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Birla RK. State of the art in Purkinje bioengineering. Tissue Cell 2024; 90:102467. [PMID: 39053130 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2024.102467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
This review article will cover the recent developments in the new evolving field of Purkinje bioengineering and the development of human Purkinje networks. Recent work has progressed to the point of a methodological and systematic process to bioengineer Purkinje networks. This involves the development of 3D models based on human anatomy, followed by the development of tunable biomaterials, and strategies to reprogram stem cells to Purkinje cells. Subsequently, the reprogrammed cells and the biomaterials are coupled to bioengineer Purkinje networks, which are then tested using a small animal injury model. In this article, we discuss this process as a whole and then each step separately. We then describe potential applications of bioengineered Purkinje networks and challenges in the field that need to be overcome to move this field forward. Although the field of Purkinje bioengineering is new and in a state of infancy, it holds tremendous potential, both for therapeutic applications and to develop tools that can be used for disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi K Birla
- Laboratory for Regenerative Tissue Repair, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Center for Congenital Cardiac Research, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Division of Congenital Heart Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
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2
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Mishra A, Tavasoli M, Sokolenko S, McMaster CR, Pasumarthi KB. Atrial natriuretic peptide signaling co-regulates lipid metabolism and ventricular conduction system gene expression in the embryonic heart. iScience 2024; 27:108748. [PMID: 38235330 PMCID: PMC10792247 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its high affinity receptor (NPRA) are involved in the formation of ventricular conduction system (VCS). Inherited genetic variants in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) genes are known to cause conduction abnormalities in newborn children. Although the effect of ANP on energy metabolism in noncardiac cell types is well documented, the role of lipid metabolism in VCS cell differentiation via ANP/NPRA signaling is not known. In this study, histological sections and primary cultures obtained from E11.5 mouse ventricles were analyzed to determine the role of metabolic adaptations in VCS cell fate determination and maturation. Exogenous treatment of E11.5 ventricular cells with ANP revealed a significant increase in lipid droplet accumulation, FAO and higher expression of VCS marker Cx40. Using specific inhibitors, we further identified PPARγ and FAO as critical downstream regulators of ANP-mediated regulation of metabolism and VCS formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mahtab Tavasoli
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Stanislav Sokolenko
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Dobreva G, Heineke J. Inter- and Intracellular Signaling Pathways. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1441:271-294. [PMID: 38884717 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-44087-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases, both congenital and acquired, are the leading cause of death worldwide, associated with significant health consequences and economic burden. Due to major advances in surgical procedures, most patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) survive into adulthood but suffer from previously unrecognized long-term consequences, such as early-onset heart failure. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms resulting in heart defects and the lifelong complications due to hemodynamic overload are of utmost importance. Congenital heart disease arises in the first trimester of pregnancy, due to defects in the complex morphogenetic patterning of the heart. This process is coordinated through a complicated web of intercellular communication between the epicardium, the endocardium, and the myocardium. In the postnatal heart, similar crosstalk between cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts exists during pathological hemodynamic overload that emerges as a consequence of a congenital heart defect. Ultimately, communication between cells triggers the activation of intracellular signaling circuits, which allow fine coordination of cardiac development and function. Here, we review the inter- and intracellular signaling mechanisms in the heart as they were discovered mainly in genetically modified mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gergana Dobreva
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Genomics and Epigenomics, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) Partner Site, Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Joerg Heineke
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) Partner Site, Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany.
- ECAS (European Center for Angioscience), Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
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4
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Kanai SM, Clouthier DE. Endothelin signaling in development. Development 2023; 150:dev201786. [PMID: 38078652 PMCID: PMC10753589 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of endothelin 1 (EDN1) in 1988, the role of endothelin ligands and their receptors in the regulation of blood pressure in normal and disease states has been extensively studied. However, endothelin signaling also plays crucial roles in the development of neural crest cell-derived tissues. Mechanisms of endothelin action during neural crest cell maturation have been deciphered using a variety of in vivo and in vitro approaches, with these studies elucidating the basis of human syndromes involving developmental differences resulting from altered endothelin signaling. In this Review, we describe the endothelin pathway and its functions during the development of neural crest-derived tissues. We also summarize how dysregulated endothelin signaling causes developmental differences and how this knowledge may lead to potential treatments for individuals with gene variants in the endothelin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley M. Kanai
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - David E. Clouthier
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Sun T, Grassam-Rowe A, Pu Z, Li Y, Ren H, An Y, Guo X, Hu W, Liu Y, Zheng Y, Liu Z, Kou K, Ou X, Chen T, Fan X, Liu Y, Tu S, He Y, Ren Y, Chen A, Shang Z, Xia Z, Miquerol L, Smart N, Zhang H, Tan X, Shou W, Lei M. Dbh + catecholaminergic cardiomyocytes contribute to the structure and function of the cardiac conduction system in murine heart. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7801. [PMID: 38016975 PMCID: PMC10684617 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The heterogeneity of functional cardiomyocytes arises during heart development, which is essential to the complex and highly coordinated cardiac physiological function. Yet the biological and physiological identities and the origin of the specialized cardiomyocyte populations have not been fully comprehended. Here we report a previously unrecognised population of cardiomyocytes expressing Dbhgene encoding dopamine beta-hydroxylase in murine heart. We determined how these myocytes are distributed across the heart by utilising advanced single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses, genetic fate mapping and molecular imaging with computational reconstruction. We demonstrated that they form the key functional components of the cardiac conduction system by using optogenetic electrophysiology and conditional cardiomyocyte Dbh gene deletion models. We revealed their close relationship with sympathetic innervation during cardiac conduction system formation. Our study thus provides new insights into the development and heterogeneity of the mammalian cardiac conduction system by revealing a new cardiomyocyte population with potential catecholaminergic endocrine function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | | | - Zhaoli Pu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yangpeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Huiying Ren
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yanru An
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518103, China
| | - Xinyu Guo
- BGI Research, Qingdao, 266555, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ying Liu
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Yuqing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Zhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Kun Kou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xianhong Ou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Tangting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xuehui Fan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Shu Tu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Yu He
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Yue Ren
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Ao Chen
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518103, China
| | | | - Zhidao Xia
- Centre for Nanohealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Lucile Miquerol
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille UMR 7288, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Nicola Smart
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Sherrington Building, Oxford, University of, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Henggui Zhang
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqiu Tan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
| | - Weinian Shou
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
| | - Ming Lei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK.
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
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Mishra A, Pasumarthi KBS. Application of Three-Dimensional Culture Method in the Cardiac Conduction System Research. Methods Protoc 2022; 5:mps5030050. [PMID: 35736551 PMCID: PMC9227420 DOI: 10.3390/mps5030050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common type of birth defects. Several human case studies and genetically altered animal models have identified abnormalities in the development of ventricular conduction system (VCS) in the heart. While cell-based therapies hold promise for treating CHDs, translational efforts are limited by the lack of suitable in vitro models for feasibility and safety studies. A better understanding of cell differentiation pathways can lead to development of cell-based therapies for individuals living with CHD/VCS disorders. Here, we describe a new and reproducible 3-D cell culture method for studying cardiac cell lineage differentiation in vitro. We used primary ventricular cells isolated from embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) mouse embryos, which can differentiate into multiple cardiac cell types including VCS cells. We compared 3-D cultures with three types of basement membrane extracts (BME) for their abilities to support E11.5 ventricular cell differentiation. In addition, the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and an inhibitor for its high affinity receptor were tested on cell differentiation in 3-D cultures. Following the cell culture, protocols for immunofluorescence imaging, cell extraction and protein isolation from the 3-D culture matrix and in-cell western methods are described. Further, these approaches can be used to study the effects of various ligands and genetic interventions on VCS cell development. We propose that these methodologies may also be extended for differentiation studies using other sources of stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells.
