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Arteriolar and venular remodeling are differentially regulated by bone marrow-derived cell-specific CX3CR1 and CCR2

Joshua K Meisner1, Ji Song, Richard J Price

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America.

Plos One
|October 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Bone marrow-derived cell chemokine receptors CCR2 and CX3CR1 differentially regulate microvascular remodeling. CCR2 and CX3CR1 control arteriole remodeling, while CX3CR1 specifically impacts venule remodeling.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Chemokine receptors CCR2 and CX3CR1 mediate monocyte recruitment.
  • Monocyte subpopulations differentially influence vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis.
  • Understanding these roles is key to developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct roles of bone marrow-derived cell (BMC)-specific CCR2 and CX3CR1 in venular and arteriolar remodeling.
  • To test the hypothesis that these receptors differentially control microvascular remodeling.

Main Methods:

  • Intravital microscopy was used to observe lumenal remodeling in venules and arterioles.
  • Mice with CCR2 or CX3CR1 deficient BMCs were studied after dorsal skinfold window chamber implantation.
  • Comparisons were made to wild-type (WT) controls.

Main Results:

  • Arteriolar remodeling was abolished in mice lacking CCR2 or CX3CR1 in BMCs.
  • Loss of CX3CR1 in BMCs, but not CCR2, significantly reduced small venule remodeling compared to WT.
  • These findings highlight differential regulation of microvascular remodeling by BMC-expressed chemokine receptors.

Conclusions:

  • BMC-expressed CCR2 and CX3CR1 differentially regulate microvascular remodeling.
  • Both receptors are crucial for arteriole growth.
  • Only BMC-derived CX3CR1 influences small venule growth, suggesting distinct roles in microvascular adaptation.

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