Abstract 8: Endothelial TFEB Regulates Postischemic Angiogenesis via AMPKalpha Activation

Abstract

Rationale: Postischemic angiogenesis is critical to limit the ischemic tissue damage and improve the blood flow recovery. The regulation and the underlying molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis are not fully unraveled. Transcription factor-EB (TFEB) is emerging as a master gene for autophagy and lysosome biogenesis. However, the role of TFEB in the vascular disease is less understood. Objective: We aim to determine the role of endothelial TFEB in postischemic angiogenesis and underlying molecular mechanism. Methods and Results: In a murine hindlimb ischemic model, we demonstrated that TFEB was upregulated in the ischemic skeletal muscle tissue. Utilizing genetically-engineered endothelial cell (EC) specific TFEB transgenic mice, we investigated the function of TFEB in postischemic angiogenesis. We observed improved blood perfusion and increased capillary density in the EC-specific TFEB transgenic mice compared with the wild-type littermates (n = 8-9 for each group, p < 0.01). Furthermore, we found that blood flow recovery was attenuated in EC-selective TFEB deficient mice compared with control mice (n =8-9 for each group, p< 0.01). In aortic ring cultures, we found that TFEB transgene significantly increased the vessel sprouting. Adenovirus-mediated TFEB overexpression promoted EC tube formation whereas small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated TFEB knockdown suppressed tube formation in ECs. Mechanistically, TFEB activated calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-β and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-α signaling pathway. Through pharmacological inactivation and siRNA-mediated knockdown of AMPKα, we demonstrated that AMPKα is necessary for TFEB to regulate tube formation in ECs. Conclusions: In summary, our data demonstrate that TFEB is a positive regulator of angiogenesis through activation of AMPKα signaling, suggesting that TFEB constitutes a novel molecular target for ischemic vascular disease.