Myosin types and fiber types in cardiac muscle. III. Nodal conduction tissue

Muscle fiber type diversity revealed by anti-myosin heavy chain antibodies

Different forms of myosin heavy chains (MyHCs), coded by a large family of sarcomeric MYH genes, are expressed in striated muscles. The generation of specific anti-MyHC antibodies has provided a powerful tool to define the fiber types present in skeletal muscles, their functional properties, their response to conditions that affect muscle plasticity and their changes in muscle disorders. Cardiomyocyte heterogeneity has been revealed by the serendipitous observation that different MyHCs are present in atrial and ventricular myocardium and in heart conduction tissue. Developmental MyHCs present in embryonic and fetal/neonatal skeletal muscle are re-expressed during muscle regeneration and can be used to identify regenerating fibers in muscle diseases. MyHC isoforms provide cell type-specific markers to identify the signaling pathways that control muscle cell identity and are an essential reference to interpret the results of single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics.

Alpha actin isoforms expression in human and rat adult cardiac conduction system

In the adult heart, cardiac muscle comprises the working myocardium and the conduction system (CS). The latter includes the sinoatrial node (SAN), the internodal tract or bundle (IB), the atrioventricular node (AVN), the atrioventricular bundle (AVB), the bundle branches (BB) and the peripheral Purkinje fibers (PF). Most of the information concerning the phenotypic features of CS tissue derives from the characterization of avian and rodent developing hearts; data concerning the expression of actin isoforms in adult CS cardiomyocytes are scarce. Using specific antibodies, we investigated the distribution of alpha-skeletal (alpha-SKA), alpha-cardiac (alpha-CA), alpha-smooth muscle (alpha-SMA) actin isoforms and other muscle-typical proteins in the CS of human and rat hearts at different ages. SAN and IB cardiomyocytes were characterized by the presence of alpha-SMA, alpha-CA, calponin and caldesmon, whereas alpha-SKA and vimentin were absent. Double immunofluorescence demonstrated the co-localisation of alpha-SMA and alpha-CA in I-bands of SAN cardiomyocytes. AVN, AVB, BB and PF cardiomyocytes were alpha-SMA, calponin, caldesmon and vimentin negative, and alpha-CA and alpha-SKA positive. No substantial differences in actin isoform distribution were observed in human and rat hearts, except for the presence of isolated subendocardial alpha-SMA positive cardiomyocytes co-expressing alpha-CA in the ventricular septum of the rat. Aging did not influence CS cardiomyocyte actin isoform expression profile. These findings support the concept that cardiomyocytes of SAN retain the phenotype of a developing myogenic cell throughout the entire life span.

Expression of slow skeletal myosin binding C-protein in normal adult mammalian heart

Myosin binding C-protein exists in three main isoforms in striated muscle. While expression of cardiac muscle type C-protein is detected in skeletal muscle during early fetal development, there have not so far been any reports of the expression of the skeletal muscle isoforms of this protein in either developing or adult vertebrate heart. The present study demonstrates slow skeletal muscle type C-protein in moderate amount in right atrium and interatrial septum of adult human, rabbit, rat and bovine hearts using both immunocytochemical and immunoblotting procedures.

Identification and characterization of embryonic stem cell‐derived pacemaker and atrial cardiomyocytes

The aim of this study was to identify and functionally characterize cardiac subtypes during early stages of development. For this purpose, transgenic embryonic stem cells were generated using the alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter driving the expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). EGFP-positive clusters of cells were first observed as early as 7 days of development, thus, even before the initiation of the contractile activity. Flow cytometry and single-cell fluorescence measurements evidenced large diversities of EGFP intensity. Patch-clamp experiments showed EGFP expression exclusively in pacemaker and atrial but not ventricular cells. The highest fluorescence intensities were detected in pacemaker-like cardiomyocytes. In accordance, multielectrode-array recordings of whole embryoid bodies confirmed that the pacemaker center coincided with strongly EGFP-positive areas. The cardiac subtypes displayed already at this early stage differential characteristics of electrical activity and ion channel expression. Thus, quantitation of the alpha-myosin heavy chain driven reporter gene expression allows identification and functional characterization of early cardiac subtypes.

