Wnt-4 signaling is involved in the control of smooth muscle cell fate via Bmp-4 in the medullary stroma of the developing kidney

Wnt-4, a member of the Wnt family of secreted signaling molecules, is essential for nephrogenesis, but its expression in the presumptive medulla suggests additional developmental roles in kidney organogenesis. We demonstrate here that Wnt-4 signaling plays also a role in the determination of the fate of smooth muscle cells in the medullary stroma of the developing kidney, as a differentiation marker, smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA), is markedly reduced in the absence of its signaling. Wnt-4 probably performs this function by activating the Bmp-4 gene encoding a known differentiation factor for smooth muscle cells, since Bmp-4 gene expression was lost in the absence of Wnt-4 while Wnt-4 signaling led to a rescue of Bmp-4 expression and induction of alpha-SMA-positive cells in vitro. Recombinant Bmp-4 similarly rescued the differentiation of alpha-SMA-expressing cells in cultured Wnt-4-deficient embryonic kidney. The lack of smooth muscle cell differentiation leads to an associated deficiency in the pericytes around the developing vessels of the Wnt-4-deficient kidney and apparently leads to a secondary defect in the maturation of the kidney vessels. Thus, besides being critical for regulating mesenchymal to epithelial transformation in the cortical region in nephrogenesis, Wnt-4 signaling regulates the fate of smooth muscle cells in the developing medullary region.     

Altered response of vascular smooth muscle cells to exogenous biochemical stimulation in two- and three-dimensional culture

Removal of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) from their native environment alters the biochemical and mechanical signals responsible for maintaining normal cell function, causing a shift from a quiescent, contractile phenotype to a more proliferative, synthetic state. We examined the effect on SMC function of culture on two-dimensional (2D) substrates and in three-dimensional (3D) collagen Type I gels, including the effect of exogenous biochemical stimulation on gel compaction, cell proliferation, and expression of the contractile protein smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMA) in these systems. Embedding of SMC in 3D collagen matrices caused a marked decrease in both cell proliferation and expression of SMA. The presence of the extracellular matrix modulated cellular responses to platelet-derived growth factor BB, heparin, transforming growth factor-beta1, and endothelial cell-conditioned medium. Cell proliferation and SMA expression were shown to be inversely related, while gel compaction and SMA expression were not correlated. Taken together, these results show that SMC phenotype and function can be modulated using biochemical stimulation in vitro, but that the effects produced are dependent on the nature of the extracellular matrix. These findings have implications for the study of vascular biology in vitro, as well as for the development of engineered vascular tissues.     

CCN1 and CCN2: blood brothers in angiogenic action

CCN2/connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a matricellular protein essential for skeletal development during embryogenesis. In adulthood, aberrant CCN2 expression is associated with many malignancies and fibrosis of virtually every organ. Despite its prominent expression in endothelial cells in the vasculature, the role of CCN2 in vessel development was unknown. In a recent study, Hall-Glenn et al. (PLoS ONE 7:e30562) have revealed the role of CCN2 in developmental angiogenesis through a detailed analysis of how CCN2 mediates the interaction between vascular endothelial cells and pericytes. In addition, CCN2 also regulates endothelial basement membrane formation during vessel formation. Here I compare the angiogenic activities of CCN2 during embryogenesis to those of its homologous family member CCN1 (CYR61), which is essential for cardiovascular development. Understanding the angiogenic actions of CCN1 and CCN2 may have implication in the development of therapeutic strategies targeting these proteins for the treatment of diseases such as cancer and fibrosis.     

