S-EPMC4931033 - Endothelial to mesenchymal transition is common in atherosclerotic lesions and is associated with plaque instability. - OmicsDI

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Endothelial to mesenchymal transition is common in atherosclerotic lesions and is associated with plaque instability.

ABSTRACT: Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays a major role during development, and also contributes to several adult cardiovascular diseases. Importantly, mesenchymal cells including fibroblasts are prominent in atherosclerosis, with key functions including regulation of: inflammation, matrix and collagen production, and plaque structural integrity. However, little is known about the origins of atherosclerosis-associated fibroblasts. Here we show using endothelial-specific lineage-tracking that EndMT-derived fibroblast-like cells are common in atherosclerotic lesions, with EndMT-derived cells expressing a range of fibroblast-specific markers. In vitro modelling confirms that EndMT is driven by TGF-? signalling, oxidative stress and hypoxia; all hallmarks of atherosclerosis. 'Transitioning' cells are readily detected in human plaques co-expressing endothelial and fibroblast/mesenchymal proteins, indicative of EndMT. The extent of EndMT correlates with an unstable plaque phenotype, which appears driven by altered collagen-MMP production in EndMT-derived cells. We conclude that EndMT contributes to atherosclerotic patho-biology and is associated with complex plaques that may be related to clinical events.

SUBMITTER: Evrard SM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4931033 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Endothelial to mesenchymal transition is common in atherosclerotic lesions and is associated with plaque instability.

Evrard Solene M SM Lecce Laura L Michelis Katherine C KC Nomura-Kitabayashi Aya A Pandey Gaurav G Purushothaman K-Raman KR d'Escamard Valentina V Li Jennifer R JR Hadri Lahouaria L Fujitani Kenji K Moreno Pedro R PR Benard Ludovic L Rimmele Pauline P Cohain Ariella A Mecham Brigham B Randolph Gwendalyn J GJ Nabel Elizabeth G EG Hajjar Roger R Fuster Valentin V Boehm Manfred M Kovacic Jason C JC

Nature communications 20160624

Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays a major role during development, and also contributes to several adult cardiovascular diseases. Importantly, mesenchymal cells including fibroblasts are prominent in atherosclerosis, with key functions including regulation of: inflammation, matrix and collagen production, and plaque structural integrity. However, little is known about the origins of atherosclerosis-associated fibroblasts. Here we show using endothelial-specific lineage-tracking ...[more]

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