CXCR3-dependent accumulation and activation of perivascular macrophages is necessary for homeostatic arterial remodeling to hemodynamic stresses (original) (raw)

Role of CX3CR1 receptor in monocyte/macrophage driven neovascularization

PloS one, 2013

Monocyte/macrophages are implicated in initiation of angiogenesis, tissue/organ perfusion and atherosclerosis biology. We recently showed that chemokine receptor CX(3)CR1 is an essential regulator of monocyte/macrophage derived smooth muscle cell differentiation in the vessel wall after injury. Here we hypothesised the contribution of CX(3)CR1- CX(3)CL1 interaction to in vivo neovascularization and studied the functional consequences of genetic and pharmacologic targeting of CX(3)CR1 in formation, maturation and maintenance of microvascular integrity. Cells functionally deficient in CX(3)CR1 lacked matrix tunnelling and tubulation capacity in a 3D Matrigel assay. These morphogenic and cytokinetic responses were driven by CX(3)CL1-CX(3)CR1 interaction and totally abrogated by a Rho antagonist. To evaluate the role of CX(3)CR1 system in vivo, Matrigel plugs were implanted in competent CX(3)CR1(+/gfp) and functionally deficient CX(3)CR1(gfp/gfp) mice. Leaky microvessels (MV) were forme...

Impairment in Postischemic Neovascularization in Mice Lacking the CXC Chemokine Receptor 3

Circulation Research, 2005

Inflammatory cell infiltration is a feature of postischemic neovascularization. However, mechanisms leading to leukocyte attraction to the site of neovascularization are still undefined. We hypothesized that the CXC chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) may contribute to leukocyte accumulation and subsequently to blood vessel growth in the ischemic area. Ischemia induced by femoral artery ligature improved the number of CXCR3-expressing cells and the level of its ligand, CXCL10. Angiographic score, blood flow recovery measurement, and capillary density analysis showed a significant decrease of ischemic/nonischemic leg ratio in CXCR3-deficient mice when compared with controls (PϽ0.05), at day 21 after ischemia. Interestingly, this impairment was as important as that observed in mice deficient for the well known CC-chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). At day 7 of ischemic injury, the number of CD3-positive T cells and Mac-3-positive monocytes/macrophages was 38% and 45% lower, respectively, in the ischemic leg of CXCR3-deficient mice compared with the control group (PϽ0.05), suggesting an important role for CXCR3 in leukocyte recruitment into the ischemic area. VEGF protein content, a classical proangiogenic factor, was also markedly reduced (80% reduction) in ischemic leg of CXCR3-deficient mice (PϽ0.01). Injection of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) isolated from wild-type animals restored the neovascularization reaction in CXCR3-deficient mice whereas BM-MNCs from CXCR3-deficient mice was ineffective. In conclusion, CXCR3 plays a key role in neovascularization and provides novel information on the mechanisms leading to leukocyte infiltration in the vessel growth area. (Circ Res. 2005;96:576-582.)

Collateral Artery Growth (Arteriogenesis) After Experimental Arterial Occlusion Is Impaired in Mice Lacking CC-Chemokine Receptor-2