Ectopic expression of an embryonic skeletal myosin heavy chain in human fetal and Syrian hamster hearts

The mammalian heart is known to contain only two isoformic myosin heavy chain (MHC) genes, alpha and beta. A previously uncharacterized MHC gene was isolated in Syrian hamster hearts (McCully et al., JMol Biol 1991). We identified the novel MHC gene as a hamster embryonic skeletal MHC gene based on the developmental stage- and tissue-specific expression pattern: the restricted expression ofmRNA to striated muscles was highest in embryonic skeletal muscle and was developmentally down-regulated. We confirmed that the embryonic skeletal MHC gene exhibited higher expression in cardiomyopathic than in normal hamster hearts, and was up-regulated during the development of cardiomyopathy. The sporadic expression was highly localized in the endocardium. The present study identified that a very small number of undifferentiated myogenic cells existed in adult hamster endocardium. Moreover, using RT-PCR, a homologue of embryonic skeletal MHC mRNA was also expressed in human embryonic, but not adult ventricles. Our data provide a new insight into the regulatory mechanisms of MHCs in the cardiomyopathic hamster heart.

Nerve control of type 2A MHC isoform expression in regenerating slow skeletal muscle

Bupivacaine-induced regeneration was studied in rat soleus muscle under several conditions, with the focus on type 2A and type 1 myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression. In denervated muscles, type 1 was absent, whereas type 2A was widely expressed, a pattern of regeneration which appeared to be independent of fibrillation activity of the muscle. Both type 1 and type 2A isoforms were absent in muscles regenerated during tetrodotoxin (TTX) block of impulse conduction in the sciatic nerve, but type 2A was still present when the TTX block was associated with the vinblastine block of axoplasmic flow; vinblastine block alone caused the coexpression of type 1 and type 2A isoforms in the majority of fibers. These results suggest that axoplasmic flow carries some chemical factor that inhibits 2A MHC isoform expression. The results are also of clinical interest, contributing to the understanding of factors controlling muscle differentiation and adaptation.

Fast to slow transformation of denervated and electrically stimulated rat muscle

1. Denervated fast extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of adult rats were stimulated electrically for up to 4 months with a slow pattern resembling the activity in soleus (Sol) motor units and examined with antibodies against myosin heavy chains (MHCs). 2. The normal EDL contained, on average, 45% type IIB, 29% type IIX, 23% type IIA and 3% type I fibres. All type IIB and almost all type IIX fibres disappeared during the first 3 weeks of stimulation. They were replaced by type IIA and type I fibres, whose percentages increased to about 75 and 15, respectively. Type IIA fibres remained at 75% for nearly 2 months and were then gradually replaced by type I fibres during the next 2 months. The transformation occurred sequentially in the order IIB/IIX-->IIA-->I, the first step (IIB/IIX-->IIA) occurring after a short delay (2 weeks) and the last step (IIA-->I in originally IIB or IIX fibres) after a long delay (> 2 months). During the transformation coexpression of MHCs occurred. 3. It appears that the transformation to type I fibres occurred in pre-existing type II fibres since no signs of fibre damage or regeneration were observed. 4. Normal EDL was also stimulated through an intact nerve with the same pattern for up to 37 days. The effects on fibre type distributions were identical to those observed in the denervated EDL. The result indicated that the Sol-like pattern of evoked muscle activity, rather than nerve-derived trophic influences or denervation per se, was primarily responsible for the fast to slow transformation.

Lack of type 1 and type 2A myosin heavy chain isoforms in rat slow muscle regenerating during chronic nerve block

The degeneration-regeneration process was induced by bupivacaine injection in innervated, denervated, and nerve-blocked rat soleus muscles. Nerve block was obtained by superfusion of the sciatic nerve with tetrodotoxin (TTX). Two weeks after bupivacaine injection, immunohistochemical and electrophoretical analyses showed the presence of type 1 myosin heavy chain (MHC) only in innervated regenerated muscles, type 2A in innervated and denervated, but not in TTX-paralyzed muscles, and type 2X under all experimental conditions. The presence of type 1 MHC in the innervated, and its absence in both denervated and TTX-paralyzed muscles were also verified immunohistochemically 1 week after bupivacaine injection. It is concluded that the nerve impulses play a determinant role in the expression of 1 and 2A MHC isoforms in the innervated regenerating muscle. The possible causes of the absence of the type 2A MHC isoform in the TTX-paralyzed muscles are discussed.

