scholarly journals MicroRNA profiles in calcified and healthy aorta differ: therapeutic impact of miR-145 and miR-378

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 517-529
Author(s):  
Ying Tang ◽  
Tapan A. Shah ◽  
Edward J. Yurkow ◽  
Melissa B. Rogers

Our goal was to elucidate microRNAs (miRNAs) that may repress the excess bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling observed during pathological calcification in the Klotho mouse model of kidney disease. We hypothesized that restoring healthy levels of miRNAs that posttranscriptionally repress osteogenic calcific factors may decrease aortic calcification. Our relative abundance profiles of miRNAs in healthy aorta differ greatly from those in calcified mouse aorta. Many of these miRNAs are predicted to regulate proteins involved in BMP signaling and may control osteogenesis. Two differentially regulated miRNAs, miR-145 and miR-378, were selected based on three criteria: reduced levels in calcified aorta, the ability to target more than one protein in the BMP signaling pathway, and conservation of targeted sequences between humans and mice. Forced expression using a lentiviral vector demonstrated that restoring normal levels repressed the synthesis of BMP2 and other pro-osteogenic proteins and inhibited pathological aortic calcification in Klotho mice with renal insufficiency. This study identified miRNAs that may impact BMP signaling in both sexes and demonstrated the efficacy of selected miRNAs in reducing aortic calcification in vivo. Calcification of the aorta and the aortic valve resulting from abnormal osteogenesis is common in those with kidney disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Such vascular osteogenesis is a clinically significant feature. The calcification modulating miRNAs described here are candidates for biomarkers and “miRNA replacement therapies” in the context of chronic kidney disease and other procalcific conditions.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Tang ◽  
Tapan A. Shah ◽  
Edward J. Yurkow ◽  
Melissa B. Rogers

AbstractOur goal was to elucidate microRNAs (miRNAs) that may repress the excess bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling observed during pathological calcification in the Klotho mouse model of kidney disease. We hypothesized that restoring healthy levels of miRNAs that post-transcriptionally repress osteogenic calcific factors may decrease aortic calcification. Our relative abundance profiles of miRNAs in healthy aorta differ greatly from those in calcified mouse aorta. Many of these miRNAs are predicted to regulate proteins involved in BMP signaling and may control osteogenesis. Two differentially regulated miRNAs, miR-145 and miR-378, were selected based on three criteria: reduced levels in calcified aorta, the ability to target more than one protein in the BMP signaling pathway, and conservation of targeted sequences between humans and mice. Forced expression using a lentiviral vector demonstrated that restoring normal levels repressed the synthesis of BMP2 and other pro-osteogenic proteins and inhibited pathological aortic calcification in Klotho mice with renal insufficiency. This study identified miRNAs that may impact BMP signaling in both sexes and demonstrated the efficacy of selected miRNAs in reducing aortic calcification in vivo. Calcification of the aorta and the aortic valve resulting from abnormal osteogenesis is common in those with kidney disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Such vascular osteogenesis is a clinically significant feature. The calcification modulating miRNAs described here are candidates for biomarkers and “miRNA replacement therapies” in the context of chronic kidney disease and other pro-calcific conditions.


Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (18) ◽  
pp. 4005-4015 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Weaver ◽  
J.M. Yingling ◽  
N.R. Dunn ◽  
S. Bellusci ◽  
B.L. Hogan

In the mature mouse lung, the proximal-distal (P-D) axis is delineated by two distinct epithelial subpopulations: the proximal bronchiolar epithelium and the distal respiratory epithelium. Little is known about the signaling molecules that pattern the lung along the P-D axis. One candidate is Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (Bmp4), which is expressed in a dynamic pattern in the epithelial cells in the tips of growing lung buds. Previous studies in which Bmp4 was overexpressed in the lung endoderm (Bellusci, S., Henderson, R., Winnier, G., Oikawa, T. and Hogan, B. L. M. (1996) Development 122, 1693–1702) suggested that this factor plays an important role in lung morphogenesis. To further investigate this question, two complementary approaches were utilized to inhibit Bmp signaling in vivo. The Bmp antagonist Xnoggin and, independently, a dominant negative Bmp receptor (dnAlk6), were overexpressed using the surfactant protein C (Sp-C) promoter/enhancer. Inhibiting Bmp signaling results in a severe reduction in distal epithelial cell types and a concurrent increase in proximal cell types, as indicated by morphology and expression of marker genes, including the proximally expressed hepatocyte nuclear factor/forkhead homologue 4 (Hfh4) and Clara cell marker CC10, and the distal marker Sp-C. In addition, electron microscopy demonstrates the presence of ciliated cells, a proximal cell type, in the most peripheral regions of the transgenic lungs. We propose a model in which Bmp4 is a component of an apical signaling center controlling P-D patterning. Endodermal cells at the periphery of the lung, which are exposed to high levels of Bmp4, maintain or adopt a distal character, while cells receiving little or no Bmp4 signal initiate a proximal differentiation program.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 2165-2172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon Marks-Bluth ◽  
Anchit Khanna ◽  
Vashe Chandrakanthan ◽  
Julie Thoms ◽  
Thomas Bee ◽  
...  

