Zyxin regulates endothelial von Willebrand factor secretion by reorganizing actin filaments around exocytic granules

Nat Commun. 2017 Mar 3:8:14639. doi: 10.1038/ncomms14639.

Abstract

Endothelial exocytosis of Weibel-Palade body (WPB) is one of the first lines of defence against vascular injury. However, the mechanisms that control WPB exocytosis in the final stages (including the docking, priming and fusion of granules) are poorly understood. Here we show that the focal adhesion protein zyxin is crucial in this process. Zyxin downregulation inhibits the secretion of von Willebrand factor (VWF), the most abundant cargo in WPBs, from human primary endothelial cells (ECs) induced by cAMP agonists. Zyxin-deficient mice exhibit impaired epinephrine-stimulated VWF release, prolonged bleeding time and thrombosis, largely due to defective endothelial secretion of VWF. Using live-cell super-resolution microscopy, we visualize previously unappreciated reorganization of pre-existing actin filaments around WPBs before fusion, dependent on zyxin and an interaction with the actin crosslinker α-actinin. Our findings identify zyxin as a physiological regulator of endothelial exocytosis through reorganizing local actin network in the final stage of exocytosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Actinin / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Bleeding Time
  • Colforsin / pharmacology
  • Cyclic AMP / agonists
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epinephrine / pharmacology
  • Exocytosis / drug effects
  • Exocytosis / physiology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Intravital Microscopy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Thrombosis / pathology
  • Weibel-Palade Bodies / metabolism
  • Zyxin / physiology*
  • von Willebrand Factor / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • ZYX protein, human
  • Zyx protein, mouse
  • Zyxin
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • Actinin
  • Colforsin
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Epinephrine