Binding of cytosolic proteins to myofibrils in ischemic rat hearts

Myofibrillar proteins (MPs) were extracted from isolated and perfused rat hearts subjected to different periods of ischemia to investigate the occurrence of protein degradation and/or the association of cytosolic proteins with the myofibrillar pellet. A 23-kD band was detected by SDS-PAGE of MPs after 5 minutes of ischemia, with its density gradually increasing to a plateau after 20 minutes. Longer periods of ischemia were associated with the appearance of a 39-kD band. Irrespective of the duration of ischemia, both these bands persisted during reperfusion. A partial proteolytic degradation of troponin T (TnT) and troponin I (TnI) has been claimed to be responsible for the generation of these peptides. However, the N-terminal sequence of the 39-kD band was identical to that of GAPDH, whereas Edman sequencing after pepsin digestion showed that the 23 kD is alpha B-crystallin. The binding of the two cytosolic proteins to myofibrils was confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis on cryosections of ischemic hearts. In vitro studies showed that acidosis was sufficient to induce the binding of alpha B-crystallin, whereas the inhibition of ATP depletion prevented the binding of GAPDH. Thiol oxidation is unlikely to promote GAPDH binding, since perfusion with iodoacetate under aerobic conditions or treatment of homogenates with N-ethylmaleimide or diamide failed to induce GAPDH association with the myofibrils. These changes of the myofibrillar proteins could be considered as intracellular markers of the evolution of the ischemic damage. In addition, the binding of the 23-kD peptide might be involved in alterations of contractility.

Targeting gene expression to specific cardiovascular cell types in transgenic mice

Transgenic techniques, which allow the introduction of exogenous genes into the genome of experimental animals, promise to bridge the gap between the in vitro observations made by molecular and cellular biologists on cardiac and vascular cells in tissue culture and the physiology and pathology of the whole organ system. One such application of these techniques is tissue targeting: by genetic manipulation to direct expression of a protein--such as a signaling peptide, a growth factor receptor, or an oncogene involved in cell growth--to a tissue where it normally would not be expressed (or where expression is tightly controlled) by fusing it to the transcriptional control sequences of another gene normally expressed in that tissue. In the cardiovascular system, regulatory sequences for cardiomyocyte-specific proteins, vascular endothelium-specific proteins, and smooth muscle-specific proteins can be used to target heterologous genes to their respective tissues in transgenic animals. The effects that such perturbations have on organ physiology and intracellular and intercellular communication can be observed by applying established physiological and molecular approaches. In this review, we highlight some tissue-specific genes from cardiac and vascular cell types whose regulatory sequences may be used to target heterologous proteins; we discuss neutral "reporter" proteins and signal transduction components as paradigms for the application of this technique; and we briefly touch on the potentials and pitfalls of transgenic approaches to molecular physiology.

Immunohistochemical delineation of the conduction system. I: The sinoatrial node

We have raised a mouse monoclonal antibody that reacts specifically with the myocytes of the sinoatrial node of the bovine heart. By use of this antibody (445-6E10) and antibodies against the gap junction protein connexin43, the periphery of the sinoatrial node and the distribution of gap junctions in the nodal region were studied. The reaction patterns of 445-6E10 and anti-connexin43 are exactly complementary; ie, connexin43 was not detected in the nodal myocytes but was clearly present in the atrial myocytes. Both reaction patterns demonstrate that nodal myocytes and atrial myocytes can unambiguously be distinguished by their characteristic molecular phenotype. The transitional nodal myocytes at the periphery of the node that have intermediate morphological and electrophysiological characteristics could now clearly be defined as nodal by our immunohistochemical criteria. The center of the node is surrounded by a region of interdigitating nodal and atrial bundles. Nodal bundles, coming from the center of the node, penetrate the atrial myocardium aligned at atrial bundles, forming histological connections between nodal and atrial myocytes at regular distances. This interdigitating arrangement of bundles of connexin43-negative nodal and connexin43-positive atrial myocytes is also found in the human and rat heart. We hypothesize that the architecture of the periphery of the node is important to prevent silencing of the pacemaking nodal myocytes by the atrium while ensuring a sufficient source loading of the nodal myocytes.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor in heart: evidence for its concentration in Purkinje myocytes of the conduction system

