In vitro reestablishment of cell‐cell contacts in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Functional role of transmembrane components in the formation of new intercalated disk‐like cell contacts

1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (9001) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans M. Eppenberger ◽  
Christian Zuppinger
1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Hertig ◽  
S. Butz ◽  
S. Koch ◽  
M. Eppenberger-Eberhardt ◽  
R. Kemler ◽  
...  

The spatio-temporal appearance and distribution of proteins forming the intercalated disc were investigated in adult rat cardiomyocytes (ARC). The ‘redifferentiation model’ of ARC involves extensive remodelling of the plasma membrane and of the myofibrillar apparatus. It represents a valuable system to elucidate the formation of cell-cell contact between cardiomyocytes and to assess the mechanisms by which different proteins involved in the cell-cell adhesion process are sorted in a precise manner to the sites of function. Appearance of N-cadherin, the catenins and connexin43 within newly formed adherens and gap junctions was studied. Here first evidence is provided for a formation of two distinct and separable N-cadherin/catenin complexes in cardiomyocytes. Both complexes are composed of N-cadherin and alpha-catenin which bind to either beta-catenin or plakoglobin in a mutually exclusive manner. The two N-cadherin/catenin complexes are assumed to be functionally involved in the formation of cell-cell contacts in ARC; however, the differential appearance and localization of the two types of complexes may also point to a specific role during ARC differentiation. The newly synthesized beta-catenin containing complex is more abundant during the first stages in culture after ARC isolation, while the newly synthesized plakoglobin containing complex progressively accumulates during the morphological changes of ARC. ARC formed a tissue-like pattern in culture whereby the new cell-cell contacts could be dissolved through Ca2+ depletion. Presence of cAMP and replenishment of Ca2+ content in the culture medium not only allowed reformation of cell-cell contacts but also affected the relative protein ratio between the two N-cadherin/catenin complexes, increasing the relative amount of newly synthesized beta-catenin over plakoglobin at a particular stage of ARC differentiation. The clustered N-cadherin/catenin complexes at the plasma membrane appear to be a prerequisite for the following gap junction formation; a temporal sequence of the appearance of adherens junction proteins and of gap junctions forming connexin-43 is suggested.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi Zhou ◽  
Zi-Mo Zhou ◽  
Ling Hu ◽  
Ya-Yuan Yang ◽  
Xiang-Wen Meng ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play pivotal role in drugs-induced cardiotoxicity act as biomarkes, diagnostic tools and endogenous repressors of gene expression by lowering mRNA stability and interfering with mRNA translation. However, the effect of miRNAs on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity still not clear. In the present study, we identified several key candidate miRNAs involving doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity in rat myocardial tissues and adult rat cardiomyocytes from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database via integrated bioinformatics analysis, and the possible effect of miR-143 in the protection of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by phosphocreatine was subsequently investigated in vivo and in vitro. Methods GSE36239 miRNA expression profiles of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rat myocardial tissues and adult rat cardiomyocytes (ARC) were extracted fromGEO datasets. |log2FC| > 1 and P < 0.05 were set as screening criteria, miRNAs expressed in myocardial tissues or ARC were selected as different expression miRNA (DEMs), and subsequently the key miRNAs were obtained from candidate DEMs between myocardial tissues and ARC with Venny 2.1 software. Target genes of miR-143 were predicted with Targetscan and miRBase in the species of homo sapiens, and candidate genes were obtained with Venny 2.1. The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) enrichment analyses were carried out. Final, the expression and potential role of miR-143 were verified in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity of rat and cardiomyocytes H9c2. Results A total 24 DEMs were captured , including 15 up-regulated and 9 down-regulated genes in rat myocardial tissues and 42 DEMs were discovered, including 13 up-regulated and 29 down-regulated in ARC. Ultimately, 6 DEMs were determined in rat myocardial tissues and ARC by venny 2.1 software. 46 target genes of miR-143, one of the 6 DEMs, were captured from the predict results of Targetscan and miRBase with venny 2.1. The target genes were notably enriched in biological processes (BP) such as cell proliferation and migration. KEGG pathway analysis showed the target genes were enriched in HIF-1 and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, which closely related to the oxidative stress and cardiomyocytes apoptosis. Further, western blot and RT-PCR results showed DOX-induced oxidative stress down-regulated the expression of miR-143 and Nrf2, SOD and BCL2, and up-regulated Bax and Cleaved caspase 3, while they could been reversed by the intervention of phosphocreatine (PCr) or N-acetyl-L-cystine (NAC) in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in vivo and in vitro.Conclusion Our data showed that DOX-induced oxidative stress could decrease the expression of miR-143, promote apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, while PCr or NAC mediated antioxidation could reverse the expression down-regulation of miR-143, alleviated apoptosis in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Our findings elucidated the regulatory network involving miR-143 in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, and might unveiled a potential biomarker and molecular mechanisms, which could be helpful to the diagnosis and treatment of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.


