Project description:Loss-of-function variants in CCM3/PDCD10 predispose to cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) that are vascular lesion of the central nervous system. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and RNA sequencing, we have shown that long-term inactivation of CCM3 in human endothelial cells dysregulates fibronectin expression and thus impairs the assembly of a functional fibronectin matrix by endothelial cells.
Project description:Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that fibronectin supplementation restores the impaired spheroid formation and attenuates actin stress fiber assembly in CCM3-/- endothelial cells independently of acute gene expression differences. In particular, there was no significant downregulation of well-known key players in CCM pathogenesis like KLF2 or KLF4.
Project description:CCM3 regulates blood-brain-barrier integrity and vascular maturation in vivo. CCM3 loss-of-function variants predispose to cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM). Various signalling pathways are deregulated upon CCM3 depletion in endothelial cells (ECs). In this study, we established a crRNA:tracrRNA:Cas9 RNP approach to efficiently knockout CCM3 in human ECs and studied the molecular and functional effects of its long-term inactivation. Using small RNA sequencing, we show that CCM3 regulates the expression of aging‑associated miRNAs.
Project description:The purpose of this study was to investigate the transcriptional regulation of endothelial cells in CCM pathology. We isolated cerebellar endothelial cells from healthy (wild-type) mice and from mice with an inducible endothelial-specific knock-out of the Ccm3 gene (Ccm3 knock-out). We prepared RNA libraries and sequenced the samples on a HiSeq2500 sequencing system with v4 chemistry from Illumina. We then performed a differential gene expression analysis to identify genes that play a role in CCM pathology.
Project description:Primary cells deficient for PDCD10/CCM3 do not enter senescence as control cells. Microarray analysis was performed in cells transduced with non-targeting shRNA and CCM3 shRNA at passage 7 (early passage) and passage 11 (late passage), when control cells are already senescent. Primary endothelial cells were transduced either with non-target shRNA or with CCM3 shRNA. RNA was extracted at passage 7 and passage 11
Project description:Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are dilated capillaries causing epilepsy and stroke. Inheritance of a heterozygous mutation in CCM3/PDCD10 is responsible for the most aggressive familial form of the disease. Here we studied the differences and commonalities between the transcriptomes of microdissected lesional neurovascular units (NVUs) from acute and chronic in vivo Ccm3/Pdcd10ECKO mice, and cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) Ccm3/Pdcd10ECKO. We identified 2409 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in acute and 2962 in chronic in vivo NVUs compared to microdissected brain capillaries, as well as 121 in in vitro BMECs with and without Ccm3/Pdcd10 loss (fold change ≥ |2.0|; p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). A functional clustered dendrogram generated using the Euclidean distance showed that the DEGs identified only in acute in vivo NVUs were clustered in cellular proliferation gene ontology functions. The DEGs only identified in chronic in vivo NVUs were clustered in inflammation and immune response, permeability, and adhesion functions. In addition, 1225 DEGs were only identified in the in vivo NVUs but not in vitro BMECs, and these clustered within neuronal and glial functions. One miRNA mmu-miR-3472a was differentially expressed (FC = -5.98; p = 0.07, FDR corrected) in the serum of Ccm3/Pdcd10+/- when compared to wild type mice, and this was functionally related as a putative target to Cand2 (cullin associated and neddylation dissociated 2), a DEG in acute and chronic lesional NVUs and in vitro BMECs. Our results suggest that the acute model is characterized by cell proliferation, while the chronic model showed inflammatory, adhesion and permeability processes. In addition, we highlight the importance of extra-endothelial structures in CCM disease, and potential role of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers of disease, interacting with DEGs. The extensive DEGs library of each model will serve as a validation tool for potential mechanistic, biomarker, and therapeutic targets.
Project description:Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are dilated capillaries causing epilepsy and stroke. Inheritance of a heterozygous mutation in CCM3/PDCD10 is responsible for the most aggressive familial form of the disease. Here we studied the differences and commonalities between the transcriptomes of microdissected lesional neurovascular units (NVUs) from acute and chronic in vivo Ccm3/Pdcd10ECKO mice, and cultured brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) Ccm3/Pdcd10ECKO. We identified 2409 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in acute and 2962 in chronic in vivo NVUs compared to microdissected brain capillaries, as well as 121 in in vitro BMECs with and without Ccm3/Pdcd10 loss (fold change ≥ |2.0|; p < 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). A functional clustered dendrogram generated using the Euclidean distance showed that the DEGs identified only in acute in vivo NVUs were clustered in cellular proliferation gene ontology functions. The DEGs only identified in chronic in vivo NVUs were clustered in inflammation and immune response, permeability, and adhesion functions. In addition, 1225 DEGs were only identified in the in vivo NVUs but not in vitro BMECs, and these clustered within neuronal and glial functions. One miRNA mmu-miR-3472a was differentially expressed (FC = -5.98; p = 0.07, FDR corrected) in the serum of Ccm3/Pdcd10+/- when compared to wild type mice, and this was functionally related as a putative target to Cand2 (cullin associated and neddylation dissociated 2), a DEG in acute and chronic lesional NVUs and in vitro BMECs. Our results suggest that the acute model is characterized by cell proliferation, while the chronic model showed inflammatory, adhesion and permeability processes. In addition, we highlight the importance of extra-endothelial structures in CCM disease, and potential role of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers of disease, interacting with DEGs. The extensive DEGs library of each model will serve as a validation tool for potential mechanistic, biomarker, and therapeutic targets.
Project description:We report that loss of CCM3/PDCD10 in fibroblasts induces FAK/Src-paxillin signalling driving actomyosin-dependent mechanotransduction leading to YAP/TAZ signalling. In vivo, loss of CCM3 in fibroblasts drives excessive tissue remodelling leading to the dissemination of breast cancer cells to distant organs.