Jeffrey S. Isenberg

Regulation of nitric oxide signalling by thrombospondin 1: implications for anti-angiogenic therapies.

In addition to long-term regulation of angiogenesis, angiogenic growth factor signalling through nitric oxide (NO) acutely controls blood flow and haemostasis. Inhibition of this pathway may account for the hypertensive and pro-thrombotic side effects of the vascular endothelial growth factor antagonists that are currently used for cancer treatment. The first identified endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor, thrombospondin 1, also controls tissue perfusion, haemostasis and radiosensitivity by antagonizing NO signalling. We examine the role of these and other emerging activities of thrombospondin 1 in cancer. Clarifying how endogenous and therapeutic angiogenesis inhibitors regulate vascular NO signalling could facilitate development of more selective inhibitors.

CD47 Is Necessary for Inhibition of Nitric Oxide-stimulated Vascular Cell Responses by Thrombospondin-1 *

CD36 is necessary for inhibition of some angiogenic responses by the matricellular glycoprotein thrombospondin-1 and is therefore assumed to be the receptor that mediates its anti-angiogenic activities. Although ligation of CD36 by antibodies, recombinant type 1 repeats of thrombospondin-1, or CD36-binding peptides was sufficient to inhibit nitric oxide (NO)-stimulated responses in both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, picomolar concentrations of native thrombospondin-1 similarly inhibited NO signaling in vascular cells from wild-type and CD36-null mice. Ligation of the thrombospondin-1 receptor CD47 by recombinant C-terminal regions of thrombospondin-1, thrombospondin-1 peptides, or CD47 antibodies was also sufficient to inhibit NO-stimulated phenotypic responses and cGMP signaling in vascular cells. Thrombospondin-1 did not inhibit NO signaling in CD47-null vascular cells or NO-stimulated vascular outgrowth from CD47-null muscle explants in three-dimensional cultures. Furthermore, the CD36-binding domain of thrombospondin-1 and anti-angiogenic peptides derived from this domain failed to inhibit NO signaling in CD47-null cells. Therefore, ligation of either CD36 or CD47 is sufficient to inhibit NO-stimulated vascular cell responses and cGMP signaling, but only CD47 is necessary for this activity of thrombospondin-1 at physiological concentrations.

Nitric oxide regulates matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity by guanylyl-cyclase-dependent and -independent pathways

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are of central importance in the proteolytic remodeling of matrix and the generation of biologically active molecules. MMPs are distinguished by a conserved catalytic domain containing a zinc ion, as well as a prodomain that regulates enzyme activation by modulation of a cysteine residue within that domain. Because nitric oxide (NO) and derived reactive nitrogen species target zinc ions and cysteine thiols, we assessed the ability of NO to regulate MMPs. A dose-dependent, biphasic regulatory effect of NO on the activity of MMPs (MMP-9, -1, and -13) secreted from murine macrophages was observed. Low exogenous NO perturbed MMP/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 levels by enhancing MMP activity and suppressing the endogenous inhibitor TIMP-1. This was cGMP-dependent, as confirmed by the cGMP analog 8-bromo-cGMP, as well as by the NO–soluble guanylyl cyclase–cGMP signaling inhibitor thrombospondin-1. Exposure of purified latent MMP-9 to exogenous NO demonstrated a concentration-dependent activation and inactivation of the enzyme, which occurred at higher NO flux. These chemical reactions occurred at concentrations similar to that of activated macrophages. Importantly, these results suggest that NO regulation of MMP-9 secreted from macrophages may occur chemically by reactive nitrogen species-mediated protein modification, biologically through soluble guanylyl-cyclase-dependent modulation of the MMP-9/TIMP-1 balance, or proteolytically through regulation of MMP-1 and -13, which can cleave the prodomain of MMP-9. Furthermore, when applied in a wound model, conditioned media exhibiting peak MMP activity increased vascular cell migration that was MMP-9-dependent, suggesting that MMP-9 is a key physiologic mediator of the effects of NO in this model.

