Impaired vascular smooth muscle cell force-generating capacity and phenotypic deregulation in Marfan Syndrome mice

Author(s):Show less -

Nolasco, Patricia ^[1] ; Fernandes, Carolina Goncalves ^[1] ; Ribeiro-Silva, Joao Carlos ^[2] ; Oliveira, Percillia V. S. ^[1] ; Sacrini, Mariana ^[3] ; de Brito, Isis Vasconcelos ^[3] ; De Bessa, Tiphany Coralie ^[1] ; Pereira, Lygia V. ^[4] ; Tanaka, Leonardo Y. ^[1] ; Alencar, Adriano ^[3] ; Martins Laurindo, Francisco Rafael ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Biol Vasc, Inst Coracao InCor, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Fac Med, LIM 64 Biol Cardiovasc, Av Eneas C Aguiar, 44 Annex 2, 9th Floor, BR-05403904 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Lab Genet Cardiol Mol, Inst Coracao InCor, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis, Lab Microrreol & Fisiol Mol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biol, Lab Genet Mol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE; v. 1866, n. 1 JAN 1 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Mechanisms whereby fibrillin-1 mutations determine thoracic aorta aneurysms/dissections (TAAD) in Marfan Syndrome (MFS) are unclear. Most aortic aneurysms evolve from mechanosignaling deregulation, converging to impaired vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) force-generating capacity accompanied by synthetic phenotype switch. However, little is known on VSMC mechanoresponses in MFS pathophysiology. Here, we investigated traction force-generating capacity in aortic VSMC cultured from 3-month old mg Delta(lpn) MFS mice, together with morpho-functional and proteomic data. Cultured MFS-VSMC depicted marked phenotype changes vs. wild-type (WT) VSMC, with overexpressed cell proliferation markers but either lower (calponin-1) or higher (SM alphaactin and SM22) differentiation marker expression. In parallel, the increased cell area and its complex non-fusiform shape suggested possible transition towards a mesenchymal-like phenotype, confirmed through several markers (e.g. N-cadherin, Slug). MFS-VSMC proteomic profile diverged from that of WT-VSMC particularly regarding lower expression of actin cytoskeleton-regulatory proteins. Accordingly, MFS-VSMC displayed lower traction force-generating capacity and impaired contractile moment at physiological substrate stiffness, and markedly attenuated traction force responses to enhanced substrate rigidity. Such impaired mechanoresponses correlated with decreased number, altered morphology and delocalization of focal adhesions, as well as dis-organized actin stress fiber network vs. WT-VSMC. In VSMC cultured from 6-month-old mice, phenotype changes were attenuated and both WT-VSMC and MFS-VSMC generated less traction force, presumably involving VSMC aging, but without evident senescence. In summary, MFS-VSMC display impaired force-generating capacity accompanying a mesenchymal-like phenotype switch connected to impaired cytoskeleton/focal adhesion organization. Thus, MFS-associated TAAD involves mechanoresponse impairment common to other TAAD types, but through distinct mechanisms. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/07230-5 - Subcellular mechanisms underlying the convergence between redox and mechanic homeostasis on vascular regulation
• Grantee: Leonardo Yuji Tanaka
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/24511-7 - Mechanisms and implications of the mTORC1 signaling pathway in the cardiovascular phenotype of Marfan Syndrome
• Grantee: Patricia Nolasco Santos
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 13/07937-8 - Redoxome - Redox Processes in Biomedicine
• Grantee: Ohara Augusto
• Support type: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 14/20595-1 - Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) as a marker of risk for thrombosis and/or accelerated progression of atherosclerosis in patients with familial hipercholesterolemia and in experimental model
• Grantee: Percíllia Victória Santos de Oliveira
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)