scholarly journals Novel SARS-CoV-2 variants induce higher toxicity in cardiovascular cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J U G Wagner ◽  
D Bojkova ◽  
M Shumliakivska ◽  
G S Aslan ◽  
J D Kandler ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective SARS-CoV-2 causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has spawned a global health crisis. Virus infection can lead to elevated markers of cardiac injury and inflammation associated with a higher risk of mortality. However, it is so far unclear whether cardiovascular damage is caused by direct virus infection or is mainly secondary due to inflammation. Recently, additional novel SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged accounting for more than 70% of all cases in Germany. To what extend these variants differ from the original strain in their pathology remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the effect of the novel SARS-CoV-2 variants on cardiovascular cells. Results To study whether cardiovascular cells are permissive for SARS-CoV-2, we inoculated human iPS-derived cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells from five different origins, including umbilical vein endothelial cells, coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC), cardiac and lung microvascular endothelial cells, or pulmonary arterial cells, in vitro with SARS-CoV-2 isolates (G614 (original strain), B.1.1.7 (British variant), B.1.351 (South African variant) and P.1 (Brazilian variant)). While the original virus strain infected iPS-cardiomyocytes and induced cell toxicity 96h post infection (290±10 cells vs. 130±10 cells; p=0.00045), preliminary data suggest a more severe infection by the novel variants. To what extend the response to the novel variants differ from the original strain is currently investigated by phosphoproteom analysis. Of the five endothelial cells studied, only human coronary artery EC took up the original virus strain, without showing viral replication and cell toxicity. Spike protein was only detected in the perinuclear region and was co-localized with calnexin-positive endosomes, which was accompanied by elevated ER-stress marker genes, such as EDEM1 (1.5±0.2-fold change; p=0.04). Infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2 variants resulted in significant higher levels of viral spike compared to the current strain. Surprisingly, viral up-take was also seen in other endothelial cell types (e.g. HUVEC). Although no viral replication was observed (850±158 viral RNA copies at day 0 vs. 197±43 viral RNA copies at day 3; p=0.01), the British SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 reduced endothelial cell numbers (0.63±0.03-fold change; p=0.0001). Conclusion Endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes showed a distinct response to SARS-CoV-2. Whereas cardiomyocytes were permissively infected, endothelial cells took up the virus, but were resistant to viral replication. However, both cell types showed signs of increased toxicity induced by the British SARS-CoV-2 variant. These data suggest that cardiac complications observed in COVID-19 patients might at least in part be based on direct infection of cardiovascular cells. The more severe cytotoxic effects of the novel variants implicate that patients infected with the new variants should be even more closely monitored. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): DFG and Willy-Pitzer Foundation

Circulation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 144 (Suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
zhu li ◽  
Matthew J Hampton ◽  
Matthew B Barajas ◽  
Matthias L Riess

Reperfusion restores blood flow after myocardial ischemia but can cause additional cellular injury by the sudden reintroduction of oxygen and nutrients. There is still no effective remedy for myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. Our previous study using cardiomyocytes (CMs) found that, after 3 hrs hypoxia followed by 2 hrs reoxygenation, viability decreased, and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), calcium influx, membrane leakage (insertion of fluorescent probe FM1-43) significantly increased, indicating that cell membrane function was negatively affected. This was attenuated by the triblock copolymer Poloxamer (P)188. Here, we first hypothesized that endothelial cells are also susceptible to simulated IR injury, albeit requiring longer hypoxia times. We further hypothesized that P188 can also attenuate simulated IR injury in endothelial cells when given upon reoxygenation. Mouse coronary artery endothelial cells (MCAECs) were exposed to different durations of hypoxia (2, 3, 12 and 24 hrs) in serum- and glucose-free media +/- reoxygenation for 2 hrs in regular media. P188 was administered upon reoxygenation at 0, 100, 300 or 1,000 μM in experiments of 24 hrs hypoxia / 2 hrs reoxygenation. LDH release was measured and compared to appropriately timed normoxic control experiments. Reoxygenation and hypoxia times significantly longer than 3 hrs were required to elicit sufficient injury (panel A). When P188 was given upon reoxygenation after 24 hrs hypoxia, it dose-dependently attenuated LDH release (panel B). These findings contrast to the higher susceptibility of CMs to IR injury that only allowed shorter hypoxia durations. They also confirm a protective effect of P188 on the endothelium, not just on CMs. These findings have important implications for co-culture models with MCAECs and CMs to elucidate the interplay of both cell types on each other when studying mechanisms of cardioprotective strategies and compounds like P188.


