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Y chromosome linked UTY modulates sex differences in valvular fibroblast methylation in response to nanoscale extracellular matrix cues

ABSTRACT: Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is a progressive disease wherein males develop valve calcification relative to females that develop valve fibrosis. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) aberrantly activate to myofibroblasts during AVS, driving the fibrotic valve phenotype in females. Myofibroblasts further differentiate into osteoblast-like cells and secrete calcium nanoparticles, driving valve calcification in males. We hypothesized the lysine demethylase UTY (ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat containing, Y-linked) decreases methylation uniquely in response to nanoparticle cues in the valve extracellular matrix to promote an osteoblast-like phenotype. Here, we describe a bioinspired hydrogel cell culture platform to interrogate how nanoscale cues modulate sex-specific methylation states in VICs activating to myofibroblasts and osteoblast-like cells. We found UTY (ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat containing, Y-linked) modulates VIC phenotypes in response to nanoscale cues uniquely in males. Overall, we reveal a novel role of UTY in the regulation of calcification processes in males during AVS progression.

ORGANISM(S): Sus scrofa

PROVIDER: GSE273612 | GEO | 2024/12/09

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) is a sexually dimorphic disease, with women often presenting with sustained fibrosis and men with more extensive calcification. However, the intracellular molecular mechanisms that drive these clinically important sex differences remain under explored. Hydrogel scaffolds were designed to recapitulate key aspects of the valve tissue microenvironment and serve as a platform for culture of sex-specific valvular interstitial cells (VICs; precursors to pro-fibrotic myofibroblasts). The hydrogel culture system was used to interrogate intracellular pathways involved in sex-dependent VIC-to-myofibroblast activation and deactivation. RNA-seq was used to define pathways likely to be involved in driving sex-dependent activation. Interventions using small molecule inhibitors were performed to provide mechanistic insight into sex-specific cellular responses to microenvironmental cues, including matrix stiffness and exogenously delivered biochemical factors. In both healthy porcine and human aortic valves, female leaflets had higher baseline activation of the myofibroblast marker, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), compared to male leaflets. When isolated and cultured, female VICs had higher levels of basal α-SMA stress fibers that further increased in response to the hydrogel matrix stiffness, both of which were higher than male VICs. A transcriptomic analysis of male and female porcine VICs revealed Rho-associated protein kinase (RhoA/ROCK) signaling as a potential driver of this sex-dependent myofibroblast activation. Further, we found that genes that escape X-chromosome inactivation, such as BMX and STS (encoding for Bmx non-receptor tyrosine kinase and steroid sulfatase, respectively) partially regulate the elevated female myofibroblast activation via RhoA/ROCK signaling. This finding was confirmed by treating male and female VICs with endothelin-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, factors that are secreted by endothelial cells and known to drive myofibroblast activation via RhoA/ROCK signaling. Together, in vivo and in vitro results confirm sex-dependencies in myofibroblast activation pathways, and transcriptome analyses and small molecule interventions implicate genes that escape X-chromosome inactivation in regulating sex differences in AVS progression. Our results underscore the importance of considering sex as a biological variable to understand the molecular mechanisms of AVS and help guide sex-based precision therapies.

Project description:E12.5 AV cushion and E17.5 AV valve from wild-type FVB/N mice and in vitro cultured MC3T3 cells; In the study we demonstrated shared gene expression in embryonic heart valve development and Osteoblast progenitor cells. The atrioventricular (AV) valves of the heart develop from undifferentiated mesenchymal endocardial cushions, that later remodel into stratified valves with diversified extracellular matrix (ECM). Because the mature valves express genes associated with osteogenesis and exhibit disease-associated calcification, we hypothesized the existence of shared regulatory pathways active in the remodeling AV valves and in bone progenitor cells. In order to define gene regulatory programs of valvulogenesis relative to osteoblast progenitors, we undertook Affymetrix gene expression profiling analysis of murine embryonic day (E)12.5 AV cushions compared to E17.5 remodeled AV valves (mitral and tri-cuspid) and to pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 (subclone4) cells. Overall MC3T3 cells were significantly more similar to E17.5 valves than to E12.5 cushions, supporting the hypothesis that valve remodeling involves the expression of many genes also expressed in osteoblasts. Several transcription factors characteristic of mesenchymal and osteoblast precursor cells, including Twist1 are predominant in E12.5 cushion. Valve remodeling also includes differential regulation of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors as well as characteristic collagen isoform switching. Among the most highly enriched genes during valvulogenesis were members of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family including Asporin, a known negative regulator of osteoblast differentiation and mineralization. Together, these data support shared gene expression profiles of the remodeling valves and osteoblast bone precursor cells in normal valve development and homeostasis with potential functions in calcific valve disease. Experiment Overall Design: In the study, we hybridized RNA from E12.5 AV cushion and E17.5 AV valve from wild-type FVB/N mice and in vitro cultured MC3T3 cells to Affymetrix MOE430 2 GeneChipÂ® arrays.

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Y chromosome linked UTY modulates sex differences in valvular fibroblast methylation in response to nanoscale extracellular matrix cues

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