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Short Communications |


From the Vascular Medicine and Atherosclerosis Unit,*
Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Womens
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Ares
Serono,
Geneva, Switzerland; and Boehringer
Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
Ridgefield, Connecticut
| Abstract |
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| Introduction |
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Many studies have explored the role of TF in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, as well reviewed elsewhere.10 Active TF localizes in early atherosclerotic lesions and persists into the advanced stages.1,11,12 In addition to primary arteriosclerosis, acute thrombosis triggered by procoagulant TF activity may complicate arterial interventions such as balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, or coronary artery stenting.13-16 Such interventions expose vascular SMC to blood coagulation factors, highlighting the potential clinical relevance of the thrombogenicity of this cell type.17
Little is known, however, regarding the regulation of this potent coagulant protein in vascular SMC. Mediators described to induce TF expression in human vascular SMC are restricted to soluble molecules, including proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor.17 Cell contact with platelets can induce TF expression on vascular SMC; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown.18
Recently, we localized the components of a novel signaling dyad, CD40
and CD40L, within human atherosclerotic lesions.19
CD40, a
48-kd type I membrane protein, is a member of the TNF receptor family
that includes the TNF receptors and Fas (CD95).20-22
These receptors participate in the regulation of cell proliferation,
differentiation, or apoptosis.23-25
CD40, originally
considered restricted to B lymphocytes, is expressed on vascular SMC
within the atherosclerotic lesion.19
CD40s activator
CD40 ligand (CD40L, CD154), a 40-kd cell surface molecule, originally
considered restricted to activated CD4+ T
lymphocytes,26,27
is also expressed on vascular
SMC19
and belongs to the TNF family which includes TNF
,
Fas ligand, and others.24,28,29
Both CD40 and CD40L on SMC
function in vitro.30
This study tested the hypothesis that CD40 engagement on human vascular SMC via CD40L, expressed by activated T lymphocytes among other cells, induces the expression and/or activity of TF and its inhibitors by vascular SMC.
| Materials and Methods |
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Phorbol-12 myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and Polymyxin B were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, MO). Human recombinant CD40L (rCD40L) was generated as described previously.31,32 To limit possible effects of endotoxin in the rCD40L preparation, polymyxin B (500 ng/ml) was added during the stimulation of the SMC. Polymyxin B alone did not affect SMC (data not shown). Anti-human CD40L and CD40 as well as fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated control IgG1 mAb used for immunohistochemistry were obtained from Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, CA) and PharMingen (La Jolla, CA), respectively.
Cell Isolation and Culture
Human vascular SMC were isolated from human saphenous veins by
explant outgrowth and subcultured in DMEM (BioWhittaker, Walkersville,
MD) supplemented with 1% L-glutamine (BioWhittaker), 1%
penicillin/streptomycin, and 10% FBS, as described
previously.33
SMC were characterized by immunostaining
with anti-smooth muscle cell
-actin antibody (Dako, Carpinteria,
CA). The cells were cultured 24 hours before the experiment in
insulin/transferrin (IT) medium, as described
previously.34
For preparation of cell lysates, as used for
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), SMC stimulated for the
respective times were chilled on ice (10 minutes) and harvested via
cell scraper techniques. Pelleted cells were resuspended in sterile
phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and lysed via three freeze/thaw cycles.
Finally, total protein amount was determined.
T lymphocytes were isolated from freshly prepared human peripheral
blood mononuclear cells obtained from leukopacs of healthy donors by
CD4+ selection employing magnetic beads coated with anti-CD4 mAb
(Dynabeads M450 CD4; Dynal Inc., Oslo, Norway) and were kindly provided
by Dr. Andrew Lichtmann (Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston,
MA). The purity of the T lymphocyte preparations was
98%, as
determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis
(anti-human CD4+ mAb, FITC-conjugated; PharMingen, San Diego, CA). The
cells were cultured 12 hours in RPMI1640 (BioWhittaker) in absence or
presence of 50 ng/ml PMA and CD40L cell surface expression confirmed by
FACS analysis (anti-CD40L mAb, FITC-conjugated; Calbiochem).
