Eph-B4 prevents venous adaptive remodeling in the adult arterial environment

J Exp Med. 2011 Mar 14;208(3):561-75. doi: 10.1084/jem.20101854. Epub 2011 Feb 21.

Abstract

Eph-B4 determines mammalian venous differentiation in the embryo but is thought to be a quiescent marker of adult veins. We have previously shown that surgical transposition of a vein into the arterial environment is characterized by loss of venous identity, as indicated by the loss of Eph-B4, and intimal thickening. We used a mouse model of vein graft implantation to test the hypothesis that Eph-B4 is a critical determinant of venous wall thickness during postsurgical adaptation to the arterial environment. We show that stimulation of Eph-B4 signaling, either via ligand stimulation or expression of a constitutively active Eph-B4, inhibits venous wall thickening and preserves venous identity; conversely, reduction of Eph-B4 signaling is associated with increased venous wall thickness. Stimulated Eph-B4 associates with caveolin-1 (Cav-1); loss of Cav-1 or Eph-B4 kinase function abolishes inhibition of vein graft thickening. These results show that Eph-B4 is active in adult veins and regulates venous remodeling. Eph-B4-Cav-1-mediated vessel remodeling may be a venous-specific adaptive mechanism. Controlled stimulation of embryonic signaling pathways such as Eph-B4 may be a novel strategy to manipulate venous wall remodeling in adults.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Arteries / physiology*
  • Caveolin 1 / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phosphorylation
  • Rats
  • Receptor, EphB4 / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Veins / physiology*
  • Veins / transplantation

Substances

  • Caveolin 1
  • Ephb4 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, EphB4