Rapid Degeneration of Cultured Human Brain Pericytes by Amyloid β Protein

Abstract: Amyloid β protein (Aβ) deposition in the cerebral arterial and capillary walls is one of the major characteristics of brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease and hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type (HCHWA-D). Vascular Aβ deposition is accompanied by degeneration of smooth muscle cells and pericytes. In this study we found that Aβ_1–40 carrying the "Dutch" mutation (HCHWA-D Aβ_1–40) as well as wild-type Aβ_1–42 induced degeneration of cultured human brain pericytes and human leptomeningeal smooth muscle cells, whereas wild-type Aβ_1–40 and HCHWA-D Aβ_1–42 were inactive. Cultured brain pericytes appeared to be much more vulnerable to Aβ-induced degeneration than leptomeningeal smooth muscle cells, because in brain pericyte cultures cell viability already decreased after 2 days of exposure to HCHWA-D Aβ_1–40, whereas in leptomeningeal smooth muscle cell cultures cell death was prominent only after 4–5 days. Moreover, leptomeningeal smooth muscle cell cultures were better able to recover than brain pericyte cultures after short-term treatment with HCHWA-D Aβ_1–40. Degeneration of either cell type was preceded by an increased production of cellular amyloid precursor protein. Both cell death and amyloid precursor protein production could be inhibited by the amyloid-binding dye Congo red, suggesting that fibril assembly of Aβ is crucial for initiating its destructive effects. These data imply an important role for Aβ in inducing perivascular cell pathology as observed in the cerebral vasculature of patients with Alzheimer's disease or HCHWA-D.     

丝素材料植入大鼠皮下微动脉生成过程及形态学变化

目的:探讨多孔丝素材料植入体内后的微动脉生成过程及形态学变化而进行实验研究,为合理设计创伤修复用多孔丝素膜生物材料的形态结构提供基础理论及实验依据.方法:选择成年雄性健康SD大鼠16只,每只大鼠在背部皮下植入多孔丝素材料,于术后5 d,7 d,10 d,13 d,15d,18 d,23 d和25 d时取材进行组织学观察、分析微动脉长入多孔丝素材料的情况,并对材料中的微动脉的密度变化进行分析.结果:术后7d,在组织和材料交界处,看到有微动脉长入其中.术后18 d,材料与组织交界处的微动脉血管密度接近术后10 d的微动脉密度,材料中血管密度继续呈增加趋势.术后25 d,微动脉血管分布得更加均匀,且材料交界处与材料中微动脉的血管密度大体一致.结论:植入皮下前期,丝素材料与组织交界处先有微动脉生成并向材料中长入;推想在中后期,出现了微动脉套叠式血管新生来进行重塑血管网络.     

Cardiovascular protection of magnolol: cell-type specificity and dose-related effects

Magnolia officinalis has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Magnolol, an active component isolated from Magnolia officinalis, is known to be a cardiovascular protector since 1994. The multiplex mechanisms of magnolol on cardiovascular protection depends on cell types and dosages, and will be reviewed and discussed in this article. Magnolol under low and moderate dosage possesses the ability to protect heart from ischemic/reperfusion injury, reduces atherosclerotic change, protects endothelial cell against apoptosis and inhibits neutrophil-endothelial adhesion. The moderate to high concentration of magnolol mainly acts on smooth muscle cells and platelets. Magnolol induces apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells at moderate concentration and inhibits proliferation at moderate and high concentration. High concentration of magnolol also abrogates platelet activation, aggregation and thrombus formation. Magnolol also serves as an smooth muscle relaxant only upon the high concentration. Oral intake of magnolol to reach the therapeutic level for cardiovascular protection is applicable, thus makes magnolol an agent of great potential for preventing cardiovascular diseases in high-risk patients.     