2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Yu ◽  
Charles Drucker ◽  
Rajabrata Sarkar ◽  
Dudley K Strickland ◽  
Thomas S Monahan

Objective: Presently, the antiproliferative agents used in drug eluting stents and drug coated balloons inhibit both VSMC and endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, and thus these patients require dual antiplatelet therapy indefinitely. Identification of a VSMC-specific target to prevent proliferation represents a significant unmet clinical need. Previously we found that knockdown of MARCKS arrests VSMC proliferation through a p27 kip1 -dependent mechanism. Interestingly MARCKS knockdown increases EC proliferation. p27 kip1 is phosphorylated by KIS allowing it to exit the nucleus and be degraded. Here we seek to understand how MARCKS influences KIS protein expression in these two cell types. Approach and Results: We performed siRNA-mediated knock down of MARCKS in human coronary artery endothelial cells (CAECs) and human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs). MARCKS knockdown did not affect KIS mRNA expression as determined with RT-PCR in either cell type. KIS protein stability was evaluated in the presence of cyclohexamide with Western blot. In CAECs, MARCKS knockdown increased KIS stability, however, in CASMCs, MARCKS knockdown significantly decreased KIS protein stability. In CASMCs, MARCKS knockdown significantly increased KIS ubiquitinization where as in CAECs, MARCKS knockdown decreased KIS ubiquitinization. Interestingly, the well-studied functional domain of MARCKS(ED domain) is not directly involved in KIS regulation. MARCKS mutants (S4G and S4D) rescued proliferation in VSMCs. MARCKS knockdown in vivo in the murine femoral wire injury model resulted in decreased medial bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) integration and neointima formation. MARCKS knockdown enhanced endothelial barrier function recovery four days after injury as assessed by Evans Blue integration. Conclusions: MARCKS differentially regulates the protein stability and proteolytic processing of KIS in VSMCs and ECs. The differential interaction of MARCKS and KIS likely explains the observed difference in proliferation observed with MARCKS knockdown in these two cell types.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Lakota ◽  
Katjusa Mrak-Poljsak ◽  
Blaz Rozman ◽  
Snezna Sodin-Semrl

The effects of anti-inflammatory plant extracts, such as black tea extract (BTE) and resveratrol (RSV) could modulate cell activation leading to atherosclerosis, however there is little comparative information about how different endothelial cell types are affected by these compounds. In order to compare human endothelial cells derived from different origins (umbilical vein or HUVEC, coronary artery or HCAEC, microvascular or HMVEC) and their interleukin-1β(IL-1β) responsiveness, IL-6 ELISA, RT-PCR, tissue factor assay, and prostacyclin responses using 6-ketoPGF1αELISA were determined. The IL-1β-induced IL-6 levels were dose-dependent with highest responses seen in HCAEC. Significant inhibition of IL-1βresponses was achieved with BTE and RSV, with the largest decrease of IL-6 and TF seen in HCAEC. Prostacyclin levels were highest in HUVEC and were inhibited by RSV in all cell types. The differences between the endothelial cell types could account for greater susceptibility of coronary arteries to inflammation and atherogenesis.


Author(s):  
Olha Puhach ◽  
Eleonore Ostermann ◽  
Christoph Krisp ◽  
Giada Frascaroli ◽  
Hartmut Schlüter ◽  
...  

