Adam Keen, Feiran Zhang, John S Reader, Ellie Tzima
{"title":"Proteostasis and resilience in the mechanically-stressed vascular endothelium","authors":"Adam Keen, Feiran Zhang, John S Reader, Ellie Tzima","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100673","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100673","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Endothelial homeostasis is a central feature of vascular health. The vascular endothelium is under constant mechanical stress resulting from blood flow and, therefore, requires a high degree of resilience to adapt to stresses and resist development of disease. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms by which the endothelium maintains proteostasis in response to haemodynamic forces by regulating three key areas: protein synthesis, recycling and degradation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100673"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49857272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeffrey MA van der Krogt , Ivanka JE van der Meulen , Jaap D van Buul
{"title":"Spatiotemporal regulation of Rho GTPase signaling during endothelial barrier remodeling","authors":"Jeffrey MA van der Krogt , Ivanka JE van der Meulen , Jaap D van Buul","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The vasculature is characterized by a thin cell layer that comprises the inner wall of all blood vessels, the continuous endothelium. Endothelial cells can also be found in the eye’s cornea. And even though cornea and vascular endothelial (VE) cells differ from each other in structure, they both function as barriers and express similar junctional proteins such as the adherens junction VE-cadherin and tight-junction member claudin-5. How these barriers are controlled to maintain the barrier and thereby its integrity is of major interest in the development of potential therapeutic targets. An important target of endothelial barrier remodeling is the actin cytoskeleton, which is centrally coordinated by Rho GTPases that are in turn regulated by Rho-regulatory proteins. In this review, we give a brief overview of how Rho-regulatory proteins themselves are spatiotemporally regulated during the process of endothelial barrier remodeling. Additionally, we propose a roadmap for the comprehensive dissection of the Rho GTPase signaling network in its entirety.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100676"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10398679/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10309317","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of the endothelium in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and pathogenesis","authors":"Rainha Passi , Mairi Brittan , Andrew H Baker","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is a characteristic complication of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19). This review discusses the role of the endothelium during the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with a focus on different vascular beds, possible routes of infectivity and the impact of EC dysfunction across multiple organ systems. It is now known that COVID-19 disease elicits a distinct transcriptomic and molecular profile that is different to other viral infections, such as Influenza A (H1N1). Interestingly, there is also a suggested interplay between the heart and lungs that promotes the amplification of inflammatory cascades, leading to an exacerbation in disease severity. Multiomic studies have informed common pathways that may be responsible for endothelial activation while also highlighting key differences in COVID-19 pathogenesis between organ systems. At a pathological level, endothelialitis is an endpoint result regardless of either a direct viral infection or via indirect effects independent of infection. Understanding if ECs are directly targeted by SARS-CoV-2 or are collaterally damaged amid a cytokine storm originating from other cells and organs can provide novel insights into disease progression and may highlight possible new therapeutic opportunities targeted at the damaged endothelium.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100670"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10066588/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9808197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adipose tissue lymphatic endothelial cells: revisited functions in the modulation of adipose biology","authors":"Ibrahim AlZaim , Joseph Festa , Joanna Kalucka","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100675","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Lymphatic vessels, luminally lined by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), are present throughout most vascularized organs and tissues. The lymphatic vasculature plays a role in many physiological processes, including the drainage of tissue interstitium, resorption of excess fluid, and extravasation of immune cells. Defects in the structure and function of the lymphatic vasculature can lead to lymphedema. Extreme obesity can lead to impaired lymphatic function and development of obesity-induced lymphedema (OIL). Although the molecular underpinnings of OIL pathobiology are unclear, evidence suggests that adipose tissue LECs are key players. However, adipose tissue LECs are relatively poorly characterized, and their roles in adipose tissue biology have only recently gained attention. In this review, we highlight recent literature that provides insight into the diverse functions of LECs in adipose tissue metabolic homeostasis and the associated derangements that occur in obesity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100675"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49857278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hyperpolarization and the endothelium","authors":"Christopher J Garland , Kim A Dora","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100674","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The ability of vascular endothelial cells to generate and conduct membrane hyperpolarization is a critical integrative mechanism controlling local blood flow and systemic blood pressure. This mechanism is particularly apparent in the microcirculation. Hyperpolarization initiated in the endothelium by receptor activation or local influences such as K<sup>+</sup> stimulates vasodilation by passive, radial current spread via heterocellular myoendothelial gap junctions (MEJs) and/or the release of a diffusible factor(s). In addition, the endothelium has high-input resistance and serves as an effective conduit, conducting hyperpolarization bidirectionally through microvascular networks. This not only coordinates vasomotor responses but also causes ascending vasodilation, both of which reduce resistance sufficiently to allow an increase in tissue blood flow. These processes will be disrupted by the endothelial dysfunction in disease, helping explain why enhanced vasoreactivity and vasospasm develops in resistance arteries, limiting blood flow into the microcirculation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100674"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49816145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The role of endothelial cells in pulmonary hypertension: old concepts and new science","authors":"Maike Haensel , Beata