Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM) are subject to acute and chronic bleeding that is a major source of morbidity and mortality in this disease. We have found that endothelial cells within murine and human CCM express markedly increased levels of thrombomodulin (TM) and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), which lead to activation of endogenous anti-coagulant protein C. We hypothesize that CCM form an anti-coagulant vascular domain and that activated Protein C (APC) contributes to bleeding in CCM. APC can also exert a cytoprotective effect on endothelium by signaling via PAR1 resulting in, among other effects, stabilization of endothelial cell-cell junctions. Indeed, this cytoprotective effect of APC has been exploited by creation of APC loss of function mutants that selectively maintain cytoprotective activity. We thus hypothesize that APC cytoprotective activity may limit morbidity from CCM as it does in experimental stroke. To genetically test this hypothesis, we will examine the bleeding in the acute murine CCM models in Factor V Leiden (F5R504Q/wt) mice, which are resistant to the anti-coagulant effect of APC. As a second approach we will test the effect of MAPC1591, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the anti-coagulant activity of APC in acute models of CCM. To test the effects of cytoprotective activity, we will examine acute CCM lesion development and bleeding in F2rR46Q/R46Q mice bearing PAR1 that is selectively resistant to APC cleavage. Conversely, we will examine the effect of 3K3A-APC, a loss of function APC mutant that is selectively impaired in anti-coagulant function in acute and chronic CCM models. We will exploit our observation that a brief period of hypoxia or pharmacological stabilization of Hypoxia-inducible factor 1A markedly exacerbates acute CCM formation in perinatal mice and enables a robust subacute model that manifests in adult mice. This subacute model which manifests both bleeding and hemosiderin deposition, will be used to test the interventions described in aims 1 and 2. Completion of these Aims will provide mechanistic insight into the role of the marked increase of TM and EPCR that is observed in CCM and provide important preclinical tests of the idea that hemorrhage or disease progression can be influenced by manipulating pathways that are already being therapeutically targeted in diseases such as stroke, sepsis, and hemophilia.
Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM) are a common neurovascular disease caused by loss of function of genes such as KRIT1 and for which there is no specific pharmacological therapy. Bleeding into the brain is a major cause of symptoms of this disease. These studies are testing the idea that over activity of a mechanism that normally prevents blood clots contributes to bleeding in CCM. This research will define new mechanisms for CCM pathogenesis and may lead to new therapeutic targets in CCM disease.
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