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) is one of the second messengers capable of releasing Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum/ER subcompartments. The mRNA encoding the intracellular IP3 receptor (Ca2+ channel) has been detected in low amounts in the heart of various species by Northern blot analysis. The myocardium, however, is a heterogeneous tissue composed of working myocytes and conduction system cells, i.e., myocytes specialized for the beat generation and stimulus propagation. In the present study, the cellular distribution of the heart IP3 receptor has been investigated. [3H]IP3 binding experiments, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence, with anti-peptide antibodies specific for the IP3 receptor, indicated that the majority of Purkinje myocytes (the ventricular conduction system) express much higher IP3 receptor levels than atrial and ventricular myocardium. Heterogeneous distribution of IP3 receptor immunoreactivity was detected both at the cellular and subcellular levels. In situ hybridization to a riboprobe generated from the brain type 1 IP3 receptor cDNA, showed increased accumulation of IP3 receptor mRNA in the heart conduction system. Evidence for IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores in Purkinje myocytes was obtained by double immunolabeling experiments for IP3 receptor and cardiac calsequestrin, the sarcoplasmic reticulum intralumenal calcium binding protein. The present findings provide a molecular basis for the hypothesis that Ca2+ release from IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores evoked by alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation is responsible for the increase in automaticity of Purkinje myocytes (del Balzo, U., M. R. Rosen, G. Malfatto, L. M. Kaplan, and S. F. Steinberg. 1990. Circ. Res. 67:1535-1551), and open new perspectives in the hormonal modulation of chronotropism, and generation of arrhythmias.

Desmin sequence elements regulating skeletal muscle-specific expression in transgenic mice

During the development of the mouse embryo, desmin is one of the first muscle proteins detected in both the heart and the somites. The expression of the desmin gene differs from most other muscle genes, since it is initiated in replicating myoblasts and accumulates as the muscle differentiates. We have characterized a muscle-specific enhancer which directs the expression of desmin in vitro in the myoblasts and myotubes of C2 cells but not in non-myogenic cells. We report here on the generation and characterization of transgenic mice bearing a transgene in which the 1 kb DNA 5′ regulatory sequence of the desmin gene is linked to a reporter gene coding for Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (Des1-nlacZ). The enhancer activity of the desmin promoter is very strong and the reporter gene expression is easily detected in tissue sections. We have demonstrated that the regulatory elements present in the transgene Des1-nlacZ are sufficient to direct muscle-specific and developmentally regulated expression of nlacZ in skeletal muscles. Endogenous desmin expression and transgene activity were found to be correlated during the development of skeletal muscles. The transgene was expressed in the committed mononucleate myoblasts as well as in the myotubes. In addition, we have shown that the desmin-derived sequences direct a highly selective expression of nlacZ in cells that leave the somites and invade the limb bud, indicating that the cells that migrate from the somites are already predetermined for myogenesis. In contrast, smooth and cardiac muscle cells were beta-galactosidase negative both during embryonic and foetal development. Interestingly, the transgene was found to be expressed in the conduction system of the heart, which exhibits many features characteristic of skeletal muscles.

Spatial distribution of "tissue-specific" antigens in the developing human heart and skeletal muscle. II. An immunohistochemical analysis of myosin heavy chain isoform expression patterns in the embryonic heart

The spatial distribution of alpha- and beta-myosin heavy chain isoforms (MHCs) was investigated immunohistochemically in the embryonic human heart between the 4th and the 8th week of development. The development of the overall MHC isoform expression pattern can be outlined as follows: (1) In all stages examined, beta-MHC is the predominant isoform in the ventricles and outflow tract (OFT), while alpha-MHC is the main isoform in the atria. In addition, alpha-MHC is also expressed in the ventricles at stage 14 and in the OFT from stage 14 to stage 19. This expression pattern is very reminiscent of that found in chicken and rat. (2) In the early embryonic stages the entire atrioventricular canal (AVC) wall expresses alpha-MHC whereas only the lower part expresses beta-MHC. The separation of atria and ventricles by the fibrous annulus takes place at the ventricular margin of the AVC wall. Hence, the beta-MHC expressing part of the AVC wall, including the right atrioventricular ring bundle, is eventually incorporated in the atria. (3) In the late embryonic stages (approx. 8 weeks of development) areas of alpha-MHC reappear in the ventricular myocardium, in particular in the subendocardial region at the top of the interventricular septum. These coexpressing cells are topographically related to the developing ventricular conduction system. (4) In the sinoatrial junction of all hearts examined alpha- and beta-MHC coexpressing cells are observed. In the older stages these cells are characteristically localized at the periphery of the SA node.