Regeneration of the arterial wall in microporous,compliant, biodegradable vascular grafts after implantation into the rat abdominal aorta

Summary The ultrastructure of a new type of vascular graft, prepared from a mixture of polyurethane (95 weight %) and poly-L-lactic acid (5 weight %), was examined six weeks after implantation into the abdominal aorta of rats. These microporous, compliant, biodegradable, vascular grafts function as temporary scaffolds for the regeneration of the arterial wall.Smooth muscle cells, covering the grafts, regenerated a neo-media underneath an almost completely regenerated endothelial layer (neo-intima). These smooth muscle cells varied in morphology from normal smooth muscle cells to myofibroblasts. They were surrounded by elastic laminae and collagen fibers.Macrophages, epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, fibroblasts and capillaries were present in the disintegrating graft lattices. The epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells engulfed polymer particles of the disintegrating grafts.The regeneration of the endothelial and smooth muscle cells is similar to the natural response of arterial tissue upon injury. The presence of macrophages, epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, fibroblasts and capillaries in the graft lattices resembles the natural response of tissue against foreign body implants. Both of these responses result in the formation of a neo-artery that possesses sufficient strength, compliance and thromboresistance to function as a small caliber arterial substitute.Supported by Grant nr. 82.042 from the Dutch Heart Foundation     

人脐静脉血管平滑肌促内皮细胞组织因子表达的体外实验研究

目的研究血管平滑肌细胞对血管内皮细胞组织因子表达的影响并探讨其临床意义.方法用贴块法培养人脐静脉平滑肌细胞;酶消化法培养人脐静脉内皮细胞;用培养平滑肌细胞条件培养液(SMC-CM)刺激培养的内皮细胞,一步凝固法检测内皮细胞组织因子的活性;Northern blot检测内皮细胞组织因子的mRNA表达;并用酶联免疫吸附试验检测SMC-CM中IL-1α、IL-1β、TNF-α和VEGF的含量.结果 SMC-CM使内皮细胞组织因子活性呈剂量依赖性增强,作用6h增至最高,最高增强约38倍;SMC-CM使内皮细胞组织因子mRNA表达显著增强;SMC-CM中的组织因子诱导剂不耐热,且并非IL-1α、IL-1β、TNF-α和VEGF等已知的组织因子诱导剂.结论血管平滑肌细胞能促进血管内皮细胞组织因子的表达,提示体内增生的平滑肌细胞,如动脉再狭窄新内膜中的平滑肌细胞可能诱导局部血管内皮细胞活化及表达组织因子,在局部血栓形成中起一定作用.     

小鼠血管损伤后巨噬细胞与平滑肌细胞的相互作用

目的研究血管损伤后病变形成过程中的巨噬细胞与平滑肌细胞的相互作用。方法C57BL/6（6～8周龄）小鼠24只,右侧股动脉植入透明塑料微导管,制作小鼠血管损伤模型,术后给予特异性抗体AFS98及APB5,分别阻断巨噬细胞和平滑肌细胞增殖的信息传导通路。给药2周后采集股动脉组织,用免疫组织化学的方法对血管病变进行分析。结果小鼠股动脉血管损伤2周后,病变部位聚集了大量的巨噬细胞、平滑肌细胞。给予阻断巨噬细胞增殖的信息传导通路的特异性抗体AFS98后,病变部位的巨噬细胞数量显著减少,平滑肌细胞数量反而增多。相反,给予抑制平滑肌细胞增殖的抗体APB5后,病变局部平滑肌细胞数量减少,而巨噬细胞数量急剧增加。结论小鼠股动脉血管损伤后,构成病变的细胞主要为巨噬细胞与平滑肌细胞。这两种细胞在分化成终末成熟细胞的过程中,存在着相互拮抗的作用。     

Papaverine induces apoptosis in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells

Papaverine is a vasodilator commonly used in the treatment of vasospasmic diseases such as cerebral spasm associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage, and in the prevention of spasm of coronary artery bypass graft by intraluminal and/or extraluminal administration. In this study, we examined whether papaverine in the range of concentrations used clinically causes apoptosis of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Apoptotic cells were identified by morphological changes and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. In porcine coronary endothelial cells (EC) and rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC), papaverine at the concentration of 10(-3) M induced membrane blebbing within 1 hour of incubation. Nuclear condensation and fragmentation were found after 24 hours of treatment. The number of apoptotic cells stained with the TUNEL method was significantly higher in the EC and the SMC after 24 hours of incubation with papaverine at the concentrations of 10(-4) and 10(-3) M than their respective controls. Acidified saline solution (pH 4.8, as control for 10(-3) M papaverine hydrochloride) did not cause apoptosis in these cells. These results showed that papaverine could damage endothelial and smooth muscle cells by inducing changes which are associated with events leading to apoptosis. Since integrity of endothelial cells is critical for normal vascular function, vascular administration of papaverine for clinical use, especially at high concentrations (> or = 10(-4) M), should be re-considered.     

旋转加压种植法在新型生物人工复合血管体外内皮化过程中的实验研究

目的：探讨在新型生物人工复合血管内腔面联合种植平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞的方法,比较研究旋转加压种植与普通灌注种植两种方法的内皮化效果,方法：先制备新型生物人工复合血管及获取培养鉴定平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞,再和旋转加压种植与普通灌注种植两种方法将平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞培养种植于新型复合血管内腔面,以光镜及扫描电镜等观察评价内皮化的效果。结果：旋转加压种植2小时末的复合血管腔内有大量内皮细胞,旋转加压种植9天后已形成完整的内皮细胞单层;普通灌注种植的复合血管内腔有内皮细胞附着,分布不均匀,未形成完整的内皮细胞层,结论：以旋转加压种植法在新型复合血管内腔面联合种植平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞效果满意,基本实现内皮化,可以满足复合血管内皮化的要求。     

Role of vascular smooth muscle cell in the inflammation of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a pathologic process occurring within the artery, in which many cell types, including T cell, macrophages, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, interact, and cause chronic inflammation, in response to various inner- or outer-cellular stimuli. Atherosclerosis is characterized by a complex interaction of inflammation, lipid deposition, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial dysfunction, and extracellular matrix remodeling, which will result in the formation of an intimal plaque. Although the regulation and function of vascular smooth muscle cells are important in the progression of atherosclerosis, the roles of smooth muscle cells in regulating vascular inflammation are rarely focused upon, compared to those of endothelial cells or inflammatory cells. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss here how smooth muscle cells contribute or regulate the inflammatory reaction in the progression of atherosclerosis, especially in the context of the activation of various membrane receptors, and how they may regulate vascular inflammation. [BMB Reports 2014; 47(1): 1-7]     

人、猪、鼠血管内皮及平滑肌细胞培养与纯化方法的改进

对培养和纯化猪主动脉内皮细胞,人脐静脉内皮细胞,猪和鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞的方法进行改进。对其鉴定方法进行了讨论,用胶原酶或胰酶消化法,或机械法分别从猪主动脉,人脐静脉,鼠主动脉获得内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞进行培养,用光学相差显微镜,免疫组化的方法进行鉴定,结果显示,相差显微镜观察,人脐静脉内皮细胞接种后2-3小时贴壁,继而铺开生长,在视野内形成散在细胞团,细胞呈铺路石样排列的单层,随着传代次数增多,可见核分裂,双核及多核,猪血管内皮细胞呈鹅卵石样,多角形,生长分裂旺盛时可见两个或多个核,猪和鼠的平滑肌细胞在相差显微镜下外观为长梭形,细胞生长致密时排列成束,相互平行,并且重叠生长,表现为典型的“波峰”与“浪谷”状。猪血管内皮细胞DiI-Ac-LDL染色,在荧光显微镜下显示特征性的黄绿色荧光,人Ⅷ因子抗原免疫组化检测人脐静脉内皮细胞,显微镜下可见核周胞浆呈现阳性反应,免疫组织化学法进行平滑肌细胞α-肌动蛋白染色,显微镜下见细胞浆内着色,本介绍的培养及纯化猪血管内皮细胞,猪平滑肌细胞,鼠平滑肌细胞的方法简便易行。