Thrombospondin-1 Inhibits VEGF Receptor-2 Signaling by Disrupting Its Association with CD47

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) can inhibit angiogenic responses directly by interacting with VEGF and indirectly by engaging several endothelial cell TSP1 receptors. We now describe a more potent mechanism by which TSP1 inhibits VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) activation through engaging its receptor CD47. CD47 ligation is known to inhibit downstream signaling targets of VEGFR2, including endothelial nitric-oxide synthase and soluble guanylate cyclase, but direct effects on VEGFR2 have not been examined. Based on FRET and co-immunoprecipitation, CD47 constitutively associated with VEGFR2. Ligation of CD47 by TSP1 abolished resonance energy transfer with VEGFR2 and inhibited phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and its downstream target Akt without inhibiting VEGF binding to VEGFR2. The inhibitory activity of TSP1 in large vessel and microvascular endothelial cells was replicated by a recombinant domain of the protein containing its CD47-binding site and by a CD47-binding peptide derived from this domain but not by the CD36-binding domain of TSP1. Inhibition of VEGFR2 phosphorylation was lost when CD47 expression was suppressed in human endothelial cells and in murine CD47-null cells. These results reveal that anti-angiogenic signaling through CD47 is highly redundant and extends beyond inhibition of nitric oxide signaling to global inhibition of VEGFR2 signaling.

Molecular regulation of tumor angiogenesis and perfusion via redox signaling.

Angiogenesis is one of several processes that form new blood vessels in higher animals, but it has received the most research attention and popular interest due to its important roles in cancer and wound repair. During early embryogenesis, the first capillary networks form by a process known as vasculogenesis. Cells in the mesoderm differentiate into vascular endothelial cells and spontaneously connect to form a network of tubes known as a vascular plexus15. In contrast to angiogenesis, embryonic vasculogenesis occurs in the absence of blood flow. This primitive vascular network connects to primitive arteries and veins in the embryo, which establishes blood flow in the developing tissue. The directional flow is one signal that can promote differentiation of the vascular plexus into a hierarchical network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins16. This differentiation process is known as arteriogenesis. Arteriogenesis is also directed by growth factors released from growing nerves in the embryo, which results in the parallel organization of blood vessels and nerved noted by early anatomical studies17. During later development and in adult tissues, angiogenesis plays a major role in new blood vessel formation. Angiogenesis is defined as the formation of new blood vessels from an existing perfused vessel bed. This occurs by sprouting of endothelial cells in the vessel wall, either arterial or venous vessels depending on the soluble factors present18,19, which degrade and invade through the underlying basement membrane barrier and then further invade through the underlying extracellular matrix. As the leading cell moves forward, following endothelial cells proliferate and differentiate to form a luminal space. The leading cell eventually finds another vessel, with which it fuses to establish a patent perfused vessel. Further cycles of this process accompanied by arteriogenesis produces a mature vascular network. In addition to endothelial cells, mature blood vessels require supporting smooth muscle cells. During development, these can be recruited from mesenchymal stem cells or from bone-marrow-derived cells. Arterial vessels develop a thick layer of well organized vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to accommodate the greater hydrostatic pressure in the arterial vasculature. These arterial smooth muscle cells, as will be discussed in greater detail below, also play an important role in adjusting blood flow to specific tissues in response to changing metabolic needs. Veins also have well organized smooth muscle layers, but thinner than those in arteries. The VSMC in capillaries are known as pericytes. In contrast to large vessels, capillary endothelial tubes are not completely covered by pericytes. Rather, the pericytes play important roles in capillary stability and function by secreting factors that regulate endothelial cell function and through direct contact with the adjacent capillary endothelium20. Due to the positive hydrostatic pressure in perfused vessels, a net flow of water, ions, and small solutes constantly occurs across the vessel wall. This is opposed by an osmotic gradient resulting from the lower macromolecular solute concentration in the interstitial space, but nonetheless, net fluid movement occurs from perfused vessels into the underlying tissue. To maintain a constant blood volume, higher animals have a second vascular network, the lymphatics, that return this fluid to the cardiovascular system21. Lymphatics are a blind ended tree of specialized vascular cells, which form by a process known as lymphangiogenesis. It has recently become clear that angiogenesis is not the only mechanism responsible for neovascularization of tumors and wounds in the adult22. In adult tissues, vasculogenesis is mediated by recruitment of circulating endothelial precursor cells that differentiate from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. These along with specialized monocytic stem cells cooperate to form new vessels at sites of injury and in some cancers. The relative contribution of angiogenesis versus vasculogenesis to tumor neovascularization is currently being actively debated, but it is clear that some tumors depend significantly on bone marrow precursor recruitment, whereas this plays a minimal role in others23,24. Likewise, the role of lymphangiogenesis in tumor growth appears to be quite variable, with a subset of tumors being highly dependent on this process25. This review focuses on the role of redox signaling in angiogenesis and angiogenesis inhibition, but the reader should remain aware that some proangiogenic factors can stimulate vasculogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and arteriogenesis as well as angiogenesis. Correspondingly, angiogenesis inhibitors can often inhibit more than one of these processes. Therefore, the redox signaling pathways discussed here have been initially defined and are best understood in the context of angiogenesis, but their true function may be more general.

