Lack of Fibronectin Extra Domain A Alternative Splicing Exacerbates Endothelial Dysfunction in Diabetes

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 29:6:37965. doi: 10.1038/srep37965.

Abstract

Glucose-induced changes of artery anatomy and function account for diabetic vascular complications, which heavily impact disease morbidity and mortality. Since fibronectin containing extra domain A (EDA + FN) is increased in diabetic vessels and participates to vascular remodeling, we wanted to elucidate whether and how EDA + FN is implicated in diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction using isometric-tension recording in a murine model of diabetes. In thoracic aortas of EDA-/-, EDA+/+ (constitutively lacking and expressing EDA + FN respectively), and of wild-type mice (EDAwt/wt), streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes impaired endothelial vasodilation to acetylcholine, irrespective of genotype. However STZ + EDA-/- mice exhibited increased endothelial dysfunction compared with STZ + EDA+/+ and with STZ + EDAwt/wt. Analysis of the underlying mechanisms revealed that STZ + EDA-/- mice show increased oxidative stress as demonstrated by enhanced aortic superoxide anion, nitrotyrosine levels and expression of NADPH oxidase NOX4 and TGF-β1, the last two being reverted by treatment with the antioxidant n-acetylcysteine. In contrast, NOX1 expression and antioxidant potential were similar in aortas from the three genotypes. Interestingly, reduced eNOS expression in STZ + EDA+/+ vessels is counteracted by increased eNOS coupling and function. Although EDA + FN participates to vascular remodelling, these findings show that it plays a crucial role in limiting diabetic endothelial dysfunction by preventing vascular oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Animals
  • Aorta, Thoracic / metabolism
  • Aorta, Thoracic / pathology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications*
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / etiology*
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / pathology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology*
  • Fibronectins / physiology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress

Substances

  • Fibronectins
  • extra domain A fibronectin, mouse
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos3 protein, mouse