Journal: Pflugers Archiv
Article Title: The impact of progredient vessel and tissue stiffening for the development of metabolic syndrome
doi: 10.1007/s00424-022-02749-w
Figure Lengend Snippet: Feedback loops stiff tissue/metabolic syndrome. Persistent mechanosensitive cation channel (MSCC; paradigmatically represented by ENaC) activation (external mainly by “western diet,” sedentary lifestyle, high sodium intake) leads to endothelial cell stiffening by stimulation of F-actin polymerization and contractility. Cytoskeletal stiffness is further enhanced by junctional proteins like JACD and RhoA coupled phospholipase C coupled G-protein (Gαq) (e.g., angiotensin II) receptors and integrins. Elevated cytoskeletal stiffness reduces NO and induces nuclear translocation of dephosphorylated YAP/TAZ and activation of their target genes. Their activity culminates in the pathophysiological picture of activated/dysfunctional (stiff) endothelium with rigid ECM. High ECM stiffness in turn activates via integrins/RhoA further cytoskeletal rigor, thus closing a positive feedback loop. Stiff endothelium-induced and maintained by enhanced activity of ENaC and YAP/TAZ leads via inflammatory and fibrosing mediators to stiff vessel phenotype (characterized by elevated ENaC and YAP/TAZ action in multiple cell types). Reciprocal mechano-metabolic coupling of vessels and organs/tissues induces stiff organ/tissue phenotype, again showing elevated ENaC and YAP/TAZ effects. In the wake of organ/tissue stiffening, the components of metabolic syndrome emerge, closing by further endothelial stiffening another positive feedback loop
Article Snippet: Persistent mechanosensitive cation channel (MSCC; paradigmatically represented by ENaC) activation (external mainly by “western diet,” sedentary lifestyle, high sodium intake) leads to endothelial cell stiffening by stimulation of F-actin polymerization and contractility.
Techniques: Activation Assay, Western Blot, Translocation Assay, Activity Assay