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Wang H, Pong T, Obafemi OO, Lucian HJ, Aparicio-Valenzuela J, Tran NA, Mullis DM, Elde S, Tada Y, Baker SW, Wang CY, Cyr KJ, Paulsen MJ, Zhu Y, Lee AM, Woo YJ. Electrophysiologic Conservation of Epicardial Conduction Dynamics After Myocardial Infarction and Natural Heart Regeneration in Newborn Piglets. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:829546. [PMID: 35355973 PMCID: PMC8959497 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.829546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Newborn mammals, including piglets, exhibit natural heart regeneration after myocardial infarction (MI) on postnatal day 1 (P1), but this ability is lost by postnatal day 7 (P7). The electrophysiologic properties of this naturally regenerated myocardium have not been examined. We hypothesized that epicardial conduction is preserved after P1 MI in piglets. Yorkshire-Landrace piglets underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation at age P1 (n = 6) or P7 (n = 7), After 7 weeks, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed with late gadolinium enhancement for analysis of fibrosis. Epicardial conduction mapping was performed using custom 3D-printed high-resolution mapping arrays. Age- and weight-matched healthy pigs served as controls (n = 6). At the study endpoint, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction was similar for controls and P1 pigs (46.4 ± 3.0% vs. 40.3 ± 4.9%, p = 0.132), but significantly depressed for P7 pigs (30.2 ± 6.6%, p < 0.001 vs. control). The percentage of LV myocardial volume consisting of fibrotic scar was 1.0 ± 0.4% in controls, 9.9 ± 4.4% in P1 pigs (p = 0.002 vs. control), and 17.3 ± 4.6% in P7 pigs (p < 0.001 vs. control, p = 0.007 vs. P1). Isochrone activation maps and apex activation time were similar between controls and P1 pigs (9.4 ± 1.6 vs. 7.8 ± 0.9 ms, p = 0.649), but significantly prolonged in P7 pigs (21.3 ± 5.1 ms, p < 0.001 vs. control, p < 0.001 vs. P1). Conduction velocity was similar between controls and P1 pigs (1.0 ± 0.2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.4 mm/ms, p = 0.852), but slower in P7 pigs (0.7 ± 0.2 mm/ms, p = 0.129 vs. control, p = 0.052 vs. P1). Overall, our data suggest that epicardial conduction dynamics are conserved in the setting of natural heart regeneration in piglets after P1 MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanjay Wang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Terrence Pong
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | - Haley J. Lucian
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | - Nicholas A. Tran
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Danielle M. Mullis
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Stefan Elde
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Yuko Tada
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Sam W. Baker
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Caroline Y. Wang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Kevin J. Cyr
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Michael J. Paulsen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Yuanjia Zhu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Anson M. Lee
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Y. Joseph Woo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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8
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Kahr PC, Tao G, Kadow ZA, Hill MC, Zhang M, Li S, Martin JF. A novel transgenic Cre allele to label mouse cardiac conduction system. Dev Biol 2021; 478:163-172. [PMID: 34245725 PMCID: PMC8482537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The cardiac conduction system is a network of heterogeneous cell population that initiates and propagates electric excitations in the myocardium. Purkinje fibers, a network of specialized myocardial cells, comprise the distal end of the conduction system in the ventricles. The developmental origins of Purkinje fibers and their roles during cardiac physiology and arrhythmia have been reported. However, it is not clear if they play a role during ischemic injury and heart regeneration. Here we introduce a novel tamoxifen-inducible Cre allele that specifically labels a broad range of components in the cardiac conduction system while excludes other cardiac cell types and vital organs. Using this new allele, we investigated the cellular and molecular response of Purkinje fibers to myocardial injury. In a neonatal mouse myocardial infarction model, we observed significant increase in Purkinje cell number in regenerating myocardium. RNA-Seq analysis using laser-captured Purkinje fibers showed a unique transcriptomic response to myocardial infarction. Our finds suggest a novel role of cardiac Purkinje fibers in heart injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter C Kahr
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, 8091, Switzerland
| | - Ge Tao
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Zachary A Kadow
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew C Hill
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Min Zhang
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200127 Shanghai, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - James F Martin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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New Insights into the Development and Morphogenesis of the Cardiac Purkinje Fiber Network: Linking Architecture and Function. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8080095. [PMID: 34436237 PMCID: PMC8397066 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8080095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid propagation of electrical activity through the ventricular conduction system (VCS) controls spatiotemporal contraction of the ventricles. Cardiac conduction defects or arrhythmias in humans are often associated with mutations in key cardiac transcription factors that have been shown to play important roles in VCS morphogenesis in mice. Understanding of the mechanisms of VCS development is thus crucial to decipher the etiology of conduction disturbances in adults. During embryogenesis, the VCS, consisting of the His bundle, bundle branches, and the distal Purkinje network, originates from two independent progenitor populations in the primary ring and the ventricular trabeculae. Differentiation into fast-conducting cardiomyocytes occurs progressively as ventricles develop to form a unique electrical pathway at late fetal stages. The objectives of this review are to highlight the structure–function relationship between VCS morphogenesis and conduction defects and to discuss recent data on the origin and development of the VCS with a focus on the distal Purkinje fiber network.
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Abstract
Cardiac development is a complex developmental process that is initiated soon after gastrulation, as two sets of precardiac mesodermal precursors are symmetrically located and subsequently fused at the embryonic midline forming the cardiac straight tube. Thereafter, the cardiac straight tube invariably bends to the right, configuring the first sign of morphological left–right asymmetry and soon thereafter the atrial and ventricular chambers are formed, expanded and progressively septated. As a consequence of all these morphogenetic processes, the fetal heart acquired a four-chambered structure having distinct inlet and outlet connections and a specialized conduction system capable of directing the electrical impulse within the fully formed heart. Over the last decades, our understanding of the morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular pathways involved in cardiac development has exponentially grown. Multiples aspects of the initial discoveries during heart formation has served as guiding tools to understand the etiology of cardiac congenital anomalies and adult cardiac pathology, as well as to enlighten novels approaches to heal the damaged heart. In this review we provide an overview of the complex cellular and molecular pathways driving heart morphogenesis and how those discoveries have provided new roads into the genetic, clinical and therapeutic management of the diseased hearts.
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Liu H, Luo Q, Zhang J, Mo C, Wang Y, Li J. Endothelins (EDN1, EDN2, EDN3) and their receptors (EDNRA, EDNRB, EDNRB2) in chickens: Functional analysis and tissue distribution. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 283:113231. [PMID: 31351053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Endothelins (EDNs) and their receptors (EDNRs) are reported to be involved in the regulation of many physiological/pathological processes, such as cardiovascular development and functions, pulmonary hypertension, neural crest cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, pigmentation, and plumage in chickens. However, the functionality, signaling, and tissue expression of avian EDN-EDNRs have not been fully characterized, thus impeding our comprehensive understanding of their roles in this model vertebrate species. Here, we reported the cDNAs of three EDN genes (EDN1, EDN2, EDN3) and examined the functionality and expression of the three EDNs and their receptors (EDNRA, EDNRB and EDNRB2) in chickens. The results showed that: 1) chicken (c-) EDN1, EDN2, and EDN3 cDNAs were predicted to encode bioactive EDN peptides of 21 amino acids, which show remarkable degree of amino acid sequence identities (91-95%) to their respective mammalian orthologs; 2) chicken (c-) EDNRA expressed in HEK293 cells could be preferentially activated by chicken EDN1 and EDN2, monitored by the three cell-based luciferase reporter assays, indicating that cEDNRA is a functional receptor common for both cEDN1 and cEDN2. In contrast, both cEDNRB and cEDNRB2 could be activated by all three EDN peptides with similar potencies, indicating that both receptors can function as common receptors for the three EDNs and share functional similarity. Moreover, activation of three EDNRs could stimulate intracellular calcium, MAPK/ERK, and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways. 3) qPCR assay revealed that cEDNs and cEDNRs are widely, but differentially, expressed in adult chicken tissues. Taken together, our data establishes a clear molecular basis to uncover the physiological/pathological roles of EDN-EDNR system in birds and helps to reveal the conserved actions of EDN-EDNR signaling across vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haikun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Qin Luo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Jiannan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Chunheng Mo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Yajun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China
| | - Juan Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, PR China.
