Inhibiting Eph/ephrin signaling reduces vascular leak and endothelial cell dysfunction in mice with sepsis

Sci Transl Med. 2024 Apr 24;16(744):eadg5768. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg5768. Epub 2024 Apr 24.

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, resulting in 11 million deaths globally each year. Vascular endothelial cell dysfunction results in the loss of endothelial barrier integrity, which contributes to sepsis-induced multiple organ failure and mortality. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Eph) receptors and their ephrin ligands play a key role in vascular endothelial barrier disruption but are currently not a therapeutic target in sepsis. Using a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) mouse model of sepsis, we showed that prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of mice with EphA4-Fc, a decoy receptor and pan-ephrin inhibitor, resulted in improved survival and a reduction in vascular leak, lung injury, and endothelial cell dysfunction. EphA2-/- mice also exhibited reduced mortality and pathology after CLP compared with wild-type mice. Proteomics of plasma samples from mice with sepsis after CLP revealed dysregulation of a number of Eph/ephrins, including EphA2/ephrin A1. Administration of EphA4-Fc to cultured human endothelial cells pretreated with TNF-α or ephrin-A1 prevented loss of endothelial junction proteins, specifically VE-cadherin, with maintenance of endothelial barrier integrity. In children admitted to hospital with fever and suspected infection, we observed that changes in EphA2/ephrin A1 in serum samples correlated with endothelial and organ dysfunction. Targeting Eph/ephrin signaling may be a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce sepsis-induced endothelial dysfunction and mortality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cecum / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells* / metabolism
  • Ephrins* / metabolism
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Eph Family / metabolism
  • Sepsis* / complications
  • Sepsis* / metabolism
  • Sepsis* / pathology
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Ephrins
  • Receptors, Eph Family