Function, morphology and protein expression of ageing skeletal muscle: a cross-sectional study of elderly men with different training backgrounds

The function and morphology of knee extension/m. vastus lateralis and elbow flexion/m. biceps brachii were studied in young (28 +/- 0.1 years, n = 7) and elderly (68 +/- 0.5 years, n = 8) sedentary subjects and in elderly swimmers (69 +/- 1.9 years, n = 6), runners (70 +/- 0.7 years, n = 5) and strength-trained subjects (68 +/- 0.8 years, n = 7). On average, the training groups had, for the 12-17 years before the measurements were taken, performed their training regimen 3 +/- 0.1 times a week. Compared with the young subjects, the maximal isometric torque of the sedentary elderly subjects was 44% (P less than 0.05) lower in knee extension and 32% (P less than 0.05) lower in elbow flexion, and speed of movement was between 20 and 26% (P less than 0.05) lower in both knee extension and elbow flexion. The cross-sectional area of m. quadriceps femoris and the elbow flexors was also 24% (P less than 0.05) and 20% lower respectively, and the specific tension was 27% (P less than 0.05) lower in m. quadriceps femoris and 14% (P less than 0.05) lower in the elbow flexors. A 27% (P less than 0.05) higher content of myosin heavy chain type I and a 39% (P less than 0.05) higher content of the slow-type myosin light chain--2 was observed in m. vastus lateralis of the sedentary elderly subjects as compared with the young subjects. The same tendency was also seen with m. biceps brachii. Since the histochemical fibre-type distribution was identical and no major co-expression of type I and type II myosin heavy-chain isoforms was observed with immunocytochemistry, the increase in slow myosin isoforms with ageing seems mainly related to a larger relative area of type I fibres, induced by a selective atrophy of type II fibre area. An increased content of the beta-isoform of tropomyosin was also demonstrated with ageing. In contrast to the swimmers and runners, the elderly strength-trained subjects had maximal isometric torques, speed of movements, cross-sectional areas, specific tensions and a content of myosin and tropomyosin isoforms in both muscles studied identical to those of the young controls. These results seem to suggest that strength training can counteract the age-related changes in function and morphology of the ageing human skeletal muscle.

Isomyosin expression patterns during rat heart morphogenesis: an immunohistochemical study

An immunohistochemical study of cardiac alpha and beta myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression during rat heart morphogenesis was performed. In tubular hearts (embryonic days, ED10-11) coexpression of both cardiac alpha and beta MHC was found throughout the heart, except for the left free wall of the atrium, where only cardiac alpha MHC is detected. A transition of coexpression to single expression of either cardiac alpha or beta MHC begins at the same time in both atria and ventricles but requires a longer time for completion in the ventricules; in the atria transition takes place during the period ED 12-13 and in the ventricles during ED12-15. Furthermore, expression of cardiac alpha and beta MHC was detected in the sinus venosus, and cardiac alpha MHC expression was detected in the pulmonary veins. A comparison of the results obtained in chicken embryos revealed that in tubular hearts the expression pattern is similar, whereas in later developmental stages two major differences were observed: 1) transition of coexpression to single expression in rat ventricles appears to take a longer developmental period; 2) the persistence of areas of coexpression in the sinoatrial junction, dorsal mesocardium, atrioventricular junction, and outflow tract, as found in the chicken embryo in later developmental stages, is not found in the rat heart.

Three myosin heavy chain isoforms in type 2 skeletal muscle fibres

Mammalian skeletal muscles consist of three main fibre types, type 1,2A and 2B fibres, with different myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition. We have now identified another fibre type, called type 2X fibre, characterized by a specific MHC isoform. Type 2X fibres, which are widely distributed in rat skeletal muscles, can be distinguished from 2A and 2B fibres by histochemical ATPase activity and by their unique staining pattern with seven anti-MHC monoclonal antibodies. The existence of the 2X-MHC isoform was confirmed by immunoblotting analysis using muscles containing 2X fibres as a major component, such as the normal and hyperthyroid diaphragm, and the soleus muscle after high frequency chronic stimulation. 2X-MHC contains one determinant common to 2B-MHC and another common to all type 2-MHCs, but lacks epitopes specific for 2A- and 2B-MHCs, as well as an epitope present on all other MHCs. By SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis 2X-MHC shows a lower mobility compared to 2B-MHC and appears to comigrate with 2A-MHC. Muscles containing predominantly 2X-MHC display a velocity of shortening intermediate between that of slow muscles and that of fast muscles composed predominantly of 2B fibres.