1996 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Hertig ◽  
M. Eppenberger-Eberhardt ◽  
S. Koch ◽  
H.M. Eppenberger

N-cadherin is a transmembrane Ca(2+)-dependent glycoprotein that is part of adherens junctions. It functions with the cell adhesion N-terminal extracellular domain as a site of homophilic cell-cell contacts. The intracellular C-terminal domain provides via a catenin complex the interaction with the cytoskeleton. Ectopic expression of chicken N-cadherin in adult rat cardiomyocytes (ARC) in culture was obtained after microinjection into non-dividing cardiomyocytes; it was demonstrated that the exogenous protein colocalized with the endogenous N-cadherin at the plasma membrane of the cell and formed contact sites. A dominant negative chicken N-cadherin mutant was constructed by a large deletion of the extracellular domain. This mutant was expressed and inhibited the function of the endogenous rat N-cadherin probably by competing for the catenin complex binding domain, which is essential for the formation of a stable cell-cell contact of ARC. The injected cells lost contact with neighbouring cells and retracted; the connexons of the gap junctions were pulled out as well. This could be avoided by another N-cadherin mutation, which, in addition to the N-terminal truncation, contained a deletion of the catenin binding domain. In the case of the truncated N-cadherin at the N terminus, the sarcomeric structure of the myofibrils of ARC was also affected. Myofibrils were the most vulnerable cytoskeletal structures affected by the overexpressed dominant negative N-cadherin mutation. Similar behaviour was shown when cardiomyocytes separated following Ca2+ depletion and when new cell-cell contacts were formed after Ca2+ replenishment. N-cadherin is thought to be the essential component for establishing new cell-cell contacts which eventually led to a new formation of intercalated disc-like structures in the cardiac cell culture.


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah B. Geisler ◽  
Kathleen J. Green ◽  
Lori L. Isom ◽  
Sasha Meshinchi ◽  
Jeffrey R. Martens ◽  
...  

The intercalated disk (ID) is a complex structure that electromechanically couples adjoining cardiac myocytes into a functional syncitium. The integrity of the disk is essential for normal cardiac function, but how the diverse elements are assembled into a fully integrated structure is not well understood. In this study, we examined the assembly of new IDs in primary cultures of adult rat cardiac myocytes. From 2 to 5 days after dissociation, the cells flatten and spread, establishing new cell-cell contacts in a manner that recapitulates the in vivo processes that occur during heart development and myocardial remodeling. As cells make contact with their neighbors, transmembrane adhesion proteins localize along the line of apposition, concentrating at the sites of membrane attachment of the terminal sarcomeres. Cx43 gap junctions and ankyrin-G, an essential cytoskeletal component of voltage gated sodium channel complexes, were secondarily recruited to membrane domains involved in cell-cell contacts. The consistent order of the assembly process suggests that there are specific scaffolding requirements for integration of the mechanical and electrochemical elements of the disk. Defining the relationships that are the foundation of disk assembly has important implications for understanding the mechanical dysfunction and cardiac arrhythmias that accompany alterations of ID architecture.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (6) ◽  
pp. C1339-C1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aïssata Amadou ◽  
Artur Nawrocki ◽  
Martin Best-Belpomme ◽  
Catherine Pavoine ◽  
Françoise Pecker

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has a biphasic effect on heart contractility and stimulates phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in cardiomyocytes. Because arachidonic acid (AA) exerts a dual effect on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) transients, we investigated the possible role of AA as a mediator of TNF-α on [Ca2+]i transients and contraction with electrically stimulated adult rat cardiac myocytes. At a low concentration (10 ng/ml) TNF-α produced a 40% increase in the amplitude of both [Ca2+]i transients and contraction within 40 min. At a high concentration (50 ng/ml) TNF-α evoked a biphasic effect comprising an initial positive effect peaking at 5 min, followed by a sustained negative effect leading to 50–40% decreases in [Ca2+]i transients and contraction after 30 min. Both the positive and negative effects of TNF-α were reproduced by AA and blocked by arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone (AACOCF3), an inhibitor of cytosolic PLA2. Lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitors reproduced the high-dose effects of TNF-α and AA. The negative effects of TNF-α and AA were also reproduced by sphingosine and were abrogated by the ceramidase inhibitor n-oleoylethanolamine. These results point out the key role of the cytosolic PLA2/AA pathway in mediating the contractile effects of TNF-α.


