A central component of inflammatory pathology is breakdown of endothelial integrity and the resulting uncontrolled plasma leakage, leukocyte trafficking and thrombosis. Normal protective inflammatory responses exhibit micron-scale endothelial remodeling dynamics that balance disruptive activities with proactive self-restorative ones, thereby preserving overall integrity. Thus, recruited inflammatory cells breach the endothelial barrier by forming micron-scale para- and trans-cellular discontinuities, which serve as passageways for leukocyte transmigration (i.e., diapedesis). Normally, the endothelium closes these 'micro-wounds'immediately following passage of the leukocyte, thereby largely uncoupling them from plasma leak. In addition, soluble inflammatory mediators cause the endothelium itself to both create and (after minute-scale durations) close similar micro-wounds, thereby inducing controlled, self-limited vascular leak. Thus, the endothelium exhibits dynamic and proactive functions that efficiently 'heal'micro-wounds in order to maintain overall integrity and homeostasis during inflammation. Importantly, in pathologic conditions, such as presence of oxidative stress, homeostasis is lost and leukocyte diapedesis and soluble mediators can cause breakdown of vascular integrity and uncontrolled plasma leak and thrombosis. Formally, pathologic breakdown of integrity could arise from either excessive disruption or inadequate restoration. However, only the former has been studied in detail and neither the normal self-restorative remodeling mechanisms nor basis for their putative perturbation in endothelium are understood. This proposal is aimed at addressing, directly, both of these issues for the first time. Based on our extensive preliminary data we hypothesize that endothelial micro-wounds formed by leukocyte transmigration (as well as those formed by soluble mediators) are closed by novel actin lamellipodial activities that are regulated by intracellular Rac and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathways and are susceptible to perturbation by oxidative stress. The specific goal of this proposal is to elucidate the detailed mechanisms responsible for closing para- and trans-cellular leukocyte diapedesis passageways. First we will determine the functional role of Rac1 (and associated proteins such as cortactin and IQGAP) in healing diapedesis micro-wounds in cultured endothelium. Then in similar settings we will determine the role for Rac1-associated NADPH oxidase signaling (e.g., p47phox) in micro-wound closure and its sensitivity to perturbation by oxidative stress. Finally, we will establish the physiologic role of these Rac/ROS lamellipodial activities in micro-wound healing via both ex vivo vascular tissue culture models and a combination of in vivo intravital, tissue whole-mount confocal and electron microscopy imaging along with genetic and pharmacologic function perturbation. These studies are will improve our understanding of, and likely reveal new therapeutic strategies for, inflammatory pathology.

Public Health Relevance

The endothelium is the layer of cells that forms the inner surface of the circulatory system and, as such, serves as a critical barrier between the blood and the tissues. Breakdown of this barrier is associated with broad ranging inflammatory diseases and leads to unregulated entry of immune cells and fluid into the tissue, as well as inappropriate blood clotting. Under normal conditions the endothelium displays remarkable self-restorative properties, whereas broad ranging inflammatory diseases are associated with pathologic breakdown in endothelial integrity. The research in this project is designed to uncover for the first time the cellular and molecular mechanisms for endothelial integrity restoration and how this may become abrogated during inflammatory disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL104006-02
Application #
8322572
Study Section
Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the Cardiovascular System Study Section (AICS)
Program Officer
Charette, Marc F
Project Start
2011-08-20
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2012-07-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$435,000
Indirect Cost
$185,000
Name
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
071723621
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
Carman, Christopher V; Martinelli, Roberta (2015) T Lymphocyte-Endothelial Interactions: Emerging Understanding of Trafficking and Antigen-Specific Immunity. Front Immunol 6:603
Teo, Grace Sock Leng; Yang, Zijiang; Carman, Christopher V et al. (2015) Intravital imaging of mesenchymal stem cell trafficking and association with platelets and neutrophils. Stem Cells 33:265-77
Martinelli, Roberta; Carman, Christopher V (2015) An Endothelial Planar Cell Model for Imaging Immunological Synapse Dynamics. J Vis Exp :e53288
Martinelli, Roberta; Zeiger, Adam S; Whitfield, Matthew et al. (2014) Probing the biomechanical contribution of the endothelium to lymphocyte migration: diapedesis by the path of least resistance. J Cell Sci 127:3720-34
Zonneveld, Rens; Martinelli, Roberta; Shapiro, Nathan I et al. (2014) Soluble adhesion molecules as markers for sepsis and the potential pathophysiological discrepancy in neonates, children and adults. Crit Care 18:204
Kalwa, Hermann; Sartoretto, Juliano L; Martinelli, Roberta et al. (2014) Central role for hydrogen peroxide in P2Y1 ADP receptor-mediated cellular responses in vascular endothelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:3383-8
Martinelli, Roberta; Newton, Gail; Carman, Christopher V et al. (2013) Novel role of CD47 in rat microvascular endothelium: signaling and regulation of T-cell transendothelial migration. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 33:2566-76
Hardin, Corey; Rajendran, Kavitha; Manomohan, Greeshma et al. (2013) Glassy dynamics, cell mechanics, and endothelial permeability. J Phys Chem B 117:12850-6
Martinelli, Roberta; Kamei, Masataka; Sage, Peter T et al. (2013) Release of cellular tension signals self-restorative ventral lamellipodia to heal barrier micro-wounds. J Cell Biol 201:449-65
Teo, Grace S L; Ankrum, James A; Martinelli, Roberta et al. (2012) Mesenchymal stem cells transmigrate between and directly through tumor necrosis factor-?-activated endothelial cells via both leukocyte-like and novel mechanisms. Stem Cells 30:2472-86

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