RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Partial endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) contributes to lumen re-organization after carotid artery ligation JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2021.08.13.456319 DO 10.1101/2021.08.13.456319 A1 Yamashiro, Yoshito A1 Ramirez, Karina A1 Nagayama, Kazuaki A1 Tomita, Shuhei A1 Kubota, Yoshiaki A1 Yanagisawa, Hiromi YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/08/14/2021.08.13.456319.abstract AB Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a fundamental process in vascular remodeling. Carotid artery ligation is commonly used for induction of neointima formation and vessel stenosis; however, the precise regulatory mechanism of vascular remodeling is not entirely understood. In this study, we showed that resident endothelial cells (ECs) are the origin of neointima cells and ECs transiently expressed CD45 in the early stage of neointima formation accompanied by increased expression of EndMT markers. In vitro, CD45-positive EndMT was induced by stabilization of HIF-1α with cobalt chloride or VHL inhibitor in human primary ECs, which mimicked the hypoxic condition of ligated artery, and promoted the formation of integrin α11-SHARPIN complex. Notably, a CD45 phosphatase inhibitor disrupted this complex, thereby destabilizing cell-cell junctions. These results suggest that the CD45 activity is required for the retention of an EC phenotype and cell-cell junctions during EndMT (termed “partial EndMT”). We thus propose a novel mechanism of partial EndMT that contributes to lumen re-organization during vascular injury.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.