Endothelial Cell News Volume 5.12 | Apr 6 2020

TOP STORY

Senescence-Induced Vascular Remodeling Creates Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Pancreas Cancer

The authors showed that a combination of MEK and CDK4/6 inhibitors that targeted KRAS-directed oncogenic signaling could suppress pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma proliferation through induction of retinoblastoma protein-mediated senescence. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Remodeling of Active Endothelial Enhancers Is Associated with Aberrant Gene-Regulatory Networks in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Researchers obtained pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) from lungs of patients and controls, and performed chromatin, transcriptomic and interaction profiling. They observed extensive remodeling at active enhancers in pulmonary arterial hypertension PAECs and identified hundreds of differentially active TFs, yet found very little transcriptomic changes in steady-state. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Endothelialization of Arterial Vascular Grafts by Circulating Monocytes

Investigators report that immobilized VEGF captured blood circulating monocytes (MCs) with high specificity under a range of shear stresses. Adherent MCs differentiated into a mixed endothelial (EC) and macrophage phenotype and further developed into mature ECs that aligned in the direction of flow and produce nitric oxide under high shear stress. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Brain Endothelial Cells Are Exquisite Sensors of Age-Related Circulatory Cues

Using single-cell RNA sequencing of hippocampal brain endothelial cells (BECs), the authors discovered that capillary BECs-compared with arterial and venous BECs-underwent the greatest transcriptional changes in normal aging, upregulating innate immunity and oxidative stress response pathways. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Induced Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Smooth Muscle Cells as a Model of Vascular Calcification

Researchers describe an in vitro model based on smooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from healthy and diseased humans that allowed to comprehensively investigate vascular calcification mechanisms. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Vascularized Cardiac Tissue Construction with Orientation by Layer-by-Layer Method and 3D Printer

Investigators report the fabrication of native organ-like three-dimensional (3D) cardiac tissue with an oriented structure and vascular network using a layer-by-layer, cell accumulation and 3D printing technique for regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical applications. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PABPC5/HCG15/ZNF331 Feedback Loop Regulate Vasculogenic Mimicry of Glioma via STAU1-Mediated mRNA Decay

The expression of PABPC5, HCG15 and ZNF331 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR or western blot in glioma. Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell assays, and in vitro vasculogenic mimicry (VM) tube formation were used to investigate PABPC5, HCG15 and ZNF331 function on cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and VM, respectively. [Mol Ther Oncolytics] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

TRBFOX1 Regulates the Permeability of the Blood-Tumor Barrier via LINC00673/MAFF Pathway

Scientists found RBFOX1 was downregulated in glioma vascular endothelial cells derived from glioma tissues, and in glioma endothelial cells obtained by co-culturing endothelial cells with glioma cells. Overexpression of RBFOX1 impaired the integrity of blood-tumor barrier and increased the permeability of blood-tumor barrier. [Mol Ther Oncolytics] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Hydrostatic Pressure Promotes Endothelial Tube Formation through Aquaporin 1 and Ras-ERK Signaling

Researchers showed that pressure exposure transiently activated the Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in endothelial cells, inducing endothelial tubulogenic responses. Water efflux through aquaporin 1 and activation of protein kinase C via specific G protein-coupled receptors was essential to the pressure-induced transient activation of the Ras/ERK pathway. [Commun Biol] Full Article

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Single Cell Analysis in Vascular Biology

Emerging new single cell analysis techniques are enabling vascular biologists to elucidate mechanisms of vascular development, homeostasis, and disease that were previously not possible. The authors overview of single cell analysis methods and highlight recent advances in vascular biology made possible through single cell RNA sequencing. [Front Cardiovasc Med] Full Articles

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

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase II Clinical Study in Systemic Sclerosis

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has initiated a Phase IIa international clinical study for the treatment of patients with systemic sclerosis, a severely debilitating and life-threatening form of scleroderma. [Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

ASU Receives 15 NSF CAREER Awards

Arizona State University (ASU) has to date earned 15 National Science Foundation (NSF) early faculty career awards for 2020. The awards total $9.5 million in funding for ASU researchers over five years. [Arizona State University] Press Release

Safely Conducting Essential Research in the Face of COVID-19

Some scientists can’t simply stop going to their laboratories— especially not those who are overseeing clinical trials that could offer life-saving vaccines and therapies, particularly against the new coronavirus. And some research activities must continue even in the face of a shutdown. [Nature News] Editorial

NIH’s Process for Removing Reviewers Remains a Mystery, Watchdog Finds

A new report by the Office of Inspector General of National Institute of Health’s (NIH’s) parent body, the Department of Health and Human Services, documents how NIH has begun to remove reviews who breached NIH standards on research integrity. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Saudi Arabian Universities Push to Recruit Women Faculty

In the kingdom’s mostly gender segregated education system, expanding department offerings to female students means needing to hire women professors-a scarcity in STEM fields in Saudi Arabia. [The Scientist] Editorial

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NEW Research Assistant – Vascular Systems (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Molecular Oncology (Genentech, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Gene Editing in Liver Disease (Beam Therapeutics)

Research Assistant – VEGF and Immune Response (Case Western Reserve University)

Senior Research Associate – In Vitro Disease Models (Kodiak Sciences)

Research Fellow – Cardiovascular Disease (Queen’s University Belfast)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Endothelial Mechanotransduction (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Researchers – Pancreatic-Endothelial Cell Interactions (German Research Center for Environmental Health)

Career Scientist – Neurosurgery and Regenerative Medicine (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Neurodegeneration and Vascular Functions (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

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