scholarly journals Endothelial Cell-Derived SO2 Controls Endothelial Cell Inflammation, Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation, and Collagen Synthesis to Inhibit Hypoxic Pulmonary Vascular Remodelling

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Xin Liu ◽  
Shangyue Zhang ◽  
Xiuli Wang ◽  
Yuanyuan Wang ◽  
Jingyuan Song ◽  
...  

Hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodelling (PVR) is the major pathological basis of aging-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) inflammation, and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation, hypertrophy and collagen remodelling are the important pathophysiological components of PVR. Endogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) was found to be a novel gasotransmitter in the cardiovascular system with its unique biological properties. The study was aimed to investigate the role of endothelial cell- (EC-) derived SO2 in the progression of PAEC inflammation, PASMC proliferation, hypertrophy and collagen remodelling in PVR and the possible mechanisms. EC-specific aspartic aminotransferase 1 transgenic (EC-AAT1-Tg) mice were constructed in vivo. Pulmonary hypertension was induced by hypoxia. Right heart catheterization and echocardiography were used to detect mouse hemodynamic changes. Pathologic analysis was performed in the pulmonary arteries. High-performance liquid chromatography was employed to detect the SO2 content. Human PAECs (HPAECs) with lentiviruses containing AAT1 cDNA or shRNA and cocultured human PASMCs (HPASMCs) were applied in vitro. SO2 probe and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the SO2 content and determine p50 activity, respectively. Hypoxia caused a significant reduction in SO2 content in the mouse lung and HPAECs and increases in right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary artery wall thickness, muscularization, and the expression of PAEC ICAM-1 and MCP-1 and of PASMC Ki-67, collagen I, and α-SMA ( p < 0.05 ). However, EC-AAT1-Tg with sufficient SO2 content prevented the above increases induced by hypoxia ( p < 0.05 ). Mechanistically, EC-derived SO2 deficiency promoted HPAEC ICAM-1 and MCP-1 and the cocultured HPASMC Ki-67 and collagen I expression, which was abolished by andrographolide, an inhibitor of p50 ( p < 0.05 ). Meanwhile, EC-derived SO2 deficiency increased the expression of cocultured HPASMC α-SMA ( p < 0.05 ). Taken together, these findings revealed that EC-derived SO2 inhibited p50 activation to control PAEC inflammation in an autocrine manner and PASMC proliferation, hypertrophy, and collagen synthesis in a paracrine manner, thereby inhibiting hypoxic PVR.

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 282-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Xu ◽  
Yihua Bei ◽  
Shutong Shen ◽  
Jialiang Zhang ◽  
Yichao Lu ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Aberrant vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation plays an important role in the development of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). Dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) have been implicated in the progression of PAH. miR-222 has a pro-proliferation effect on VSMCs while it has an anti-proliferation effect on vascular endothelial cells (ECs). As the biological function of a single miRNA could be cell-type specific, the role of miR-222 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation is not clear and deserves to be explored. Methods: PASMCs were transfected with miR-222 mimic or inhibitor and PASMC proliferation was determined by Western blot for PCNA, Ki-67 and EdU staining, and cell number counting. The target genes of miR-222 including P27 and TIMP3 were determined by luciferase assay and Western blot. In addition, the functional rescue experiments were performed based on miR-222 inhibitor and siRNAs to target genes. Results: miR-222 mimic promoted PASMC proliferation while miR-222 inhibitor decreased that. TIMP3 was identified to be a direct target gene of miR-222 based on luciferase assay. Meanwhile, P27 and TIMP3 were up-regulated by miR-222 inhibitor and down-regulated by miR-222 mimic. Moreover, P27 siRNA and TIMP3 siRNA could both attenuate the anti-proliferation effect of miR-222 inhibitor in PASMCs, supporting that P27 and TIMP3 are at least partially responsible for the regulatory effect of miR-222 in PASMCs. Conclusion: miR-222 promotes PASMC proliferation at least partially through targeting P27 and TIMP3.


1997 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Powell ◽  
James Hydowski ◽  
Oleg Frank ◽  
Jaya Bhargava ◽  
Bauer E. Sumpio

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 2569-2581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zengxian Sun ◽  
Xiaowei Nie ◽  
Shuyang Sun ◽  
Shumin Dong ◽  
Chunluan Yuan ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Increasing evidence has demonstrated a significant role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in diverse biological processes, and many of which are likely to have functional roles in vascular remodeling. However, their functions in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remain largely unknown. Pulmonary vascular remodeling is an important pathological feature of PAH, leading to increased vascular resistance and reduced compliance. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) dysfunction is involved in vascular remodeling. Long noncoding RNAs are potential regulators of PASMCs function. Herein, we determined whether long noncoding RNA–maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) was involved in PAH-related vascular remodeling. Methods: The arterial wall thickness was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining in distal pulmonary arteries (PAs) isolated from lungs of healthy volunteers and PAH patients. The expression level of MEG3 was analyzed by qPCR. The effects of MEG3 on human PASMCs were assessed by cell counting Kit-8 assay, BrdU incorporation assay, flow cytometry, scratch-wound assay, immunofluorescence, and western blotting in human PASMCs. Results: We revealed that the expression of MEG3 was significantly downregulated in lung and PAs of patients with PAH. MEG3 knockdown affected PASMCs proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, inhibition of MEG3 regulated the cell cycle progression and made more smooth muscle cells from the G0/G1 phase to the G2/M+S phase and the process could stimulate the expression of PCNA, Cyclin A and Cyclin E. In addition, we found that the p53 pathway was involved in MEG3–induced smooth muscle cell proliferation. Conclusions: This study identified MEG3 as a critical regulator in PAH and demonstrated the potential of gene therapy and drug development for treating PAH.


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