AbstractCytomegaloviruses (CMV) infect many different cell types and tissues in their respective hosts. Monocytes and macrophages play an important role in CMV dissemination from the site of infection to target organs. Moreover, macrophages are specialized in pathogen sensing and respond to infection by secreting cytokines and interferons. In murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), a model for human cytomegalovirus, several genes required for efficient replication in macrophages have been identified, but their specific functions remain poorly understood. Here we show that MCMV m139, a gene of the conserved US22 gene family, encodes a protein that interacts with the DEAD box helicase DDX3, a protein involved in pathogen sensing and interferon (IFN) induction, and the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR5. DDX3 and UBR5 also participate in the transcription, processing, and translation of a subset of cellular mRNAs. We show that m139 inhibits DDX3-mediated IFN-β induction and is necessary for efficient viral replication in bone-marrow derived macrophages. In vivo, m139 is crucial for viral dissemination to local lymph nodes and to the salivary glands. An m139-deficient MCMV also replicated to lower titers in SVEC4-10 endothelial cells. This replication defect was not accompanied by increased IFN-β transcription, but was rescued by knockout of either DDX3 or UBR5. Moreover, m139 co-localized with DDX3 and UBR5 in viral replication compartments in the cell nucleus. These results suggest that m139 inhibits DDX3-mediated IFN-β production in macrophages and antagonizes DDX3 and UBR5-dependent functions related to RNA metabolism in endothelial cells.Author SummaryHuman cytomegalovirus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe infections in immunocompromised individuals. The virus infects certain types, such as macrophages and endothelial cells, to ensure its dissemination within the body. Little is known about the viral factors that promote a productive infection of these cell types. The identification of critical viral factors and the molecular pathways they target can lead to the development of novel antiviral treatment strategies. Using the mouse cytomegalovirus as a model, we studied the viral m139 gene, which is important for virus replication in macrophages and endothelial cells and for dissemination in the mouse. This gene encodes a protein that interacts with the host proteins DDX3 and UBR5. Both proteins are involved in gene expression, and the RNA helicase DDX3 also participates in mounting an innate antiviral response. By interacting with DDX3 and UBR5, m139 ensures efficient viral replication in endothelial cells. Importantly, we identify m139 as a new viral DDX3 inhibitor, which curtails the production of interferon in macrophages.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Ramachandran ◽  
R Dobie ◽  
JR Wilson-Kanamori ◽  
EF Dora ◽  
BEP Henderson ◽  
...  

AbstractCurrently there are no effective antifibrotic therapies for liver cirrhosis, a major killer worldwide. To obtain a cellular resolution of directly-relevant pathogenesis and to inform therapeutic design, we profile the transcriptomes of over 100,000 primary human single cells, yielding molecular definitions for the major non-parenchymal cell types present in healthy and cirrhotic human liver. We uncover a novel scar-associated TREM2+CD9+ macrophage subpopulation with a fibrogenic phenotype, that has a distinct differentiation trajectory from circulating monocytes. In the endothelial compartment, we show that newly-defined ACKR1+ and PLVAP+ endothelial cells expand in cirrhosis and are topographically located in the fibrotic septae. Multi-lineage ligand-receptor modelling of specific interactions between the novel scar-associated macrophages, endothelial cells and collagen-producing myofibroblasts in the fibrotic niche, reveals intra-scar activity of several major pathways which promote hepatic fibrosis. Our work dissects unanticipated aspects of the cellular and molecular basis of human organ fibrosis at a single-cell level, and provides the conceptual framework required to discover rational therapeutic targets in liver cirrhosis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (9) ◽  
pp. 820-828
Author(s):  
Marc Chamoun ◽  
Danielle Jacques ◽  
Ghassan Bkaily

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and its type 1 receptor (TNFR1) are implicated in several autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and are associated with complications at the cardiovascular level. Using human cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle, vascular endothelial, and endocardial endothelial cells coupled to indirect immunofluorescence, our results showed the presence of TNFR1 at the levels of the plasma membrane (including the cytosol) and mostly at the level of the nuclear membranes (including the nucleoplasm). The distribution of the receptor is different between cell types; however, the density is significantly higher at the nuclear level in all 4 cell types. The density of the receptor was the highest in contractile cells including the cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells, compared with endothelial cells including endocardial endothelial and vascular endothelial cells. Using the Ca2+ probe Fluo-3 coupled to quantitative confocal microscopy, our results showed that the cytokine induced a sustained Ca2+ increase in both the cytosol and nucleoplasm of all 4 cell types. This increase was more significant at the nuclear level, mainly in endothelial cells. Our results demonstrated the presence of TNFR1 at both the cell and nuclear membranes of cardiovascular cells, and that its activation modulated both cytosolic and nuclear Ca2+.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldo Moreno-Ulloa ◽  
Hilda Carolina Delgado De la Herran ◽  
Carolina Alvarez Delgado ◽  
Omar Mendoza Porras ◽  
Rommel A. Carballo Castaneda ◽  
...  

