Sessa, W. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2020

Alcohol-induced Hsp90 acetylation is a novel driver of liver sinusoidal endothelial dysfunction and alcoholic liver disease

BackgroundIt is unknown whether liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) metabolize alcohol. Chronic alcohol consumption decreases endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-derived NO production typical of LSEC dysfunction. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) interacts with eNOS to increase its activity. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is a key enzyme in alcohol metabolism and facilitates protein acetylation via acetyl-CoA, but its expression in LSECs is unknown. This study investigates alcohol metabolism by LSECs, the mechanism of alcohol-induced LSEC dysfunction and a potential therapeutic approach for alcohol-induced liver injury. MethodsPrimary human, rat and mouse LSECs were used. Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) was overexpressed specifically in liver ECs using an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery system to decrease Hsp90 acetylation in ethanol fed mice. ResultsLSECs expressed CYP2E1 and alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADH1) and metabolized alcohol. Ethanol induced CYP2E1 in LSECs, but not ADH1. Alcohol metabolism by CYP2E1 increased Hsp90 acetylation and decreased its interaction with eNOS along with a decrease in NO production. A non-acetylation mutant of Hsp90 increased its interaction with eNOS and NO production, whereas a hyper-acetylation mutant decreased NO production, compared with wildtype Hsp90. These results indicate that Hsp90 acetylation is responsible for decreases in its interaction with eNOS and eNOS-derived NO production. Adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8)-driven HDAC6 overexpression specifically in liver ECs deacetylated Hsp90, restored Hsp90s interaction with eNOS and ameliorated alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. ConclusionRestoring LSEC function is important for ameliorating alcohol-induced liver injury. To this end, blocking acetylation of Hsp90 specifically in LSECs via AAV-mediated gene delivery has the potential to be a new therapeutic strategy.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2019

N-Glycome regulation limits the transdifferentiation of endothelial cells into hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) that establish and maintain the blood system in adult vertebrates arise from the transdifferentiation of hemogenic endothelial cells (hemECs) during embryogenesis. This endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT) is tightly regulated, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that microRNA (miR)-223-mediated regulation of N-glycan biosynthesis in endothelial cells (ECs) regulates EHT. Single cell RNA-sequencing revealed that miR-223 is enriched in hemECs and in oligopotent nascent HSPCs. miR-223 restricts the EHT of lymphoid/myeloid lineages by suppressing the expression of mannosyltransferase alg2 and sialyltransferase st3gal2, two enzymes involved in N-linked protein glycosylation. High-throughput glycomics of ECs lacking miR-223 showed a decrease of high mannose versus sialylated complex/hybrid sugars on N-glycoproteins involved in EHT such as the metalloprotease Adam10. Endothelial-specific expression of an N-glycan Adam10 mutant or of the N-glycoenzymes phenocopied the aberrant HSPC production of miR-223 mutants. Thus, the N-glycome plays a previously unappreciated role as an intrinsic regulator of EHT, with specific mannose and sialic acid modifications serving as key endothelial determinants of their hematopoietic fate. One Sentence SummaryThe N-glycan "sugar code" governs the hematopoietic fate of endothelial cells and regulates blood stem cell production in vivo.

developmental biology↗