2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (3) ◽  
pp. G219-G227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Beljaars ◽  
Sara Daliri ◽  
Christa Dijkhuizen ◽  
Klaas Poelstra ◽  
Reinoud Gosens

WNT-5A is a secreted growth factor that belongs to the noncanonical members of the Wingless-related MMTV-integration family. Previous studies pointed to a connection between WNT-5A and the fibrogenic factor TGF-β warranting further studies into the functional role of WNT-5A in liver fibrosis. Therefore, we studied WNT-5A expressions in mouse and human fibrotic livers and examined the relation between WNT-5A and various fibrosis-associated growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix proteins. WNT-5A gene and protein expressions were significantly increased in fibrotic mouse and human livers compared with healthy livers. Regression or therapeutic intervention in mice resulted in decreased hepatic WNT-5A levels paralleled by lower collagen levels. Immunohistochemical analysis showed WNT-5A staining in fibrotic septa colocalizing with desmin staining indicating WNT-5A expression in myofibroblasts. In vitro studies confirmed WNT-5A expression in this cell type and showed that TGF-β significantly enhanced WNT-5A expression in contrast to PDGF-BB and proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. Additionally, TGF-β induces the expression of the WNT receptors FZD2 and FZD8. After silencing of WNT-5A, reduced levels of collagen type I, vimentin, and fibronectin in TGF-β-stimulated myofibroblasts were measured compared with nonsilencing siRNA-treated controls. Interestingly, the antifibrotic cytokine IFNγ suppressed WNT-5A in vitro and in vivo. IFNγ-treated fibrotic mice showed significantly less WNT-5A expression compared with untreated fibrotic mice. In conclusion, WNT-5A paralleled collagen I levels in fibrotic mouse and human livers. WNT-5A expression in myofibroblasts is induced by the profibrotic factor TGF-β and plays an important role in TGF-β-induced regulation of fibrotic matrix proteins, whereas its expression can be reversed upon treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study describes the localization and functional role of WNT-5A in human and mouse fibrotic livers. Hepatic WNT-5A expression parallels collagen type I expression. In vivo and in vitro, the myofibroblasts were identified as the key hepatic cells producing WNT-5A. WNT-5A is under control of TGF-β and its activities are primarily profibrotic.


1992 ◽  
Vol 262 (3) ◽  
pp. H649-H653 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Buczek-Thomas ◽  
S. R. Jaspers ◽  
T. B. Miller

The basis of catecholamine-induced activation of glycogen phosphorylase was investigated in adult rat cardiomyocytes isolated from normal and alloxan-diabetic animals. Cells derived from diabetic animals exhibited a hypersensitive response to epinephrine stimulation that was apparent 3 h after cell isolation and was further enhanced on maintenance of the myocytes in culture for 24 h. Normal cells initially lacked the hypersensitive response to epinephrine stimulation, although on maintenance of these cells in culture for 24 h, the hypersensitive response was acquired in vitro. To assess alpha- and beta-adrenergic mediation of the response, normal and diabetic cardiomyocytes were incubated with propranolol, a beta-blocker, before direct alpha 1-receptor stimulation with phenylephrine. Both normal and diabetic myocytes failed to undergo activation of phosphorylase in 3- or 24-h cell cultures. In addition, the effects of epinephrine on phosphorylase activation were completely inhibited by propranolol, whereas prazosin, an alpha-blocker, was unsuccessful. The present data suggest that the hypersensitive response of glycogen phosphorylase in normal and diabetic cardiomyocytes is solely mediated through beta-adrenergic receptor activation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 1302-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angus M. Brown ◽  
Bruce R. Ransom

We investigated the effects of extracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]o) on aglycemia-induced dysfunction and injury in adult rat optic nerves. Compound action potentials (CAPs) from adult rat optic nerve were recorded in vitro, and the area under the CAP was used to monitor nerve function before and after 1 h periods of aglycemia. In control artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) containing 2 mM Ca2+, CAP function fell after 29.9 ± 1.5 (SE) min and recovered to 48.8 ± 3.9% following aglycemia. Reducing bath [Ca2+] during aglycemia progressively improved recovery. For example, in Ca2+-free ACSF, the CAP recovered to 99.1 ± 3.8%. Paradoxically, increasing bath [Ca2+] also improved recovery from aglycemia. In 5 or 10 mM bath [Ca2+], CAP recovered to 78.8 ± 9.2 or 91.6 ± 5.2%, respectively. The latency to CAP failure during aglycemia increased as a function of bath [Ca2+] from 0 to 10 mM. Increasing bath [Mg2+] from 2 to 5 or 10 mM, with bath [Ca2+] held at 2 mM, increased latency to CAP failure with aglycemia and improved recovery from this insult. [Ca2+]o recorded with calcium-sensitive microelectrodes in control ACSF, dropped reversibly during aglycemia from 1.54 ± 0.03 to 0.45 ± 0.04 mM. In the presence of higher ambient levels of bath [Ca2+] (i.e., 5 or 10 mM), the aglycemia-induced decrease in [Ca2+]o declined, indicating that less Ca2+ left the extracellular space to enter an intracellular compartment. These results indicate that the role of [Ca2+], and divalent cations in general, during aglycemia is complex. While extracellular Ca2+ was required for irreversible aglycemic injury to occur, higher levels of [Ca2+] or [Mg2+] increased the latency to CAP failure and improved the extent of recovery, apparently by limiting Ca2+ influx. These effects are theorized to be mediated by divalent cation screening.


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