Objective Kalirin is a multifunctional protein that contains two guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) domains for the GTPases Rac1 and RhoA. Variants of KALRN have been associated with atherosclerosis in humans, but Kalirin’s activity has been characterized almost exclusively in the CNS. We therefore tested the hypothesis that Kalirin functions as a RhoGEF in arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Methods and Results Kalirin-9 protein is expressed abundantly in aorta and bone marrow, as well as in cultured SMCs, endothelial cells, and macrophages. Moreover, arterial Kalirin was up-regulated during early atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. In cultured SMCs, signaling was affected similarly in three models of Kalirin loss-of-function: heterozygous Kalrn deletion, Kalirin RNAi, and treatment with the Kalirin RhoGEF-1 inhibitor 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione. With reduced Kalirin function, SMCs showed normal RhoA activation but diminished Rac1 activation, assessed as reduced Rac-GTP levels, p21-activated kinase autophosphorylation, and SMC migration. Kalrn−/+ SMCs proliferated 30% less rapidly than WT SMCs. Neointimal hyperplasia engendered by carotid endothelial denudation was ~60% less in Kalrn−/+ and SMC-specific Kalrn−/+ mice than in control mice. Conclusions Kalirin functions as a GEF for Rac1 in SMCs, and promotes SMC migration and proliferation both in vitro and in vivo.
Human stem cell populations that express high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity [ALDHbr cells] have angiogenic activity in preclinical models and have been used safely to treat patients in early clinical trials. Bone marrow ALDHbr cells are being developed for therapeutic use in ischemic cardiovascular diseases. The mechanisms by which ALDHbr cells repair ischemic tissue are unknown, but available data suggest that angiogenic factors released by ALDHbr cells are involved. Gene expression studies were performed, and bone marrow ALDHbr cells were found to express 69 of 84 angiogenic factors tested. The 25 most highly expressed genes included soluble cytokines and growth factors, cytokine receptors, extracellular matrix proteins, and cell-cell signaling receptors. ALDHdim bone marrow cells that do not express high levels of ALDH and that have no angiogenic activity in preclinical models expressed a different group of genes. CD105 and Ephrin B4 transcripts were expressed about 65-fold more highly in ALDHbr than ALDHdim cells, and expression of these proteins was demonstrated in ALDHbr cells by flow cytometry. Expression analysis probing all 19 ALDH isozymes and immunofluorescence both demonstrated that ALDH1A1, an enzyme that can generate retinoic acids from retinaldehyde, was the ALDH isozyme most highly over
3056 Poster Board II-1032 Human bone marrow cell populations isolated by sorting cells on the basis of high aldehyde dehydrogenase expression (ALDHbr cells) include endothelial, mesenchymal, and other progenitor cells (Gentry et al, 2007, Cytotherapy 9, 259). These cell populations home to and are retained at ischemic endothelium, induce angiogenesis, and effect restoration of tissue perfusion in a mouse hind limb ischemia model (Cappoccia et al, 2009 Blood 113, 5340.) Critical limb ischemia patients treated with ALDHbr cells in a Phase I/II clinical trial showed increased limb perfusion. We are studying paracrine and contact dependent mechanisms by which ALDHbr cells may repair damaged endothelium by measuring the protective effects of ALDHbr cells on early passage human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to hypoxic and nutritional stress. ALDHbr cells migrated through membrane filters in response to supernatants conditioned by hypoxic HUVECs more rapidly than to normoxic HUVEC supernatants. ALDHbr cells attached to HUVECs that had been induced to form tubular structures on Matrigel®, and more ALDHbr cells decorated HUVEC tubules under hypoxic than normoxic conditions. ALDHbr cells and HUVECs expressed several adhesion molecule-ligand pairs, including VLA-1/VCAM, that are regulated by hypoxia and could mediate these interactions. While HUVEC tubules fell apart under hypoxic conditions, adding ALDHbr cells in a transwell culture system for 24 hours preserved the branching structure of hypoxic HUVEC tubule networks. Gene array studies demonstrated that ALDHbr cells highly express several angiogenic growth factors, cytokines and matrix remodeling molecules. Expression of proteins corresponding to many of these gene products, including members of the ephrin-Eph receptor family that can direct endothelial growth, has been confirmed by flow cytometry. Additionally, 29 angiogenic factors including angiopoietin 2, VEGF-A,C, and D, and MMP2 were upregulated under hypoxic conditions. Gene array and flow cytometry showed that hypoxic HUVECs expressed surface receptors for many of the angiogenic factors expressed by ALDHbr cells. In hypoxic transwell cultures, ALDHbr cells specifically induced HUVECs to express six angiogenic factors that were not induced by hypoxia alone. ALDHbr cells protected HUVECs from apoptosis and necrosis induced by serum starvation when added to cultures at the time of or 24 hours following medium shift. Thus, in addition to providing progenitor cells that can potentially participate in angiogenesis, ALDHbr cell populations can mediate repair of ischemic injury by releasing a variety of angiogenic and protective factors at sites of endothelial damage. Disclosures Smith: Aldagen, Inc.: Employment. White:Aldagen, Inc.: Employment. Gentry:Aldagen, Inc.: Employment. Balber:Aldagen, Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership.
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