Faculty Bibliography

Despite a decline in popularity over the last several decades, cigarette smoking remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Yet, the effects of cigarette smoking on vascular structure and function are largely unknown. To evaluate changes in the mechanical properties of the aorta that occur with chronic smoking, we exposed female Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice to mainstream cigarette smoke daily for 24 weeks, with room air as control. By the time of sacrifice, cigarette-exposed mice had lower body mass, but experienced larger systolic/diastolic blood pressure when compared to controls. Smoking was associated with significant wall thickening, reduced axial stretch, and circumferential material softening of the aorta. While this contributed to maintaining intrinsic tissue stiffness at control levels despite larger pressure loads, the structural stiffness became significantly larger. Furthermore, the aorta from cigarette-exposed mice exhibited decreased ability to store elastic energy and augment diastolic blood flow. Histological analysis revealed a region-dependent increase in the cross-sectional area due to smoking. Increased smooth muscle and extracellular matrix content led to medial thickening in the ascending aorta, while collagen deposition increased the thickness of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta. Atherosclerotic lesions were larger in exposed vessels and featured a necrotic core overlaid by a thinned fibrous cap and macrophage infiltration, consistent with a vulnerable phenotype. Collectively, our data indicate that cigarette smoking decreases the mechanical functionality of the aorta, inflicts morphometric alterations to distinct segments of the aorta, and accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis.

Lumen extension in intracellular tubes can occur when vesicles fuse with an invading apical membrane. Within the Caenorhabditis elegans excretory cell, which forms an intracellular tube, the exocyst vesicle-tethering complex is enriched at the lumenal membrane and is required for its outgrowth, suggesting that exocyst-targeted vesicles extend the lumen. Here, we identify a pathway that promotes intracellular tube extension by enriching the exocyst at the lumenal membrane. We show that PAR-6 and PKC-3/aPKC concentrate at the lumenal membrane and promote lumen extension. Using acute protein depletion, we find that PAR-6 is required for exocyst membrane recruitment, whereas PAR-3, which can recruit the exocyst in mammals, appears dispensable for exocyst localization and lumen extension. Finally, we show that CDC-42 and RhoGEF EXC-5/FGD regulate lumen extension by recruiting PAR-6 and PKC-3 to the lumenal membrane. Our findings reveal a pathway that connects CDC-42, PAR proteins, and the exocyst to extend intracellular tubes.

The morphology and positional behavior of the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees are critical for understanding the evolution of bipedalism. Early 20th century anatomical research supported the view that humans evolved from a suspensory ancestor bearing some resemblance to apes. However, the hand of the 4.4-million-year-old hominin Ardipithecus ramidus purportedly provides evidence that the hominin hand was derived from a more generalized form. Here, we use morphometric and phylogenetic comparative methods to show that Ardipithecus retains suspensory adapted hand morphologies shared with chimpanzees and bonobos. We identify an evolutionary shift in hand morphology between Ardipithecus and Australopithecus that renews questions about the coevolution of hominin manipulative capabilities and obligate bipedalism initially proposed by Darwin. Overall, our results suggest that early hominins evolved from an ancestor with a varied positional repertoire including suspension and vertical climbing, directly affecting the viable range of hypotheses for the origin of our lineage.

