Annexins in cardiac tissue: cellular localization and effect on phospholipase activity

Expression and localization of the annexins II, V, and VI in myocardium from patients with end-stage heart failure

Annexins II, V, and VI belong to a family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins that have been involved mainly in signal transduction, differentiation, membrane trafficking events, or binding to the extracellular matrix, or that might be effective as Ca(2+)-channels. They are abundant in the mammalian myocardium and might play a role in ventricular remodeling and altered calcium handling during heart failure. To test this hypothesis, we compared the expression and distribution of these annexins in nonfailing (n = 9) and failing human hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 11). Northern blot and slot blot analysis were used to determine the annexin mRNA levels and Western blots were used to quantify the amounts of annexin proteins. Distribution of annexins was studied by immunohistofluorescence labeling and compared with that of a sarcolemmal marker (Na+/K(+)-ATPase) and of a myofibrillar protein (alpha-actinin). We showed that nonfailing hearts contained a higher amount of annexin VI than of annexin V or II (13.5 +/- 1.8, 3.7 +/- 0.2, and 2.5 +/- 0.5 microg/mg protein, respectively). In failing hearts, there was a parallel increase in both mRNA and protein levels of annexin II (146% and 132%, p < 0.05, respectively) and annexin V (152%, p < 0.01, 147%, p < 0.005, respectively); the protein level of annexin VI was also increased (117%, p < 0.05), whereas the increase of its mRNA level was statistically insignificant. We observed a predominant localization of annexin II in interstitium, and of annexins V and VI in cardiomyocytes at the level of the sarcolemma, T-tubules, and intercalated disks in nonfailing hearts, whereas in failing hearts enlarged interstitium contained all three annexins. Furthermore, annexin V staining at the level of cardiomyocytes almost disappeared. In conclusion, we showed that heart failure is accompanied by marked overexpression of annexins II and V, as well as translocation of annexin V from cardiomyocytes to interstitial tissue. The data suggest that annexins may contribute to ventricular remodeling and annexin V to impaired Ca2+ handling in failing heart.

Localization and quantitation of cardiac annexins II, V, and VI in hypertensive guinea pigs

Annexins are characterized by Ca2+-dependent binding to phospholipids. Annexin II mainly participates in cell-cell adhesion and signal transduction, whereas annexins V and VI also seem to regulate intracellular calcium cycling. Their abundance and localization were determined in left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) from hypertensive guinea pigs, during the transition from compensatory hypertrophy to heart failure. Immunoblot analysis of annexins II, V, and VI revealed an increased accumulation (2.6-, 1.45-, and 2.3-fold, respectively) in LV from hypertensive guinea pigs and no modification in RV. Immunofluorescent labeling of annexins II, V, and VI; of Na+-K+-ATPase; and of sarcomeric alpha-actinin showed that in control LV and RV, 1) annexin II is present in nonmuscle cells; 2) annexins V and VI are mainly observed in the sarcolemma and intercalated disks of myocytes; 3) annexins II, V, and VI strongly label endothelial cells and adventitia of coronary arteries; and 4) annexin VI is present in the media. At the onset of heart failure, the most striking changes are the increased protein accumulation in LV and the very strong labeling of annexins II, V, and VI in interstitial tissue, suggesting a role in fibrosis development and cardiac remodeling.

The genetic origin of mouse annexin VIII

Mouse annexin VIII cDNA was characterized by DNA sequencing of expressed sequence tag clones, molecular systematic analysis, and genetic linkage mapping to investigate its evolutionary origin. Its subfamily identity, divergence pattern, and nucleotide substitution rate were established by comparison with other annexin cDNA and deduced protein sequences. The known phylogenetic association of annexin VIII in an evolutionary clade with annexins XI, IV, V, and VIa identified these close homologs as potential progenitors or duplication products. Cladistic analysis confirmed the base position of annexin XI and its relationship to annexin IV as a direct duplication product. Although annexin VIII also derived from annexin XI, the evolutionary branching order, gene separation times, and mapping results indicated that it was probably a subsequent duplication product of annexin IV about 300 million years ago. Dates were calibrated against the assumed separation time of 75 Mya for rodents from other mammals, divergence rates were based on comparisons of all available annexin species, and relative rate tests implied individually stable gene clocks for most annexins. Linkage mapping of mouse Anx8 to the centromeric region of Chromosome (Chr) 14 placed it in a more distal homology group from previously mapped Anx7 and Anx11. Despite their synteny, the combined proximity and segregation of these three annexins diminished the likelihood that they were mutual gene duplication products.

Localization of annexin V in the adult and neonatal heart

Annexins are a major family of intracellular Ca2+-binding proteins which have been implicated in a variety of cellular functions. Several conflicting reports have been published on the location of annexin V in the heart. In this paper we have used confocal microscopy to demonstrate that annexin V is associated with the sarcolemma and intercalated discs of cardiac myocytes in sections of adult porcine and rat heart. In addition, we have used confocal microscopy of isolated rat myocytes to show that this association is stable even after cells were treated with the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM, to reduce cytosolic calcium levels to very low levels. This demonstrates that annexin V associates tightly with the sarcolemma and suggests that components in addition to phospholipid are involved in binding annexin V to the membrane. Furthermore, we show that, in sections of the neonatal rat left ventricle, annexin V has a different subcellular location than that observed in the terminally differentiated adult myocyte. In these differentiating neonatal cells, annexin V is also located in the nucleoplasm and at the periphery of the nucleus. These results demonstrate that the subcellular location of annexin V is differentially regulated and suggest that annexin V regulates calcium-dependent processes at both the sarcolemma and the nucleus.

Differential tissue expression of Annexin VIII in human

The expression of Annexins V and VIII by human lung, liver, kidney, skin, heart, uterus, spleen and skeletal muscle was investigated by ELISA. All investigated tissues contained Annexin V. Its level varied with the tissue from around 5 microgram (skin) to approximately 120 micrograms (spleen) per g of wet tissue. Contradistinctionally Annexin VIII expression was less ubiquitous and less abundant. Only lung, skin, liver, and kidney expressed Annexin VIII. Its levels were approximately 100-fold less then the Annexin V levels. Immunohistochemical analysis of lung sections revealed Annexin VIII presence exclusively in the endothelia. Annexin V and VIII levels of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, human arterial smooth muscle cells, human lung fibroblasts and HeLa cells were measured by ELISA. All cell types expressed Annexin V whereas only HeLa cells had detectable levels of Annexin VIII. The results indicate a tissue specific expression of Annexin VIII by lung endothelium, suggesting a highly specialised function.

Expression of the annexin VIII gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Annexin VIII is preferentially expressed in APL, but its level of expression in other subtypes of AML is much lower. Annexin VIII was originally found to be a vascular anticoagulant, but evidence obtained from our recent studies suggests that it does not play a role in hemorrhage diathesis in APL. The specific expression of annexin VIII in APL may relate to its possible role in hematopoietic cell differentiation. The expression of annexin VIII is developmentally regulated in APL-derived NB4 cells. It can be downregulated as a response to induction by ATRA, an agent which is also capable of inducing maturation of NB4 cells. Our current understanding is that annexin VIII is most likely involved in signal transduction and may have a role as a modulator of PKC. A change in cellular PKC activity is expected to have a significant impact on cell differentiation and proliferation. The biological function of annexin VIII is currently unknown, but its expression in APL and its possible role in differentiation and proliferation of the leukemia cells would provide an excellent model system to study and elucidate this intriguing question.