Project description:Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in the fibrillin-1 (Fbn1) gene. While aortic rupture is the major cause of mortality in MFS, patients also suffer from poorly understood pulmonary complications. Loss of basal nitric oxide (NO) production and vascular integrity are proposed to take part in MFS aortic root disease, yet their contribution to lung complications has yet to be determined. Due to its capacity to potentiate the vasodilatory NO/cyclic guanylate monophosphate signaling pathway, we assessed whether the phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor sildenafil (SIL) could attenuate aortic root remodelling and emphysema in a mouse model of MFS. Despite increasing NO-dependent vasodilation, SIL unexpectedly elevated mean arterial blood pressure, failed to inhibit MFS aortic root dilation and exacerbated elastic fibrefiber fragmentation. In the lung, early pulmonary artery dilation observed in untreated MFS mice was delayed by SIL treatment, and severe emphysema-like alveolar destruction was prevented. In addition, improvements in select parameters of lung function were documented. Subsequent micro-array analyses showed changes to gene signatures involved in the inflammatory response in MFS lung treated with SIL, without significant downregulation of connective tissue or TGF-β signalling genes. Since PDE5 inhibition leads to improved lung histopathology and function, the effects of SIL against emphysema warrant further investigation in the settings of MFS despite limited efficacy on aortic root remodelling.
Project description:We report dynamic temporal and spatial smooth muscle cell phenotype modulation using aortic single cell RNA sequencing in a murine model of Marfan syndrome (Fbn1C1041G/+) and littermate controls. Aortic root/ascending aortic tissue samples from both genotypes were studied at 4 and 24 weeks of age. The non-aneurysmal descending thoracic aorta was also studied at 24 weeks. Finally human aortic tissue from a Marfan syndrome patient undergoing aneurysm repair surgery was studied.
Project description:Using Cdh5-Cre and Sm22-Cre transgenes to characterize the impact of disruption of the angiotensin II type 1a receptor (AT1ar) in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells, respectively, of wild type (WT) mice compared to fibrillin-1 hypomorphic mice (Fbn1mgR/mgR mice) that replicate early onset progressively severe Marfan syndrome (MFS) with dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA).
Project description:Mitochondrial disease encompasses inherited disorders affecting mitochondrial function. A severe and untreatable form of mitochondrial disease is Leigh syndrome (LS) causing psychomotor regression and metabolic crises. To accelerate drug discovery for LS, we screen a library of 5,632 repurposable compounds in neural cells from LS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We identify phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors as leads and prioritize sildenafil for its clinical safety. Sildenafil corrects mitochondrial membrane potential defects, restores neurodevelopmental pathways, and normalizes calcium responses in LS brain organoids. In small and large mammalian models of LS, sildenafil extends the lifespan and ameliorates disease phenotypes. Off-label individual basis treatment with sildenafil in six LS patients improves their motor function and resistance to metabolic crises. Collectively, the findings highlight the potential of iPSC-driven drug discovery and position sildenafil as a promising drug candidate for mitochondrial disease.
Project description:The goal of this study is to define the main tissue and mechanism implicated in the long bone overgrowth phenotype in mice with Marfan syndrome
Project description:Mitochondrial diseases are a group of rare inherited disorders that affect mitochondrial function. A severe untreatable form of mitochondrial disease is Leigh syndrome (LS), which is characterized by psychomotor regression and acute metabolic crises during which patients quickly deteriorate. To accelerate drug discovery for mitochondrial diseases, we focused on drug repurposing and used induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal precursor cells (NPCs) from LS patients to screen a library of 5,632 repurposable compounds. We identified phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) as leads capable of normalizing mitochondrial polarization in NPCs of LS patients. Among the PDE5i, we prioritized Sildenafil due to its established safety profile in children and adults. Sildenafil restored key pathways regulating nervous system development, enhanced neurite outgrowth in LS neurons, and mitigated abnormal calcium responses in LS brain organoids under metabolic stress. Chronic off-label compassionate treatment of six LS patients with Sildenafil showed good tolerability and clear clinical improvements. Our findings highlight the potential of iPSC-driven drug discovery for rare diseases and position Sildenafil as a promising drug candidate for patients with mitochondrial diseases.
Project description:We analyzed differentially expressed genes in smooth muscle cells derived from the thoracic aorta of Marfan Syndrome (MFS) patients and control subjects to identify cell biological mechanisms contributing to thoracic aoritc aneurysm (TAA) development and rupture. These mechanisms were used to identify a potential drug treatment to mitigate TAA progression. We analyzed differentially expressed genes in whole aorta of P16 MFS mice vs WT mice to identify cell biological mechanisms contributing to thoracic aoritc aneurysm (TAA) development and rupture. These mechanisms were used to identify baclofen as a potential drug treatment to mitigate TAA progression. The effect of baclofen on gene expression in WT and MFS was documented in P60 mice that received treatment since P16.
Project description:Thoracic aortic aneurysms have a higher prevalence in male patients compared to female patients. Marfan syndrome causes a hereditary form of TAA with dilation of the aortic root. Male patients with Marfan syndrome are more likely than women to have aortic dilation and dissection and mouse models of Marfan syndrome demonstrate larger aortic roots in males compared to females even after adjustment for body size. Similar sex disparities are present in patients and models of abdominal aortic aneurysms where estrogen has been demonstrated to attenuate aneurysm formation perhaps through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. In this study we demonstrate the effects of estrogen on aortic dilation and rupture in a Marfan mouse model and we investigate if these effects operate through suppression of complement components of the immune system.