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Ultrastructural analysis reveals cAMP-dependent enhancement of microvascular endothelial barrier functions via Rac1-mediated reorganization of intercellular junctions.

ABSTRACT: Evidence exists that cAMP stabilizes the endothelial barrier, in part via activation of the small GTPase Rac1. However, despite the high medical relevance of this signaling pathway, the mechanistic effects on intercellular contacts on the ultrastructural level are largely unknown. In microvascular endothelial cell monolayers, in which increased cAMP strengthened barrier properties, similar to intact microvessels in vivo, both forskolin and rolipram (F/R) to increase cAMP and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-2'-O-methyladenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (O-Me-cAMP) to stimulate exchange protein directly activated by cAMP/Ras proximate-1 (EPac/Rap 1) signaling enhanced transendothelial electrical resistance and induced activation of Rac1. Concurrently, augmented immunofluorescence intensity and linearization of signals at cell borders were observed for intercellular junction proteins VE-cadherin and claudin 5. Ultrastructural analysis of the intercellular contact zone architecture documented that exposure to F/R or O-Me-cAMP led to a significant increase in the proportion of contact sites displaying complex interdigitations of cell borders, in which membranes of neighboring cells were closely apposed over comparatively long distances; in addition, they were stabilized by numerous intercellular junctions. Interference with Rac1 activation by NSC-23766 completely abolished both barrier stabilization and contact zone reorganization in response to O-Me-cAMP, whereas F/R-mediated Rac1 activation and barrier enhancement were not affected by NSC-23766. In parallel experiments using macrovascular endothelium, increased cAMP failed to induce Rac1 activation, barrier enhancement, and contact zone reorganization. These results indicate that, in microvascular endothelium, Rac1-mediated alterations in contact zone architecture contribute to cAMP-induced barrier stabilization.

SUBMITTER: Spindler V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3081154 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ultrastructural analysis reveals cAMP-dependent enhancement of microvascular endothelial barrier functions via Rac1-mediated reorganization of intercellular junctions.

Spindler Volker V Peter Dominik D Harms Gregory S GS Asan Esther E Waschke Jens J

The American journal of pathology 20110331 5

Evidence exists that cAMP stabilizes the endothelial barrier, in part via activation of the small GTPase Rac1. However, despite the high medical relevance of this signaling pathway, the mechanistic effects on intercellular contacts on the ultrastructural level are largely unknown. In microvascular endothelial cell monolayers, in which increased cAMP strengthened barrier properties, similar to intact microvessels in vivo, both forskolin and rolipram (F/R) to increase cAMP and 8-(4-chlorophenylthi ...[more]

PMID: 21457935

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Project description:In the adult the interface between the cerebrospinal fluid and the brain is lined by the ependymal cells, which are joined by gap junctions. These intercellular connections do not provide a diffusional restrain between the two compartments. However, during development this interface, initially consisting of neuroepithelial cells and later radial glial cells, is characterized by "strap" junctions, which limit the exchange of different sized molecules between cerebrospinal fluid and the brain parenchyma. Here we provide a systematic study of permeability properties of this inner cerebrospinal fluid-brain barrier during mouse development from embryonic day, E17 until adult. Results show that at fetal stages exchange across this barrier is restricted to the smallest molecules (286Da) and the diffusional restraint is progressively removed as the brain develops. By postnatal day P20, molecules the size of plasma proteins (70 kDa) diffuse freely. Transcriptomic analysis of junctional proteins present in the cerebrospinal fluid-brain interface showed expression of adherens junctional proteins, actins, cadherins and catenins changing in a development manner consistent with the observed changes in the permeability studies. Gap junction proteins were only identified in the adult as was claudin-11. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize at the cellular level some of the adherens junctional proteins of genes identified from transcriptomic analysis. N-cadherin, β - and α-catenin immunoreactivity was detected outlining the inner CSF-brain interface from E16; most of these markers were not present in the adult ependyma. Claudin-5 was present in the apical-most part of radial glial cells and in endothelial cells in embryos, but only in endothelial cells including plexus endothelial cells in adults. Claudin-11 was only immunopositive in the adult, consistent with results obtained from transcriptomic analysis. These results provide information about physiological, molecular and morphological-related permeability changes occurring at the inner cerebrospinal fluid-brain barrier during brain development.

Project description:BackgroundThe brain endothelial barrier permeability is governed by tight and adherens junction protein complexes that restrict paracellular permeability at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Dysfunction of the inter-endothelial junctions has been implicated in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. The molecular mechanisms underlying junctional dysfunction during BBB impairment remain elusive. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as versatile regulators of the BBB function under physiological and pathological conditions, and altered levels of BBB-associated microRNAs were demonstrated in a number of brain pathologies including neurodegeneration and neuroinflammatory diseases. Among the altered micro-RNAs, miR-27a-3p was found to be downregulated in a number of neurological diseases characterized by loss of inter-endothelial junctions and disruption of the barrier integrity. However, the relationship between miR-27a-3p and tight and adherens junctions at the brain endothelium remains unexplored. Whether miR-27a-3p is involved in regulation of the junctions at the brain endothelium remains to be determined.MethodsUsing a gain-and-loss of function approach, we modulated levels of miR-27a-3p in an in-vitro model of the brain endothelium, key component of the BBB, and examined the resultant effect on the barrier paracellular permeability and on the expression of essential tight and adherens junctions. The mechanisms governing the regulation of junctional proteins by miR-27a-3p were also explored.ResultsOur results showed that miR-27a-3p inhibitor increases the barrier permeability and causes reduction of claudin-5 and occludin, two proteins highly enriched at the tight junction, while miR-27a-3p mimic reduced the paracellular leakage and increased claudin-5 and occludin protein levels. Interestingly, we found that miR-27-3p induces expression of claudin-5 and occludin by downregulating Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta (GSK3ß) and activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, a key pathway required for the BBB maintenance.ConclusionFor the first time, we showed that miR-27a-3p is a positive regulator of key tight junction proteins, claudin-5 and occludin, at the brain endothelium through targeting GSK3ß gene and activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Thus, miR-27a-3p may constitute a novel therapeutic target that could be exploited to prevent BBB dysfunction and preserves its integrity in neurological disorders characterized by impairment of the barrier's function.

Dataset Information

Ultrastructural analysis reveals cAMP-dependent enhancement of microvascular endothelial barrier functions via Rac1-mediated reorganization of intercellular junctions.

Publications

Ultrastructural analysis reveals cAMP-dependent enhancement of microvascular endothelial barrier functions via Rac1-mediated reorganization of intercellular junctions.

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