Search bioRxiv⌕ Search

Biology subjects

Sutliff, R. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Sutliff, R. L..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PPARγ/ETV2 Axis Regulates Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Pulmonary Hypertension

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) plays an important role in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Also, the molecular mechanisms regulating EndoMT in PH remain to be defined. In this study, we first showed that reduced expression of the transcription factors ETV2 (ETS variant 2) and PPAR{gamma} (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma) along with reduced endothelial markers and increased EndoMT markers were consistently observed in lungs and pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients, in hypoxia-exposed mouse lungs, human PAECs, and in induced EndoMT cells. Base on this observation, we aimed to investigate the function of ETV2 and PPAR{gamma} in EndoMT. We have explored the function of ETV2 and PPAR{gamma} and its mechanism in PH using in Etv2+/- mice or PPAR{gamma} KO mice. Etv2+/- mice spontaneously developed PH and right ventricular hypertrophy, associated with increased EndoMT markers and decreased EC markers. PPAR{gamma} transcriptionally activated the ETV2 promoter. Endothelial PPAR{gamma} expression in mice is positively correlated with ETV2 expression, but inversely with EndoMT markers. Overexpression of ETV2 in hypoxia-exposed rat pulmonary artery led to vascular relaxation. We conclude that PPAR{gamma}-ETV2 signaling can function as a novel pathway in PH pathogenesis by attenuating EndoMT.

physiology↗

Polycomb group protein CBX7 represses cardiomyocyte proliferation via modulation of the TARDBP/Rbm38 axis

Cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation notably decreases during the perinatal period. At present, regulatory mechanisms for this loss of proliferative capacity is poorly understood. CBX7, a polycomb group (PcG) protein, regulates the cell cycle but its role in CM proliferation is unknown. Here, we report that CBX7 inhibits proliferation of perinatal CMs by controlling TARDBP/Rbm38 pathway. Gene expression profiling demonstrated that CBX7 expression in the heart was low during the prenatal period, abruptly increased during the perinatal period, and sustained constantly throughout the adulthood. CBX7, when overexpressed via adenoviral transduction in neonatal CMs, reduced proliferation and promoted multinucleation of the CMs. Mutant mice carrying targeted inhibition of CBX7 in CMs exhibited cardiomegaly with increased proliferation of CMs at postnatal stages. Mechanistically, CBX7 interacted with TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TARDBP) and positively regulated its downstream target, RNA Binding Motif Protein 38 (RBM38). Rbm38 was upregulated in the postnatal hearts and overexpression of RBM38 reduced proliferation of neonatal CMs. Together, this study provides a novel insight into the role of CBX7 in regulation of CM proliferation during the perinatal period.

developmental biology↗