No abstract

Objective- Calcific aortic valve disease is the most prevalent valvulopathy in Western countries. An unanticipated pathogenetic clue involving IFN (interferon) was disclosed by the finding of constitutive type I IFN activity associated with aortic valve calcification in children with the atypical Singleton-Merten syndrome. On this basis, the role of type I IFN on inflammation and calcification in human aortic valve interstitial cells (AVIC) was examined. Approach and Results- IFN-α was weakly proinflammatory but potentiated lipopolysaccharide-mediated activation of NF (nuclear factor)-κB and the ensuing induction of proinflammatory molecules in human AVIC. Stimulation with IFN-α and in combination with lipopolysaccharide promoted osteoblast-like differentiation characterized by increased osteoblastic gene expression, BMP (bone morphogenetic protein)-2 secretion, and ectopic phosphatase activity. Sex differences were observed. Likewise, IFN-α treatment of human AVICs in osteogenic medium resulted in increased formation of calcific nodules. Strikingly, IFN-α-mediated calcification was significantly higher in AVICs from males, and was blocked by tofacitinib, a JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitor, and by a BMP antagonist. A female-specific protective mechanism involving the activation of PI3K-Akt (protein kinase B) pathways and cell survival was disclosed. Females exhibited higher levels of BCL2 in valve cells and tissues and lower annexin V staining on cell stimulation. Conclusions- IFN-α acts as a proinflammatory and pro-osteogenic cytokine in AVICs, its effects being potentiated by lipopolysaccharide. Results also uncovered sex differences with lower responses in female AVICs and sex-specific mechanisms involving apoptosis. Data point to JAK/STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) system as a potential therapeutic target for calcific aortic valve disease.

Platelets engage cues of pending vascular injury through coordinated adhesion, secretion and aggregation responses. These rapid, progressive changes in platelet form and function are orchestrated downstream of specific receptors on the platelet cell surface, and through intracellular signaling mechanisms that remain systematically undefined. This study brings together cell physiological and phosphoproteomics methods incorporating peptide tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling, sample multiplexing, synchronous precursor selection (SPS) and triple stage tandem mass spectrometry (MS3) to profile signaling mechanisms downstream of the immunotyrosine activation motif (ITAM) platelet collagen receptor GPVI. Altogether, >3,000 significant (FDR<0.05) phosphorylation events on >1,300 proteins were detected in initial and progressing conditions of GPVI-mediated platelet activation. With literature-guided causal inference tools, >300 site-specific signaling relations were mapped from phosphoproteomics data among key and emerging GPVI effectors (i.e., FcRg, Syk, PLCg2, PKCd, DAPP1). Through signaling validation studies and functional screening, other less-characterized targets were also considered within the context of GPVI/ITAM pathways, including Ras/MAPK axis proteins (i.e., KSR1, SOS1, STAT1, Hsp27). Networks highly regulated in GPVI/ITAM signaling out of context of curated knowledge were also illuminated, including a system of >40 Rab GTPases and associated regulatory proteins - where TAK1-mediated Rab7 S72 phosphorylation associated with endolysosomal maturation and GPVI-mediated platelet function. In addition to serving as a model for generating and testing hypotheses from omics datasets, this study puts forth a means to identify hemostatic effectors, biomarkers and therapeutic targets relevant to thrombosis, vascular inflammation and other platelet-associated disease states.