Thrombospondin-1 and CD47 regulate blood pressure and cardiac responses to vasoactive stress.

Nitric oxide (NO) locally regulates vascular resistance and blood pressure by modulating blood vessel tone. Thrombospondin-1 signaling via its receptor CD47 locally limits the ability of NO to relax vascular smooth muscle cells and increase regional blood flow in ischemic tissues. To determine whether thrombospondin-1 plays a broader role in central cardiovascular physiology, we examined vasoactive stress responses in mice lacking thrombospondin-1 or CD47. Mice lacking thrombospondin-1 exhibit activity-associated increases in heart rate, central diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure and a constant decrease in pulse pressure. CD47-deficient mice have normal central pulse pressure but elevated resting peripheral blood pressure. Both null mice show exaggerated decreases in peripheral blood pressure and increased cardiac output and ejection fraction in response to NO. Autonomic blockade also induces exaggerated hypotensive responses in awake thrombospondin-1 null and CD47 null mice. Both null mice exhibit a greater hypotensive response to isoflurane, and autonomic blockage under isoflurane anesthesia leads to premature death of thrombospondin-1 null mice. Conversely, the hypertensive response to epinephrine is attenuated in thrombospondin-1 null mice. Thus, the matricellular protein thrombospondin-1 and its receptor CD47 serve as acute physiological regulators of blood pressure and exert a vasopressor activity to maintain global hemodynamics under stress.

The matricellular protein thrombospondin-1 globally regulates cardiovascular function and responses to stress via CD47.

Matricellular proteins play diverse roles in modulating cell behavior by engaging specific cell surface receptors and interacting with extracellular matrix proteins, secreted enzymes, and growth factors. Studies of such interactions involving thrombospondin-1 have revealed several physiological functions and roles in the pathogenesis of injury responses and cancer, but the relatively mild phenotypes of mice lacking thrombospondin-1 suggested that thrombospondin-1 would not be a central player that could be exploited therapeutically. Recent research focusing on signaling through its receptor CD47, however, has uncovered more critical roles for thrombospondin-1 in acute regulation of cardiovascular dynamics, hemostasis, immunity, and mitochondrial homeostasis. Several of these functions are mediated by potent and redundant inhibition of the canonical nitric oxide pathway. Conversely, elevated tissue thrombospondin-1 levels in major chronic diseases of aging may account for the deficient nitric oxide signaling that characterizes these diseases, and experimental therapeutics targeting CD47 show promise for treating such chronic diseases as well as acute stress conditions that are associated with elevated thrombospondin-1 expression.