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/SMAD signaling pathway is a critical regulator of angiogenic sprouting and is involved in vascular development in the embryo. SMAD1 and SMAD5, the core mediators of BMP signaling, are vital for this activity, yet little is known about their transcriptional regulation in endothelial cells. Here, we have integrated multispecies sequence conservation, tissue-specific chromatin,in vitroreporter assay, andin vivotransgenic data to identify and validateSmad1+63 and theSmad5promoter as tissue-specificcis-regulatory elements that are active in the developing endothelium. The activity of these elements in the endothelium was dependent on highly conserved ETS, GATA, and E-box motifs, and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed high levels of enrichment of FLI1, GATA2, and SCL at these sites in endothelial cell lines and E11 dorsal aortasin vivo. Knockdown of FLI1 and GATA2 but not SCL reduced the expression of SMAD1 and SMAD5 in endothelial cellsin vitro. In contrast, CD31+cKit−endothelial cells harvested from embryonic day 9 (E9) aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) regions of GATA2 null embryos showed reducedSmad1but notSmad5transcript levels. This is suggestive of a degree ofin vivoselection where, in the case of reduced SMAD1 levels, endothelial cells with more robust SMAD5 expression have a selective advantage.


2010 ◽  
Vol 190 (6) ◽  
pp. 1107-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harikiran Nistala ◽  
Sui Lee-Arteaga ◽  
Silvia Smaldone ◽  
Gabriella Siciliano ◽  
Luca Carta ◽  
...  

Extracellular regulation of signaling by transforming growth factor (TGF)–β family members is emerging as a key aspect of organ formation and tissue remodeling. In this study, we demonstrate that fibrillin-1 and -2, the structural components of extracellular microfibrils, differentially regulate TGF-β and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) bioavailability in bone. Fibrillin-2–null (Fbn2−/−) mice display a low bone mass phenotype that is associated with reduced bone formation in vivo and impaired osteoblast maturation in vitro. This Fbn2−/− phenotype is accounted for by improper activation of latent TGF-β that selectively blunts expression of osterix, the transcriptional regulator of osteoblast maturation, and collagen I, the structural template for bone mineralization. Cultured osteoblasts from Fbn1−/− mice exhibit improper latent TGF-β activation as well, but mature faster because of increased availability of otherwise matrix-bound BMPs. Additional in vitro evidence excludes a direct role of microfibrils in supporting mineral deposition. Together, these findings identify the extracellular microfibrils as critical regulators of bone formation through the modulation of endogenous TGF-β and BMP signaling.


2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Yao ◽  
Yi-ting Sun ◽  
Wei Sun ◽  
Tian-hua Xu ◽  
Chuang Ren ◽  
...  

Aims: Vascular calcification is a risk factor for causing cardiovascular events and has a high prevalence among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this pathogenic process is still obscure. Methods: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were induced by a concentration of phosphorus (Pi) of 2.5 mM, and were subjected to cell calcification analyses. The effect of high Pi on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was measured using a TOP/FOP-Flash reporter assay. The transcriptional regulation of β-catenin on PIT1 (a type III sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter) was confirmed by promoter reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. The 5/6 nephrectomized rat was used as an in vivo model and was fed a high Pi diet to induce aortic calcification. Serum levels of phosphate, calcium, creatine, and blood urea nitrogen were measured, and abdominal aortic calcification was examined. Results: High Pi induced VSMC calcification, downregulated expression levels of VSMC markers, and upregulated levels of osteogenic markers. High Pi activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and β-catenin activity. β-Catenin was involved in the process of high Pi-induced VSMC calcification. Further investigation revealed that β-catenin transcriptionally regulated Pit1, a necessary player in VSMC osteogenic phenotype change and calcification. The in vivo study showed that β-catenin was involved in rat abdominal aortic calcification induced by high Pi. When knockdown expression of β-catenin in the rat model was investigated, we found that aortic calcification was reduced. Conclusion: These results suggest that β-catenin is an important player in high phosphorus level-induced aortic calcification in CKD.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 115 (13) ◽  
pp. 2657-2665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Mleczko-Sanecka ◽  
Guillem Casanovas ◽  
Anan Ragab ◽  
Katja Breitkopf ◽  
Alexandra Müller ◽  
...  

