Abstract 249: Plasma Exosomes Impair Angiogenesis in Ischemic Hind Limb of Diabetic Mice- Role of Histone Methylation

Abstract

Background: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is one of most prevenient cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients. Recent evidence suggests that altered cargo and function of plasma exosomes (plasma-Exo) may play an important role in diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications. Here, we tested the hypotheses that inhibition of exosome biosynthesis/release improves ischemic hind limb (IHL) repair in db/db mice. Methods: Plasma-Exo from db/+ and db/db mice were isolated by density-gradient ultracentrifugation. Unilateral IHL in mice was conducted by ligation of left femoral artery. Blood perfusion in IHL was measured by Laser Doppler Imager. Results: Diabetic plasma-Exo impaired tube formation/migration of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) and blood perfusion in IHL of C57BL/6J mice. Exosome inhibitor GW4869 improved blood flow, capillary density, cell survival, and rescued necrosis of toe/toenail and fibrosis in IHL muscle of db/db mice. Mechanistically, diabetic plasma-Exo decreased secretion of pro-angiogenic factor Ang I&II, artemin, FGF2 and IGFBP1&2, and increased repressive transcriptional mark H3K27me3 and its methylase enhancer of zest homolog-2 (EZH2) in HMVECs. EZH2 inhibitor GSK343 rescued diabetic plasma-Exo-impaired tube formation and secretion of FGF2/artemin from HMVECs. Moreover, GW4869 reduced EZH2 and H3K27me3 protein expression in lung microvascular ECs of IHL db/db mice. Finally, diabetic plasma-Exo increased H3K27me3 level at promoter of artemin and FGF2. Conclusions: Diabetic plasma-Exo impair angiogenesis and IHL injury repair. Diabetic plasma-Exo impair reparative property of ECs via, at least in part, enhancement of EZH2/H3K27me3/artemin and FGF2 cascade. Inhibition of plasma-Exo biosynthesis/secretion improve IHL repair in db/db mice. Plasma-Exo may be a novel target for prevention/treatment of CLI in diabetic patients.