miRNA–mRNA pairings and their associated canonical pathways were determined using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Transcription factors were identified among the miRNA-regulated genes. Transcription factor downstream target genes were predicted by consensus transcription factor binding sites in the promoter region of E2-regulated genes by using JASPAR and TRANSFAC tools in Enrichr software. Results: miRNA–target pairings were filtered by using differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs characterized by a regulatory relationship according to miRNA target prediction databases. The analysis identified 588 miRNA–target interactions between 102 miRNAs and 588 targets. Specifically, 63 upregulated miRNAs interacted with 295 downregulated targets, while 39 downregulated miRNAs were paired with 293 upregulated mRNA targets. Functional characterization of miRNA/mRNA association analysis highlighted hypoxia signaling, integrin, ephrin receptor signaling and regulation of actin-based motility by Rho among the canonical pathways regulated by E2 in HUVEC. Transcription factors and downstream genes analysis revealed eight networks, including those mediated by JUN and REPIN1, which are associated with cadherin binding and cell adhesion molecule binding pathways. Conclusion: This study identifies regulatory networks obtained by integrative microarray analysis and provides additional insights into the way estradiol could regulate endothelial function in human endothelial cells.

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Emerging Role of AP-1 Transcription Factor JunB in Angiogenesis and Vascular Development

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22062804 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 2804

Author(s):

Yasuo Yoshitomi ◽

Takayuki Ikeda ◽

Hidehito Saito-Takatsuji ◽

Hideto Yonekura

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Blood Vessel ◽

Vascular Endothelial Cells ◽

Vascular Development ◽

Endothelial Cell Migration ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Blood Vessel Formation ◽

Vessel Formation

Blood vessels are essential for the formation and maintenance of almost all functional tissues. They play fundamental roles in the supply of oxygen and nutrition, as well as development and morphogenesis. Vascular endothelial cells are the main factor in blood vessel formation. Recently, research findings showed heterogeneity in vascular endothelial cells in different tissue/organs. Endothelial cells alter their gene expressions depending on their cell fate or angiogenic states of vascular development in normal and pathological processes. Studies on gene regulation in endothelial cells demonstrated that the activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factors are implicated in angiogenesis and vascular development. In particular, it has been revealed that JunB (a member of the AP-1 transcription factor family) is transiently induced in endothelial cells at the angiogenic frontier and controls them on tip cells specification during vascular development. Moreover, JunB plays a role in tissue-specific vascular maturation processes during neurovascular interaction in mouse embryonic skin and retina vasculatures. Thus, JunB appears to be a new angiogenic factor that induces endothelial cell migration and sprouting particularly in neurovascular interaction during vascular development. In this review, we discuss the recently identified role of JunB in endothelial cells and blood vessel formation.

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Genome‐wide reduction in chromatin accessibility and unique transcription factor footprints in endothelial cells and fibroblasts in scleroderma skin

Arthritis & Rheumatology ◽

10.1002/art.41694 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Pei‐Suen Tsou ◽

Pamela J. Palisoc ◽

Mustafa Ali ◽

Dinesh Khanna ◽

Amr H Sawalha

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Chromatin Accessibility ◽

Genome Wide

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Live imaging of Runx1 expression in the dorsal aorta tracks the emergence of blood progenitors from endothelial cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2010-01-264382 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (6) ◽

pp. 909-914 ◽

Cited By ~ 114

Author(s):

Enid Yi Ni Lam ◽

Christopher J. Hall ◽

Philip S. Crosier ◽

Kathryn E. Crosier ◽

Maria Vega Flores

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Living Organism ◽

Time Lapse ◽

Dorsal Aorta ◽

Transgenic Zebrafish ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Green Fluorescent

Abstract Blood cells of an adult vertebrate are continuously generated by hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that originate during embryonic life within the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region. There is now compelling in vivo evidence that HSCs are generated from aortic endothelial cells and that this process is critically regulated by the transcription factor Runx1. By time-lapse microscopy of Runx1-enhanced green fluorescent protein transgenic zebrafish embryos, we were able to capture a subset of cells within the ventral endothelium of the dorsal aorta, as they acquire hemogenic properties and directly emerge as presumptive HSCs. These nascent hematopoietic cells assume a rounded morphology, transiently occupy the subaortic space, and eventually enter the circulation via the caudal vein. Cell tracing showed that these cells subsequently populated the sites of definitive hematopoiesis (thymus and kidney), consistent with an HSC identity. HSC numbers depended on activity of the transcription factor Runx1, on blood flow, and on proper development of the dorsal aorta (features in common with mammals). This study captures the earliest events of the transition of endothelial cells to a hemogenic endothelium and demonstrates that embryonic hematopoietic progenitors directly differentiate from endothelial cells within a living organism.

