Novel role of stathmin in microtubule-dependent control of endothelial permeability.
Microtubule (MT) dynamics in vascular endothelium are modulated by vasoactive mediators and are critically involved in the control of endothelial cell (EC) permeability via Rho GTPase-dependent crosstalk with the actin cytoskeleton. However, the role of regulators in MT stability in these mechanisms remains unclear. This study investigated the involvement of the MT-associated protein stathmin in the mediation of agonist-induced permeability in EC cultures and vascular leak in vivo. Thrombin treatment of human pulmonary ECs induced rapid dephosphorylation and activation of stathmin. Inhibition of stathmin activity by small interfering RNA-based knockdown or cAMP-mediated phosphorylation abrogated thrombin-induced F-actin remodeling and Rho-dependent EC hyperpermeability, while expression of a phosphorylation-deficient stathmin mutant exacerbated thrombin-induced EC barrier disruption. Stathmin suppression preserved the MT network against thrombin-induced MT disassembly and release of Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, GEF-H1. The protective effects of stathmin knockdown were observed in vivo in the mouse 2-hit model of ventilator-induced lung injury and were linked to MT stabilization and down-regulation of Rho signaling in the lung. These results demonstrate the mechanism of stathmin-dependent control of MT dynamics, Rho signaling, and permeability and suggest novel potential pharmacological interventions in the prevention of increased vascular leak via modulation of stathmin activity.
Lung Injury Center, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
Xinyong
X
Tian
Yufeng
Y
Tian
Nicolene
N
Sarich
Tinghuai
T
Wu
Anna A
AA
Birukova
D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D050777:Stathmin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D050777:Stathmin; D013917:Thrombin