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12
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Devalla HD, Passier R. Cardiac differentiation of pluripotent stem cells and implications for modeling the heart in health and disease. Sci Transl Med 2019; 10:10/435/eaah5457. [PMID: 29618562 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aah5457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cellular models comprising cardiac cell types derived from human pluripotent stem cells are valuable for studying heart development and disease. We discuss transcriptional differences that define cellular identity in the heart, current methods for generating different cardiomyocyte subtypes, and implications for disease modeling, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsha D Devalla
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, Netherlands.
| | - Robert Passier
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZC Leiden, Netherlands. .,Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, Technical Medical Center, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, Netherlands
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13
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Goodyer W, Wu SM. Fates Aligned: Origins and Mechanisms of Ventricular Conduction System and Ventricular Wall Development. Pediatr Cardiol 2018; 39:1090-1098. [PMID: 29594502 PMCID: PMC6093793 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-018-1869-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The cardiac conduction system is a network of distinct cell types necessary for the coordinated contraction of the cardiac chambers. The distal portion, known as the ventricular conduction system, allows for the rapid transmission of impulses from the atrio-ventricular node to the ventricular myocardium and plays a central role in cardiac function as well as disease when perturbed. Notably, its patterning during embryogenesis is intimately linked to that of ventricular wall formation, including trabeculation and compaction. Here, we review our current understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development and maturation of these interdependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Goodyer
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sean M. Wu
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Correspondence: Sean M. Wu, M.D. PhD., Lokey Stem Cell Building, Room G1120A, 265 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, Phone No. 650-724-4498, Fax No. 650-726-4689,
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14
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Cardiac Stem Cells in the Postnatal Heart: Lessons from Development. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:1247857. [PMID: 30034478 PMCID: PMC6035836 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1247857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart development in mammals is followed by a postnatal decline in cell proliferation and cell renewal from stem cell populations. A better understanding of the developmental changes in cardiac microenvironments occurring during heart maturation will be informative regarding the loss of adult regenerative potential. We reevaluate the adult heart's mitotic potential and the reported adult cardiac stem cell populations, as these are two topics of ongoing debate. The heart's early capacity for cell proliferation driven by progenitors and reciprocal signalling is demonstrated throughout development. The mature heart architecture and environment may be more restrictive on niches that can host progenitor cells. The engraftment issues observed in cardiac stem cell therapy trials using exogenous stem cells may indicate a lack of supporting stem cell niches, while tissue injury adds to a hostile microenvironment for transplanted cells. Engraftment may be improved by preconditioning the cultured stem cells and modulating the microenvironment to host these cells. These prospective areas of further research would benefit from a better understanding of cardiac progenitor interactions with their microenvironment throughout development and may lead to enhanced cardiac niche support for stem cell therapy engraftment.
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15
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Thomas K, Goudy J, Henley T, Bressan M. Optical Electrophysiology in the Developing Heart. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2018; 5:E28. [PMID: 29751595 PMCID: PMC6023508 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd5020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart is the first organ system to form in the embryo. Over the course of development, cardiomyocytes with differing morphogenetic, molecular, and physiological characteristics are specified and differentiate and integrate with one another to assemble a coordinated electromechanical pumping system that can function independently of any external stimulus. As congenital malformation of the heart presents the leading class of birth defects seen in humans, the molecular genetics of heart development have garnered much attention over the last half century. However, understanding how genetic perturbations manifest at the level of the individual cell function remains challenging to investigate. Some of the barriers that have limited our capacity to construct high-resolution, comprehensive models of cardiac physiological maturation are rapidly being removed by advancements in the reagents and instrumentation available for high-speed live imaging. In this review, we briefly introduce the history of imaging approaches for assessing cardiac development, describe some of the reagents and tools required to perform live imaging in the developing heart, and discuss how the combination of modern imaging modalities and physiological probes can be used to scale from subcellular to whole-organ analysis. Through these types of imaging approaches, critical insights into the processes of cardiac physiological development can be directly examined in real-time. Moving forward, the synthesis of modern molecular biology and imaging approaches will open novel avenues to investigate the mechanisms of cardiomyocyte maturation, providing insight into the etiology of congenital heart defects, as well as serving to direct approaches for designing stem-cell or regenerative medicine protocols for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kandace Thomas
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Julie Goudy
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Trevor Henley
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Michael Bressan
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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16
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Characterizing the role of atrial natriuretic peptide signaling in the development of embryonic ventricular conduction system. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6939. [PMID: 29720615 PMCID: PMC5932026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25292-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients born with congenital heart defects frequently encounter arrhythmias due to defects in the ventricular conduction system (VCS) development. Although recent studies identified transcriptional networks essential for the heart development, there is scant information on the mechanisms regulating VCS development. Based on the association of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) expression with VCS forming regions, it was reasoned that ANP could play a critical role in differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and cardiomyocytes (CMs) toward a VCS cell lineage. The present study showed that treatment of embryonic ventricular cells with ANP or cell permeable 8-Br-cGMP can induce gene expression of important VCS markers such as hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel-4 (HCN4) and connexin 40 (Cx40). Inhibition of protein kinase G (PKG) via Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS further confirmed the role of ANP/NPRA/cGMP/PKG pathway in the regulation of HCN4 and Cx40 gene expression. Additional experiments indicated that ANP may regulate VCS marker gene expression by modulating levels of miRNAs that are known to control the stability of transcripts encoding HCN4 and Cx40. Genetic ablation of NPRA revealed significant decreases in VCS marker gene expression and defects in Purkinje fiber arborisation. These results provide mechanistic insights into the role of ANP/NPRA signaling in VCS formation.
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17
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Abstract
Bioengineering cardiac tissue constructs with adult cardiomyocytes may help treat adult heart defects and injury. In this study, we fabricated cardiac tissue constructs by seeding adult rat cardiomyocytes on a fibrin gel matrix and analyzed the electromechanical properties of the formed cardiac tissue constructs. Adult rat cardiomyocytes were isolated with a collagenase type II buffer using an optimized Langendorff perfusion system. Cardiac tissue constructs were fabricated using either indirect plating with cardiomyocytes that were cultured for 1 week and dedifferentiated or with freshly isolated cardiomyocytes. The current protocol generated (3.1 ± 0.5) × 10 (n = 5 hearts) fresh cardiomyocytes from a single heart. Tissue constructs obtained by both types of plating contracted up to 30 days, and electrogram (ECG) signals and contractile twitch forces were detected. The constructs bioengineered by indirect plating of dedifferentiated cardiomyocytes produced an ECG R wave amplitude of 15.1 ± 5.2 µV (n = 7 constructs), a twitch force of 70-110 µN, and a spontaneous contraction rate of about 390 bpm. The constructs bioengineered by direct plating of fresh cardiomyocytes generated an ECG R wave amplitude of 6.3 ± 2.5 µV (n = 8 constructs), a twitch force of 40-60 µN, and a spontaneous contraction rate of about 230 bpm. This study successfully bioengineered three-dimensional cardiac tissue constructs using primary adult cardiomyocytes.