Dendritic cells and macrophages in the kidney: a spectrum of good and evil

Renal dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages represent a constitutive, extensive and contiguous network of innate immune cells that provide sentinel and immune-intelligence activity; they induce and regulate inflammatory responses to freely filtered antigenic material and protect the kidney from infection. Tissue-resident or infiltrating DCs and macrophages are key factors in the initiation and propagation of renal disease, as well as essential contributors to subsequent tissue regeneration, regardless of the aetiological and pathogenetic mechanisms. The identification, and functional and phenotypic distinction of these cell types is complex and incompletely understood, and the same is true of their interplay and relationships with effector and regulatory cells of the adaptive immune system. In this Review, we discuss the common and distinct characteristics of DCs and macrophages, as well as key advances that have identified the renal-specific functions of these important phagocytic, antigen-presenting cells, and their roles in potentiating or mitigating intrinsic kidney disease. We also identify remaining issues that are of priority for further investigation, and highlight the prospects for translational and therapeutic application of the knowledge acquired.

Thrombospondin-1 Regulates Blood Flow via CD47 Receptor–Mediated Activation of NADPH Oxidase 1

Objective—Although the matricellular protein thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) is highly expressed in the vessel wall in response to injury, its pathophysiological role in the development of vascular disease is poorly understood. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that TSP1 stimulates reactive oxygen species production in vascular smooth muscle cells and induces vascular dysfunction by promoting oxidative stress. Methods and Results—Nanomolar concentrations of TSP1 found in human vascular disease robustly stimulated superoxide (O2•−) levels in vascular smooth muscle cells at both cellular and tissue level as measured by cytochrome c and electron paramagnetic resonance. A peptide mimicking the C terminus of TSP1 known to specifically bind CD47 recapitulated this response. Transcriptional knockdown of CD47 and a monoclonal inhibitory CD47 antibody abrogated TSP1-triggered O2•− in vitro and ex vivo. TSP1 treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells activated phospholipase C and protein kinase C, resulting in phosphorylation of the NADPH oxidase organizer subunit p47phox and subsequent Nox1 activation, leading to impairment of arterial vasodilatation ex vivo. Further, we observed that blockade of CD47 and NADPH oxidase 1 gene silencing in vivo in rats improves TSP1-induced impairment of tissue blood flow after ischemia reperfusion. Conclusion—Our data suggest a highly regulated process of reactive oxygen species stimulation and blood flow regulation promoted through a direct TSP1/CD47-mediated activation of Nox1. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a matricellular protein acting as a ligand for NADPH oxidase activation and through specific engagement of integrin-associated protein CD47.

Treatment of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by limiting thrombospondin-1/CD47 signaling.

BACKGROUND Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a primary complication of transplant surgery, accounting for about 80% of liver transplant failures, and is a major source of morbidity in other pathologic conditions. Activation of endothelium and inflammatory cell recruitment are central to the initiation and promulgation of I/R injury, which can be limited by the bioactive gas nitric oxide (NO). The discovery that thrombsospondin-1 (TSP1), via CD47, limits NO signaling in vascular cells and ischemic injuries in vivo suggested that I/R injury could be another important target of this signaling pathway. METHODS Wild-type, TSP1-null, and CD47-null mice underwent liver I/R injury. Wild-type animals were pretreated with CD47 or control antibodies before liver I/R injury. Tissue perfusion via laser Doppler imaging, serum enzymes, histology, and immunohistology were assessed. RESULTS TSP1-null and CD47-null mice subjected to subtotal liver I/R injury showed improved perfusion relative to wild-type mice. Null mice subjected to liver I/R had decreased liver enzyme release and less histologic evidence of injury. Elevated TSP1 expression in liver tissue after I/R injury suggested that preventing its interaction with CD47 could be protective. Thus, pretreatment of wild-type mice using a blocking CD47 antibody improved recovery of tissue perfusion and preserved liver integrity after I/R injury. CONCLUSIONS Tissue survival and perfusion after liver I/R injury are limited by TSP1 and CD47. Targeting CD47 before I/R injury enhances tissue survival and perfusion in a model of liver I/R injury and suggests therapeutics for enhancing organ survival in transplantation surgery.