Abstract Hepcidin is the master regulatory hormone of systemic iron metabolism. Hepcidin deficiency causes common iron overload syndromes whereas its overexpression is responsible for microcytic anemias. Hepcidin transcription is activated by the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and the inflammatory JAK-STAT pathways, whereas comparatively little is known about how hepcidin expression is inhibited. By using high-throughput siRNA screening we identified SMAD7 as a potent hepcidin suppressor. SMAD7 is an inhibitory SMAD protein that mediates a negative feedback loop to both transforming growth factor-β and BMP signaling and that recently was shown to be coregulated with hepcidin via SMAD4 in response to altered iron availability in vivo. We show that SMAD7 is coregulated with hepcidin by BMPs in primary murine hepatocytes and that SMAD7 overexpression completely abolishes hepcidin activation by BMPs and transforming growth factor-β. We identify a distinct SMAD regulatory motif (GTCAAGAC) within the hepcidin promoter involved in SMAD7-dependent hepcidin suppression, demonstrating that SMAD7 does not simply antagonize the previously reported hemojuvelin/BMP-responsive elements. This work identifies a potent inhibitory factor for hepcidin expression and uncovers a negative feedback pathway for hepcidin regulation, providing insight into a mechanism how hepcidin expression may be limited to avoid iron deficiency.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 119 (21) ◽  
pp. 5037-5047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yucheng Yao ◽  
Medet Jumabay ◽  
Albert Ly ◽  
Melina Radparvar ◽  
Anthony H. Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract The importance of morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and their antagonists in vascular development is increasingly being recognized. BMP-4 is essential for angiogenesis and is antagonized by matrix Gla protein (MGP) and crossveinless 2 (CV2), both induced by the activin receptor like-kinase 1 (ALK1) when stimulated by BMP-9. In this study, however, we show that CV2 preferentially binds and inhibits BMP-9 thereby providing strong feedback inhibition for BMP-9/ALK1 signaling rather than for BMP-4/ALK2 signaling. CV2 disrupts complex formation involving ALK2, ALK1, BMP-4, and BMP-9 required for the induction of both BMP antagonists. It also limits VEGF expression, proliferation, and tube formation in ALK1-expressing endothelial cells. In vivo, CV2 deficiency translates into a dysregulation of vascular BMP signaling, resulting in an abnormal endothelium with increased endothelial cellularity and expression of lineage markers for mature endothelial cells. Thus, mutual regulation by BMP-9 and CV2 is essential in regulating the development of the vascular endothelium.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 5035-5045 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. David Beckham ◽  
Kathryn Tuttle ◽  
Kenneth L. Tyler

ABSTRACT Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are important causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality, and understanding how viruses perturb host cell signaling pathways will facilitate identification of novel antiviral therapies. We now show that reovirus infection activates transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in a murine model of encephalitis in vivo. TGF-β receptor I (TGF-βRI) expression is increased and its downstream signaling factor, SMAD3, is activated in the brains of reovirus-infected mice. TGF-β signaling is neuroprotective, as inhibition with a TGF-βRI inhibitor increases death of infected neurons. Similarly, BMP receptor I expression is increased and its downstream signaling factor, SMAD1, is activated in reovirus-infected neurons in the brains of infected mice in vivo. Activated SMAD1 and SMAD3 were both detected in regions of brain infected by reovirus, but activated SMAD1 was found predominantly in uninfected neurons in close proximity to infected neurons. Treatment of reovirus-infected primary mouse cortical neurons with a BMP agonist reduced apoptosis. These data provide the first evidence for the activation of TGF-β and BMP signaling pathways following neurotropic viral infection and suggest that these signaling pathways normally function as part of the host's protective innate immune response against CNS viral infection.


2004 ◽  
Vol 164 (5) ◽  
pp. 739-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquelyn Gerhart ◽  
Christine Neely ◽  
Benjamin Stewart ◽  
Jordanna Perlman ◽  
David Beckmann ◽  
...  

Embryonic stem cells are derived from the epiblast. A subpopulation of epiblast cells expresses MyoD mRNA and the G8 antigen in vivo. G8 positive (G8pos) and G8 negative (G8neg) populations were isolated by magnetic cell sorting. Nearly all G8pos cells switched from E- to N-cadherin and differentiated into skeletal muscle in culture. G8neg cells were impaired in their ability to switch cadherins and few formed skeletal muscle. Medium conditioned by G8pos cells stimulated skeletal myogenesis and N-cadherin synthesis in G8neg cultures. The effect of conditioned medium from G8pos cultures was inhibited by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 4. Treatment of G8neg cells with a soluble form of the BMP receptor-IA or Noggin promoted N-cadherin synthesis and skeletal myogenesis. These results demonstrate that MyoD-positive epiblast cells recruit pluripotent cells to the skeletal muscle lineage. The mechanism of recruitment involves blocking the BMP signaling pathway.


2004 ◽  
Vol 24 (23) ◽  
pp. 10256-10262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Park ◽  
Young Jae Lee ◽  
Ho-Jae Lee ◽  
Tsugio Seki ◽  
Kwon-Ho Hong ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Btg2 is a primary p53 transcriptional target gene which may function as a coactivator-corepressor and/or an adaptor molecule that modulates the activities of its interacting proteins. We have generated Btg2-null mice to elucidate the in vivo function of Btg2. Btg2-null mice are viable and fertile but exhibit posterior homeotic transformations of the axial vertebrae in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with its role in vertebral patterning, Btg2 is expressed in the presomitic mesoderm, tail bud, and somites during somitogenesis. We further provide biochemical evidence that Btg2 interacts with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-activated Smads and enhances the transcriptional activity of BMP signaling. In view of the genetic evidence that reduced BMP signaling causes posteriorization of the vertebral pattern, we propose that the observed vertebral phenotype in Btg2-null mice is due to attenuated BMP signaling.


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