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Smooth Muscle Cell Reprogramming in Aortic Aneurysms.

ABSTRACT: The etiology of aortic aneurysms is poorly understood, but it is associated with atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, and abnormal transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling in smooth muscle. Here, we investigated the interactions between these different factors in aortic aneurysm development and identified a key role for smooth muscle cell (SMC) reprogramming into a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like state. SMC-specific ablation of TGF-β signaling in Apoe^-/- mice on a hypercholesterolemic diet led to development of aortic aneurysms exhibiting all the features of human disease, which was associated with transdifferentiation of a subset of contractile SMCs into an MSC-like intermediate state that generated osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, and macrophages. This combination of medial SMC loss with marked increases in non-SMC aortic cell mass induced exuberant growth and dilation of the aorta, calcification and ossification of the aortic wall, and inflammation, resulting in aneurysm development.

SUBMITTER: Chen PY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7182079 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-? (PPAR?) plays an important role in the vasculature; however, the role of PPAR? in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is not well understood. We hypothesized that PPAR? in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) attenuates the development of AAA. We also investigated PPAR?-mediated signaling pathways that may prevent the development of AAA.We determined whether periaortic application of CaCl(2) renders vascular SMC-selective PPAR? knockout (SMPG KO) mice more susceptible to destruction of normal aortic wall architecture.There is evidence of increased vessel dilatation in the abdominal aorta 6 weeks after 0.25M periaortic CaCl(2) application in SMPG KO mice compared with littermate controls (1.4 ± 0.3 mm [n = 8] vs 1.1 ± 0.2 mm [n = 7]; P = .000119). Results from SMPG KO mice indicate medial layer elastin degradation was greater 6 weeks after abluminal application of CaCl(2) to the abdominal aorta (P < .01). Activated cathepsin S, a potent elastin-degrading enzyme, was increased in SMPG KO mice vs wild-type controls. To further identify a role of PPAR? signaling in reducing the development of AAA, we demonstrated that adenoviral-mediated PPAR? overexpression in cultured rat aortic SMCs decreases (P = .022) the messenger RNA levels of cathepsin S. In addition, a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay detected PPAR? bound to a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor response element (PPRE) -141 to -159 bp upstream of the cathepsin S gene sequence in mouse aortic SMCs. Also, adenoviral-mediated PPAR? overexpression and knockdown in cultured rat aortic SMCs decreases (P = .013) and increases (P = .018) expression of activated cathepsin S. Finally, immunohistochemistry demonstrated a greater inflammatory infiltrate in SMPG KO mouse aortas, as evidenced by elevations in F4/80 and tumor necrosis factor-? expression.In this study, we identify PPAR? as an important contributor in attenuating the development of aortic aneurysms by demonstrating that loss of PPAR? in vascular SMCs promotes aortic dilatation and elastin degradation. Thus, PPAR? activation may be potentially promising medical therapy in reducing the risk of AAA progression and rupture.

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Smooth Muscle Cell Reprogramming in Aortic Aneurysms.

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