The stroke risk gene Foxf2 maintains brain endothelial cell function via Tie2 signaling
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ABSTRACT:
PROVIDER: PRJNA1104269 | ENA |
REPOSITORIES: ENA
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Project description:Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. In up to 30% of cases the underlying etiology is cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), the mechanisms of which are insufficiently understood. Genome-wide association studies have identified FOXF2 as a major risk gene for SVD and stroke. Foxf2 encodes a transcription factor that in the brain is primarily expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes but the mechanisms linking Foxf2 to cerebrovascular disease are unknown. Here we show that Foxf2 maintains EC function via Tie2 signaling and limits infarct size in mice after middle cerebral artery occlusion. EC-specific inactivation of Foxf2 in adult mice resulted in blood-brain barrier leakage, which was exacerbated after experimental stroke compared to controls. Proteomic analyses of brain ECs from Foxf2 deficient mice as well as human pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived ECs lacking FOXF2 revealed a downregulation of multiple proteins involved in Tie2 signaling. We further found that endothelial Foxf2 deficiency compromises functional hyperemia, reduces endothelial NO production, and increases the size of experimentally induced infarcts via Tie2 signaling. Pharmacological treatment with the Tie2 activator AKB-9778 rescued the effects of Foxf2 deficiency on key outcomes. Moreover, RNA sequencing in combination with chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing in ECs revealed that FOXF2 functions as a transcriptional activator of Tie2 and other endothelial lineage-specific genes. Collectively, our results highlight the role of endothelial dysfunction and of reduced Tie2 signaling in SVD and stroke, thus offering new perspectives for therapeutic interventions.
2025-09-10 | GSE265820 | GEO
Project description:Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability. In up to 30% of cases the underlying etiology is cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), the mechanisms of which are insufficiently understood. Genome-wide association studies have identified FOXF2 as a major risk gene for SVD and stroke. Foxf2 encodes a transcription factor that in the brain is primarily expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes but the mechanisms linking Foxf2 to cerebrovascular disease are unknown. Here we show that Foxf2 maintains EC function via Tie2 signaling and limits infarct size in mice after middle cerebral artery occlusion. EC-specific inactivation of Foxf2 in adult mice resulted in blood-brain barrier leakage, which was exacerbated after experimental stroke compared to controls. Proteomic analyses of brain ECs from Foxf2 deficient mice as well as human pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) derived ECs lacking FOXF2 revealed a downregulation of multiple proteins involved in Tie2 signaling. We further found that endothelial Foxf2 deficiency compromises functional hyperemia, reduces endothelial NO production, and increases the size of experimentally induced infarcts via Tie2 signaling. Pharmacological treatment with the Tie2 activator AKB-9778 rescued the effects of Foxf2 deficiency on key outcomes. Moreover, RNA sequencing in combination with chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) in ECs revealed that FOXF2 functions as a transcriptional activator of Tie2 and other endothelial lineage-specific genes. Collectively, our results highlight the role of endothelial dysfunction and of reduced Tie2 signaling in SVD and stroke, thus offering new perspectives for therapeutic interventions.
2025-04-26 | GSE265959 | GEO
Project description:The stroke risk gene Foxf2 maintains brain endothelial cell function via Tie2 signaling
| PRJNA1105051 | ENA
Project description:FOXF2, a major risk gene for stroke and SVD, the mechanisms of which are insufficiently understood. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of FOXF2 induced key features of BBB dysfunction, including compromised cell junction integrity, decreased transendothelial electrical resistance and dysregulated caveolae formation. Proteomic analysis of human iPSC derived endothelial cells revealed an impairment of pathways related to endocytosis and cell junctions, confirming a role of FOXF2 in BBB function. The observed disease features phenocopy those seen in an endothelial cell-specific mouse model of Foxf2 deficiency that we have developed in parallel, validating the relevance of our human BBB model to investigate neurovascular disorders.
2025-09-02 | PXD051960 | Pride
Project description:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for cardioembolic stroke. Anticoagulant drugs are effective in preventing AF-related stroke. However, the high frequency of anticoagulant-associated major bleeding is a major concern particularly when antiplatelet treatment is simultaneously administered. Here, microarray analysis in peripheral blood cells in eight patients with AF and stroke and eight AF subjects without stroke identified a stroke related gene expression pattern. HSPA1B, which encodes for heat-shock protein 70 kDa (Hsp70), was the most differentially expressed gene. This gene was downregulated in stroke subjects, a finding confirmed further in an independent AF cohort of 200 individuals. Hsp70 knock-out (KO) mice subjected to different thrombotic challenges developed thrombosis significantly earlier than their wild-type (WT) counterparts. In WT mice, Hsp70 inducers (TRC051384, or tubastatin A) delayed thrombus formation. Remarkably, Hsp70 inducers did not increase the bleeding risk even when aspirin was concomitantly administered. Hsp70 induction was associated with an increased vascular thrombomodulin expression, higher circulating levels of activated protein C (APC) upon thrombotic stimulus and increased protection against endothelial apoptosis. Thus, Hsp70 induction is a novel approach to delay thrombus formation with minimal bleeding risk, being especially promising in situations where there is a major bleeding hazard. Microarray analysis in peripheral blood cells includes eight patients with AF and stroke and eight AF subjects without stroke
2016-04-01 | E-GEOD-66724 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:To identify the genes and pathways regulated by FOXF2, we investigated potential FOXF2 gene targets by microarray analyses of primary prostate stromal cells (PrSC) in which FOXF2 was knocked down by siRNA. 190 differentially expressed genes were selected, of which 104 genes were more highly expressed in PrSC cells treated with FOXF2 siRNA and 86 were more highly expressed in PRSC cells treated with negative control siRNA. Experiment Overall Design: In each experiment, we compared gene expression of PrSC cells treated with FOXF2 siRNA versus PrSC cells treated with negative control siRNA, in a total of 6 affymetrix arrays. 190 differentially expressed genes were selected (ratio negative control siRNA/siRNA ⥠2log |0.8| as average in all arrays).