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18
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Johnson MG, Konicke K, Kristianto J, Gustavson A, Garbo R, Wang X, Yuan B, Blank RD. Endothelin signaling regulates mineralization and posttranscriptionally regulates SOST in TMOb cells via miR 126-3p. Physiol Rep 2017; 5:5/4/e13088. [PMID: 28235973 PMCID: PMC5328763 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, our laboratory identified ECE‐1, encoding endothelin‐converting enzyme‐1 (ECE‐1), as a positional candidate for a pleiotropic quantitative trait locus affecting femoral size, shape, and biomechanical performance. We hypothesized that endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) signaling promotes osteogenesis. Exposure of immortalized mouse osteoblast (TMOb) cells to big ET‐1 increased mineralization. Following big ET‐1 treatment, we measured the secretion of insulin‐like‐growth factor‐1 (IGF1), dickkopf‐homolog‐1 protein 1 (DKK1), and sclerostin (SOST). In each case, big ET‐1 signaling changed secretion in a manner that favored increased osteogenic activity. Treatment with ECE‐1, endothelin receptor A (EDNRA), or WNT receptor antagonists inhibited the big ET‐1‐mediated increase in mineralization. In the presence of big ET‐1, message levels of Runx2, Igf1, Dkk1, and Sost are uncoupled from protein production, suggesting posttranscriptional regulation. To evaluate the role of big ET‐1 in normal bone physiology, we inhibited EDNRA signaling during mineralization in the absence of exogenous ET‐1. EDNRA blockade reduced mineralization, decreased IGF1, and increased DKK1 and SOST secretion, responses opposite to those induced by exogenous big ET‐1. Pharmacological and siRNA knockdown to inhibit ECE‐1 reduced mineralization and IGF1 secretion with decreasing DKK1 and decreasing or stable SOST secretion, suggesting a further, unknown role of ECE‐1 in osteoblast maturation. Previously we identified miR 126‐3p as a potential ET‐1‐responsive regulator of SOST in murine cells. Overexpression of miR126‐3p increased mineralization in TMOb cells and decreased SOST secretion. Osteoblasts express the ET‐1 signaling pathway and ET‐1 signaling is necessary for normal osteoblast differentiation and mineralization, acting through regulation of miRs that target osteogenic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Johnson
- Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin .,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kathryn Konicke
- Medical Service, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Jasmin Kristianto
- Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Anne Gustavson
- Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Rachel Garbo
- Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- Medical Service, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Baozhi Yuan
- Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Robert D Blank
- Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin.,Medical Service, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.,Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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19
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Lineages of the Cardiac Conduction System. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2017; 4:jcdd4020005. [PMID: 29367537 PMCID: PMC5715704 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd4020005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The cardiac conduction system (CCS) initiates and coordinately propagates the electrical impulse to orchestrate the heartbeat. It consists of a set of interconnected components with shared properties. A better understanding of the origin and specification of CCS lineages has allowed us to better comprehend the etiology of CCS disease and has provided leads for development of therapies. A variety of technologies and approaches have been used to investigate CCS lineages, which will be summarized in this review. The findings imply that there is not a single CCS lineage. In contrast, early cell fate decisions segregate the lineages of the CCS components while they remain connected to each other.
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20
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Abstract
The endothelin (ET) system includes 3 small peptide hormones and a pair of G-protein-coupled receptors. This review first outlines the ET signaling pathway and ET metabolism. Next, it summarizes the role of ET1 signaling in craniofacial development. Then, it discusses observations relating ET signaling to osteoblastic and other osteosclerotic processes in cancer. Finally, it describes recent work in our laboratory that points to endothelin signaling as an upstream mediator of WNT signaling, promoting bone matrix synthesis and mineralization. It concludes with a statement of some remaining gaps in knowledge and proposals for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Kristianto
- Divisions of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Michael G Johnson
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Rafia Afzal
- Department of Anesthesiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Robert D Blank
- Divisions of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Medical Service, Clement J. Zablocki VAMC, 5000 West National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53295, USA.
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21
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Pasquier J, Gupta R, Rioult D, Hoarau-Véchot J, Courjaret R, Machaca K, Al Suwaidi J, Stanley EG, Rafii S, Elliott DA, Abi Khalil C, Rafii A. Coculturing with endothelial cells promotes in vitro maturation and electrical coupling of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. J Heart Lung Transplant 2017; 36:684-693. [PMID: 28169114 DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are a promising source of repopulating cardiomyocytes. We hypothesized that we could improve maturation of cardiomyocytes and facilitate electrical interconnections by creating a model that more closely resembles heart tissue; that is, containing both endothelial cells (ECs) and cardiomyocytes. METHODS We induced cardiomyocyte differentiation in the coculture of an hESC line expressing the cardiac reporter NKX2.5-green fluorescent protein (GFP), and an Akt-activated EC line (E4+ECs). We quantified spontaneous beating rates, synchrony, and coordination between different cardiomyocyte clusters using confocal imaging of Fura Red-detected calcium transients and computer-assisted image analysis. RESULTS After 8 days in culture, 94% ± 6% of the NKX2-5GFP+ cells were beating when hESCs embryonic bodies were plated on E4+ECs compared with 34% ± 12.9% for controls consisting of hESCs cultured on BD Matrigel (BD Biosciences) without ECs at Day 11 in culture. The spatial organization of beating areas in cocultures was different. The GFP+ cardiomyocytes were close to the E4+ECs. The average beats/min of the cardiomyocytes in coculture was faster and closer to physiologic heart rates compared with controls (50 ± 14 [n = 13] vs 25 ± 9 [n = 8]; p < 0.05). The coculture with ECs led to synchronized beating relying on the endothelial network, as illustrated by the loss of synchronization upon the disruption of endothelial bridges. CONCLUSIONS The coculturing of differentiating cardiomyocytes with Akt-activated ECs but not EC-conditioned media results in (1) improved efficiency of the cardiomyocyte differentiation protocol and (2) increased maturity leading to better intercellular coupling with improved chronotropy and synchrony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Pasquier
- Stem Cell and Microenvironment Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar; Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Renuka Gupta
- Stem Cell and Microenvironment Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Damien Rioult
- UMR_I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH Unité Stress Environnementaux et BIOsurveillance des milieux aquatiques, Université de Reims, Reims, France
| | - Jessica Hoarau-Véchot
- Stem Cell and Microenvironment Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar; Cardiovascular Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Raphael Courjaret
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Khaled Machaca
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Edouard G Stanley
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shahin Rafii
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | - David A Elliott
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charbel Abi Khalil
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA; Cardiovascular Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Genetic Medicine, Doha, Qatar; Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Arash Rafii
- Stem Cell and Microenvironment Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar; Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
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22
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Kristianto J, Johnson MG, Afzal R, Blank RD. WITHDRAWN: Endothelin signaling in bone. Transl Res 2016:S1931-5244(16)30366-8. [PMID: 27893988 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Kristianto
- Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis; Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wis; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis
| | - Michael G Johnson
- Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis; Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wis; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis
| | - Rafia Afzal
- Department of Anesthesiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Robert D Blank
- Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis; Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wis; Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis; Medical Service, Clement J. Zablocki VAMC, Milwaukee, Wis
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23
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Khandekar A, Springer S, Wang W, Hicks S, Weinheimer C, Diaz-Trelles R, Nerbonne JM, Rentschler S. Notch-Mediated Epigenetic Regulation of Voltage-Gated Potassium Currents. Circ Res 2016; 119:1324-1338. [PMID: 27697822 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.309877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Ventricular arrhythmias often arise from the Purkinje-myocyte junction and are a leading cause of sudden cardiac death. Notch activation reprograms cardiac myocytes to an induced Purkinje-like state characterized by prolonged action potential duration and expression of Purkinje-enriched genes. OBJECTIVE To understand the mechanism by which canonical Notch signaling causes action potential prolongation. METHODS AND RESULTS We find that endogenous Purkinje cells have reduced peak K+ current, Ito, and IK,slow when compared with ventricular myocytes. Consistent with partial reprogramming toward a Purkinje-like phenotype, Notch activation decreases peak outward K+ current density, as well as the outward K+ current components Ito,f and IK,slow. Gene expression studies in Notch-activated ventricles demonstrate upregulation of Purkinje-enriched genes Contactin-2 and Scn5a and downregulation of K+ channel subunit genes that contribute to Ito,f and IK,slow. In contrast, inactivation of Notch signaling results in increased cell size commensurate with increased K+ current amplitudes and mimics physiological hypertrophy. Notch-induced changes in K+ current density are regulated at least in part via transcriptional changes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrates dynamic RBP-J (recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region) binding and loss of active histone marks on K+ channel subunit promoters with Notch activation, and similar transcriptional and epigenetic changes occur in a heart failure model. Interestingly, there is a differential response in Notch target gene expression and cellular electrophysiology in left versus right ventricular cardiac myocytes. CONCLUSIONS In summary, these findings demonstrate a novel mechanism for regulation of voltage-gated potassium currents in the setting of cardiac pathology and may provide a novel target for arrhythmia drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Khandekar
