Project description:Objectives: We have previously identified a population of cells that expressed stemness-associated markers in extracranial arterio-venous malformation (AVM) and demonstrated expression of cathepsins B, D, and G on embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like populations in other vascular anomalies. This study investigated the expression of cathepsins B, D, and G, and their localization in relation to this primitive population in extracranial AVM. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on AVM tissue samples from 13 patients to demonstrate expression of cathepsins B, D, and G. Western blotting was performed on four AVM tissue samples and three AVM-derived primary cell lines to confirm protein expression of cathepsins B and D proteins. RT-qPCR was performed on three AVM-derived primary cell lines to demonstrate transcript expression of cathepsins B, D, and G. Enzymatic activity assays were performed on three AVM-derived primary cell lines to investigate if cathepsins B and D were active. Localization of the cathepsins was investigated using immunofluorescence dual-staining of the cathepsins with the ESC markers OCT4 and SOX2, and mast cells marker chymase on two of the 13 AVM tissue samples. Results: Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated expression of cathepsins B, D, and G in all 13 AVM tissue samples. Western blotting showed expression of cathepsins B and D proteins in all four AVM tissue samples and all three AVM-derived primary cell lines. RT-qPCR demonstrated transcripts of cathepsins B, D, and G in all three AVM-derived primary cell lines. Enzymatic activity assays showed that cathepsins B and D were active. Immunofluorescence staining showed expression of cathepsins B and D on the OCT4+/SOX2+ endothelium and media of the lesional vessels and cells within the stroma in AVM nidus. Cathepsin G was expressed on the chymase+ phenotypic mast cells. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the novel finding of the expression of cathepsins B, D, and G in AVM. Cathepsins B and D were expressed by the primitive population, and cathepsin G was localized to mast cells, within the AVM nidus.
Project description:BackgroundCerebral arterio venous malformations (AVM) are a major causal factor for intracranial hemorrhage, which result in permanent disability or death. The molecular mechanisms of AVM are complex, and their pathogenesis remains an enigma. Current research on cerebral AVM is focused on characterizing the molecular features of AVM nidus to elucidate the aberrant signaling pathways. The initial stimuli that lead to the development of AVM nidus structures between a dilated artery and a vein are however not known.MethodsIn order to understand the molecular basis of development of cerebral AVM, we used in-depth RNA sequencing with the total RNA isolated from cerebral AVM nidus. Immunoblot and qRT-PCR assays were used to study the differential gene expression in AVM nidus, and immunofluorescence staining was used to study the expression pattern of aberrant proteins in AVM nidus and control tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression pattern of aberrant proteins in AVM nidus and control tissues.ResultsThe transcriptome study has identified 38 differentially expressed genes in cerebral AVM nidus, of which 35 genes were upregulated and 3 genes were downregulated. A final modular analysis identified an upregulation of ALDH1A2, a key rate-limiting enzyme of retinoic acid signaling pathway. Further analysis revealed that CYR61, a regulator of angiogenesis, and the target gene for retinoic acid signaling is upregulated in AVM nidus. We observed that astrocytes associated with AVM nidus are abnormal with increased expression of GFAP and Vimentin. Triple immunofluorescence staining of the AVM nidus revealed that CYR61 was also overexpressed in the abnormal astrocytes associated with AVM tissue.ConclusionUsing high-throughput RNA sequencing analysis and immunostaining, we report deregulated expression of retinoic acid signaling genes in AVM nidus and its associated astrocytes and speculate that this might trigger the abnormal angiogenesis and the development of cerebral AVM in humans.
Project description:Arterial-venous malformations (AVMs) are direct connections between arteries and veins without an intervening capillary bed. Either familial inherited or sporadically occurring, localized pericytes (PCs) drop is among the AVMs' hallmarks. Whether impaired PC coverage triggers AVMs or it is a secondary event is unclear. Here we evaluated the role of the master regulator of PC recruitment, Platelet derived growth factor B (PDGFB) in AVM pathogenesis. Using tamoxifen-inducible deletion of Pdgfb in endothelial cells (ECs), we show that disruption of EC Pdgfb-mediated PC recruitment and maintenance leads to capillary enlargement and organotypic AVM-like structures. These vascular lesions contain non-proliferative hyperplastic, hypertrophic and miss-oriented capillary ECs with an altered capillary EC fate identity. Mechanistically, we propose that PDGFB maintains capillary EC size and caliber to limit hemodynamic changes, thus restricting expression of Krüppel like factor 4 and activation of Bone morphogenic protein, Transforming growth factor β and NOTCH signaling in ECs. Furthermore, our study emphasizes that inducing or activating PDGFB signaling may be a viable therapeutic approach for treating vascular malformations.