For preparation of cell membranes, SMC (1 x 106 cells/ml) or T lymphocytes (3 x 107 cells/ml) were resuspended in 50 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 250 mmol/L NaCl, 500 mmol/L MgCl2, 0.1 mmol/L EDTA (final concentrations) and sonicated (Heat Systems Ultrasonics Inc., Plainview, NY). Cell membranes were separated from whole lysates using two-layer (0.32/2.14 mmol/L) sucrose gradient centrifugation (25,000 x g, 90 minutes, 4°C). The interface band was harvested, washed twice in 0.32 mmol/L sucrose, 100 mmol/L HEPES, 0.5 mmol/L EDTA (1,500g, 15 minutes, 4°C), and loaded again on a two-layer (0.32/1.96 mmol/L) sucrose-gradient-centrifugation (40,000 x g, 60 minutes, 4°C). Finally, the interphase band was harvested, centrifuged (10,000 x g, 15 minutes, 4°C) and the membrane preparation resuspended in phosphate buffered saline. Cultures of human vascular SMC were incubated with CD4+ T lymphocyte membrane preparations equivalent to a ratio of 1 SMC:10 T cells.
Immunohistochemistry
Surgical specimens of human carotid atheroma and aorta were obtained by protocols approved by the Human Investigation Review Committee at Brigham and Womens Hospital. Serial cryostat sections (5 µm) were cut, air-dried onto microscope slides (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA), and fixed in acetone at -20°C for 5 minutes. Sections were pre-incubated with PBS containing 0.3% hydrogen peroxide to inhibit endogenous peroxidase activity. The sections were then incubated (90 minutes) with primary or control (mouse myeloma protein MOPC-21, Sigma, St. Louis, MO) antibody diluted in PBS supplemented with 5% appropriate serum. After washing three times in PBS, sections were incubated with the respective biotinylated secondary antibody (45 minutes, Vector, Burlingame, CA) followed by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (Vectastain ABC kit, Vector), and antibody binding was visualized with 3-amino-9-ethyl carbazole (Vector) according to the recommendations provided by the supplier. Colocalization of TF with CD40 or the respective cell type used double-immunofluorescence staining. The mouse anti-human TF antibody (1:200; no. 4901, American Diagnostica, Greenwich, CT) was applied for 60 minutes followed by biotinylated anti-mouse secondary antibody for 45 minutes and Texas red-conjugated streptavidin (Amersham, Arlington Heights, IL). Subsequent to application of the avidin/biotin blocking kit (Vector), rabbit-anti-human CD40 antibody (1:250, Santa Cruz Biotechnology) or anti-smooth muscle actin mAb for SMC (Enzo Diagnostics, New York, NY) was added and sections incubated overnight at 4°C. Subsequently, the appropriate secondary antibodies were applied for 30 minutes followed by streptavidin-FITC (Amersham).
Flow Cytometry
Human vascular SMC were washed with ice-cold PBS (Ca2+/Mg2+ free), harvested by scraping and subsequently washed once with PBS/1% FBS before being incubated with the FITC-conjugated TF antibody (30 minutes, 4°C). After immunofluorescence labeling, cells were washed twice with PBS/1% FBS and analyzed in a Becton Dickinson FACScan flow cytometer. Data were analyzed using CellQuest software (Becton Dickinson). At least 20,000 viable cells per condition were analyzed for the determination of percentage of positive cells.
Analysis of TF and TF Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) Protein and Activity
Detection of TF and TFPI protein used the Immunobind TF and total TFPI sandwich ELISA kit provided by American Diagnostica, respectively. The anti-TFPI antibodies recognized full length as well as truncated forms of TFPI-1. The subsequent binding of the streptavidin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase is visualized by addition of TMB substrate as blue color, and TF/TFPI levels determined by measuring absorbance at 405 nm.