Transient coexpression of desmin and cytokeratins 8 and 18 in developing myocardial cells of some vertebrate species

During myogenesis the intermediate-sized filament (IF) cytoskeleton is characterized by increasing proportions of desmin. While skeletal and smooth muscle formation occurs in free mesenchymal cells containing vimentin-type IFs, myocardial development starts from a polar epithelium containing cytokeratin IFs and desmosomes. Therefore, we have studied the formation of the epicardium and the myocardium in different vertebrate species, combining light and electron microscopic immunolocalization techniques with gel-electrophoretic analyses of cytoskeletal proteins of microdissected myocardial tissue at differing developmental stages. In this report, we describe results obtained from advanced stages of myocardial differentiation. In all species studied the myocardial cell possess IFs abundant in desmin, often together with smaller amounts of vimentin, and the mesothelial layer of the epicardium contains cytokeratin IFs. However, we have observed remarkable interspecies differences with respect to the occurrence of cytokeratins in embryonic myocardial cells. In fetal human myocardium, from week 10 of pregnancy on, but not in juvenile and adult myocardium, and in chicken myocardium of all stages examined (until several days after hatching) specific immunostaining was seen with certain broad-range cytokeratin antibodies as well as with antibodies specific for cytokeratins 18 (in both species) and 8 (showing significant reaction only in human). This cytokeratin immunoreaction, however, did not appear in IFs extending throughout the cytoplasm or at Z-lines, but was localized in punctate arrays representing aggregates of dense material. The aggregates were often enriched at, but not restricted to, the desmosomal plaques of the intercalated discs. These observations were supported by gel-electrophoretic demonstration of small but significant amounts of cytokeratins 18 (in both species) and 8 (detected only in human) in microdissected myocardial tissue. We also observed cytokeratins in smooth muscle cells of some cardiac blood vessels. In contrast, bovine myocardium of advanced fetal age as well as rat and mouse myocardium (from fetal day 12 on) were negative for cytokeratins with all methods, although epicardial cytokeratin IFs were demonstrable. These observations are discussed in relation to myocardial histogenesis and to general problems of cytokeratin gene expression control in epithelial and nonepithelial cells.

Heart conduction system: a neural crest derivative?

Using the anti-neurofilament monoclonal antibody iC8 we report here that muscle fibers of the conduction system of the adult and developing rabbit heart express a cytoskeletal protein antigenically and electrophoretically similar to the middle subunit of neurofilaments (NF-M). In the 11-day embryo a number of cardiac muscle cells also express a neural crest surface marker recognized by the monoclonal antibody HNK-1. Both markers are found in many cells of the 3rd and 4th branchial arches, which are populated by cells of neural crest origin. In the 11-day embryo cells of the 4th branchial arch are in close proximity to and intermingled with the atrial myocardium: cells co-expressing sarcomeric myosin heavy chain with iC8 and HNK-1 immunoreactivity are seen at these sites. The findings suggest that conduction tissue cells of the rabbit heart originate from a population of neural crest-derived cells migrating from the branchial arches into the developing heart.

Differences in response of myosin isozyme transition of ordinary and specialized myocardium to overload

To investigate the response of myosin isozyme transition in specialized myocardium to cardiac overload, we examined immunohistochemically the distribution of myosin isozymes in sinus node cells of overloaded canine atria, using the monoclonal antibodies CMA19 and HMC14, which are specific for atrial myosin heavy chain (alpha-HC) and ventricular myosin heavy chain (beta-HC), respectively. Overloading in canine right atria was induced by artificial tricuspid valve regurgitation and pulmonary stenosis. Right atrial mean pressure rose to 15-20 mm Hg (n = 4) 2 months after surgery. In the working myocardium, cardiac overload caused redistribution of myosin isozymes, alpha-HC to beta-HC. Compared with the normal right atria, fewer myocytes were labeled with CMA19, but more were labeled with HMC14. However, the reactivity of sinus node cells with CMA19 and HMC14 was not changed between normal and overloaded right atria, indicating no redistribution of myosin heavy chain isozymes, alpha-HC to beta-HC. These results suggest that isozymes in myosin heavy chains in the specialized myocardium are protected from overload effects by their firm cytoskeletal framework or other mechanisms.

