Endothelial Cell News Volume 4.26 | Jul 29 2019

TOP STORY

Calpain 9 as a Therapeutic Target in TGFβ-Induced Mesenchymal Transition and Fibrosis

siRNA-based gene silencing demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-induced mesenchymal transition of a murine breast epithelial cell line was dependent on induction of expression of calpain 9, an isoform previously thought to be restricted to the gastrointestinal tract. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Nox2 Contributes to Age-Related Oxidative Damage to Neurons and the Cerebral Vasculature

Investigators used littermates of WT and Nox2-knockout mice plus endothelial cell-specific human Nox2 overexpression-transgenic mice to investigate Nox2-derived ROS in brain aging. The mechanism of angiotensin II-induced endothelial Nox2 activation in capillary damage was examined using primary brain microvascular endothelial cells. [J Clin Invest] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Lysophosphatidic Acid-Induced YAP/TAZ Activation Promotes Developmental Angiogenesis by Repressing Notch Ligand Dll4

The authors showed a critical role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)4 and LPA6 in developmental angiogenesis. In mice, Lpa4;Lpa6 double knockout (DKO) embryos were lethal due to global vascular deficiencies, and endothelial cell-specific Lpa4;Lpa6 DKO retinas had impaired sprouting angiogenesis. [J Clin Invest] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Regulation of CCL2 Expression in Human Vascular Endothelial Cells by a Neighboring Divergently Transcribed Long Noncoding RNA

Knock-down experiments revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA)-CCL2 positively regulated CCL2 mRNA levels in multiple primary endothelial cells (ECs) and EC cell lines. This regulation appeared to involve the interaction of lncRNA-CCL2 with RNA binding proteins, including HNRNPU and IGF2BP2. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

MiR-135b Delivered by Gastric Tumor Exosomes Inhibits FOXO1 Expression in Endothelial Cells and Promotes Angiogenesis

Scientists found that exosome-delivered miRNA contributed greatly to angiogenesis in gastric cancer. The downregulation of FOXO1 was observed in gastric cancer. After measurement of miR-135b levels, they found that miR-135b and FOXO1 were negatively correlated. [Mol Ther] Abstract

A Role of Agrin in Maintaining the Stability of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 during Tumor Angiogenesis

Researchers revealed that Agrin, which was secreted in liver cancer, promoted angiogenesis by recruiting endothelial cells (ECs) within tumors and metastatic lesions and facilitated adhesion of cancer cells to ECs. In ECs, Agrin-induced angiogenesis and adherence to cancer cells were mediated by Integrin-β1, Lrp4-MuSK pathways involving focal adhesion kinase. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Cholesterol and 27-Hydroxycholesterol Promote Thyroid Carcinoma Aggressiveness

The authors investigated the gene expression profile, cellular proliferation, and migration in Nthy-ori 3.1 and CAL-62 cell lines loaded with human low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Patients with more aggressive tumors showed a decrease in blood LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Physical Biomarker of the Quality of Cultured Corneal Endothelial Cells and of the Long-Term Prognosis of Corneal Restoration in Patients

Researchers showed that the ‘spring constant’ of the effective interaction potential between endothelial cells in a confluent monolayer served as a biomarker of the quality of corneal endothelial cells in vitro and of the long-term prognosis of corneal restoration in patients treated with culture-expanded endothelial cells or with transplanted corneas. [Nat Biomed Eng] Abstract

NEDD4 Protects Vascular Endothelial Cells against Angiotensin II-Induced Cell Death via Enhancement of XPO1-Mediated Nuclear Export

In HUVECs, overexpression of NEDD4 reduced Ang II-induced ROS level and cell apoptosis. Ang II stimulation led to nuclear accumulation of cargoes, while overexpression of NEDD4 enhanced the XPO1-dependent nuclear export of its cargoes. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Macrophage S1PR1 Signaling Alters Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis During Skin Inflammation

Myeloid sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) deletion altered the formation of IL-1β, VEGF-A, and VEGF-C, and their receptors’ expression in psoriatic skin, which subsequently led to reciprocal regulation of neoangiogenesis and neolymphangiogenesis. [Cells] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Integrating Organs-on-Chips: Multiplexing, Scaling, Vascularization, and Innervation

Various challenges remain for integrating organs-on-chips (OoCs) towards in vivo-like operation, such as incorporating various connections for integrating multiple OoCs. The authors review multiplexed OoCs and challenges they face: scaling, vascularization, and innervation. [Trends Biotechnol] Abstract

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

Novartis Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for Lucentis^® Treatment in Preterm Infants with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a Disease Causing Visual Impairment and Blindness

Novartis announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has recommended approval of Lucentis^® for the treatment of preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). ROP is a rare eye disease but a leading cause of childhood blindness. [Novartis AG] Press Release

Zafgen Announces Agreement with US Food and Drug Administration on New Nonclinical Study Design for ZGN-1061

Zafgen, Inc. announced that the company has reached agreement with the FDA on an in vivo animal study design and protocol to establish relevant safety margins for ZGN-1061, its investigational MetAP2 inhibitor in development. [Zafgen, Inc.] Press Release

Medical Journal Editors Expect Authors to Disclose Conflicts of Interest—But Don’t Disclose Their Own

Virtually all top medical journals require authors to disclose potential conflicts of interest, but few- just 12%- apply that same medicine to their own editors by publicly disclosing editors’ financial ties to industry, a study has found. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Indonesia Gets Tough on Foreign Scientists

Indonesia’s rich biodiversity and complex geology have lured scientists from abroad for centuries. But a law adopted on 16 July by Indonesia’s parliament may convince some to go elsewhere. The legislation includes strict requirements on foreign scientists doing research in Indonesia, including the need to recruit local collaborators and a near-ban on exporting specimens, along with stiff sanctions, including jail time, for violators. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW EMBL Conference: Cancer Genomics
November 4-6, 2019
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Scientific Communications Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cardiovascular Physiology (University of California, San Diego)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Therapeutics & Angiogenesis (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Research Technician – 3D Vascularized In Vitro Tissue Development (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)

Group Leader – Vascular Biology (Ludwig-Maximilians-University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Vascular Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Endothelial Cell Ion Channels (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Research (University of Illinois-Chicago)

Faculty Positions – Cardiovascular Biomedical Research (Virginia Tech)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Endothelial Dysfunction in Inflammatory Disease (Seattle Children’s Hospital)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Vascular Physiology & Disease (Stanford Medicine)

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