Detection of TF and TFPI activity used the Actichrome TF and TFPI Activity Assay provided by American Diagnostica. TF activity was determined as the peptidyl activity for complex formation with recombinant Factor VII and the conversion of a chromogenic substrate. Absorbance read at 405 nm was compared to those values obtained with recombinant TF standard. TFPI activity was determined as the ability to inhibit the catalytic activity of the TF/VIIa to convert recombinant factor X to Xa. Remaining TF/VIIa activity was quantitated by cleavage of a chromogenic factor Xa substrate. Absorbance read at 405 nm was compared to those values obtained with recombinant TFPI standard.
| Results |
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In accordance with previous
studies,1,11,12,35,36
human carotid atherosclerotic
lesions (n = 6) consistently showed strong
immunoreactivity for TF (Figure 1)
.
Because we recently localized the CD40/CD40L receptor/ligand pair in
human atherosclerotic plaques and demonstrated that CD40 ligation
induces atheroma-associated functions in human vascular
SMC,19,30,37
we investigated the possible colocalization
of TF with CD40. Indeed, cells expressing TF also bear CD40 (Figure 1)
.
Cell morphology as well as the colocalization of immunofluorescence
double-labeling of CD40 and TF with
-actin-positive cells on
adjacent sections, supported the localization of TF on CD40-positive
vascular SMC within atherosclerotic lesions. No immunoreactivity was
observed in tissues stained with the respective control IgG.
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The regulation of TF in vascular SMC by CD40 ligation was further
studied in vitro. Ligation of CD40 on human vascular SMC
induced the transient cell surface expression of TF in
vitro, whereas unstimulated cells did not express this
procoagulant molecule, as demonstrated by FACS analysis (Figure 2A)
. Smooth muscle cells exposed to
either CD40L-positive cell membrane preparations of PMA-activated (50
ng/ml, 12 hours) T lymphocytes or recombinant human CD40L (rCD40L)
showed the time-dependent induction of cell surface TF. Tissue factor
expression peaked after 6 to 12 hours of coculture with the respective
CD40L source, and decreased during more prolonged incubation. Addition
of an anti-CD40L mAb blocked induction of TF in response to CD40
ligation. Maximal production of TF protein required the coculture of
SMC with T cell membrane preparations at an equivalent of 10 T cells:1
SMC or with 10 µg/ml rCD40L (Figure 2)
.
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The induction of TF protein by CD40 engagement was further
evaluated in lysates of cultured vascular SMC. In accordance with the
findings of the FACS analysis, stimulation of vascular SMC with rCD40L
induced the cell-associated expression of TF as determined by ELISA in
a concentration-dependent manner. Lysates of unstimulated, quiescent
SMC contained little or no detectable TF. Human rCD40L, however,
induced the expression of TF protein in a concentration-dependent
manner, requiring at least 1 to 3 µg/ml and achieving an 11.2 ±
1.1-fold increase employing 10 µg/ml rCD40L (Figure 2B
, upper panel).
Also in accordance with the FACS analysis, maximal induction of TF
occurred after approximately 6 to 12 hours of stimulation with CD40L
and prolonged incubation decreased TF protein (data not shown).
Presence of the anti-CD40L antibody markedly reduced this induction of
TF, indicating the specificity of the CD40L-mediated mechanism (Figure 2B
, upper panel). Furthermore, addition of a TF blocking antibody
during the ELISA abolished the detection of TF, demonstrating the
specificity of the assay used.
Because the presence of TF protein does not necessarily establish its
biological function, we further determined the procoagulant activity of
SMC. In accordance with the findings at the protein level, CD40L
induced the expression of TF activity in a similar concentration- and
time-dependent manner. Because the use of total cell lysates yielded
high background signals in the activity assay, membrane preparations of
human vascular SMC were used. Maximal activity levels were obtained
after 6 to 12 hours of stimulation with the ligand (data not shown).
Membrane preparations of human vascular SMC stimulated with 10 µg/ml
rCD40L contained 4.8 ± 1.2-fold more TF activity than
unstimulated cells, as determined by comparison with recombinant TF
(Figure 2B
, lower panel).
Ligation of CD40 on Human Vascular SMC Does Not Affect the Expression of TFPI
Because the activity of TF in vivo depends on its
balance with endogenous inhibitors, we further analyzed whether CD40
engagement alters the expression of TFPI. Stimulation of human vascular
SMC with rCD40L did not affect the constitutive expression of TFPI-1,
independent of the concentrations (0.01 to 10 µg/ml rCD40L; Figure 3A
) or time of application (0.5 to 48
hours, data not shown) of CD40L. In accordance with the findings on
protein expression, ligation of CD40L did not affect TFPI activity in
lysates (data not shown) or membrane preparations of human vascular
smooth muscle cells (Figure 3B)
.