Circulation Research, 2004

Arteriogenesis has been associated with the presence of monocytes/macrophages within the collateral vessel wall. Induced macrophage migration in vivo is driven by the binding of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, or CCL2 in the new nomenclature) to the CCR2-chemokine receptor on macrophages. To determine whether the CCL2-CCR2 signaling pathway is involved in the accumulation of macrophages in growing collateral vessels, we used mice that are deficient in CCR2 in a model of experimental arterial occlusion and collateral vessel growth. In an in vitro CCL2-driven chemotaxis assay, mononuclear cells isolated from wild-type BALB/c mice exhibited CCL2 concentration-dependent migration, whereas this migration was abolished in cells from CCR2 Ϫ/Ϫ mice on a BALB/c genetic background. In vivo, blood flow recovery as measured by laser Doppler (LDI) and MRI (MRI) was impaired in CCR2 Ϫ/Ϫ mice on either the BALB/c or C57BL/6 genetic backgrounds. Three weeks after femoral artery ligation, LDI perfusion ratio of operated versus nonoperated distal hindlimb in BALB/c wild-type mice increased to 0.45Ϯ0.06 and in CCR2 Ϫ/Ϫ animals only to 0.21Ϯ0.03 (PϽ0.01). In C57BL/6 mice, ratio increased to 0.96Ϯ0.09 and 0.85Ϯ0.08 (PϽ0.05), respectively. MRI at 3 weeks (0.76Ϯ0.06 versus 0.62Ϯ0.01; PϽ0.05) and hemoglobin oxygen saturation measurements confirmed these findings. Active foot movement score significantly decreased and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy was significantly greater in CCR2 Ϫ/Ϫ mice. Morphometric analysis showed a lesser increase in collateral vessel diameters in CCR2 Ϫ/Ϫ mice. Importantly, the number of invaded monocytes/macrophages in the perivascular space of collateral arteries of CCR2 Ϫ/Ϫ animals was dramatically reduced in comparison to wild-type mice. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the CCR2 signaling pathway is essential for efficient collateral artery growth. (Circ Res. 2004;94:671-677.)

Deficiency of Endothelial Cxcr4 Reduces Reendothelialization and Enhances Neointimal Hyperplasia After Vascular Injury in Atherosclerosis-Prone Mice

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2014

Objective— The Cxcl12/Cxcr4 chemokine ligand/receptor axis mediates the mobilization of smooth muscle cell progenitors, driving injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia. This study aimed to investigate the role of endothelial Cxcr4 in neointima formation. Approach and Results— β-Galactosidase staining using bone marrow x kinase ( Bmx ) -CreER T2 reporter mice and double immunofluorescence revealed an efficient and endothelial-specific deletion of Cxcr4 in Bmx-CreER T2+ compared with Bmx-CreER T2− Cxcr4-floxed apolipoprotein E–deficient ( Apoe −/− ) mice (referred to as Cxcr4 EC-KO ApoE −/− and Cxcr4 EC-WT ApoE −/− , respectively). Endothelial Cxcr4 deficiency significantly increased wire injury–induced neointima formation in carotid arteries from Cxcr4 EC-KO ApoE −/− mice. The lesions displayed a higher number of macrophages, whereas the smooth muscle cell and collagen content were reduced. This was associated with a significant reduction in reendothelialization and endothelial cell pr...

Pharmacological Inhibition of the Chemokine Receptor, CX3CR1, Reduces Atherosclerosis in Mice

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2013

Objective-Alterations of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 gene were associated with a reduced risk of myocardial infarction in human and limited atherosclerosis in mice. In this study, we addressed whether CX3CR1 antagonists are potential therapeutic tools to limit acute and chronic inflammatory processes in atherosclerosis. Approach and Results-Treatment with F1, an amino terminus-modified CX3CR1 ligand endowed with CX3CR1 antagonist activity, reduced the extent of atherosclerotic lesions in both Apoe −/− and Ldlr −/− proatherogenic mouse models. Macrophage accumulation in the aortic sinus was reduced in F1-treated Apoe −/− mice but the macrophage density of the lesions was similar in F1-treated and control mice. Both in vitro and in vivo F1 treatment reduced CX3CR1-dependent inflammatory monocyte adhesion, potentially limiting their recruitment. In addition, F1-treated Apoe −/− mice displayed reduced numbers of blood inflammatory monocytes, whereas resident monocyte numbers remained unchanged. Both in vitro and in vivo F1 treatment reduced CX3CR1-dependent inflammatory monocyte survival. Finally, F1 treatment of Apoe −/− mice with advanced atherosclerosis led to smaller lesions than untreated mice but without reverting to the initial phenotype.