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Steven Springer
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Stephanie Hicks
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Carla Weinheimer
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | | | - Jeanne M Nerbonne
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Stacey Rentschler
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.,Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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24
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van Weerd JH, Christoffels VM. The formation and function of the cardiac conduction system. Development 2016; 143:197-210. [PMID: 26786210 DOI: 10.1242/dev.124883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The cardiac conduction system (CCS) consists of distinctive components that initiate and conduct the electrical impulse required for the coordinated contraction of the cardiac chambers. CCS development involves complex regulatory networks that act in stage-, tissue- and dose-dependent manners, and recent findings indicate that the activity of these networks is sensitive to common genetic variants associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Here, we review how these findings have provided novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms and transcriptional networks underlying CCS formation and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hendrik van Weerd
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology & Physiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent M Christoffels
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology & Physiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
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25
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Watanabe M, Rollins AM, Polo-Parada L, Ma P, Gu S, Jenkins MW. Probing the Electrophysiology of the Developing Heart. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2016; 3:jcdd3010010. [PMID: 29367561 PMCID: PMC5715694 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd3010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many diseases that result in dysfunction and dysmorphology of the heart originate in the embryo. However, the embryonic heart presents a challenging subject for study: especially challenging is its electrophysiology. Electrophysiological maturation of the embryonic heart without disturbing its physiological function requires the creation and deployment of novel technologies along with the use of classical techniques on a range of animal models. Each tool has its strengths and limitations and has contributed to making key discoveries to expand our understanding of cardiac development. Further progress in understanding the mechanisms that regulate the normal and abnormal development of the electrophysiology of the heart requires integration of this functional information with the more extensively elucidated structural and molecular changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Andrew M Rollins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Luis Polo-Parada
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA.
| | - Pei Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Shi Gu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Michael W Jenkins
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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26
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Microtissues in Cardiovascular Medicine: Regenerative Potential Based on a 3D Microenvironment. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:9098523. [PMID: 27073399 PMCID: PMC4814701 DOI: 10.1155/2016/9098523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
More people die annually from cardiovascular diseases than from any other cause. In particular, patients who suffer from myocardial infarction may be affected by ongoing adverse remodeling processes of the heart that may ultimately lead to heart failure. The introduction of stem and progenitor cell-based applications has raised substantial hope for reversing these processes and inducing cardiac regeneration. However, current stem cell therapies using single-cell suspensions have failed to demonstrate long-lasting efficacy due to the overall low retention rate after cell delivery to the myocardium. To overcome this obstacle, the concept of 3D cell culture techniques has been proposed to enhance therapeutic efficacy and cell engraftment based on the simulation of an in vivo-like microenvironment. Of great interest is the use of so-called microtissues or spheroids, which have evolved from their traditional role as in vitro models to their novel role as therapeutic agents. This review will provide an overview of the therapeutic potential of microtissues by addressing primarily cardiovascular regeneration. It will accentuate their advantages compared to other regenerative approaches and summarize the methods for generating clinically applicable microtissues. In addition, this review will illustrate the unique properties of the microenvironment within microtissues that makes them a promising next-generation therapeutic approach.
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27
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Schade
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse
6, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Alleyn T. Plowright
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Innovative
Medicines, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal, 43183, Sweden
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28
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Liang X, Zhang Q, Cattaneo P, Zhuang S, Gong X, Spann NJ, Jiang C, Cao X, Zhao X, Zhang X, Bu L, Wang G, Chen HSV, Zhuang T, Yan J, Geng P, Luo L, Banerjee I, Chen Y, Glass CK, Zambon AC, Chen J, Sun Y, Evans SM. Transcription factor ISL1 is essential for pacemaker development and function. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:3256-68. [PMID: 26193633 DOI: 10.1172/jci68257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The sinoatrial node (SAN) maintains a rhythmic heartbeat; therefore, a better understanding of factors that drive SAN development and function is crucial to generation of potential therapies, such as biological pacemakers, for sinus arrhythmias. Here, we determined that the LIM homeodomain transcription factor ISL1 plays a key role in survival, proliferation, and function of pacemaker cells throughout development. Analysis of several Isl1 mutant mouse lines, including animals harboring an SAN-specific Isl1 deletion, revealed that ISL1 within SAN is a requirement for early embryonic viability. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of FACS-purified cells from ISL1-deficient SANs revealed that a number of genes critical for SAN function, including those encoding transcription factors and ion channels, were downstream of ISL1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays performed with anti-ISL1 antibodies and chromatin extracts from FACS-purified SAN cells demonstrated that ISL1 directly binds genomic regions within several genes required for normal pacemaker function, including subunits of the L-type calcium channel, Ank2, and Tbx3. Other genes implicated in abnormal heart rhythm in humans were also direct ISL1 targets. Together, our results demonstrate that ISL1 regulates approximately one-third of SAN-specific genes, indicate that a combination of ISL1 and other SAN transcription factors could be utilized to generate pacemaker cells, and suggest ISL1 mutations may underlie sick sinus syndrome.
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29
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Sedmera D, Kockova R, Vostarek F, Raddatz E. Arrhythmias in the developing heart. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2015; 213:303-20. [PMID: 25363044 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias increases gradually with age; however, specific rhythm disturbances can appear even prior to birth and markedly affect foetal development. Relatively little is known about these disorders, chiefly because of their relative rarity and difficulty in diagnosis. In this review, we cover the most common forms found in human pathology, specifically congenital heart block, pre-excitation, extrasystoles and long QT syndrome. In addition, we cover pertinent literature data from prenatal animal models, providing a glimpse into pathogenesis of arrhythmias and possible strategies for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Sedmera
- Institute of Anatomy; First Faculty of Medicine; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Physiology; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Prague Czech Republic
| | - R. Kockova
- Institute of Physiology; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Prague Czech Republic
- Department of Cardiology; Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine; Prague Czech Republic
| | - F. Vostarek
- Institute of Physiology; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Prague Czech Republic
| | - E. Raddatz
- Department of Physiology; Faculty of Biology and Medicine; University of Lausanne; Lausanne Switzerland
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30
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Abstract
During development, cardiogenesis is orchestrated by a family of heart progenitors that build distinct regions of the heart. Each region contains diverse cell types that assemble to form the complex structures of the individual cardiac compartments. Cardiomyocytes are the main cell type found in the heart and ensure contraction of the chambers and efficient blood flow throughout the body. Injury to the cardiac muscle often leads to heart failure due to the loss of a large number of cardiomyocytes and its limited intrinsic capacity to regenerate the damaged tissue, making it one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this Primer we discuss how insights into the molecular and cellular framework underlying cardiac development can be used to guide the in vitro specification of cardiomyocytes, whether by directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells or via direct lineage conversion. Additional strategies to generate cardiomyocytes in situ, such as reactivation of endogenous cardiac progenitors and induction of cardiomyocyte proliferation, will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Später
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Department of Bioscience, CVMD iMED, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 43150, Sweden
| | - Emil M Hansson
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 35 Berzelius Vag, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
| | - Lior Zangi
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA Cardiovascular Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kenneth R Chien
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University and Harvard Medical School, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 35 Berzelius Vag, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
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31
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Abstract
Purkinje fibers were the first discovered component of the cardiac conduction system. Originally described in sheep in 1839 as pale subendocardial cells, they were found to be present, although with different morphology, in all mammalian and avian hearts. Here we review differences in their appearance and extent in different species, summarize the current state of knowledge of their function, and provide an update on markers for these cells. Special emphasis is given to popular model species and human anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Sedmera
- Department of Cardiovascular Morphogenesis, Institute of Physiology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic.
