Puerarin attenuates the endothelial-mesenchymal transition induced by oxidative stress in human coronary artery endothelial cells through PI3K/AKT pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 886 ◽  
pp. 173472
Author(s):  
Xuguang Li ◽  
Shuchan Sun ◽  
Di Chen ◽  
Tianyi Yuan ◽  
Yucai Chen ◽  
...  
2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Wang ◽  
Wen He ◽  
Xiao Xu ◽  
Liping Guo ◽  
Yin Zhang ◽  
...  

Human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) have the potential to undergo fibrogenic endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which results in matrix-producing fibroblasts and thereby contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis. Recently, the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is shown to be the crucial pathogenic driver which has been verified to induce EndMT. C-Ski is an important regulator of TGF-β signaling. However, the detailed role of c-Ski and the molecular mechanisms by which c-Ski affects TGF-β-induced EndMT in HCAECs are not largely elucidated. In the present study, we treated HCAECs with TGF-β of different concentrations to induce EndMT. We found that overexpression of c-Ski in HCAECs either blocked EndMT via hindering Vimentin, Snail, Slug, and Twist expression while enhancing CD31 expression, with or without TGF-β treatment. In contrast, suppression of c-Ski further enhanced EndMT. Currently, miRNA expression disorder has been frequently reported associating with cardiac fibrosis. By using online tools, we regarded miR-155 as a candidate miRNA that could target c-Ski, which was verified using luciferase assays. C-Ski expression was negatively regulated by miR-155. TGF-β-induced EndMT was inhibited by miR-155 silence; the effect of TGF-β on Vimentin, CD31, Snail, Slug, and Twist could be partially restored by miR-155. Altogether, these findings will shed light on the role and mechanism by which miR-155 regulates TGF-β-induced HCAECs EndMT via c-Ski to affect cardiac fibrosis, and miR-155/c-Ski may represent novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Byambasuren Vanchin ◽  
Marloes Sol ◽  
Rutger A. F. Gjaltema ◽  
Marja Brinker ◽  
Bianca Kiers ◽  
...  

AbstractEndothelial–mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a form of endothelial dysfunction wherein endothelial cells acquire a mesenchymal phenotype and lose endothelial functions, which contributes to the pathogenesis of intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. The mitogen activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK7) inhibits EndMT and decreases the expression of the histone methyltransferase Enhancer-of-Zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), thereby maintaining endothelial quiescence. EZH2 is the catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 that methylates lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3). It is elusive how the crosstalk between MAPK7 and EZH2 is regulated in the endothelium and if the balance between MAPK7 and EZH2 is disturbed in vascular disease. In human coronary artery disease, we assessed the expression levels of MAPK7 and EZH2 and found that with increasing intima/media thickness ratio, MAPK7 expression decreased, whereas EZH2 expression increased. In vitro, MAPK7 activation decreased EZH2 expression, whereas endothelial cells deficient of EZH2 had increased MAPK7 activity. MAPK7 activation results in increased expression of microRNA (miR)-101, a repressor of EZH2. This loss of EZH2 in turn results in the increased expression of the miR-200 family, culminating in decreased expression of the dual-specificity phosphatases 1 and 6 who may repress MAPK7 activity. Transfection of endothelial cells with miR-200 family members decreased the endothelial sensitivity to TGFβ1-induced EndMT. In endothelial cells there is reciprocity between MAPK7 signaling and EZH2 expression and disturbances in this reciprocal signaling associate with the induction of EndMT and severity of human coronary artery disease.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine C. Y. McGrath ◽  
Xiao-Hong Li ◽  
Lucinda S. McRobb ◽  
Alison K. Heather

Oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to endothelial dysfunction, contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The popularity of natural product supplements has increased in recent years, especially those with purported anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant effects. The efficacy and mechanism of many of these products are not yet well understood. In this study, we tested the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of a supplement, HIPER Health Supplement (HIPER), on cytokine-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). HIPER is a mixture of French maritime pine bark extract (PBE), honey, aloe vera, and papaya extract. Treatment for 24 hours with HIPER reduced TNF-α-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that was associated with decreased NADPH oxidase 4 and increased superoxide dismutase-1 expression. HIPER inhibited TNF-αinduced monocyte adhesion to HCAECs that was in keeping with decreased expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 and decreased nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Further investigation of mechanism showed HIPER reduced TNF-αinduced IκBαand p38 and MEK1/2 MAP kinases phosphorylation. Our findings show that HIPER has potent inhibitory effects on HCAECs inflammatory and oxidative stress responses that may protect against endothelial dysfunction that underlies early atherosclerotic lesion formation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Vanchin ◽  
M Sol ◽  
R A F Gjaltema ◽  
B Van Der Pol ◽  
M G L Brinker ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Endothelial cells play a pivotal role in the formation of neointimal lesions by the acquisition of a fibro-proliferative phenotype through endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Uniform laminar shear stress activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK7) which suppresses EndMT. It is elusive how MAPK7 activity is regulated in fibroproliferative disease. We recently found in intimal hyperplasia the signaling activity of MAPK7 is rapidly lost through the activation microRNA-374b. The histone methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2), which is the catalytic subunit of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, plays a pivotal role in endothelial dysfunction. EZH2 trimethylates lysine 27 on histone 3, which silences gene expression and is elevated in endothelial cells in atherosclerotic lesions. Here, we found the reciprocity that exists between MAPK7 and EZH2 in the regulation of EndMT and in human coronary artery stenosis. Materials and results In endothelial cells, activation of MAPK7 increases the expression of microRNA-101, which represses the expression of EZH2. Reciprocally, the loss of EZH2 coincides with a decreased expression of the Dual Specificity Phosphatase (DUSP)-1 and DUSP-6 – the phosphatases responsible for the dephosphorylation of MAPK7 - which facilitates the activation of MAPK7. H3K27Me3, the repressive histone mark placed by EZH2, is abundantly present in the promoter regions of the miR-200b/a/429 and miR-200c/141 gene clusters, which are responsible for the loss of DUSP-1 and DUSP-6 expression. Endothelial cells deficient in EZH2 have reduced levels of H3K27Me3 at these gene promoters, which associates with the increased expression of miR-200b and miR-200c and concurrent increased MAPK7 activation. In endothelial cells with constitutively active MAPK7 signaling (MEK5D), the enrichment of H3K27Me3 at the promoter regions of miR-200b/a/429 (1.6-fold, p=0.034) and miR-200c/141 (1.9-fold, p=0.035) is decreased, suggesting that MAPK7 activation results in a decreased EZH2 activity. Disbalances in this reciprocal signaling circuit culminate in the induction of EndMT and associate to the severity of human coronary artery stenosis. Conclusion In summary, we show that in endothelial cells there is reciprocity between MAPK7 signaling and EZH2 expression and that disturbances in this reciprocal signaling circuit associate with the induction of EndMT and severity of human coronary artery stenosis. The reciprocity between MAPK7 and EZH2 is governed by a complex mechanism involving microRNAs and the phosphatases DUSP-1 and DUSP-6. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular and epigenetic cascades that underlie EndMT during coronary artery stenosis and might identify novel targets for therapy. Acknowledgement/Funding Mongolian Government Scholarship #621


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 645-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-song Liu ◽  
Ying-hao Pei ◽  
Yong-ping Peng ◽  
Jiao Chen ◽  
Shi-sen Jiang ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 1350-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiamin Li ◽  
Qingwei Zhang ◽  
Cong Ren ◽  
Xianxian Wu ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has been shown to take part in the generation and progression of diverse diseases, involving a series of changes leading to a loss of their endothelial characteristics and an acquirement of properties typical of mesenchymal cells. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a new therapeutic option that has been successfully used in fracture healing. However, whether LIPUS can inhibit oxidative stress-induced endothelial cell damages through inhibiting EndMT remained unknown. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of LIPUS against oxidative stress-induced endothelial cell damages and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: EndMT was induced by H2O2 (100 µm for seven days). Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were exposed to H2O2 with or without LIPUS treatment for seven days. The expression of EndMT markers (CD31, VE-cadherin, FSP1 and α-SMA) were analyzed. The levels of total and phosphorylated PI3K and AKT proteins were detected by Western Blot analysis. Cell chemotaxis was determined by wound healing and transwell assay. Results: LIPUS relieved EndMT by decreasing ROS accumulation and increasing activation of the PI3K signaling cascade. LIPUS alleviated the migration of EndMT-derived mesenchymal-like cells through reducing extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition that is associated with matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) proteolytic activity and collagen production. Conclusion: LIPUS produces cytoprotective effects against oxidative injuries to endothelial cells through suppressing the oxidative stress-induced EndMT, activating the PI3K/AKT pathway under oxidative stress, and limiting cell migration and excessive ECM deposition.


Cardiology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juling Feng ◽  
Jingjing Zhang ◽  
Ampadu O. Jackson ◽  
Xiao Zhu ◽  
Hainan Chen ◽  
...  

Objective: Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is the major cytokine for stimulating endothelial cells (ECs) to transdifferentiate to mesenchymal cells (MCs) in the process known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Recently, TGF-β1-induced EndMT has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). It has been identified that apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA-I) obstructs TGF-β1-induced endothelial dysfunction, providing a protective effect for ECs and also anti-AS activity. However, the exact role of ApoA-I in TGF-β1-induced EndMT is not clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether ApoA-I can modulate TGF-β1-induced EndMT in human coronary artery ECs (HCAECs). Methods and Results: The HCAECs were treated with TGF-β1 with or without ApoA-I. Morphological changes in HCAECs and the expression of EndMT-related markers were evaluated. HCAECs treated with TGF-β1 were found to transform to MC morphology, with inconspicuous expression of EC markers such as vascular endothelial cadherin and CD31, and conspicuous expression of fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1) and α-smooth muscle actin. The treatment of HCAECs with ApoA-I inhibited the TGF-β1-induced EndMT, and elevated expression of EC markers was observed but reduced expression of MC markers. Moreover, ApoA-I impeded the expression level of Slug and Snail, crucial transcriptional factors of EndMT, and it inhibited the TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 which affected the EC morphology. In addition, the knockdown of ABCA1 by RNA interference eliminated the inhibition effect of ApoA-I on TGF-β1-induced EndMT. Conclusions: Our findings revealed a novel mechanism for the ApoA-I protective effect on endothelium function via the inhibition of TGF-β1-induced EndMT. This might provide new insights for developing strategies for modulating AS and vascular remodeling.


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