Project description:lncRNAs were associated with the cardiovascular diseases since we used Affy lncRNA gene expression microarray to analyze differentially expressed lncRNAs in both normal and Ang II induced HUVECs
Project description:Understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathological vascular remodeling is important for treating cardiovascular diseases and complications. Recent studies have highlighted a role of deubiquitinases in vascular pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated the role of a deubiquitinase, OTUD1, in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular remodeling. We identified upregulated OTUD1 in the vascular endothelium of Ang II-challenged mice and showed OTUD1 deletion attenuated vascular remodeling, collagen deposition, and EndMT. Conversely, OTUD1 overexpression aggravated these pathological changes both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, SMAD3 was identified as a substrate of OTUD1 using co-immunoprecipitation followed with LC-MS/MS. We found OTUD1 stabilizes SMAD3 and facilitates SMAD3/SMAD4 complex formation and subsequent nuclear translocation through both K48- and K63-linked deubiquitination. OTUD1-mediated SMAD3 activation regulate the transcription of genes involved in vascular EndMT and remodeling in HUVECs. Finally, SMAD3 inhibition reversed OTUD1-promoted vascular remodeling. Our findings demonstrate endothelial OTUD1 promoted Ang II-induced vascular remodeling by deubiquitinating SMAD3. This study identified SMAD3 as a target of OTUD1 and indicates OTUD1 as a potential therapeutic target for the diseases related to vascular remodeling.
Project description:Understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathological vascular remodeling is important for treating cardiovascular diseases and complications. Recent studies have highlighted a role of deubiquitinases in vascular pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated the role of a deubiquitinase, OTUD1, in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular remodeling. We identified upregulated OTUD1 in the vascular endothelium of Ang II-challenged mice and showed OTUD1 deletion attenuated vascular remodeling, collagen deposition, and EndMT. Conversely, OTUD1 overexpression aggravated these pathological changes both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, SMAD3 was identified as a substrate of OTUD1 using co-immunoprecipitation followed with LC-MS/MS. We found OTUD1 stabilizes SMAD3 and facilitates SMAD3/SMAD4 complex formation and subsequent nuclear translocation through both K48- and K63-linked deubiquitination. OTUD1-mediated SMAD3 activation regulate the transcription of genes involved in vascular EndMT and remodeling in HUVECs. Finally, SMAD3 inhibition reversed OTUD1-promoted vascular remodeling. Our findings demonstrate endothelial OTUD1 promoted Ang II-induced vascular remodeling by deubiquitinating SMAD3. This study identified SMAD3 as a target of OTUD1 and indicates OTUD1 as a potential therapeutic target for the diseases related to vascular remodeling.
Project description:Angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) dysfunction plays a critical role in cardiovascular diseases. However, the gene expression in this process is unclear. We used Rat Affymetrix gene array to profile Ang II-regulated gene in RVSMC and evaluated their role in VSMC dysfunction. Examined 4 samples of Rat VSMC in triplicate. Control (without Ang II treatment) and 3 samples treated with Ang II for 6h, 12h, and 24h. Compared the changes in gene expression in Ang II treated samples relative to control samples.
Project description:Angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) dysfunction plays a critical role in cardiovascular diseases. However, the gene expression in this process is unclear. We used Rat Affymetrix gene array to profile Ang II-regulated gene in RVSMC and evaluated their role in VSMC dysfunction.
Project description:The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II is expressed in smooth muscle and believed to mediate intracellular calcium handling and calcium-dependent gene transcription. CaMKII is activated by Angiotensin-II. The multifunctional calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is activated by Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), but its impact on hypertension remains unknown. In our transgenic mice that express the inhibitor peptide CaMKIIN in smooth muscle (TG SM-CaMKIIN), the blood pressure response to chronic Ang-II infusion was significantly reduced as compared to littermate controls. Surprisingly, examination of blood pressure and heart rate under ganglionic blockade revealed a key role for VSMC CaMKII in efferent sympathetic outflow in response to Ang II hypertension. Consistently, the efferent splanchnic nerve activity and plasma phenylephrine concentrations were significantly lower in TG SM-CaMKIIN mice as compared to littermates. Moreover, the aortic depressor nerve activity was reset in hypertensive wild type animals, but not in TG SM-CaMKIIN mice, suggesting that changes in baroreceptor wall activity may be responsible for the blood pressure difference in Ang-II hypertension. The pulse wave velocity, a measure of vascular wall stiffness in vivo, was increased in aortas of hypertensive compared to normotensive WT animals. However, Ang-II infusion did not alter the pulse wave velocity in transgenic mice, suggesting that CaMKII in VSMC controls structural smooth muscle genes. Accordingly, analysis of gene expression changes in aortas from wild type and TG SM-CaMKIIN hypertensive mice demonstrated that CaMKII inhibition mainly altered the expression of muscle contractile proteins. In contrast, TG SM-CaMKIIN aortas were protected from the Ang-II induced upregulation of genes linked to proliferation, suggesting that CaMKII inhibition prevents the Ang-II-induced reprogramming of smooth muscle cell gene expression towards a proliferative phenotype. 5 WT C57Bl/6 and 5 mice that express the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II peptide inhibitor CaMKIIN in smooth muscle only (TG SM-CaMKIIN) were infused with 1.25 ug/kg/min Angiotensin-II by osmotic minipump for 14 days. 5 WT and 5 transgenic mice infused with normal saline served as controls. The mice were sacrificed on day 14 and the thoracic aortas isolated. RNA was isolated and pooled for the following groups: WT (wild type), C (TG SM-CaMKIIN), WT-A (WT with Angiotensin-II), C-A (TG SM-CaMKIIN + Angiotensin-II)