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32
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Bressan M, Yang PB, Louie JD, Navetta AM, Garriock RJ, Mikawa T. Reciprocal myocardial-endocardial interactions pattern the delay in atrioventricular junction conduction. Development 2014; 141:4149-57. [PMID: 25273084 DOI: 10.1242/dev.110007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Efficient blood flow depends on two developmental processes that occur within the atrioventricular junction (AVJ) of the heart: conduction delay, which entrains sequential chamber contraction; and valve formation, which prevents retrograde fluid movement. Defects in either result in severe congenital heart disease; however, little is known about the interplay between these two crucial developmental processes. Here, we show that AVJ conduction delay is locally assigned by the morphogenetic events that initiate valve formation. Our data demonstrate that physical separation from endocardial-derived factors prevents AVJ myocardium from becoming fast conducting. Mechanistically, this physical separation is induced by myocardial-derived factors that support cardiac jelly deposition at the onset of valve formation. These data offer a novel paradigm for conduction patterning, whereby reciprocal myocardial-endocardial interactions coordinate the processes of valve formation with establishment of conduction delay. This, in turn, synchronizes the electrophysiological and structural events necessary for the optimization of blood flow through the developing heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bressan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94143-3120, USA
| | - PoAn Brian Yang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94143-3120, USA
| | - Jonathan D Louie
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94143-3120, USA
| | - Alicia M Navetta
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94143-3120, USA
| | - Robert J Garriock
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94143-3120, USA
| | - Takashi Mikawa
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, 555 Mission Bay Boulevard South, San Francisco, CA 94143-3120, USA
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33
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Hua LL, Vedantham V, Barnes RM, Hu J, Robinson AS, Bressan M, Srivastava D, Black BL. Specification of the mouse cardiac conduction system in the absence of Endothelin signaling. Dev Biol 2014; 393:245-254. [PMID: 25050930 PMCID: PMC4143461 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Coordinated contraction of the heart is essential for survival and is regulated by the cardiac conduction system. Contraction of ventricular myocytes is controlled by the terminal part of the conduction system known as the Purkinje fiber network. Lineage analyses in chickens and mice have established that the Purkinje fibers of the peripheral ventricular conduction system arise from working myocytes during cardiac development. It has been proposed, based primarily on gain-of-function studies, that Endothelin signaling is responsible for myocyte-to-Purkinje fiber transdifferentiation during avian heart development. However, the role of Endothelin signaling in mammalian conduction system development is less clear, and the development of the cardiac conduction system in mice lacking Endothelin signaling has not been previously addressed. Here, we assessed the specification of the cardiac conduction system in mouse embryos lacking all Endothelin signaling. We found that mouse embryos that were homozygous null for both ednra and ednrb, the genes encoding the two Endothelin receptors in mice, were born at predicted Mendelian frequency and had normal specification of the cardiac conduction system and apparently normal electrocardiograms with normal QRS intervals. In addition, we found that ednra expression within the heart was restricted to the myocardium while ednrb expression in the heart was restricted to the endocardium and coronary endothelium. By establishing that ednra and ednrb are expressed in distinct compartments within the developing mammalian heart and that Endothelin signaling is dispensable for specification and function of the cardiac conduction system, this work has important implications for our understanding of mammalian cardiac development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa L Hua
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA
| | - Vasanth Vedantham
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA; Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA
| | - Ralston M Barnes
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA
| | - Jianxin Hu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA
| | - Ashley S Robinson
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA
| | - Michael Bressan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA
| | - Deepak Srivastava
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA; Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA
| | - Brian L Black
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158-2517, USA.
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34
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Meilhac SM, Lescroart F, Blanpain C, Buckingham ME. Cardiac cell lineages that form the heart. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2014; 4:a013888. [PMID: 25183852 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a013888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial cells ensure the contractility of the heart, which also depends on other mesodermal cell types for its function. Embryological experiments had identified the sources of cardiac precursor cells. With the advent of genetic engineering, novel tools have been used to reconstruct the lineage tree of cardiac cells that contribute to different parts of the heart, map the development of cardiac regions, and characterize their genetic signature. Such knowledge is of fundamental importance for our understanding of cardiogenesis and also for the diagnosis and treatment of heart malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigolène M Meilhac
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, CNRS URA2578, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Cédric Blanpain
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, IRIBHM, Brussels B-1070, Belgium WELBIO, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels B-1070, Belgium
| | - Margaret E Buckingham
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, CNRS URA2578, 75015 Paris, France
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35
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Sakurai M, Kuninaga N, Takeuchi T, Tsuka T, Morita T. Congenital multifocal increase of Purkinje fibres in a calf with cardiac conduction delay. J Comp Pathol 2014; 151:234-7. [PMID: 25084712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2014.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2013] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A female 4-month-old Holstein-Friesian calf was presented in heart failure. Microscopical examination of samples of the cardiac wall taken at necropsy examination revealed numerous aggregates of Purkinje fibres, particularly in the perivascular areas. Some Purkinje fibres were stained strongly with phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin and immunohistochemically were shown to express alpha smooth muscle actin, indicating an embryonic-like Purkinje fibre phenotype. A diagnosis of congenital multifocal increase of Purkinje fibres was made. The histological features of this case resemble multifocal cardiac Purkinje cell tumour of the heart in man.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sakurai
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - N Kuninaga
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - T Takeuchi
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - T Tsuka
- Department of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - T Morita
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan.
