The ALK-1/SMAD/ATOH8 axis attenuates hypoxic responses and protects against the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Morikawa M, Mitani Y, Holmborn K, Kato T, Koinuma D, Maruyama J, Vasilaki E, Sawada H, Kobayashi M, Ozawa T, Morishita Y, Bessho Y, Maeda S, Ledin J, Aburatani H, Kageyama R, Maruyama K, Heldin CH, Miyazono K

Sci Signal 12 (607) eaay4430 [2019-11-12; online 2019-11-12]

Dysregulated bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in endothelial cells (ECs) is implicated in vascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Here, we showed that the transcription factor ATOH8 was a direct target of SMAD1/5 and was induced in a manner dependent on BMP but independent of Notch, another critical signaling pathway in ECs. In zebrafish and mice, inactivation of Atoh8 did not cause an arteriovenous malformation-like phenotype, which may arise because of dysregulated Notch signaling. In contrast, Atoh8-deficient mice exhibited a phenotype mimicking PAH, which included increased pulmonary arterial pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy. Moreover, ATOH8 expression was decreased in PAH patient lungs. We showed that in cells, ATOH8 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) and decreased its abundance, leading to reduced induction of HIF-2α target genes in response to hypoxia. Together, these findings suggest that the BMP receptor type II/ALK-1/SMAD/ATOH8 axis may attenuate hypoxic responses in ECs in the pulmonary circulation and may help prevent the development of PAH.

Genome Engineering Zebrafish [Collaborative]

PubMed 31719172

DOI 10.1126/scisignal.aay4430

Crossref 10.1126/scisignal.aay4430

pii: 12/607/eaay4430
pmc: PMC6908447
mid: EMS85032