A PDGFRalpha perspective on PDGF signalling in developmental and pathological processes

Platelet-derived growth factors PDGFs are a family of ligands and receptors that regulate multiple processes of paramount importance during embryonic development. They are also involved in several pathological events, spanning from tumours to fibrotic diseases. PDGFs have been studied for more than 30 years, but the mechanisms, as well as the tissue and cell type specific physiological roles of PDGF biology are still not fully understood. The work presented in this thesis investigates the role of PDGFR-alpha in cell differentiation during cardiac tissue specification, and the effects of PDGF overexpression in the myocardium during development and in the context of cardiac injury. We also examine the elusive function of the PDGF-A retention motif in PDGFR-alpha signalling during morphogenesis. The adoption of a reporter construct knocked into the PDGFR-alpha locus allowed us to precisely follow its site of expression. Here we report evidence of a role for PDGFR-alpha signalling in the recruitment and differentiation of second heart field-derived cells during cardiac inflow tract development (paper I). We also studied of the physiological role of the PDGF-A retention motif and the effects of its ablation. This work points to a preponderant role for the diffusible isoform in PDGFR-alpha signalling (paper II). The data presented in paper III investigate the effects of PDGF-A and PDGF-B overexpression in the developing mouse myocardium, and complements previously published reports on PDGF-C and PDGF-D overexpression in the same system. Our findings extend the evaluation of the role of PDGFs in myocardial fibrosis induction, and suggest PDGFR-alpha positive cells as the source of excessive extracellular matrix deposition in the heart in response to ectopic PDGF expression. Ectopic expression of the different PDGF ligands in injured and inflamed cardiac tissue reveals an unexpected role for PDGFs in tissue recovery, that appears to be mediated by PDGFR-alpha signalling cells (paper IV). Many questions remain open-ended regarding PDGF signalling. The work presented in this thesis points at new and interesting directions for future studies

β-Catenin is required for endothelial-mesenchymal transformation during heart cushion development in the mouse

During heart development endocardial cells within the atrio-ventricular (AV) region undergo TGFβ-dependent epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and invade the underlying cardiac jelly. This process gives rise to the endocardial cushions from which AV valves and part of the septum originate. In this paper we show that in mouse embryos and in AV explants TGFβ induction of endocardial EMT is strongly inhibited in mice deficient for endothelial β-catenin, leading to a lack of heart cushion formation. Using a Wnt-signaling reporter mouse strain, we demonstrated in vivo and ex vivo that EMT in heart cushion is accompanied by activation of β-catenin/TCF/Lef transcriptional activity. In cultured endothelial cells, TGFβ2 induces α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression. This process was strongly reduced in β-catenin null cells, although TGFβ2 induced smad phosphorylation was unchanged. These data demonstrate an involvement of β-catenin/TCF/Lef transcriptional activity in heart cushion formation, and suggest an interaction between TGFβ and Wnt-signaling pathways in the induction of endothelial-mesenchymal transformation

The conditional inactivation of the β-catenin gene in endothelial cells causes a defective vascular pattern and increased vascular fragility

Using the Cre/loxP system we conditionally inactivated β-catenin in endothelial cells. We found that early phases of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis were not affected in mutant embryos; however, vascular patterning in the head, vitelline, umbilical vessels, and the placenta was altered. In addition, in many regions, the vascular lumen was irregular with the formation of lacunae at bifurcations, vessels were frequently hemorrhagic, and fluid extravasation in the pericardial cavity was observed. Cultured β-catenin −/− endothelial cells showed a different organization of intercellular junctions with a decrease in α-catenin in favor of desmoplakin and marked changes in actin cytoskeleton. These changes paralleled a decrease in cell–cell adhesion strength and an increase in paracellular permeability. We conclude that in vivo, the absence of β-catenin significantly reduces the capacity of endothelial cells to maintain intercellular contacts. This may become more marked when the vessels are exposed to high or turbulent flow, such as at bifurcations or in the beating heart, leading to fluid leakage or hemorrhages

PDGF-A and PDGF-B induces cardiac fibrosis in transgenic mice

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors (PDGFRs) contribute to normal heart development. Deficient or abnormal expression of Pdgf and Pdgfr genes have a negative impact on cardiac development and function. The cellular effects of PDGFs in the hearts of Pdgf/Pdgfr mutants and the pathogenesis of the resulting abnormalities are poorly understood, but different PDGF isoforms induce varying effects. Here, we generated three new transgenic mouse types which complete a set of studies, where all different PDGF ligands have been expressed under the same heart specific alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter. Transgenic expression of the natural isoforms of Pdgfa and Pdgfb resulted in isoform specific fibrotic reactions and cardiac hypertrophy. Pdgfa overexpression resulted in a severe fibrotic reaction with up to 8-fold increase in cardiac size, leading to lethal cardiac failure within a few weeks after birth. In contrast, Pdgfb overexpression led to focal fibrosis and moderate cardiac hypertrophy. As PDGF-A and PDGF-B have different affinity for the two PDGF receptors, we analyzed the expression of the receptors and the histology of the fibrotic hearts. Our data suggest that the stronger fibrotic effect generated by Pdgfa overexpression was mediated by Pdgfra in cardiac interstitial mesenchymal cells, i.e. the likely source of extracellular matrix depostion and fibrotic reaction. The apparent sensitivity of the heart to ectopic PDGFR alpha agonists supports a role for endogenous PDGFRa agonists in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis

Analysis of Mice Lacking the Heparin-Binding Splice Isoform of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor A