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36
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Sedmera D. New role for endothelin signalling during development. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2014; 210:236-8. [PMID: 24325656 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Sedmera
- Institute of Physiology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic v.v.i.; Prague 4 Czech Republic
- Institute of Anatomy; First Faculty of Medicine; Charles University in Prague; Prague Czech Republic
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37
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Samsa LA, Yang B, Liu J. Embryonic cardiac chamber maturation: Trabeculation, conduction, and cardiomyocyte proliferation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS. PART C, SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2013; 163C:157-68. [PMID: 23720419 PMCID: PMC3723796 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Congenital heart diseases are some of the most common human birth defects. Though some congenital heart defects can be surgically corrected, treatment options for other congenital heart diseases are very limited. In many congenital heart diseases, genetic defects lead to impaired embryonic heart development or growth. One of the key development processes in cardiac development is chamber maturation, and alterations in this maturation process can manifest as a variety of congenital defects including non-compaction, systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and arrhythmia. During development, to meet the increasing metabolic demands of the developing embryo, the myocardial wall undergoes extensive remodeling characterized by the formation of muscular luminal protrusions called cardiac trabeculae, increased cardiomyocyte mass, and development of the ventricular conduction system. Though the basic morphological and cytological changes involved in early heart development are clear, much remains unknown about the complex biomolecular mechanisms governing chamber maturation. In this review, we highlight evidence suggesting that a wide variety of basic signaling pathways and biomechanical forces are involved in cardiac wall maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Ann Samsa
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Betsy Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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38
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Liang X, Wang G, Lin L, Lowe J, Zhang Q, Bu L, Chen Y, Chen J, Sun Y, Evans SM. HCN4 dynamically marks the first heart field and conduction system precursors. Circ Res 2013; 113:399-407. [PMID: 23743334 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.113.301588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE To date, there has been no specific marker of the first heart field to facilitate understanding of contributions of the first heart field to cardiac lineages. Cardiac arrhythmia is a leading cause of death, often resulting from abnormalities in the cardiac conduction system (CCS). Understanding origins and identifying markers of CCS lineages are essential steps toward modeling diseases of the CCS and for development of biological pacemakers. OBJECTIVE To investigate HCN4 as a marker for the first heart field and for precursors of distinct components of the CCS, and to gain insight into contributions of first and second heart lineages to the CCS. METHODS AND RESULTS HCN4CreERT2, -nuclear LacZ, and -H2BGFP mouse lines were generated. HCN4 expression was examined by means of immunostaining with HCN4 antibody and reporter gene expression. Lineage studies were performed using HCN4CreERT2, Isl1Cre, Nkx2.5Cre, and Tbx18Cre, coupled to coimmunostaining with CCS markers. Results demonstrated that, at cardiac crescent stages, HCN4 marks the first heart field, with HCN4CreERT2 allowing assessment of cell fates adopted by first heart field myocytes. Throughout embryonic development, HCN4 expression marked distinct CCS precursors at distinct stages, marking the entire CCS by late fetal stages. We also noted expression of HCN4 in distinct subsets of endothelium at specific developmental stages. CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into contributions of first and second heart lineages to the CCS and highlights the potential use of HCN4 in conjunction with other markers for optimization of protocols for generation and isolation of specific conduction system precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingqun Liang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.,Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Lizhu Lin
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Jennifer Lowe
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Qingquang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Lei Bu
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yihan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Ju Chen
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yunfu Sun
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.,Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia, Ministry of Education, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Sylvia M Evans
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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Miquerol L, Bellon A, Moreno N, Beyer S, Meilhac SM, Buckingham M, Franco D, Kelly RG. Resolving cell lineage contributions to the ventricular conduction system with a Cx40-GFP allele: a dual contribution of the first and second heart fields. Dev Dyn 2013; 242:665-77. [PMID: 23526457 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.23964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2012] [Revised: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ventricular conduction system (VCS) coordinates the heartbeat and is composed of central components (the atrioventricular node, bundle, and right and left bundle branches) and a peripheral Purkinje fiber network. Conductive myocytes develop from common progenitor cells with working myocytes in a bimodal process of lineage restriction followed by limited outgrowth. The lineage relationship between progenitor cells giving rise to different components of the VCS is unclear. RESULTS Cell lineage contributions to different components of the VCS were analysed by a combination of retrospective clonal analysis, regionalized transgene expression studies, and genetic tracing experiments using Connexin40-GFP mice that precisely delineate the VCS. Analysis of a library of hearts containing rare large clusters of clonally related myocytes identifies two VCS lineages encompassing either the right Purkinje fiber network or left bundle branch. Both lineages contribute to the atrioventricular bundle and right bundle branch that segregate early from working myocytes. Right and left VCS lineages share the transcriptional program of the respective ventricular working myocytes and genetic tracing experiments discount alternate progenitor cell contributions to the VCS. CONCLUSIONS The mammalian VCS is comprised of cells derived from two lineages, supporting a dual contribution of first and second heart field progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Miquerol
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS UMR 7288, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, Marseille, France.
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40
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Abstract
The cardiac conduction system is a specialized tract of myocardial cells responsible for maintaining normal cardiac rhythm. Given its critical role in coordinating cardiac performance, a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying conduction system formation should inform our understanding of arrhythmia pathophysiology and affect the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Historically, the ability to distinguish cells of the conduction system from neighboring working myocytes presented a major technical challenge for performing comprehensive mechanistic studies. Early lineage tracing experiments suggested that conduction cells derive from cardiomyocyte precursors, and these claims have been substantiated by using more contemporary approaches. However, regional specialization of conduction cells adds an additional layer of complexity to this system, and it appears that different components of the conduction system utilize unique modes of developmental formation. The identification of numerous transcription factors and their downstream target genes involved in regional differentiation of the conduction system has provided insight into how lineage commitment is achieved. Furthermore, by adopting cutting-edge genetic techniques in combination with sophisticated phenotyping capabilities, investigators have made substantial progress in delineating the regulatory networks that orchestrate conduction system formation and their role in cardiac rhythm and physiology. This review describes the connectivity of these gene regulatory networks in cardiac conduction system development and discusses how they provide a foundation for understanding normal and pathological human cardiac rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil V Munshi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Division, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8573, USA.
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41
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Rentschler S, Yen AH, Lu J, Petrenko NB, Lu MM, Manderfield LJ, Patel VV, Fishman GI, Epstein JA. Myocardial Notch signaling reprograms cardiomyocytes to a conduction-like phenotype. Circulation 2012; 126:1058-66. [PMID: 22837163 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.112.103390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Notch signaling has previously been shown to play an essential role in regulating cell fate decisions and differentiation during cardiogenesis in many systems including Drosophila, Xenopus, and mammals. We hypothesized that Notch may also be involved in directing the progressive lineage restriction of cardiomyocytes into specialized conduction cells. METHODS AND RESULTS In hearts where Notch signaling is activated within the myocardium from early development onward, Notch promotes a conduction-like phenotype based on ectopic expression of conduction system-specific genes and cell autonomous changes in electrophysiology. With the use of an in vitro assay to activate Notch in newborn cardiomyocytes, we observed global changes in the transcriptome, and in action potential characteristics, consistent with reprogramming to a conduction-like phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Notch can instruct the differentiation of chamber cardiac progenitors into specialized conduction-like cells. Plasticity remains in late-stage cardiomyocytes, which has potential implications for engineering of specialized cardiovascular tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey Rentschler
- Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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42
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Abstract
Emerging data in the field of cardiac development as well as repair and regeneration indicate a complex and important interplay between endocardial, epicardial, and myofibroblast populations that is critical for cardiomyocyte differentiation and postnatal function. For example, epicardial cells have been shown to generate cardiac myofibroblasts and may be one of the primary sources for this cell lineage during development. Moreover, paracrine signaling from the epicardium and endocardium is critical for proper development of the heart and pathways such as Wnt, fibroblast growth factor, and retinoic acid signaling have been shown to be key players in this process. Despite this progress, interactions between nonmyocyte cells and cardiomyocytes in the heart are still poorly understood. We review the various nonmyocyte-myocyte interactions that occur in the heart and how these interactions, primarily through signaling networks, help direct cardiomyocyte differentiation and regulate postnatal cardiac function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tian
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104-5129, USA
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43
