Role of Thrombospondin-1 in Mechanotransduction and Development of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm in Mouse and Humans

Circ Res. 2018 Aug 31;123(6):660-672. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313105.

Abstract

Rationale: Abnormal mechanosensing of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) resulting from the defective elastin-contractile units has been suggested to drive the formation of thoracic aortic aneurysms; however, the precise molecular mechanism has not been elucidated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the crucial mediator(s) involved in abnormal mechanosensing and propagation of biochemical signals during the aneurysm formation and to establish a basis for a novel therapeutic strategy.

Methods and results: We used a mouse model of postnatal ascending aortic aneurysms ( Fbln4SMKO; termed SMKO [SMC-specific knockout]), in which deletion of Fbln4 (fibulin-4) leads to disruption of the elastin-contractile units caused by a loss of elastic lamina-SMC connections. In this mouse, upregulation of Egr1 (early growth response 1) and angiotensin-converting enzyme leads to activation of Ang II (angiotensin II) signaling. Here, we showed that the matricellular protein, Thbs1 (thrombospondin-1), was highly upregulated in SMKO ascending aortas and in human thoracic aortic aneurysms. Thbs1 was induced by mechanical stretch and Ang II in SMCs, for which Egr1 was required, and reduction of Fbln4 sensitized the cells to these stimuli and led to higher expression of Egr1 and Thbs1. Deletion of Thbs1 in SMKO mice prevented the aneurysm formation in ≈80% of DKO (SMKO;Thbs1 knockout) animals and suppressed Ssh1 (slingshot-1) and cofilin dephosphorylation, leading to the formation of normal actin filaments. Furthermore, elastic lamina-SMC connections were restored in DKO aortas, and mechanical testing showed that structural and material properties of DKO aortas were markedly improved.

Conclusions: Thbs1 is a critical component of mechanotransduction, as well as a modulator of elastic fiber organization. Maladaptive upregulation of Thbs1 results in disruption of elastin-contractile units and dysregulation of actin cytoskeletal remodeling, contributing to the development of ascending aortic aneurysms in vivo. Thbs1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Keywords: angiotensin II; aortic aneurysm, thoracic; elastic tissue; extracellular matrix; humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Actin Cytoskeleton / pathology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Aorta, Thoracic / metabolism
  • Aorta, Thoracic / pathology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / genetics
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / metabolism*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / pathology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / prevention & control
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cofilin 2 / metabolism
  • Dilatation, Pathologic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1 / metabolism
  • Elastic Tissue / metabolism
  • Elastic Tissue / pathology
  • Elastin / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / deficiency
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular*
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / pathology
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pressoreceptors / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Thrombospondin 1 / deficiency
  • Thrombospondin 1 / genetics
  • Thrombospondin 1 / metabolism*
  • Vascular Remodeling*

Substances

  • Cofilin 2
  • EFEMP2 protein, human
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1
  • Egr1 protein, mouse
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Thrombospondin 1
  • Thbs1 protein, rat
  • thrombospondin-1, human
  • Thbs1 protein, mouse
  • Elastin
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • SSH1 protein, mouse