Enhanced susceptibility to arterial thrombosis in a murine model of hyperhomocysteinemia

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for thrombosis, but the mechanisms are not well defined. We tested the hypothesis that hyperhomocysteinemia accelerates arterial thrombosis in mice. Mice heterozygous for a targeted disruption of the cystathionine β-synthase gene (Cbs+/–) and wild-type littermates (Cbs+/+) were fed either a control diet or a high methionine/low folate (HM/LF) diet for 6 to 8 months to produce graded hyperhomocysteinemia. The time to occlusion of the carotid artery after photochemical injury was shortened by more than 50% in Cbs+/+ or Cbs+/– mice fed the HM/LF diet (P < .001 versus control diet). Carotid artery thrombosis was not accelerated in mice deficient in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Nos3), which suggests that decreased endothelium-derived nitric oxide is not a sufficient mechanism for enhancement of thrombosis. Cbs+/+ and Cbs+/– mice fed the HM/LF diet had elevated levels of reactive oxygen species in the carotid artery, increased aortic expression of the NADPH oxidase catalytic subunit, Nox4, and decreased activation of anticoagulant protein C in the aorta (P < .05 versus control diet). We conclude that hyperhomocysteinemia enhances susceptibility to arterial thrombosis through a mechanism that is not caused by loss of endothelium-derived nitric oxide but may involve oxidative stress and impairment of the protein C anticoagulant pathway

Abstract 10: Smooth Muscle Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Plays a Critical Role in Formation and Rupture of Cerebral Aneurysms in Mice in vivo

Background and Purpose: Vascular inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) protects against vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, whereas dominant-negative mutations in PPARγ promote atherosclerosis and vascular dysfunction. In this study, the role of PPARγ in aneurysm formation and rupture was tested. Methods: Aneurysms were induced with a combination of systemic infusion of angiotensin-II and local injection of elastase in (1) mice that received the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 or the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone, (2) mice carrying dominant-negative PPARγ mutations in endothelial or smooth muscle cells, and (3) mice that received the Cullin inhibitor MLN4924. Incidence of aneurysm formation, rupture, and mortality was quantified. Cerebral arteries were analyzed for expression of Cullin3, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone)1 (NQO1), and inflammatory marker mRNAs. Results: Neither pioglitazone nor GW9662 altered the incidence of aneurysm formation. GW9662 significantly increased the incidence of aneurysm rupture, whereas pioglitazone tended to decrease the incidence of rupture. Dominant-negative endothelial-specific PPARγ did not alter the incidence of aneurysm formation or rupture. In contrast, dominant-negative smooth muscle-specific PPARγ resulted in an increase in aneurysm formation (P<0.05) and rupture (P=0.05). Dominant-negative smooth muscle-specific PPARγ, but not dominant-negative endothelial-specific PPARγ, resulted in significant decreases in expression of genes encoding Cullin3, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, along with significant increases in tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1, CD68, matrix metalloproteinase-3, -9, and -13. MLN4924 did not alter incidence of aneurysm formation, but increased the incidence of rupture (P<0.05). Conclusions: Endogenous PPARγ, specifically smooth muscle PPARγ, plays an important role in protecting from formation and rupture of experimental cerebral aneurysms in mice

Smooth Muscle Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Plays a Critical Role in Formation and Rupture of Cerebral Aneurysms in Mice In Vivo

Vascular inflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) protects against vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, whereas dominant-negative mutations in PPARγ promote atherosclerosis and vascular dysfunction. We tested the role of PPARγ in aneurysm formation and rupture. Aneurysms were induced with a combination of systemic infusion of angiotensin-II and local injection of elastase in (1) mice that received the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 or the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone, (2) mice carrying dominant-negative PPARγ mutations in endothelial or smooth muscle cells, and (3) mice that received the Cullin inhibitor MLN4924. Incidence of aneurysm formation, rupture, and mortality was quantified. Cerebral arteries were analyzed for expression of Cullin3, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone)1 (NQO1), and inflammatory marker mRNAs. Neither pioglitazone nor GW9662 altered the incidence of aneurysm formation. GW9662 significantly increased the incidence of aneurysm rupture, whereas pioglitazone tended to decrease the incidence of rupture. Dominant-negative endothelial-specific PPARγ did not alter the incidence of aneurysm formation or rupture. In contrast, dominant-negative smooth muscle-specific PPARγ resulted in an increase in aneurysm formation (P<0.05) and rupture (P=0.05). Dominant-negative smooth muscle-specific PPARγ, but not dominant-negative endothelial-specific PPARγ, resulted in significant decreases in expression of genes encoding Cullin3, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, along with significant increases in tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1, CD68, matrix metalloproteinase-3, -9, and -13. MLN4924 did not alter incidence of aneurysm formation, but increased the incidence of rupture (P<0.05). In summary, endogenous PPARγ, specifically smooth muscle PPARγ, plays an important role in protecting from formation and rupture of experimental cerebral aneurysms in mice

Critical role for the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and cyclophilin D in platelet activation and thrombosis

Many of the cellular responses that occur in activated platelets resemble events that take place following activation of cell-death pathways in nucleated cells. We tested the hypothesis that formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), a key signaling event during cell death, also plays a critical role in platelet activation. Stimulation of murine platelets with thrombin plus the glycoprotein VI agonist convulxin resulted in a rapid loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm) in a subpopulation of activated platelets. In the absence of cyclophilin D (CypD), an essential regulator of MPTP formation, murine platelet activation responses were altered. CypD-deficient platelets exhibited defects in phosphatidylserine externalization, high-level surface fibrinogen retention, membrane vesiculation, and procoagulant activity. Also, in CypD-deficient platelet-rich plasma, clot retraction was altered. Stimulation with thrombin plus H2O2, a known activator of MPTP formation, also increased high-level surface fibrinogen retention, phosphatidylserine externalization, and platelet procoagulant activity in a CypD-dependent manner. In a model of carotid artery photochemical injury, thrombosis was markedly accelerated in CypD-deficient mice. These results implicate CypD and the MPTP as critical regulators of platelet activation and suggest a novel CypD-dependent negative-feedback mechanism regulating arterial thrombosis