Mechanosensitivity of Jagged–Notch signaling can induce a switch-type behavior in vascular homeostasis

S Loerakker, OMJA Stassen… - Proceedings of the …, 2018 - National Acad Sciences
S Loerakker, OMJA Stassen, FM Ter Huurne, M Boareto, CVC Bouten, CM Sahlgren
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018National Acad Sciences
Hemodynamic forces and Notch signaling are both known as key regulators of arterial
remodeling and homeostasis. However, how these two factors integrate in vascular
morphogenesis and homeostasis is unclear. Here, we combined experiments and modeling
to evaluate the impact of the integration of mechanics and Notch signaling on vascular
homeostasis. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were cyclically stretched on flexible
membranes, as quantified via video tracking, demonstrating that the expression of Jagged1 …
Hemodynamic forces and Notch signaling are both known as key regulators of arterial remodeling and homeostasis. However, how these two factors integrate in vascular morphogenesis and homeostasis is unclear. Here, we combined experiments and modeling to evaluate the impact of the integration of mechanics and Notch signaling on vascular homeostasis. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were cyclically stretched on flexible membranes, as quantified via video tracking, demonstrating that the expression of Jagged1, Notch3, and target genes was down-regulated with strain. The data were incorporated in a computational framework of Notch signaling in the vascular wall, where the mechanical load was defined by the vascular geometry and blood pressure. Upon increasing wall thickness, the model predicted a switch-type behavior of the Notch signaling state with a steep transition of synthetic toward contractile VSMCs at a certain transition thickness. These thicknesses varied per investigated arterial location and were in good agreement with human anatomical data, thereby suggesting that the Notch response to hemodynamics plays an important role in the establishment of vascular homeostasis.
National Acad Sciences