Nodal myosin distribution in the bovine heart during prenatal development: an immunohistochemical study

A novel type of cardiac myosin heavy chain, immunologically related to the myosin isoforms expressed during skeletal muscle development, has recently been described in sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodal fibers of the adult bovine heart (Gorza et al, J Cell Biol 1986; 102:1758-1766). The tissue-specific expression of this myosin type has been utilized in the present study to investigate the differentiation of nodal fibers during cardiac development. In 4-6-week-old bovine embryos, reactivity for nodal myosin was observed in a cluster of cardiac fibers in the sinus venosus wall, corresponding to the sinoatrial node primordium and in a number of fibers localized in the left atrial wall, especially in proximity to vascular orifices, possibly corresponding to the postulated left-sided sinoatrial node. In contrast, reactivity for nodal myosin was not detected in the atrioventricular node until 12 weeks of gestation. Before this stage, fibers reactive for nodal myosin were also seen scattered in the left atrial wall and interatrial septum, raising the possibility that atrioventricular nodal fibers may derive from the left-sided sinoatrial node. Reactivity for nodal myosin was never seen in normal atrial and ventricular myocardium, nor in the ventricular conduction tissue, indicating that nodal myosin does not represent a primordial myosin form, but is rather a specific marker of a distinct muscle cell lineage.

Isolation and characterization of myosin heavy chain isozymes of the bovine conduction system

To determine the characteristics of cardiac myosin in the conduction system, a pure Purkinje fiber preparation, consisting of atrioventricular nodes and the ventricular conduction system, was obtained from bovine hearts. Two types of myosin heavy chain isozymes, alpha-type and beta-type, were fractionated by affinity chromotography using monoclonal antibodies CMA19 and HMC50, which are specific for the alpha-type heavy chain and beta-type heavy chain, respectively. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that the content of beta-type in the atrioventricular node (30-40%) was higher than that in atrial ordinary myocardium (10-20%) and that of the alpha-type was 30-40% in the ventricular conduction system, which was much higher than that in the ventricular ordinary myocardium (less than 10%). By one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis of the peptides produced by partial and complete digestion, the peptide compositions of alpha-type and beta-type in the conduction system were shown to be very similar to those of alpha-type and beta-type in ordinary myocardium, respectively. The CA2+-activated ATPase activity of myosin of the atrioventricular nodes was lower than that of ordinary atrial myosin (0.46 +/- 0.03 versus 0.58 +/- 0.02 mumol Pi/mg/min, mean +/- SEM, p less than 0.05) and in contrast, that of ventricular specialized myocardium was higher than that of myosin in the ventricular ordinary working myocardium (0.32 +/- 0.03 versus 0.22 +/- 0.01 mumol Pi/mg/min, p less than 0.05). This was in good agreement with the relative proportion of myosin isozymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Distribution of alpha- and beta-myosin heavy chains in the ventricular fibers of the postnatal developing rat

Four monoclonal antibodies, two raised against alpha-myosin heavy chain (MHC) and two against beta-MHC, have been used to investigate in situ the fiber distribution of alpha- and beta-MHC in rat cardiac ventricles during postnatal development. Eighteen ventricles from 2-day-old to 1-year-old rats were analyzed. Three fiber populations were determined according to their immunofluorescent labeling: one with only alpha-MHC, one only beta-MHC, and one with mixed alpha- and beta-MHC. Large variations in the proportions of these three fiber populations according to age indicate that: (1) alpha-MHC are expressed in all fibers until the second month; they then disappear in a small endocardial fiber population and in a few apparently conductive fibers around the vessels. (2) beta-MHC are also first expressed in all fibers and then disappear gradually from epicardium to endocardium between the second and fourth weeks, except in the conductive fibers; they reappear during the second month sequentially from endocardium to epicardium; and they are then expressed in almost all fibers, except in a small epicardial fiber population, proportionally larger in the right ventricle than in the left. Immunological characterization of MHC isolated from a 22-day-old-rat ventricle, using anti-beta immunoaffinity chromatography, suggests that MHC of conductive fibers are probably at least partially in an alpha beta heterodimeric form.

