Hemodynamics regulate spatiotemporal artery muscularization in the developing circle of Willis

• Published in: eLife Vol. 13
• Main Authors: Cheng, Siyuan, Xia, Ivan Fan, Wanner, Renate, Abello, Javier, Stratman, Amber N, Nicoli, Stefania
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England eLife Science Publications, Ltd 10-07-2024; eLife Sciences Publications Ltd; eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Arteries; artery muscularization; Atherosclerosis; Blood flow; brain artery development; Brain research; Care and treatment; Carotid arteries; Cattle; Cell Differentiation; Cell migration; Cerebral blood flow; Cerebrovascular disease; Cerebrovascular diseases; Circle of Willis; Circle of Willis - embryology; Coronary vessels; Danio rerio; Developmental Biology; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Endothelium; Erythrocytes; Experiments; flow hemodynamics; Genetic aspects; Hemodynamics; Hemopoiesis; Humans; Measurement; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Morphogenesis; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - cytology; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - metabolism; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular - physiology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - physiology; Neurodegeneration; Physiological aspects; Platelet-derived growth factor; Progenitor cells; Regional blood flow; Smooth muscle; Transcription factors; Vascular diseases; vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation; Veins & arteries; Zebrafish; United States; vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation; artery muscularization; developmental biology; flow hemodynamics; circle of Willis; zebrafish; brain artery development
• ISSN: 2050-084X; 2050-084X
• DOI: 10.7554/eLife.94094

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) envelop vertebrate brain arteries and play a crucial role in regulating cerebral blood flow and neurovascular coupling. The dedifferentiation of VSMCs is implicated in cerebrovascular disease and neurodegeneration. Despite its importance, the process of VSMC differentiation on brain arteries during development remains inadequately characterized. Understanding this process could aid in reprogramming and regenerating dedifferentiated VSMCs in cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated VSMC differentiation on zebrafish circle of Willis (CoW), comprising major arteries that supply blood to the vertebrate brain. We observed that arterial specification of CoW endothelial cells (ECs) occurs after their migration from cranial venous plexus to form CoW arteries. Subsequently,
+ VSMCs differentiate from
+ mural cell progenitors after they were recruited to CoW arteries. The progression of VSMC differentiation exhibits a spatiotemporal pattern, advancing from anterior to posterior CoW arteries. Analysis of blood flow suggests that earlier VSMC differentiation in anterior CoW arteries correlates with higher red blood cell velocity and wall shear stress. Furthermore, pulsatile flow induces differentiation of human brain PDGFRB+ mural cells into VSMCs, and blood flow is required for VSMC differentiation on zebrafish CoW arteries. Consistently, flow-responsive transcription factor
is activated in ECs of CoW arteries prior to VSMC differentiation, and
knockdown delays VSMC differentiation on anterior CoW arteries. In summary, our findings highlight blood flow activation of endothelial
as a mechanism regulating initial VSMC differentiation on vertebrate brain arteries.