Coronary artery endothelial cells (CAEC) exert an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Dysfunction of CAEC is associated with cardiovascular disease in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, comprehensive studies of the effects that a diabetic environment exerts on this cellular type scarce. The present study characterized the molecular perturbations occurring on cultured bovine CAEC subjected to a prolonged diabetic environment (high glucose [HG] and high insulin [HI]). Changes at the metabolite and peptide level were assessed by untargeted metabolomics and chemoinformatics, and the results were integrated with proteomics data using published SWATH-based proteomics on the same in vitro model. Our findings were consistent with reports on other endothelial cell types, but also identified novel signatures of DNA/RNA, aminoacid, peptide, and lipid metabolism in cells under a diabetic environment. Manual data inspection revealed disturbances on tryptophan catabolism and biosynthesis of phenylalanine-based, glutathione-based, and proline-based peptide metabolites. Fluorescence microscopy detected an increase in binucleation in cells under treatment that also occurred when human CAEC were used. This multi-omics study identified particular molecular perturbations in an induced diabetic environment that could help unravel the mechanisms underlying the development of cardiovascular disease in subjects with T2DM.


2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Ahmarani ◽  
Levon Avedanian ◽  
Johny Al-Khoury ◽  
Claudine Perreault ◽  
Danielle Jacques ◽  
...  

The results of our study show that whole-cell and nuclear levels of NADPH oxidase-1 (NOX1) are similar in human vascular endothelial cells (hVECs) and smooth muscle cells (hVSMCs), but lower in human endocardial endothelial cells (hEECs). NOX2 levels were higher in hVECs and lower in hVSMCs. NOX3 levels were the same in hVECs and hVSMCs, but lower in hEECs. NOX4 levels were similar in all of the cell types. NOX4 levels were higher in hVECs than in hVSMCs. NOX5 was also present throughout the 3 cell types, including their nuclei, in the following order: hEECs > hVSMCs > hVECs. The level of basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) was highest in hVECs and lowest in hVSMCs. However, the Ca2+ level was highest in hVSMCs and lowest in hVECs. These findings suggest that all types of NOXs exist in hEECs, hVECs, and hVSMCs, although their density and distribution are cell-type dependent. The density of the different NOXs correlated with the ROS level, but not with the Ca2+ level. In conclusion, NOXs, including NOX3, exist in cardiovascular cells and their nuclei. The nucleus is a major source of ROS generation. The nuclear NOXs may contribute to ROS and Ca2+ homeostasis, which may affect cell remodeling, including the formation of nuclear T-tubules in vascular diseases and aging.


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 103-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Haas ◽  
Marilu Jurado-Flores ◽  
Ramadan Hammoud ◽  
Victoria Feng ◽  
Krista Gonzales ◽  
...  

Abstract. Inflammatory and oxidative stress in endothelial cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of premature atherosclerosis in diabetes. To determine whether high-dextrose concentrations induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) were exposed to either 5.5 or 27.5 mM dextrose for 24-hours and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) levels were measured by enzyme immunoassays. To determine the effect of antioxidants on inflammatory cytokine secretion, cells were also treated with α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and the glutathione peroxidase mimetic ebselen. Only the concentration of IL-1β in culture media from cells exposed to 27.5 mM dextrose increased relative to cells maintained in 5.5 mM dextrose. Treatment with α-tocopherol (10, 100, and 1,000 μM) and ascorbic acid (15, 150, and 1,500 μM) at the same time that the dextrose was added reduced IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in culture media from cells maintained at 5.5 mM dextrose but had no effect on IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in cells exposed to 27.5 mM dextrose. However, ebselen treatment reduced IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels in cells maintained in either 5.5 or 27.5 mM dextrose. IL-2 and TNF α concentrations in culture media were below the limit of detection under all experimental conditions studied suggesting that these cells may not synthesize detectable quantities of these cytokines. These results suggest that dextrose at certain concentrations may increase IL-1β levels and that antioxidants have differential effects on suppressing the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in HCAEC.


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