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Tu S, Chi NC. Zebrafish models in cardiac development and congenital heart birth defects. Differentiation 2012; 84:4-16. [PMID: 22704690 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2012.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The zebrafish has become an ideal vertebrate animal system for investigating cardiac development due to its genetic tractability, external fertilization, early optical clarity and ability to survive without a functional cardiovascular system during development. In particular, recent advances in imaging techniques and the creation of zebrafish transgenics now permit the in vivo analysis of the dynamic cellular events that transpire during cardiac morphogenesis. As a result, the combination of these salient features provides detailed insight as to how specific genes may influence cardiac development at the cellular level. In this review, we will highlight how the zebrafish has been utilized to elucidate not only the underlying mechanisms of cardiac development and human congenital heart diseases (CHDs), but also potential pathways that may modulate cardiac regeneration. Thus, we have organized this review based on the major categories of CHDs-structural heart, functional heart, and vascular/great vessel defects, and will conclude with how the zebrafish may be further used to contribute to our understanding of specific human CHDs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Tu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0613J, USA
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44
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Gittenberger-de Groot AC, Winter EM, Bartelings MM, Goumans MJ, DeRuiter MC, Poelmann RE. The arterial and cardiac epicardium in development, disease and repair. Differentiation 2012; 84:41-53. [PMID: 22652098 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2012.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Revised: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The importance of the epicardium covering the heart and the intrapericardial part of the great arteries has reached a new summit. It has evolved as a major cellular component with impact both in development, disease and more recently also repair potential. The role of the epicardium in development, its differentiation from a proepicardial organ at the venous pole (vPEO) and the differentiation capacities of the vPEO initiating cardiac epicardium (cEP) into epicardium derived cells (EPDCs) have been extensively described in recent reviews on growth and transcription factor pathways. In short, the epicardium is the source of the interstitial, the annulus fibrosus and the adventitial fibroblasts, and differentiates into the coronary arterial smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, EPDCs induce growth of the compact myocardium and differentiation of the Purkinje fibers. This review includes an arterial pole located PEO (aPEO) that provides the epicardium covering the intrapericardial great vessels. In avian and mouse models disturbance of epicardial outgrowth and maturation leads to a broad spectrum of cardiac anomalies with main focus on non-compaction of the myocardium, deficient annulus fibrosis, valve malformations and coronary artery abnormalities. The discovery that in disease both arterial and cardiac epicardium can again differentiate into EPDCs and thus reactivate its embryonic program and potential has highly broadened the scope of research interest. This reactivation is seen after myocardial infarction and also in aneurysm formation of the ascending aorta. Use of EPDCs for cell therapy show their positive function in paracrine mediated repair processes which can be additive when combined with the cardiac progenitor stem cells that probably share the same embryonic origin with EPDCs. Research into the many cell-autonomous and cell-cell-based capacities of the adult epicardium will open up new realistic therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana C Gittenberger-de Groot
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Postal zone: S-5-24, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Zhang X, Guo JP, Chi YL, Liu YC, Zhang CS, Yang XQ, Lin HY, Jiang EP, Xiong SH, Zhang ZY, Liu BH. Endothelin-induced differentiation of Nkx2.5⁺ cardiac progenitor cells into pacemaking cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2012; 366:309-18. [PMID: 22527936 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-012-1309-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2011] [Accepted: 04/03/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms governing the development of cardiac pacemaking and conduction system are not well understood. In order to provide evidence for the derivation of pacemaking cells and the signal that induce and maintain the cells in the developing heart, Nkx2.5(+) cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) were isolated from embryonic heart tubes of rats. Endothelin-1 was subsequently added to the CPCs to induce differentiation of them towards cardiac pacemaking cells. After the treatment, Nkx2.5(+) CPCs displayed spontaneous beating and spontaneously electrical activity as what we have previously described. Furthermore, RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that Tbx3 expression was increased and Nkx2.5 expression was decreased in the induced cells 4 days after ET-1 treatment. And the significantly increased expression of Hcn4 and connexin-45 were detected in the induced cells 10 days after the treatment. In addition, Nkx2.5(+) CPCs were transfected with pGCsi-Tbx3 4 days after ET-1 treatment in an attempt to determine the transcription regulatory factor governing the differentiation of the cells into cardiac pacemaking cells. The results showed that silencing of Tbx3 decreased the pacemaking activity and led to down-regulation of pacemaker genes in the induced cells. These results confirmed that Nkx2.5(+) CPCs differentiated into cardiac pacemaking cells after being treated with ET-1 and suggested that an ET-1-Tbx3 molecular pathway govern/mediate this process. In conclusion, our study support the notion that pacemaking cells originate from Nkx2.5(+) CPCs present in embryonic heart tubes and endothelin-1 might be involved in diversification of cardiomyogenic progenitors toward the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Bax NAM, Pijnappels DA, van Oorschot AAM, Winter EM, de Vries AAF, van Tuyn J, Braun J, Maas S, Schalij MJ, Atsma DE, Goumans MJ, Gittenberger-de Groot AC. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation alters electrical conductivity of human epicardial cells. J Cell Mol Med 2012; 15:2675-83. [PMID: 21251220 PMCID: PMC4373436 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01266.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The myocardium of the developing heart tube is covered by epicardium. These epicardial cells undergo a process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and develop into epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs). The ingrowing EPDCs differentiate into several celltypes of which the cardiac fibroblasts form the main group. Disturbance of EMT of the epicardium leads to serious hypoplasia of the myocardium, abnormal coronary artery differentiation and Purkinje fibre paucity. Interestingly, the electrophysiological properties of epicardial cells and whether EMT influences electrical conductivity of epicardial cells is not yet known. We studied the electrophysiological aspects of epicardial cells before and after EMT in a dedicated in vitro model, using micro-electrode arrays to investigate electrical conduction across epicardial cells. Therefore, human adult epicardial cells were placed between two neonatal rat cardiomyocyte populations. Before EMT the epicardial cells have a cobblestone (epithelium-like) phenotype that was confirmed by staining for the cell-adhesion molecule β-catenin. After spontaneous EMT in vitro the EPDCs acquired a spindle-shaped morphology confirmed by vimentin staining. When comparing both types we observed that the electrical conduction is influenced by EMT, resulting in significantly reduced conductivity of spindle-shaped EPDCs, associated with a conduction block. Furthermore, the expression of both gap junction (connexins 40, Cx43 and Cx45) and ion channel proteins (SCN5a, CACNA1C and Kir2.1) was down-regulated after EMT. This study shows for the first time the conduction differences between epicardial cells before and after EMT. These differences may be of relevance for the role of EPDCs in cardiac development, and in EMT-related cardiac dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noortje A M Bax
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract
The formation of the heart involves diversification of lineages which differentiate into distinct cardiac cell types or contribute to different regions such as the four cardiac chambers. The heart is the first organ to form in the embryo. However, in parallel with the growth of the organism, before or after birth, the heart has to adapt its size to maintain pumping efficiency. The adult heart has only a mild regeneration potential; thus, strategies to repair the heart after injury are based on the mobilisation of resident cardiac stem cells or the transplantation of external sources of stem cells. We discuss current knowledge on these aspects and raise questions for future research.
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Abstract
Our limited ability to improve the survival of patients with heart failure is attributable, in part, to the inability of the mammalian heart to meaningfully regenerate itself. The recent identification of distinct families of multipotent cardiovascular progenitor cells from endogenous, as well as exogenous, sources, such as embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, has raised much hope that therapeutic manipulation of these cells may lead to regression of many forms of cardiovascular disease. Although the exact source and cell type remains to be clarified, our greater understanding of the scientific underpinning behind developmental cardiovascular progenitor cell biology has helped to clarify the origin and properties of diverse cells with putative cardiogenic potential. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the understanding of cardiovascular progenitor cell biology from embryogenesis to adulthood and their implications for therapeutic cardiac regeneration. We believe that a detailed understanding of cardiogenesis will inform future applications of cardiovascular progenitor cells in heart failure therapy and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Sturzu
- CPZN 3224 Simches Building, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge St, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Chen M, Lin YQ, Xie SL, Wang JF. Mitogen-activated protein kinase in endothelin-1-induced cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells. J Cell Biochem 2011; 111:1619-28. [PMID: 21053276 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.22895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Endothelin-1(ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases and is an important regulator of heart development. However, the role of ET-1 in cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we showed that ET-1 significantly up-regulated gene expression of the cardiac specific transcriptional factors Nkx2.5, GATA4, and conduction system specific marker CX40, with no affect on the gene expression of α-MHC and β-MHC in cardiac differentiation of mESCs. The percentage of beating embryoid bodies (EB) and the Troponin T (TnT) positive area in total EBs was unchanged following ET-1 treatment, while the percentage of spindle cells that stained positively with TnT was increased in the presence of ET-1. Further investigation indicated that the percentage of beating EBs and the TnT positive area were decreased by the extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK)-1/2 inhibitor U0126 and the p38 inhibitor SB203580, but not by the Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNK) inhibitor SP600125. Inhibition of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK pathways also blocked the up-regulation of Nkx2.5 and GATA4 by ET-1, however only inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway had negatively effects on the increase in CX40 expression in response to ET-1. ET-1 induced an increase in the percentage of spindle cells was also inhibited by U0126. Our results suggest that ET-1 plays a significant role in the cardiac differentiation of mESCs, especially in those cells committed to the conduction system, with the ERK1/2 pathway playing a critical role in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Miquerol L, Beyer S, Kelly RG. Establishment of the mouse ventricular conduction system. Cardiovasc Res 2011; 91:232-42. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvr069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
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