Epigenetic Activation of Pro-angiogenic Signaling Pathways in Human Endothelial Progenitors Increases Vasculogenesis

Summary: Human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) represent a promising source of adult stem cells for vascular repair, yet their regenerative capacity is limited. Here, we set out to understand the molecular mechanism restricting the repair function of ECFCs. We found that key pro-angiogenic pathways are repressed in ECFCs due to the presence of bivalent (H3K27me3/H3K4me3) epigenetic marks, which decreases the cells' regenerative potential. Importantly, ex vivo treatment with a combination of epigenetic drugs that resolves bivalent marks toward the transcriptionally active H3K4me3 state leads to the simultaneous activation of multiple pro-angiogenic signaling pathways (VEGFR, CXCR4, WNT, NOTCH, SHH). This in turn results in improved capacity of ECFCs to form capillary-like networks in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, restoration of perfusion is accelerated upon transplantation of drug-treated ECFCs in a model of hindlimb ischemia. Thus, ex vivo treatment with epigenetic drugs increases the vascular repair properties of ECFCs through transient activation of pro-angiogenic signaling pathways. : Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) have the unique capability to form blood vessels in vivo. Here, Brand and colleagues show that the regenerative function of ECFCs is restricted by the presence of bivalent histone marks on pro-angiogenic genes. This poised status can be overcome through the combined action of epigenetic drugs that simultaneously activate multiple pro-angiogenic pathways to increase ECFC-mediated vasculogenesis. Keywords: pro-angiogenic pathway, ECFCs, epigenetics, bivalent genes, human endothelial progenitors, vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, hindlimb ischemia, EZH2, UT

Physiological and Yield Contributing Characters Depicting A High Yield Potential Triticale Line (x Triticosecale Wittm.)

<p>Triticale is used as a dual-purposes. In Bangladesh, dairy and poultry farms are being extended faster day by day. Therefore, the demand of fodder and feed increases swiftly. Moreover, triticale tolerates biotic and abiotic stressors better than wheat and durum. The trials were conducted in two consecutive years to search out a high yielding triticale line whereas two varieties were used as check viz. BARI Triticale 1 (E1) and BARI Triticale 2 (E2) and four lines (expressed as E3, E4, E5, and E6). In the research areas, temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were higher in 2018-19 than in 2019-20, but rainfall was lower. As a result, days to heading (DH), days to maturity (DM), fertile spikes per meter square (FSPMS), and grain yield (GY) were more in 2019-20 than in 2018-19. In 2018-19, thousand grain weight (TGW) correlated negatively with DH, DM, and FSPMS. In 2019-20, a positive association was established between FSPMS and GY. Furthermore, E5 and E6 lines had lower plant height (PH), but higher FSPMS and TGW than the control in both seasons. In addition, E5 and E6 yielded more GY than check and other lines. These findings suggested that E5 and E6 lines may be released as high yielding triticale variety (ies) to boost triticale production in Bangladesh.</p&gt