Context-dependent response of endothelial cells to PIK3CA mutation

Abstract

Cancer mutations in the PIK3CA gene cause congenital disorders. The endothelium is among the most frequently affected tissues in these disorders, displaying aberrant vascular overgrowth in the form of malformations. Pathological PIK3CA vascular phenotypes are found in veins and capillaries but rarely in arteries for reasons that are unclear at present. Here, using lineage tracing, we show that expression of mutated PIK3CAH1047R in endothelial cells leads to marked clonal expansions in capillary and venous endothelial cells. In contrast, mature arterial endothelial cells are refractory to PIK3CA mutation under these conditions and never display pathological phenotypes. Moreover, PIK3CAH1047Rexpression in arterial precursors interrupts arterial differentiation, thereby driving fate switch towards venous identity. This fate rewiring offers an additional layer of protection to prevent arterial damage in response to PIK3CA genetic perturbation. Molecularly, the PIK3CAH1047R-driven arterial-to-venous fate switch is orchestrated by upregulation of the vein-specifying transcription factor Nr2f2/COUP-TFII. Our findings reveal that pathogenic responses to PIK3CAH1047Rgreatly depend on the diferentation stage and fate trajectory of the targeted cell. Arteries are thus shielded against PIK3CA mutation, solving the long-standing question on the rarity of PIK3CA-related arterial malformations observed in patients.