Kindlin-2 Phase Separation in Response to Flow Controls Vascular Stability

Background: Atheroprotective shear stress preserves endothelial barrier function, while atheroprone shear stress enhances endothelial permeability. Yet, the underlying mechanisms through which distinct flow patterns regulate EC integrity remain to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of Kindlin-2, a key component of focal adhesion and endothelial adherens junctions crucial for regulating endothelial cell (EC) integrity and vascular stability.

Methods: Mouse models of atherosclerosis in EC-specific Kindlin-2 knockout mice (Kindlin-2^iΔEC) were used to study the role of Kindlin-2 in atherogenesis. Pulsatile shear (2±4 dynes/cm²) or oscillatory shear (0.5±4 dynes/cm²) were applied to culture ECs. Live-cell imaging, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay, and optoDroplet assay were used to study the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Kindlin-2. Co-immunoprecipitation, mutagenesis, proximity ligation assay, and transendothelial electrical resistance assay were used to explore the underlying mechanism of flow-regulated Kindlin-2 function.

Results: We found that Kindlin-2 localization is altered under different flow patterns. Kindlin-2^iΔEC mice showed heightened vascular permeability. Kindlin-2^iΔEC were bred onto ApoE^-/- mice to generate Kindlin-2^iΔEC; ApoE^-/- mice, which displayed a significant increase in atherosclerosis lesions. In vitro data showed that in ECs, Kindlin-2 underwent LLPS, a critical process for proper focal adhesion assembly, maturation, and junction formation. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that oscillatory shear increased arginine methylation of Kindlin-2, catalyzed by PRMT5 (protein arginine methyltransferase 5). Functionally, arginine hypermethylation inhibits Kindlin-2 LLPS, impairing focal adhesion assembly and junction maturation. Notably, we identified R290 of Kindlin-2 as a crucial residue for LLPS and a key site for arginine methylation. Finally, pharmacologically inhibiting arginine methylation reduces EC activation and plaque formation.

Conclusions: Collectively, our study elucidates that mechanical force induces arginine methylation of Kindlin-2, thereby regulating vascular stability through its impact on Kindlin-2 LLPS. Targeting Kindlin-2 arginine methylation emerges as a promising hemodynamic-based strategy for treating vascular disorders and atherosclerosis.

Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02783300.