Angiogenesis, or formation of new vasculature from pre-existing vessels, is a complex process coordinated by multiple cell types including endothelial (EC) and smooth muscle (SM) cells of the vessel wall. Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway required in ECs for developmental, reparative and pathological angiogenesis and collaborates with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent signaling to optimize organization and competency of neovasculature. These signals in ECs are especially relevant in contexts of pathological hypoxia induced by ischemia or hypoxemia, wherein low tissue oxygen levels trigger hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) transcriptional activity governing production of critical angiogenic factors including VEGF. Despite their juxtaposition to ECs within the vessel wall, much less is known of the contribution of SM to the angiogenic process in health or disease. We have previously shown that heterotypic cell interactions support instructional signaling between SM Notch ligands and EC Notch receptors. These contacts modulate EC gene expression and function and mice deficient in SM Notch signaling display impaired physiological angiogenesis. We now suggest that SM Notch signaling is required for adaptive angiogenesis induced by pathological hypoxia. We have identified a functional synergism between Notch and HIF signaling pathways in SM under hypoxic conditions and demonstrate a reciprocal dependence on target gene expression including the augmentation of Notch ligand and VEGF. Therefore, Notch signaling in SM appears necessary for HIF activity induced by hypoxia. These findings further suggest that enhanced Notch ligand and SM-derived VEGF act as juxtacrine and paracrine influences on EC behavior. Hence, the major themes in this project proposal include the identification of molecular mechanisms in SM that underlie functional synergism between Notch and HIF signaling and the characterization of hypoxic vascular SM impact on angiogenesis.
In Aim 1, we interrogate molecular crosstalk between components of Notch and HIF pathways.
Aim 2 measures EC responses in co-culture with select Notch/HIF-deficient SM.
Aim 3 characterizes angiogenic capacity in animals with combined deficiency in SM Notch/HIF through distinct models of pathologically induced hypoxia. Together, our experimental approaches include a full spectrum of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro vascular analyses necessary for understanding novel mechanisms of angiogenic control.
Insufficient arterial blood flow and resultant tissue hypoxia (low oxygen content) is a hallmark of vascular disease due to obstructive atherosclerosis, the most common vascular pathology linked to heart attack and stroke risk. To compensate for reduced blood flow, hypoxia promotes new blood vessel formation (i.e. angiogenesis), a process requiring vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. This project serves to identify the biochemical signals in smooth muscle cells that promote angiogenesis and results from these investigations therefore aim to advance novel therapies for the treatment of hypoxia-induced vascular insufficiencies associated with coronary, peripheral and cerebral arterial diseases.
| Basu, Sanchita; Barbur, Iulia; Calderon, Alexander et al. (2018) Notch signaling regulates arterial vasoreactivity through opposing functions of Jagged1 and Dll4 in the vessel wall. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol : |
| Tao, Jiayi; Barnett, Joey V; Watanabe, Michiko et al. (2018) Hypoxia Supports Epicardial Cell Differentiation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells through the Activation of the TGF? Pathway. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 5: |
| Borton, Anna Henry; Benson, Bryan L; Neilson, Lee E et al. (2018) Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Is Required for Optimal Peripheral Perfusion Recovery. J Am Heart Assoc 7: |