Project description:Heart failure is a fairly common outcome of hypertension. Recent studies have highlighted the key role of the non-hemodynamic activity of angiotensin II (Ang II) in hypertensive heart failure via inducing cardiac inflammation. Drugs that disrupt Ang II-induced cardiac inflammation may have clinical utility in the treatment of hypertensive heart failure. A naturally occurring compound, corynoline, exhibit anti-inflammatory activities in other systems. C57BL/6 mice were injected with Ang II via a micro-osmotic pump for four weeks to develop hypertensive heart failure. The mice were treated with corynoline by gavage for two weeks. RNA-sequencing analysis was performed to explore the potential mechanism of corynoline. We found that corynoline could inhibit inflammation, myocardial fibrosis, and hypertrophy to prevent heart dysfunction, without the alteration of blood pressure. RNA-sequencing analysis indicates that the PPARα pathway is involved Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis and cardiac remodeling. Corynoline reversed Ang II-induced PPARα inhibition both in vitro and in vivo. We further found that corynoline increases the interaction between PPARα and P65 to inhibit the NF-κB pro-inflammatory pathway in H9c2 cells. Our studies show that corynoline relieves Ang II-induced hypertensive heart failure by increasing the interaction between PPARα and P65 to inhibit the NF-κB pathway.
Project description:Angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment contributes to hypertrophic growth and mitochondrial dysfunction in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Here, we report enhanced RPS3 phosphorylation at serine 149 in nuclear compartment and abnormal mitochondrial biogenesis during Ang II incubation. Furthermore, RPS3 S149 mutation attenuated Ang II induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and improved mitochondrial biogenesis and dysfunction. Mechanistically, RPS3 Ser149 mutation promoted mitochondrial RNA stabilization and blunt Ang II induced mitochodnrial RNA alternative splicing for degradation, by which RPS3 dephosphorylation restored mitochondrial complex assembly in cardiomyocytes.
Project description:The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II is expressed in smooth muscle and believed to mediate intracellular calcium handling and calcium-dependent gene transcription. CaMKII is activated by Angiotensin-II. The multifunctional calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is activated by Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), but its impact on hypertension remains unknown. In our transgenic mice that express the inhibitor peptide CaMKIIN in smooth muscle (TG SM-CaMKIIN), the blood pressure response to chronic Ang-II infusion was significantly reduced as compared to littermate controls. Surprisingly, examination of blood pressure and heart rate under ganglionic blockade revealed a key role for VSMC CaMKII in efferent sympathetic outflow in response to Ang II hypertension. Consistently, the efferent splanchnic nerve activity and plasma phenylephrine concentrations were significantly lower in TG SM-CaMKIIN mice as compared to littermates. Moreover, the aortic depressor nerve activity was reset in hypertensive wild type animals, but not in TG SM-CaMKIIN mice, suggesting that changes in baroreceptor wall activity may be responsible for the blood pressure difference in Ang-II hypertension. The pulse wave velocity, a measure of vascular wall stiffness in vivo, was increased in aortas of hypertensive compared to normotensive WT animals. However, Ang-II infusion did not alter the pulse wave velocity in transgenic mice, suggesting that CaMKII in VSMC controls structural smooth muscle genes. Accordingly, analysis of gene expression changes in aortas from wild type and TG SM-CaMKIIN hypertensive mice demonstrated that CaMKII inhibition mainly altered the expression of muscle contractile proteins. In contrast, TG SM-CaMKIIN aortas were protected from the Ang-II induced upregulation of genes linked to proliferation, suggesting that CaMKII inhibition prevents the Ang-II-induced reprogramming of smooth muscle cell gene expression towards a proliferative phenotype.
Project description:Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have emerged as critical mediators in driving allergic airway inflammation. Here, we identified angiotensin (Ang) II as a positive regulator of ILC2s. ILC2s expressed higher levels of the Ang II receptor AT1a, and colocalized with lung epithelial cells expressing angiotensinogen. Administration of Ang II significantly enhanced ILC2 responses both in vivo and in vitro, which were almost completely abrogated in AT1a-deficient mice. Deletion of AT1a or pharmacological inhibition of the Ang II - AT1 axis resulted in a remarkable remission of airway inflammation. The regulation of ILC2s by Ang II was cell-intrinsic and dependent on interleukin (IL)-33, and was associated with marked changes in transcriptional profiling and upregulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, higher levels of plasma Ang II correlated positively with the abundance of circulating ILC2s as well as disease severity in asthmatic patients. These observations reveal a critical role for Ang II in regulating ILC2 responses and airway inflammation.