Background: Mutations in tafazzin (TAZ), a gene required for biogenesis of cardiolipin, the signature phospholipid of the inner mitochondrial membrane, causes Barth syndrome (BTHS). Cardiomyopathy and risk of sudden cardiac death are prominent features of BTHS, but the mechanisms by which impaired cardiolipin biogenesis causes cardiac muscle weakness and arrhythmia are poorly understood. Methods: We performed in vivo electrophysiology to define arrhythmia vulnerability in cardiac specific TAZ knockout mice. Using cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) and cardiac specific TAZ knockout mice as model systems, we investigated the effect of TAZ inactivation on Ca²⁺ handling. Through genome editing and pharmacology, we defined a molecular link between TAZ mutation and abnormal Ca²⁺ handling and contractility. Results: A subset of mice with cardiac-specific TAZ inactivation developed arrhythmias including bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, and complete atrioventricular block. Compared to WT, BTHS iPSC-CMs had increased diastolic Ca²⁺ and decreased Ca²⁺ transient amplitude. BTHS iPSC-CMs had higher levels of mitochondrial and cellular ROS than WT, which activated Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). Activated CaMKII phosphorylated the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RYR2) on serine 2814, increasing Ca²⁺ leak through RYR2. Inhibition of this ROS-CaMKII-RYR2 pathway through pharmacological inhibitors or genome editing normalized aberrant Ca²⁺ handling in BTHS iPSC-CMs and improved their contractile function. Murine Taz knockout cardiomyocytes also exhibited elevated diastolic Ca²⁺ and decreased Ca²⁺ transient amplitude. These abnormalities were ameliorated by CaMKII or ROS inhibition. Conclusions: This study identified a molecular pathway that links TAZ mutation to abnormal Ca²⁺ handling and decreased cardiomyocyte contractility. This pathway may offer therapeutic opportunities to treat BTHS and potentially other diseases with elevated mitochondrial ROS production.

Burn scars and scar contractures cause significant morbidity for patients. Recently, cell-based therapies have been proposed as an option for improving healing and reducing scarring after burn injury, through their known pro-angiogenic and immunomodulatory paracrine effects. Our lab has developed a pullulan-collagen hydrogel that, when seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), improves cell viability and augments their pro-angiogenic capacity in vivo. Concurrently, recent research suggests that prospective isolation of cell subpopulations with desirable transcriptional profiles can be used to further improve cell-based therapies. In this study, we examined whether adipose-derived stem cell-seeded hydrogels could improve wound healing following thermal injury using a murine contact burn model. Partial thickness contact burns were created on the dorsum of mice. On days 5 and 10 following injury, burns were debrided and received either ASC-hydrogel, ASC injection alone, hydrogel alone, or no treatment. On days 10 and 25, burns were harvested for histologic and molecular analysis. This experiment was repeated using CD26+/CD55+ FACS-enriched ASCs to further evaluate the regenerative potential of ASCs in wound healing. ASC-hydrogel-treated burns demonstrated accelerated time to re-epithelialization, greater vascularity, and increased expression of the pro-angiogenic genes MCP-1, VEGF, and SDF-1 at both the mRNA and protein level. Expression of the pro-fibrotic gene Timp1 and pro-inflammatory gene Tnfa were down-regulated in ASC-hydrogel treated burns. ASC-hydrogel treated burns exhibited reduced scar area compared to hydrogel-treated and control wounds, with equivalent scar density. CD26+/CD55+ ASC-hydrogel treatment resulted in accelerated healing, increased dermal appendage count, and improved scar quality with a more reticular collagen pattern. Here we find that ASC-hydrogel therapy is effective for treating burns, with demonstrated pro-angiogenic, fibro-modulatory and immunomodulatory effects. Enrichment for CD26+/CD55+ ASCs has additive benefits for tissue architecture and collagen remodeling post-burn injury. Research is ongoing to further facilitate clinical translation of this promising therapeutic approach.

Vitiligo is an acquired condition that affects about 1% of the world's population and is defined by macular depigmentation of the skin that develops following melanocyte death. Vitiligo has a significant impact on both the physical and mental health of patients. While autoimmune-mediated destruction of melanocytes ultimately leads to depigmentation, the mechanisms that promote vitiligo onset remain poorly defined. We have been investigating the hypothesis that melanocytes from individuals genetically prone to develop vitiligo are less efficient in protecting against cellular traumas such as chemical exposure, which triggers an immune response against them. We delineated the response of melanocytes from normally pigmented individuals (NMs) to challenge with the topical agent monobenzone (monobenzyl ether of hydroquinone or MBEH). Three key stress response pathways were activated by MBEH exposure: the unfolded protein stress response (UPR), the NRF2-regulated antioxidant response and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NFkappaB) pathway. We established a key role for the UPR and NRF2 pathways in determining melanocyte viability and demonstrated disruption of their activity in melanocytes from individuals who developed vitiligo (VMs). We further showed that the NFkappaB pathway contributes to an increase in expression of IL6 and IL8 following NM exposure to MBEH and that expression of these chemokines is higher in VMs compared to NMs. These chemokines can promote an autoimmune response. We have now used transcriptome analysis to identify additional stress response pathways that are dysfunctional in vitiligo. Our data suggest that multiple signaling pathways that protect cells against trauma and facilitate a return to homeostasis are disrupted in VMs and may cause these cells to be targeted by the immune system

Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, is rarely curable at its advanced stages. The early events of this disease, during which treatment would be beneficial, remain poorly elucidated. Melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) residing in the hair follicle niche have been proposed to be a cell-of-origin for melanoma. To understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the initiation and progression of McSC derived melanoma, we have established a novel c-Kit- CreER-driven melanoma mouse model that enabled us to \target McSCs and trace their oncogenic behaviors. Using this model, we showed that oncogenic McSCs first expand in the niche and then migrate to the epidermis to form epidermal melanoma that later invade into the underlying dermis and undergo metastasis. Furthermore, Wnt and Endothelin signals, secreted by epithelial niche cells during hair anagen onset promoted the malignant transformation of McSCs to melanoma. Finally, transcriptional profiling revealed a strong resemblance between murine McSC-derived melanoma and human melanoma in heterogeneity and gene signatures. These results suggest that follicular McSCs can be an origin of melanoma and that follicular niche can control McSC oncogenic transformation. The similarities of McSC derived melanoma with human melanoma in epidermal to dermal progression, heterogeneity and gene expression suggest the potential utilization of this mouse model as a pre-clinical model for human melanoma

Atherosclerosis and obesity share pathological features including inflammation mediated by innate and adaptive immune cells. LXRα plays a central role in the transcription of inflammatory and metabolic genes. LXRα is modulated by phosphorylation at serine 196 (LXRα pS196), however, the consequences of LXRα pS196 in hematopoietic cell precursors in atherosclerosis and obesity have not been investigated. To assess the importance of LXRα phosphorylation, bone marrow from LXRα WT and S196A mice was transplanted into Ldlr^-/- mice, which were fed a western diet prior to evaluation of atherosclerosis and obesity. Plaques from S196A mice showed reduced inflammatory monocyte recruitment, lipid accumulation, and macrophage proliferation. Expression profiling of CD68⁺ and T cells from S196A mouse plaques revealed downregulation of pro-inflammatory genes and in the case of CD68⁺ upregulation of mitochondrial genes characteristic of anti-inflammatory macrophages. Furthermore, S196A mice had lower body weight and less visceral adipose tissue; this was associated with transcriptional reprograming of the adipose tissue macrophages and T cells, and resolution of inflammation resulting in less fat accumulation within adipocytes. Thus, reducing LXRα pS196 in hematopoietic cells attenuates atherosclerosis and obesity by reprogramming the transcriptional activity of LXRα in macrophages and T cells to promote an anti-inflammatory phenotype.

Macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The inflammatory properties of these cells are dictated by their metabolism, of which the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is a key regulator. Using myeloid cell-specific nanobiologics in apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe^-/-) mice, we found that targeting the mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1 (S6K1) signaling pathways rapidly diminished plaque macrophages' inflammatory activity. By investigating transcriptome modifications, we identified Psap, a gene encoding the lysosomal protein prosaposin, as closely related with mTOR signaling. Subsequent in vitro experiments revealed that Psap inhibition suppressed both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Transplantation of Psap^-/- bone marrow to low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (Ldlr^-/-) mice led to a reduction in atherosclerosis development and plaque inflammation. Last, we confirmed the relationship between PSAP expression and inflammation in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the development of atherosclerosis and identify prosaposin as a potential therapeutic target.

Neural circuits are composed of multitudes of elaborately interconnected cell types. Understanding neural circuit function requires not only cell-specific knowledge of connectivity, but the ability to record and manipulate distinct cell types independently. Recent advances in viral vectors promise the requisite specificity to perform true "circuit-breaking" experiments. However, such new avenues of multiplexed, cell-specific investigation raise new technical issues: one must ensure that both the viral vectors and their transgene payloads do not overlap with each other in both an anatomical and a functional sense. This review describes benefits and issues regarding the use of viral vectors to analyse the function of neural circuits and provides a resource for the design and implementation of such multiplexing experiments.