Project description:Pulmonary arterio-venous fistula is an uncommon cause of cyanosis and should be suspected when normal cardiac examination is associated without evidence of intra-cardiac shunt. Diagnosis of extra-cardiac shunt can be suspected by contrast echocardiography using agitated saline and confirmation of pulmonary arterio-venous fistula can be made by computed tomography pulmonary angiography with information regarding the size feeding vessels necessary for the planning of intervention. With the advancement of trans-catheter devices, fistula can be occluded successfully by embolotherapy. Coils, duct occluders, and vascular plugs are some of the commonly used trans-catheter devices among the armamentarium. Each device has its own inherent advantages and limitations. However, operators' familiarity and expertise is an important parameter to choose the device to be employed in closure of fistula. The experience of Amplatzer family of devices in closure of pulmonary arterio-venous fistula is limited in the literature. We report a case of large pulmonary arterio-venous fistula successfully closed with a 20 mm Amplatzer septal occluder device in a 16-year-old cyanotic boy. Post-procedure contrast echocardiography confirmed absence of right to left shunt and computed tomography pulmonary angiography confirmed the device in situ closing the feeding vessel. Over a follow-up of six months reversal of clubbing and cyanosis was noted. <Learning objective: Patients with cyanosis with normal cardiac examination without evident intra-cardiac shunt in echocardiography should be evaluated for pulmonary arterio-venous fistula. Computed tomography Pulmonary angiography is gold standard but contrast echocardiography can be valuable. Percutaneous trans-catheter closure using coils, duct occluders, or vascular plugs can be an alternative to surgery. Choice of device depends on size and tortuosity of the feeding vessel as well as operator's familiarity with the device.>.
Project description:IntroductionThe fetoplacental vasculature network is essential for the exchange of nutrients, gases and wastes with the maternal circulation and for normal fetal development. The present study quantitatively compares arterial and venous morphological and functional differences in the mouse fetoplacental vascular network.MethodsHigh resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography was used to visualize the 3D geometry of the arterial and venous fetoplacental vasculature in embryonic day 15.5 CD-1 mice (n = 5). Automated image analysis was used to measure the vascular geometry of the approximately 4100 arterial segments and 3200 venous segments per specimen to simulate blood flow through these networks.ResultsBoth the arterial and venous trees demonstrated a hierarchical branching structure with 8 or 9 (arterial) or 8 (venous) orders. The venous tree was smaller in volume and overall dimensions than the arterial tree. Venous vessel diameters increased more rapidly than arteries with each successive order, leading to lower overall resistance, although the umbilical vein was notably smaller and of higher resistance than these scaling relationships would predict. Simulation of blood flow for these vascular networks showed that 57% of total resistance resides in the umbilical artery and arterial tree, 17% in the capillary bed, and 26% in the venous tree and umbilical vein.DiscussionA detailed examination of the mouse fetoplacental arterial and venous tree revealed features, such as the distribution of resistance and the dimension of the venous tree, that were both morphologically distinct from other vascular beds and that appeared adapted to the specialized requirements of sustaining a fetus.
Project description:Recent reports suggest that mammalian embryonic coronary endothelium (CoE) originates from the sinus venosus and ventricular endocardium. However, the contribution of extracardiac cells to CoE is thought to be minor and nonsignificant for coronary formation. Using classic (Wt1(Cre)) and previously undescribed (G2-Gata4(Cre)) transgenic mouse models for the study of coronary vascular development, we show that extracardiac septum transversum/proepicardium (ST/PE)-derived endothelial cells are required for the formation of ventricular coronary arterio-venous vascular connections. Our results indicate that at least 20% of embryonic coronary arterial and capillary endothelial cells derive from the ST/PE compartment. Moreover, we show that conditional deletion of the ST/PE lineage-specific Wilms' tumor suppressor gene (Wt1) in the ST/PE of G2-Gata4(Cre) mice and in the endothelium of Tie2(Cre) mice disrupts embryonic coronary transmural patterning, leading to embryonic death. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ST/PE-derived endothelial cells contribute significantly to and are required for proper coronary vascular morphogenesis.
Project description:Vascular malformations are defects caused by the abnormal growth of the vasculature. Among them, venous malformation (VM) is an anomaly characterized by slow-flow vascular lesions with abnormally shaped veins, typically in sponge-like configuration. VMs can expand over years causing disfigurement, obstruction of vital structures, thrombosis, bleeding, and pain. Treatments have been very limited and primarily based on supportive care, compression garments, sclerotherapy, and/or surgical resection. Sirolimus treatment has recently shown efficacy in some patients with complicated vascular anomalies, including VMs. Activating somatic TIE2 gene mutations have been identified in up to 60% of VMs and PIK3CA mutations have been found in another 25%. Here, we report a xenograft model of VM that reflects the patients' mutation heterogeneity. First, we established a protocol to isolate and expand in culture endothelial cells (VM-EC) from VM tissue or VM blood of nine patients. In these cells, we identified somatic mutations of TIE2, PIK3CA, or a combination of both. Both TIE2 and PIK3CA mutations induced constitutive AKT activation, while TIE2 mutations also showed high MAPK-ERK signaling. Finally, VM-EC implanted into immune-deficient mice generated lesions with ectatic blood-filled channels with scarce smooth muscle cell coverage, similar to patients' VM. This VM xenograft model could be instrumental to test the therapeutic efficacy of Sirolimus in the presence of the different TIE2 or PIK3CA mutations or to test for efficacy of additional compounds in targeting the specific mutated protein(s), thus enabling development of personalized treatment options for VM patients.
Project description:Endothelial cell late G1 arrest induced by Palbociclib modulates the expression of genes regulating arterio-venous identity and prevents AVM development induced by Alk1 genetic deletion.