Description
Maintaining endothelial cells (EC) as a monolayer in the vessel wall depends on a gene expression profile and the metabolic state, features influenced by contact with neighboring cells eg, pericytes and smooth muscle cells (SMC). Dysfunctional bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) signaling disrupts EC metabolism and monolayer formation and is associated with vascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension. We show that BMPR2 in either EC or SMC is required for contact-dependent activation of Notch1 in EC. Notch1, through the glycolysis inducer PFKFB3, mediates an increase in the citrate pool and histone acetylation required for Notch1 and MYC target gene expression. This maintains Notch1-dependent EC proliferative capacity, coordinating with Notch1 activation of mitochondria. We report how Notch1 and p300 binding to chromatin and H3K27ac status are influenced by glucose metabolism and regulate gene expression in endothelial cells. Overall design: Examination of RNA-sequencing in pulmonary artery endothelial cells with or without PFKFB3 silencing in contact co-culture with pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.