CC Chemokine Receptor-1 Activates Intimal Smooth Muscle-Like Cells in Graft Arterial Disease

Circulation, 2009

Background-Graft arterial disease (GAD) limits long-term solid-organ allograft survival. The thickened intima in GAD contains smooth muscle-like cells (SMLCs), leukocytes, and extracellular matrix. The intimal SMLCs in mouse GAD lesions differ from medial smooth muscle cells in their function and phenotype. Although intimal SMLCs may originate by migration and modulation of donor medial cells or by recruitment of host-derived precursors, the mechanisms that underlie their localization within grafts and the factors that drive these processes remain unclear.

Vascular CXCR4 Limits Atherosclerosis by Maintaining Arterial Integrity: Evidence from Mouse and Human Studies

Circulation, 2017

Background -The CXCL12/CXCR4 chemokine ligand/receptor axis controls (progenitor) cell homeostasis and trafficking. So far, an atheroprotective role of CXCL12/CXCR4 has only been implied through pharmacological intervention, particularly as the somatic deletion of the CXCR4 gene in mice is embryonically lethal. Moreover, cell-specific effects of CXCR4 in the arterial wall and underlying mechanisms remain elusive, prompting us to investigate the relevance of CXCR4 in vascular cell types for atheroprotection. Methods -We examined the role of vascular CXCR4 in atherosclerosis and plaque composition by inducing an endothelial cell (EC, BmxCreER(T2)-driven)-specific or smooth muscle cell (SMC, SmmhcCreER(T2)- or TaglnCre-driven)-specific-deficiency of CXCR4 in an apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse model. To identify underlying mechanisms for effects of CXCR4, we studied endothelial permeability, intravital leukocyte adhesion, involvement of the Akt/WNT/β-catenin sig-naling pathway and rele...

Self-renewing resident arterial macrophages arise from embryonic CX3CR1(+) precursors and circulating monocytes immediately after birth

Nature immunology, 2015

Resident macrophages densely populate the normal arterial wall, yet their origins and the mechanisms that sustain them are poorly understood. Here we use gene-expression profiling to show that arterial macrophages constitute a distinct population among macrophages. Using multiple fate-mapping approaches, we show that arterial macrophages arise embryonically from CX3CR1(+) precursors and postnatally from bone marrow-derived monocytes that colonize the tissue immediately after birth. In adulthood, proliferation (rather than monocyte recruitment) sustains arterial macrophages in the steady state and after severe depletion following sepsis. After infection, arterial macrophages return rapidly to functional homeostasis. Finally, survival of resident arterial macrophages depends on a CX3CR1-CX3CL1 axis within the vascular niche.

Distinct functions of chemokine receptor axes in the atherogenic mobilization and recruitment of classical monocytes

EMBO Molecular Medicine, 2013

We used a novel approach of cytostatically induced leucocyte depletion and subsequent reconstitution with leucocytes deprived of classical (inflammatory/ Gr1 hi ) or non-classical (resident/Gr1 lo ) monocytes to dissect their differential role in atheroprogression under high-fat diet (HFD). Apolipoprotein E-deficient (Apoe À/À ) mice lacking classical but not non-classical monocytes displayed reduced lesion size and macrophage and apoptotic cell content. Conversely, HFD induced a selective expansion of classical monocytes in blood and bone marrow. Increased CXCL1 levels accompanied by higher expression of its receptor CXCR2 on classical monocytes and inhibition of monocytosis by CXCL1-neutralization indicated a preferential role for the CXCL1/CXCR2 axis in mobilizing classical monocytes during hypercholesterolemia. Studies correlating circulating and lesional classical monocytes in gene-deficient Apoe À/À mice, adoptive transfer of gene-deficient cells and pharmacological modulation during intravital microscopy of the carotid artery revealed a crucial function of CCR1 and CCR5 but not CCR2 or CX 3 CR1 in classical monocyte recruitment to atherosclerotic vessels. Collectively, these data establish the impact of classical monocytes on atheroprogression, identify a sequential role of CXCL1 in their mobilization and CCR1/CCR5 in their recruitment.