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| Discussion |
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Triggering blood coagulation precipitates the major acute manifestations of the chronic inflammatory disease atherosclerosis. Thrombotic complications of atheroma involve various cellular components. Indeed, SMC and macrophages furnish the major source of the potent procoagulant TF.1,10,11,35,38 Several studies demonstrated that nearly every atherosclerotic lesion analyzed expressed TF mRNA, protein, and activity.10 Although much information exists regarding regulation of TF produced by macrophages, the regulation of TF expression in human vascular SMC remains poorly understood. Previous reports focused on soluble mediators including proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors.17,39 However, these molecules do not explain TF induction observed after cell contact,18 for example with platelets, recently found to express functional CD40L.40 We and others have recently presented evidence implicating the CD40 signaling pathway in atherogenesis, because it mediates functions such as cytokine, adhesion molecule, and matrix metalloproteinase expression on atheroma-associated cells in vitro,19,30,33,37,41-47 and affects atherogenesis in vivo.48 The present study demonstrates that CD40L can indeed mediate the expression of TF protein and activity in human vascular SMC, providing a potential mediator of cell contact-dependent induction of this procoagulant activity. The time-dependent induction of TF via CD40 signaling resembles that found previously with soluble mediators.17
CD40 ligand may arise from multiple sources within atheromatous tissue. We and others recently demonstrated that CD40L is expressed on endothelial cells and SMC as well as macrophages.19,49,50 Furthermore, T lymphocytes, cells found early in atherogenesis, also bear CD40L.19 Finally, recent studies by others demonstrated that platelets can also mediate functions via CD40 ligand.40 Indeed, platelets can induce TF expression on SMC as well as on endothelial cells and macrophages, as demonstrated by several groups.18,51-54
In addition to its cellular location, TF also occurs in the extracellular pool of the lipid core within the atherosclerotic lesion.10 SMC constitute a large portion of the cells in many progressing atheroma. These cells may undergo apoptosis during the evolution toward more vulnerable lesions.55 SMC-derived TF thus might contribute to the acellular pool of plaques as a deposit by activated and/or dying SMC within the lipid core. On the other hand, TF can also promote cell proliferation by augmenting growth factor expression.9 Thus, SMC-derived TF may participate in both the proliferative phase of atherogenesis as well as the later stage of lesion destabilization, associated with SMC drop-out.
Within the core of atheroma only a subpopulation of macrophages expresses TF.1 In contrast, the present results show a homogenous expression of tissue factor by SMC in vitro and in situ. These results may have important implications for thrombosis caused by superficial erosion of atheroma during which blood may contact intimal SMC but not the central core of the lesion, as in rupture of the plaques fibrous cap.56,57
TF-associated procoagulant activity depends on the expression of TFPI. TFPI-1 interacts, probably via its Kunitz domain 2, with the ternary procoagulant complex of TF, factor VIIa, and factor X, forming an inactive quaternary complex. Originally, TFPI-1 was described in plasma as a complex with lipoproteins. Recent58 as well as our own unpublished studies, however, revealed its presence within human atherosclerotic lesions. Thus, imbalance of procoagulant and inhibitory activity might determine the thrombogenicity of lesions.
The present study demonstrates increased TF protein and activity combined with unaltered TFPI protein and activity, indicating that the balance of TF and TFPI in human vascular SMC is shifted toward increased procoagulant activity after CD40 activation.
The findings of the current study, combined with the observation that CD40 ligation also induces TF on macrophages and endothelial cells,37,51-53 demonstrates the capability of this cell-associated activator to regulate the thrombotic potential of human atherosclerotic lesion.
| Acknowledgements |
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| Footnotes |
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Supported in part by grants of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (HL-56985 to P. L.) and performed during the tenure of U. S. as Paul Dudley White Fellow of the American Heart Association.
Accepted for publication September 9, 1999.
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