2008-11-13 | E-GEOD-12444 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Pulmonary vascular development is essential for alveolarization, and disruption of this process contributes to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) pulmonary pathology. Proper vascular development requires an orchestration of many cell types within the lung. However, the mechanisms by which pericytes support the endothelium in the postnatal lung remain poorly understood. Here, we identify FOXF2 as a critical transcription factor that governs pericyte maturation and function during postnatal lung development and regeneration. FOXF2 expression in pericytes increases postnatally and is selectively downregulated following neonatal hyperoxic injury. Pdgfrb-CreER mediated Foxf2 deletion in pericytes leads to pericyte hyperplasia, impaired migration, reduced expression of angiogenic factors such as ANGPTL4, and exacerbated alveolar simplification in a neonatal murine model of BPD. Transcriptomic and genomic studies demonstrate that FOXF2 maintains chromatin accessibility at pro-angiogenic loci and modulates paracrine signaling essential for endothelial regeneration. Loss of FOXF2 disrupts pericyte–endothelial crosstalk, impairing angiogenesis and alveolar repair during injury. Our study identifies FOXF2 as a central transcriptional regulator of pericyte-driven vascular niche function in the neonatal lung and underscores the pathogenic role of dysfunctional pericytes in BPD.
2025-12-31 | GSE297575 | GEO
Project description:Pulmonary vascular development is essential for alveolarization, and disruption of this process contributes to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) pulmonary pathology. Proper vascular development requires an orchestration of many cell types within the lung. However, the mechanisms by which pericytes support the endothelium in the postnatal lung remain poorly understood. Here, we identify FOXF2 as a critical transcription factor that governs pericyte maturation and function during postnatal lung development and regeneration. FOXF2 expression in pericytes increases postnatally and is selectively downregulated following neonatal hyperoxic injury. Pdgfrb-CreER mediated Foxf2 deletion in pericytes leads to pericyte hyperplasia, impaired migration, reduced expression of angiogenic factors such as ANGPTL4, and exacerbated alveolar simplification in a neonatal murine model of BPD. Transcriptomic and genomic studies demonstrate that FOXF2 maintains chromatin accessibility at pro-angiogenic loci and modulates paracrine signaling essential for endothelial regeneration. Loss of FOXF2 disrupts pericyte–endothelial crosstalk, impairing angiogenesis and alveolar repair during injury. Our study identifies FOXF2 as a central transcriptional regulator of pericyte-driven vascular niche function in the neonatal lung and underscores the pathogenic role of dysfunctional pericytes in BPD.
2025-12-31 | GSE297573 | GEO
Project description:Pulmonary vascular development is essential for alveolarization, and disruption of this process contributes to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) pulmonary pathology. Proper vascular development requires an orchestration of many cell types within the lung. However, the mechanisms by which pericytes support the endothelium in the postnatal lung remain poorly understood. Here, we identify FOXF2 as a critical transcription factor that governs pericyte maturation and function during postnatal lung development and regeneration. FOXF2 expression in pericytes increases postnatally and is selectively downregulated following neonatal hyperoxic injury. Pdgfrb-CreER mediated Foxf2 deletion in pericytes leads to pericyte hyperplasia, impaired migration, reduced expression of angiogenic factors such as ANGPTL4, and exacerbated alveolar simplification in a neonatal murine model of BPD. Transcriptomic and genomic studies demonstrate that FOXF2 maintains chromatin accessibility at pro-angiogenic loci and modulates paracrine signaling essential for endothelial regeneration. Loss of FOXF2 disrupts pericyte–endothelial crosstalk, impairing angiogenesis and alveolar repair during injury. Our study identifies FOXF2 as a central transcriptional regulator of pericyte-driven vascular niche function in the neonatal lung and underscores the pathogenic role of dysfunctional pericytes in BPD.
2025-12-31 | GSE297570 | GEO
Project description:Serum miRNA-based risk prediction for stroke
| PRJNA480974 | ENA