Wojciak-Stothard","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100667","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the initiation and progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a fatal and currently incurable disease associated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance and leading to right heart failure. Recent data from genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic studies and emergence of novel organ-on-chip technologies have provided new insights into the role of endothelium in the pathogenesis of this disease. In this review, we characterise key features of endothelial dysfunction in PH, highlighting the diversity of endothelial cell types and differences in their responses to vascular insults. We also present the current understanding of the effects of genetic mutations on endothelial function and comment on new ways of disease modelling using organ-on-chip technologies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100667"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49816140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Environmental stressors and the endothelium","authors":"Thomas Münzel , Marin Kuntic , Andreas Daiber","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100677","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Dysfunction of the endothelium, a monolayer of cells in the lumen of all vessels, is found near-universally in the context of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases (CVD). Because of its crucial role in regulating vascular tone, hemostatic functions, inflammation, adhesion, and platelet activity, normalizing endothelial function is an attractive target in therapeutic approaches to CVD with prognostic implications. We will review the mechanisms leading to endothelial dysfunction in response to traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors noise and air pollution with focus on oxidative stress and inflammation. A cardiac and vasoactive medication might attenuate vascular dysfunction based on the pathophysiology leading to the environment-induced endothelial dysfunction. The most promising approach, however, represents reductions of particulate matter with a diameter ≤2.5µm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) concentrations via improvements in air quality and marked reductions in transportation noise day and night levels as indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO), thereby markedly reducing the cardiovascular burden induced by noise and air pollution.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100677"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49816143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Noncoding RNAs: a new frontier in regulation of exercise-induced physiological cardiac hypertrophy","authors":"Lijun Wang , Xuan Zhao , Yi Lu , Junjie Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100653","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world. The benefits of exercise training for cardiovascular diseases are becoming increasingly apparent. Exercise has been shown to induce physiological cardiac hypertrophy and prevent cardiovascular diseases. Therapeutic targeting of noncoding RNAs<span> (ncRNAs) is a promising approach for the treatment of many diseases. In the cardiovascular system, ncRNAs also significantly affect the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis and cardiac function. In this short review, we provided an overview of cardiac hypertrophy, with a particular focus on physiological cardiac hypertrophy. We also summarized the current knowledge about ncRNAs-regulatory mechanisms responsible for exercise-induced physiological cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, the perspective of further exercise-associated ncRNAs research in this field was discussed.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100653"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49816848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cardiovascular disease and feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy: implications for the provision of safe and lifesaving care","authors":"Abby M Pribish , Sean J Iwamoto","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100650","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100650","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Sex recorded at birth, gender identity, and feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy (fGAHT) likely contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in transgender women. Understanding the interplay of these factors is necessary for the provision of safe, affirming, and lifesaving care. Among transgender women taking fGAHT, data show increases in CVD mortality and rates of myocardial infarction, stroke, and venous thromboembolism compared to reference populations, depending on study design and comparators. However, most studies are observational with a paucity of contextualizing information (e.g. dosing, route of administration, gonadectomy status), which makes it difficult to parse adverse fGAHT effects from confounders and interaction with known CVD risk factors (e.g. obesity, smoking, psychosocial and gender minority stressors). Increased CVD risk in transgender women points toward a need for greater attention to CVD management in this population including cardiology referral when indicated and additional research on the mechanisms and mediators of CVD risk.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100650"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10035588/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9635267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alex C Improta-Caria, Úrsula PR Soci, Luis F Rodrigues, Tiago Fernandes, Edilamar M Oliveira
{"title":"MicroRNAs regulating pathophysiological processes in obesity: the impact of exercise training","authors":"Alex C Improta-Caria, Úrsula PR Soci, Luis F Rodrigues, Tiago Fernandes, Edilamar M Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100648","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cophys.2023.100648","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Obesity is a multicausal metabolic disease. The increase in adipose tissue occurs due to hypertrophy and hyperplasia of adipose cells. As a result of these processes, an increase in inflammation will occur, promoting apoptosis, necrosis, and fibrosis of fat cells. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in these processes are poorly understood. Thus, an important class of post-transcriptional gene regulators<span>, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), has been gaining prominence for involvement in obesity. Exercise training has been described both for generating benefits in obesity and for influencing the expression of miRNAs in various types of diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms linked to exercise-regulated miRNAs in obesity still need to be better elucidated. Therefore, this review summarizes the miRNAs implicated in obesity and exercise-regulated miRNAs involved in the pathophysiological processes in obesity.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":52156,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Physiology","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 100648"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49816851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}