Development changes in the human cardiac isomyosin distribution: an immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibodies

With monoclonal antibodies (Mab) specific for myosin heavy chain (MHC) isozymes, we have investigated the isomyosin content of atrial, ventricular and conductive fibers of 19 human fetuses (ranging from 14-36 weeks of gestation) and 3 newborns (2 days-2 weeks). In addition, the conduction system of 2 human adult hearts was studied. The fetal atrium is composed mostly of alpha-MHC during the first 23 weeks of gestation. beta-MHC is already expressed as traces at 14 weeks of gestation, and its expression increases progressively until birth, resulting in a great augmentation in beta-MHC. During this course, beta-MHC always predominates in certain areas (the crista terminalis and the interatrial septum) but not in other areas (the auricles). Preceding birth, the fetal ventricle is composed mostly of beta-MHC. From 14 weeks of gestation to birth, alpha-MHC is expressed in very rare fibers. Then, after birth, a large number of fibers simultaneously synthesize alpha-MHC. The AV node and His bundle system were labelled with anti-alpha and anti-beta Mab in fetal, newborn, and adult hearts with a double gradient of distribution: spatial (a higher proportion of alpha-containing fibers in the AV node than in the distal portion of the bundle of branches) and temporal (a higher proportion of alpha-containing fibers at a given point in fetal development than in the adult heart). One of the twenty-five hearts studied had an isomyosin distribution pattern not accorded to its age. Interestingly, it was clinically diagnosed as having idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

HHF35, a muscle-actin-specific monoclonal antibody. I. Immunocytochemical and biochemical characterization

A monoclonal antibody to muscle cell actin isotypes was produced and characterized. Immunocytochemical analysis of methanol-Carnoy's-fixed, paraffin-embedded human tissue revealed that this antibody, termed HHF35, reacts with skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and myoepithelial cells, but is nonreactive with endothelial, epithelial, neural, or connective tissue cells. When assayed by indirect immunofluorescence, HHF35 reacts with microfilament bundles from various cultured mammalian smooth muscle cells, but does not react with cultured human dermal fibroblasts or various epithelial tumor cell lines. In one-dimensional gel electrophoresis immunoblot experiments this antibody detects a 42-kd polypeptide from tissue extracts of uterus, ileum, aorta, diaphragm, and heart and extract from smooth muscle cells. The antibody also reacts with a comigrating 42-kd band of highly purified rabbit skeletal muscle actin. HHF35 is nonreactive on immunoblots of extracts from all tested nonmuscle cell extracts. Immunoelectrophoresis followed by immunoblotting performed in the presence of urea and reducing agents reveals recognition of the alpha isoelectrophoretic variant of actin from skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle sources and of the gamma variant from smooth muscle sources. Because HHF35 reacts with virtually all muscle cells, it will be useful as a marker for muscle and muscle-derived cells.

Distribution of light chains and ATPase activity of myosin in the atrioventricular conducting tissue of bovine heart

The relations of the light chains of myosins of the atria, ventricles, and atrioventricular conducting tissue (specialized myocardial tissue) and the distribution of the light chains of myosin in different regions of the atrioventricular conducting tissue in bovine heart were examined. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that the atrial and ventricular myosins each had two light chains (LC1 and LC2). Ventricular LC1 differed from atrial LC1, but ventricular LC2 corresponded to atrial LC2. The specialized myocardial tissue myosin had three light chains (named here SL1, SL2, and SL3). SL1 comigrated with ventricular LC1, SL2 with atrial LC1, and SL3 with ventricular LC2 and atrial LC2. The compositions of the three light chains of myosins in various regions of the atrioventricular conducting tissue were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The percentage proportion of SL1 decreased in the order--atrioventricular node (AVN), right and left bundle branches (RLBB), His bundle (HIS), false tendon (FT) myosin; while the percentage proportion of SL2 decreased in the order--FT and HIS, RLBB, AVN myosin. The percentages of SL3 in these four regions were similar. The Ca2+-activated ATPase activity of myosin was highest in the AVN and lowest in the FT. The activities in the HIS and RLBB were intermediate between those in the AVN and FT. Thus, the composition of the light chains and the Ca2+-activated ATPase activity were different in various regions of the atrioventricular conducting tissue.