54 research outputs found

    Surface modification of pig endothelial cells with a branched heparin conjugate improves their compatibility with human blood

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    Corline Heparin Conjugate (CHC), a compound of multiple unfractionated heparin chains, coats cells with a glycocalyx-like layer and may inhibit (xeno) transplant-associated activation of the plasma cascade systems. Here, we investigated the use of CHC to protect WT and genetically modified (GTKO. hCD46. hTBM) pig aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) in two pig-to-human in vitro xenotransplantation settings. Model 1: incubation of untreated or hTNFa-treated PAEC with 10% human plasma induced complement C3b/c and C5b-9 deposition, cellular activation and coagulation activation in WT and GTKO. hCD46. hTBM PAEC. Coating of untreated or hTNFa-treated PAEC with CHC (100 mu g/ml) protected against human plasma-induced endothelial activation and damage. Model 2: PAEC were grown on microcarrier beads, coated with CHC, and incubated with non-anticoagulated whole human blood. Genetically modified PAEC significantly prolonged clotting time of human blood (115.0 +/- 16.1 min, p < 0.001) compared to WT PAEC (34.0 +/- 8.2 min). Surface CHC significantly improved the human blood compatibility of PAEC, as shown by increased clotting time (WT: 84.3 +/- 11.3 min, p < 0.001;GTKO. hCD46. hTBM: 146.2 +/- 20.4 min, p < 0.05) and reduced platelet adhesion, complement activation, coagulation activation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. The combination of CHC coating and genetic modification provided the greatest compatibility with human blood, suggesting that pre-transplant perfusion of genetically modified porcine organs with CHC may benefit post-transplant xenograft function

    Immunothrombosis and vascular heterogeneity in cerebral cavernous malformation

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    Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a neurovascular disease that results in various neurological symptoms. Thrombi have been reported in surgically resected CCM patient biopsies; but the molecular signatures of these thrombi remain elusive. Here, we investigated the kinetics of thrombi formation in CCM and how thrombi affect the vasculature and contribute to cerebral hypoxia. We used RNA-sequencing to investigate mouse brain endothelial cells with specific Ccm3 gene deletion (Ccm3-iECKO). We found that Ccm3 deficient brain endothelial cells had a higher expression of genes related to the coagulation cascade and hypoxia when compared to wild-type brain endothelial cells. Immunofluorescent assays identified key molecular signatures of thrombi such as fibrin, von Willebrand factor, and activated platelets in Ccm3-iECKO mice and human CCM biopsies. Notably, we identified polyhedrocytes in Ccm3-iECKO mice and human CCM biopsies and report it for the first time. We also found that the parenchyma surrounding CCM lesions is hypoxic and that more thrombi correlate with higher levels of hypoxia. Lastly, we created an in vitro model to study CCM pathology and found that human brain endothelial cells deficient for CCM3, expressed elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and had a redistribution of von Willebrand factor. With transcriptomics, comprehensive imaging, and an in vitro CCM preclinical model this study provides experimental evidence that genes and proteins related to the coagulation cascade affect the brain vasculature and promote neurological side effects such as hypoxia in CCM. This study supports the concept that antithrombotic therapy may be beneficial for patients with CCM

    Inflammation and neutrophil extracellular traps in cerebral cavernous malformation

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    Correction: Volume79, Issue7 Article Number: 388 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04418-8Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM) is a brain vascular disease with various neurological symptoms. In this study, we describe the inflammatory profile in CCM and show for the first time the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in rodents and humans with CCM. Through RNA-seq analysis of cerebellum endothelial cells from wild-type mice and mice with an endothelial cell-specific ablation of the Ccm3 gene (Ccm3(iECKO)), we show that endothelial cells from Ccm3(iECKO) mice have an increased expression of inflammation-related genes. These genes encode proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as adhesion molecules, which promote recruitment of inflammatory and immune cells. Similarly, immunoassays showed elevated levels of these cytokines and chemokines in the cerebellum of the Ccm3(iECKO) mice. Consistently, both flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis showed infiltration of different subsets of leukocytes into the CCM lesions. Neutrophils, which are known to fight against infection through different strategies, including the formation of NETs, represented the leukocyte subset within the most pronounced increase in CCM. Here, we detected elevated levels of NETs in the blood and the deposition of NETs in the cerebral cavernomas of Ccm3(iECKO) mice. Degradation of NETs by DNase I treatment improved the vascular barrier. The deposition of NETs in the cavernomas of patients with CCM confirms the clinical relevance of NETs in CCM.Peer reviewe

    Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor-1 Function in Vasculo- and Angiogenesis

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    During development of the mammalian embryo, spatial and temporal expression of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their cognate receptors are vital in the regulation of a number of patterning processes. Inappropriate or decreased expression leads to severe malformations and even embryonic death. The objectives of this thesis have been to evaluate the usefulness of differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells as a model to study FGF and FGF receptors in endothelial and hematopoietic cell function in vitro and in vivo, and the effect of an activating mutation in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β) on endothelial cells and vessel formation. Aggregates of differentiating ES cells, denoted embryoid bodies, faithfully recapitulate many developmental processes. Embryoid bodies cultured in fetal calf serum spontaneously develop cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. The endothelial cells organize into lumen-containing vessels carrying erythroblasts. Administration of FGF or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A promotes development of specific vascular phenotypes. About 20% of endothelial cells in embryoid bodies and teratomas express FGFR-1, and these FGFR-1-expressing endothelial cells are mitogenically active in the absence of exogenous stimuli and respond to VEGF-A to the same extent as endothelial cells lacking FGFR-1 expression. FGFR-1 deficiency leads to arrest in hematopoietic differentiation, whereas endothelial cell development is enhanced. As a consequence, teratomas derived from ES cells lacking FGFR-1 expression display vessels composed of a double layer of endothelial cells. The hyperactivity of endothelial cells derived from FGFR-1-deficient ES cells is suggested to be due to hyperactivity of VEGF receptor-2, as well as to loss of negative regulators of angiogenesis, such as interleukin-4. Mutation of platelet-derived factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β) to replace D849 in the activating loop in the kinase domain with V leads to ligand-independent kinase activity, increased basal signal transduction, and enhanced expression of VEGF-A as well as VEGFR-2. As a result, endothelial cell sprouts covered with pericyte-like cells are formed in a VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 dependent manner in ES cells expressing the mutated PDGFR-β. In conclusion, embryoid bodies represent a high-quality model for the study of growth factor-regulated vascular development and sprouting angiogenesis

    A novel in vitro model for studying the interactions between human whole blood and endothelium

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    The majority of all known diseases are accompanied by disorders of the cardiovascular system. Studies into the complexity of the interacting pathways activated during cardiovascular pathologies are, however, limited by the lack of robust and physiologically relevant methods. In order to model pathological vascular events we have developed an in vitro assay for studying the interaction between endothelium and whole blood. The assay consists of primary human endothelial cells, which are placed in contact with human whole blood. The method utilizes native blood with no or very little anticoagulant, enabling study of delicate interactions between molecular and cellular components present in a blood vessel. We investigated functionality of the assay by comparing activation of coagulation by different blood volumes incubated with or without human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Whereas a larger blood volume contributed to an increase in the formation of thrombin antithrombin (TAT) complexes, presence of HUVEC resulted in reduced activation of coagulation. Furthermore, we applied image analysis of leukocyte attachment to HUVEC stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and found the presence of CD16(+) cells to be significantly higher on TNFα stimulated cells as compared to unstimulated cells after blood contact. In conclusion, the assay may be applied to study vascular pathologies, where interactions between the endothelium and the blood compartment are perturbed
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