Endothelial Cell News Volume 2.31 | Sep 18 2017

TOP STORY

Study Identifies Blood Vessel as a Therapeutic Target for Diabetes

Blood vessels have an often-overlooked role of regulating the transfer of nutrients from the blood to organs in the body. Researchers identified a role of a secreted protein, apelin, in regulating the transfer of fatty acids across the blood vessels. The study offers insights into a potential target for future therapies for type 2 diabetes. [Press release from Yale University discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine] Press Release | Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Uncontrolled Angiogenic Precursor Expansion Causes Coronary Artery Anomalies in Mice Lacking Pofut1

Scientists identified an angiogenic cell population for coronary artery formation in mice. Regulated by a DLL4/NOTCH1/VEGFA/VEGFR2 signaling axis, these angiogenic cells generated mature coronary arteries. The NOTCH modulator protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (POFUT1) critically regulated this signaling axis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Identification of the S100 Fused-Type Protein Hornerin as a Regulator of Tumor Vascularity

Through phage display-based functional proteomics, immunohistochemical analysis of human pancreatic ductal carcinoma specimens, and in vitro validation, the authors revealed that hornerin, an S100 fused-type protein, was highly expressed on pancreatic tumor endothelium in a vascular endothelial growth factor-independent manner. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Alternative Progenitor Cells Compensate to Rebuild the Coronary Vasculature in Elabela– and Apj-Deficient Hearts

The authors found that the ELABELA (ELA)-APJ signaling axis is only required for sinus venosus-derived progenitors. Because they do not depend on ELA-APJ, endocardial progenitors are able to expand and compensate for faulty sinus venosus development in Apj mutants, leading to normal adult heart function. An upregulation of endocardial SOX17 accompanied compensation in Apj mutants, which was also seen in Ccbe1 knockouts, indicating that the endocardium is activated in multiple cases where sinus venosus angiogenesis is stunted. [Dev Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Epigenetic Modification of MicroRNA-200b Contributes to Diabetic Vasculopathy

Scientists demonstrated that hyperglycemia may drive vasculopathy by epigenetic modification of a miR promoter. In human microvascular endothelial cells, hyperglycemia also lowered DNA methyltransferases and compromised endothelial function as manifested by diminished eNOS, lowered LDL uptake, impaired Matrigel tube formation, lower NO production and compromised VE-cadherin expression. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Crosstalk between TEMs and Endothelial Cells Modulates Angiogenesis and Metastasis via IGF1-IGF1R Signaling in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Tie2 expressing monocytes (TEMs) significantly increased in epithelial ovarian cancer patients and were recruited to tumor loci by the increased angiopoietin 2 (Ang2). The increased TEMs have diagnostic value in ovarian cancer and were positively correlated with the microvascular density in ovarian cancer tissue. TEMs promoted angiogenesis via IGF1 in both in vivo and in vitro experimental systems after stimulation by Ang2. [Br J Cancer] Full Article

The Impact of Wavelengths of LED Light-Therapy on Endothelial Cells

Researchers investigated the underlying properties in vitro by comparing the effects of light therapy by light emitting diodes of different wavelengths on endothelial cells in vitro. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Vimentin Knockout Results in Increased Expression of Sub-Endothelial Basement Membrane Components and Carotid Stiffness in Mice

Scientists investigated whether vimentin regulates endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells and thereby influences vasomotor tone and arterial stiffness. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Membranes Based on Carboxymethyl Chitin as Potential Scaffolds for Corneal Endothelial Transplantation

Corneal endothelial scaffolds were prepared using carboxymethyl chitin (CMCT) or carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS) as the main ingredient and gelatin at a mass ratio of 20:1. The transmittances of the membranes were examined at different wavelengths. The cytotoxicity of the blend membranes was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The results indicated that both the CMCT/gel and CMCTS/gel blended membranes exhibited good transparency and cytocompatibility, with relatively low in vivo toxicity. [Polymer Journal] Abstract

Biological Pathways Involved in Tumor Angiogenesis and Bevacizumab Based Anti-Angiogenic Therapy with Special References to Ovarian Cancer

The most important pro-angiogenic factor is the vascular endothelial growth factor because of its mitogen activity on vascular endothelium. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that obstructs the binding of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor to its receptors and has been approved for the treatment of primary and recurrent ovarian cancer but also for many other solid tumors. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the endothelial cell research field.

NIH Awards $15 Million to Support Development of 3-D Human Tissue Models

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced 13 two-year awards totaling about $15 million per year, with fiscal year 18 funds subject to availability, to develop 3-D microphysiological system platforms that model human disease. [National Institutes of Health] Press Release

EU Funds Atherosclerosis Research

It is still unclear how endothelial cells “sense” environmental stimuli and how pro-inflammatory processes are controlled. With the help of an European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant of €1.5 million awarded by the ERC, Professor Konstantinos Stellos of Goethe University Frankfurt plans to examine the process at single nucleotide-level of RNA molecules. [Goethe University Frankfurt] Press Release

FDA Approves First Biosimilar for the Treatment of Cancer

The Food and Drug Administration approved Mvasi to Avastin for the treatment of multiple types of cancer. Mvasi is the first biosimilar approved in the U.S. for the treatment of cancer. [The U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

U.S. House Approves 2018 Spending Bills, but Process Far from Finished

The U.S. House of Representatives took a major step toward setting federal science budgets for the 2018 fiscal year. But Congress is still far from the finish line, and final spending levels aren’t likely to be finalized until late this year at the earliest. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

After Uproar, U.K. Parliament’s Science Committee Now Has a Female Member

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee tweeted that it was “pleased to announced our membership has been confirmed.” Parliamentary committees had been dissolved after the recent U.K. election, and now the panel was rolling out its new contingent of lawmakers. The only problem: All eight of the mostly smiling faces belonged to men. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 4^th Biennial Summit of the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Societies of North America (THSNA)
March 8-10, 2018
San Diego, California, United States

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor and Vascular Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Postdoctoral Associate – Vascular Biology and Therapeutics (Yale University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Inflammation and Endothelial Cell Biology (University of Gothenburg)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Cell Signaling (Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Smooth Muscle and Endothelial Function (University of Iowa)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Biology Relating to Cardiovascular Diseases (University of Hawaii)

Postdoctoral Position – Biology of Blood Platelets (INSERM)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Childhood Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus)

Tenure-Track Faculty Scientist – Metabolic Disease (Temple University)

Assistant Professor – Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (Harvard University)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Tissue Repair (The University of Alabama)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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