Platelet-derived growth factor A-chain (PDGF-A) exists in two evolutionarily conserved isoforms, PDGF-Along and PDGF-Ashort, generated by alternative RNA splicing. They differ by the presence (in PDGF-Along) or absence (in PDGF-Ashort) of a carboxyterminal heparin/heparan sulfate proteoglycan-binding motif. In mice, similar motifs present in other members of the PDGF and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) families have been functionally analyzed in vivo, but the specific physiological importance of PDGF-A(long) has not been explored previously. Here, we analyzed the absolute and relative expression of the two PDGF-A splice isoforms during early postnatal organ development in the mouse and report on the generation of a Pdgfa allele (Pdgfa(Delta ex6) incapable of producing PDGF-A(long) due to a deletion of the exon 6 splice acceptor site. In situations of limiting PDGF-A signaling through PDGF receptor alpha (PDGFR alpha), or in mice lacking PDGF-C, homozygous carriers of Pdgfa(Delta ex6) showed abnormal development of the lung, intestine, and vertebral column, pinpointing developmental processes where PDGF-A(long) may play a physiological role

Severe cerebellar malformations in mutant mice demonstrate a role for PDGF-C/PDGFR alpha signalling in cerebellar development

Formation of the mouse cerebellum is initiated in the embryo and continues for a few weeks after birth. Double-mutant mice lacking platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGF-C) and that are heterozygous for platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (Pdgfc(-/-); Pdgfra(GFP/+)) develop cerebellar hypoplasia and malformation with loss of cerebellar lobes in the posterior vermis. This phenotype is similar to those observed in Foxc1 mutant mice and in a human neuroimaging pattern called Dandy Walker malformation. Pdgfc-Pdgfra mutant mice also display ependymal denudation in the fourth ventricle and gene expression changes in cerebellar meninges, which coincide with the first visible signs of cerebellar malformation. Here, we show that PDGF-C/PDGFR alpha signalling is a critical component in the network of molecular and cellular interactions that take place between the developing meninges and neural tissues, and which are required to build a fully functioning cerebellum

Isoform-Specific Modulation of Inflammation Induced by Adenoviral Mediated Delivery of Platelet-Derived Growth Factors in the Adult Mouse Heart

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) are key regulators of mesenchymal cells in vertebrate development. To what extent PDGFs also exert beneficial homeostatic or reparative roles in adult organs, as opposed to adverse fibrogenic responses in pathology, are unclear. PDGF signaling plays critical roles during heart development, during which forced overexpression of PDGFs induces detrimental cardiac fibrosis; other studies have implicated PDGF signaling in post-infarct myocardial repair. Different PDGFs may exert different effects mediated through the two PDGF receptors (PDGFR alpha and PDGFR beta) in different cell types. Here, we assessed responses induced by five known PDGF isoforms in the adult mouse heart in the context of adenovirus vector-mediated inflammation. Our results show that different PDGFs have different, in some cases even opposing, effects. Strikingly, whereas the major PDGFRa agonists (PDGF-A and -C) decreased the amount of scar tissue and increased the numbers of PDGFR alpha-positive fibroblasts, PDGFR beta agonists either induced large scars with extensive inflammation (PDGF-B) or dampened the adenovirusinduced inflammation and produced a small and dense scar (PDGF-D). These results provide evidence for PDGF isoform-specific inflammation-modulating functions that may have therapeutic implications. They also illustrate a surprising complexity in the PDGF-mediated pathophysiological responses.Radiosa Gallini and Jenni Huusko contributed equally to this work.</p

Mitochondrial Respiration-Dependent ANT2-UCP2 Interaction

Adenine nucleotide translocases (ANTs) and uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are known to facilitate proton leak across the inner mitochondrial membrane. However, it remains to be unravelled whether UCP2/3 contribute to significant amount of proton leak in vivo. Reports are indicative of UCP2 dependent proton-coupled efflux of C4 metabolites from the mitochondrial matrix. Previous studies have suggested that UCP2/3 knockdown (KD) contributes to increased ANT-dependent proton leak. Here we investigated the hypothesis that interaction exists between the UCP2 and ANT2 proteins, and that such interaction is regulated by the cellular metabolic demand. Protein-protein interaction was evaluated using reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation and in situ proximity ligation assay. KD of ANT2 and UCP2 was performed by siRNA in human embryonic kidney cells 293A (HEK293A) cells. Mitochondrial and cellular respiration was measured by high-resolution respirometry. ANT2-UCP2 interaction was demonstrated, and this was dependent on cellular metabolism. Inhibition of ATP synthase promoted ANT2-UCP2 interaction whereas high cellular respiration, induced by adding the mitochondrial uncoupler FCCP, prevented interaction. UCP2 KD contributed to increased carboxyatractyloside (CATR) sensitive proton leak, whereas ANT2 and UCP2 double KD reduced CATR sensitive proton leak, compared to UCP2 KD. Furthermore, proton leak was reduced in double KD compared to UCP2 KD. In conclusion, our results show that there is an interaction between ANT2-UCP2, which appears to be dynamically regulated by mitochondrial respiratory activity. This may have implications in the regulation of mitochondrial efficiency or cellular substrate utilization as increased activity of UCP2 may promote a switch from glucose to fatty acid metabolism

Hematoxylin/eosin staining of virus induced scars generated by different PDGF isoforms.

<p>Hematoxylin/eosin staining of cryo sectioned hearts: (A, B) empty vector control; (C, D) PDGF-A_short virus; (E, F) PDGF-A_long virus; (G, H) PDGF-B virus; (I, J) PDGF-C virus; (K, L) PDGF-D virus. Scale bar is 250 μm.</p