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Inflammation induces endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition and promotes vascular calcification through downregulation of BMPR2
Author(s) -
SánchezDuffhues Gonzalo,
García de Vinuesa Amaya,
van de Pol Vera,
Geerts Marlieke E,
de Vries Margreet R,
Janson Stef GT,
van Dam Hans,
Lindeman Jan H.,
Goumans MarieJosé,
ten Dijke Peter
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.5193
Subject(s) - bmpr2 , calcification , downregulation and upregulation , tumor necrosis factor alpha , inflammation , signal transduction , mesenchymal stem cell , transforming growth factor beta , cancer research , proinflammatory cytokine , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , bone morphogenetic protein , biology , pathology , biochemistry , gene
Endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EndMT) has been unveiled as a common cause for a multitude of human pathologies, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Vascular calcification is a risk factor for ischemic vascular disorders and slowing calcification may reduce mortality in affected patients. The absence of early biomarkers hampers the identification of patients at risk. EndMT and vascular calcification are induced upon cooperation between distinct stimuli, including inflammatory cytokines and transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) family members. However, how these signaling pathways interplay to promote cell differentiation and eventually vascular calcification is not well understood. Using in vitro and ex vivo analysis in animal models and patient‐derived tissues, we have identified that the pro‐inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β) induce EndMT in human primary aortic endothelial cells, thereby sensitizing them for BMP‐9‐induced osteogenic differentiation. Downregulation of the BMP type II receptor BMPR2 is a key event in this process. Rather than compromising BMP canonical signal transduction, loss of BMPR2 results in decreased JNK signaling in ECs, thus enhancing BMP‐9‐induced mineralization. Altogether, our results point at the BMPR2–JNK signaling axis as a key pathway regulating inflammation‐induced EndMT and contributing to calcification. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.