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Thyroid Transcription Factor � 1 (TTF-1) Immunoexpression in Thyroid Carcinoma with Follicular Origin

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.20.3.7987 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 71 (3) ◽

pp. 185-191

Author(s):

Amadeus Dobrescu ◽

Cristi Tarta ◽

Marioara Cornianu ◽

Codruta Lazureanu ◽

Ioana Golu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factor ◽

Recurrent Disease ◽

Clinical Behavior ◽

Thyroid Carcinomas ◽

Nuclear Expression ◽

Thyroid Transcription Factor 1 ◽

Thyroid Transcription Factor ◽

Transcription Factor 1 ◽

Benign Thyroid ◽

Thyroid Lesions

Differentiated thyroid carcinomas are heterogeneous diseases with clinical and morphological features insufficient to predict their clinical behavior. The expression of tissue-specific transcription factors that control differentiated phenotype can be an additional method in evaluating the aggressiveness of a tumor, when differentiation markers and malignant phenotype of tumor cells are inconclusive. The expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is limited to thyroid follicular cells; it is a nuclear protein expressed in the epithelial cells of the thyroid, lungs and diencephalon. Using the monoclonal mouse antibody, clone 8G7G3/1, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of TTF-1 protein in 26 thyroid carcinomas (22 papillary carcinomas � PTC, 2 follicular carcinomas � FTC, 2 anaplastic carcinomas - AC), 4 follicular adenomas � FA, 10 benign thyroid lesions as underlying diseases (multinodular goiter � 3, Hashimoto thyroiditis � 3, Graves Basedow disease - 4) and sections of normal thyroid tissue, assessing the possible correlations with clinical and morphological features, as well as patient outcomes.TTF-1 nuclear expression was identified in 75% of benign thyroid lesions and 18/26 (69.23%) carcinomas. We noted TTF-1 nuclear expression in 68.18% of PTC (10% being associated with recurrent disease) and the absence of immunoreaction in 31.82% of PTC without recurrent disease. In patients with PTC, the risk of recurrence was significantly associated with the presence of nuclear TTF-1 expression in the primary tumor (p[0.001), but was not influenced by the type of surgery performed (p]0.05) or patients� age. TTF-1 nuclear expression did not correlate with patients� gender, tumor size, extent of disease at the moment of diagnosis and multifocal tumors (p]0.05). TTF-1 nuclear reactivity can be elevated in differentiated thyroid tumors (PTC and FTC) with aggressive clinical behavior that will develop recurrent or persistent disease. In anaplastic thyroid carcinomas with fast growth rate, immunoreactivity for TTF-1 and Ki-67 can offer useful information for tumor cell differentiation, while in the case of a mixed thyroid tumor it helps in distinguishing between well differentiated and undifferentiated/anaplastic areas.

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Role of Activating Transcription Factor 4 in Murine Choroidal Neovascularization Model

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22168890 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (16) ◽

pp. 8890

Author(s):

Hiroto Yasuda ◽

Miruto Tanaka ◽

Anri Nishinaka ◽

Shinsuke Nakamura ◽

Masamitsu Shimazawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Er Stress ◽

Choroidal Neovascularization ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Activating Transcription Factor 4 ◽

Age Related ◽

Activating Transcription Factor ◽

Transcription Factor 4

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) featuring choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the principal cause of irreversible blindness in elderly people in the world. Integrated stress response (ISR) is one of the intracellular signals to be adapted to various stress conditions including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ISR signaling results in the upregulation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), which is a mediator of ISR. Although recent studies have suggested ISR contributes to the progression of some age-related disorders, the effects of ATF4 on the development of CNV remain unclear. Here, we performed a murine model of laser-induced CNV and found that ATF4 was highly expressed in endothelial cells of the blood vessels of the CNV lesion site. Exposure to integrated stress inhibitor (ISRIB) reduced CNV formation, vascular leakage, and the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid-sclera complex. In human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), ISRIB reduced the level of ATF4 and VEGF induced by an ER stress inducer, thapsigargin, and recombinant human VEGF. Moreover, ISRIB decreased the VEGF-induced cell proliferation and migration of HRMECs. Collectively, our findings showed that pro-angiogenic effects of ATF4 in endothelial cells may be a potentially therapeutic target for patients with nAMD.

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P420 PEROXYNITRITE ACTIVATES THE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR NRF2 IN HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Atherosclerosis Supplements ◽

10.1016/s1567-5688(10)70487-6 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 105

Author(s):

L. Mattart ◽

D. Simon ◽

D. Calay ◽

V. Tevel ◽

M. Van Steenbrugge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Human Endothelial Cells

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Gata2 is required for HSC generation and survival

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.20130751 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 210 (13) ◽

pp. 2843-2850 ◽

Cited By ~ 119

Author(s):

Emma de Pater ◽

Polynikis Kaimakis ◽

Chris S. Vink ◽

Tomomasa Yokomizo ◽

Tomoko Yamada-Inagawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Vascular Integrity ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Vascular Endothelial Cadherin ◽

Umbilical Arteries ◽

Specific Deletion

Knowledge of the key transcription factors that drive hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) generation is of particular importance for current hematopoietic regenerative approaches and reprogramming strategies. Whereas GATA2 has long been implicated as a hematopoietic transcription factor and its dysregulated expression is associated with human immunodeficiency syndromes and vascular integrity, it is as yet unknown how GATA2 functions in the generation of HSCs. HSCs are generated from endothelial cells of the major embryonic vasculature (aorta, vitelline, and umbilical arteries) and are found in intra-aortic hematopoietic clusters. In this study, we find that GATA2 function is essential for the generation of HSCs during the stage of endothelial-to-hematopoietic cell transition. Specific deletion of Gata2 in Vec (Vascular Endothelial Cadherin)-expressing endothelial cells results in a deficiency of long-term repopulating HSCs and intra-aortic cluster cells. By specific deletion of Gata2 in Vav-expressing hematopoietic cells (after HSC generation), we further show that GATA2 is essential for HSC survival. This is in contrast to the known activity of the RUNX1 transcription factor, which functions only in the generation of HSCs, and highlights the unique requirement for GATA2 function in HSCs throughout all developmental stages.

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