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Abstract
Experimental models of cardiac disease play a key role in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease and developing new therapies. The features of the experimental models should reflect the clinical phenotype, which can have a wide spectrum of underlying mechanisms. We review characteristics of commonly used experimental models of cardiac physiology and pathophysiology in all translational steps including in vitro, small animal, and large animal models. Understanding their characteristics and relevance to clinical disease is the key for successful translation to effective therapies.
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Huang X, Trinh T, Aljoufi A, Broxmeyer HE. Hypoxia Signaling Pathway in Stem Cell Regulation: Good and Evil. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2018; 4:149-157. [PMID: 31275803 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-018-0127-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review This review summarizes the role of hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in the regulation of stem cell biology, specifically focusing on maintenance, differentiation, and stress responses in the context of several stem cell systems. Stem cells for different lineages/tissues reside in distinct niches, and are exposed to diverse oxygen concentrations. Recent studies have revealed the importance of the hypoxia signaling pathway for stem cell functions. Recent Findings Hypoxia and HIFs contribute to maintenance of embryonic stem cells, generation of induced pluripotent stem cells, functionality of hematopoietic stem cells, and survival of leukemia stem cells. Harvest and collection of mouse bone marrow and human cord blood cells in ambient air results in fewer hematopoietic stem cells recovered due to the phenomenon of Extra PHysiologic Oxygen Shock/Stress (EPHOSS). Summary Oxygen is an important factor in the stem cell microenvironment. Hypoxia signaling and HIFs play important roles in modeling cellular metabolism in both stem cells and niches to regulate stem cell biology, and represent an additional dimension that allows stem cells to maintain an undifferentiated status and multilineage differentiation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Thao Trinh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Arafat Aljoufi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Hal E Broxmeyer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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McCormick ME, Collins C, Makarewich CA, Chen Z, Rojas M, Willis MS, Houser SR, Tzima E. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 mediates endothelial-cardiomyocyte communication and regulates cardiac function. J Am Heart Assoc 2015; 4:e001210. [PMID: 25600142 PMCID: PMC4330051 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.114.001210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by impaired contractility of cardiomyocytes, ventricular chamber dilatation, and systolic dysfunction. Although mutations in genes expressed in the cardiomyocyte are the best described causes of reduced contractility, the importance of endothelial‐cardiomyocyte communication for proper cardiac function is increasingly appreciated. In the present study, we investigate the role of the endothelial adhesion molecule platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM‐1) in the regulation of cardiac function. Methods and Results Using cell culture and animal models, we show that PECAM‐1 expressed in endothelial cells (ECs) regulates cardiomyocyte contractility and cardiac function via the neuregulin‐ErbB signaling pathway. Conscious echocardiography revealed left ventricular (LV) chamber dilation and systolic dysfunction in PECAM‐1−/− mice in the absence of histological abnormalities or defects in cardiac capillary density. Despite deficits in global cardiac function, cardiomyocytes isolated from PECAM‐1−/− hearts displayed normal baseline and isoproterenol‐stimulated contractility. Mechanistically, absence of PECAM‐1 resulted in elevated NO/ROS signaling and NRG‐1 release from ECs, which resulted in augmented phosphorylation of its receptor ErbB2. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with conditioned media from PECAM‐1−/− ECs resulted in enhanced ErbB2 activation, which was normalized by pre‐treatment with an NRG‐1 blocking antibody. To determine whether normalization of increased NRG‐1 levels could correct cardiac function, PECAM‐1−/− mice were treated with the NRG‐1 blocking antibody. Echocardiography showed that treatment significantly improved cardiac function of PECAM‐1−/− mice, as revealed by increased ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Conclusions We identify a novel role for PECAM‐1 in regulating cardiac function via a paracrine NRG1‐ErbB pathway. These data highlight the importance of tightly regulated cellular communication for proper cardiac function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E. McCormick
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (M.E.M.C., C.C., Z.C., E.T.)
| | - Caitlin Collins
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (M.E.M.C., C.C., Z.C., E.T.)
| | - Catherine A. Makarewich
- Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (C.A.M., S.R.H.)
| | - Zhongming Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (M.E.M.C., C.C., Z.C., E.T.)
| | - Mauricio Rojas
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (M.R., E.T.)
| | - Monte S. Willis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (M.S.W.)
| | - Steven R. Houser
- Cardiovascular Research Center and Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (C.A.M., S.R.H.)
| | - Ellie Tzima
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (M.E.M.C., C.C., Z.C., E.T.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (M.R., E.T.)
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Altmann S, Murani E, Schwerin M, Metges CC, Wimmers K, Ponsuksili S. Maternal dietary protein restriction and excess affects offspring gene expression and methylation of non-SMC subunits of condensin I in liver and skeletal muscle. Epigenetics 2012; 7:239-52. [PMID: 22430800 DOI: 10.4161/epi.7.3.19183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates that maternal nutrition during pregnancy influences gene expression in offspring through epigenetic alterations. In the present study we evaluated the effect of protein excess and deficiency during porcine pregnancy on offspring hepatic and skeletal muscular expression patterns of key genes of methionine metabolism (DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, BHMT, MAT2B and AHCYL1), condensin I subunit genes (NCAPD2, NCAPG and NCAPH), important for chromosome condensation and segregation, global DNA methylation and gene-specific DNA methylation. German Landrace sows were randomly assigned to control (CO), high protein (HP) and low protein (LP) diet groups. Tissue samples of offspring were collected from fetal (dpc95), newborn (dpn1), weanling (dpn28) and finisher pigs (dpn188). Gene expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b was influenced by both HP and LP diets, indicating an involvement of DNA methylation in fetal programming by maternal protein supply. Moreover, hepatic global methylation was significantly affected by protein restriction at dpc95 (p = 0.004) and by protein excess at dpn188 (p = 0.034). Gene expression in fetal liver was significantly different between CO and LP for NCAPD2 (p = 0.0005), NCAPG (p = 0.0009) and NCAPH (p < 0.0001). In skeletal muscle, LP fetuses had significantly altered gene expression of NCAPD2 (p = 0.020) and NCAPH (p = 0.001), compared with CO. Furthermore, NCAPG was differentially methylated among LP, HP and CO; indeed, a significant positive correlation was detected with transcript amount in fetal pigs (r = 0.47, p = 0.002). These data demonstrate that both restriction and excess dietary protein during pregnancy alters the offspring's epigenetic marks and influences gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Altmann
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Germany
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Voronova A, Al Madhoun A, Fischer A, Shelton M, Karamboulas C, Skerjanc IS. Gli2 and MEF2C activate each other's expression and function synergistically during cardiomyogenesis in vitro. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 40:3329-47. [PMID: 22199256 PMCID: PMC3333882 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr1232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factors Gli2 (glioma-associated factor 2), which is a transactivator of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signalling, and myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) play important roles in the development of embryonic heart muscle and enhance cardiomyogenesis in stem cells. Although the physiological importance of Shh signalling and MEF2 factors in heart development is well known, the mechanistic understanding of their roles is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Gli2 and MEF2C activated each other's expression while enhancing cardiomyogenesis in differentiating P19 EC cells. Furthermore, dominant-negative mutant proteins of either Gli2 or MEF2C repressed each other's expression, while impairing cardiomyogenesis in P19 EC cells. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) revealed association of Gli2 to the Mef2c gene, and of MEF2C to the Gli2 gene in differentiating P19 cells. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that Gli2 and MEF2C proteins formed a complex, capable of synergizing on cardiomyogenesis-related promoters containing both Gli- and MEF2-binding elements. We propose a model whereby Gli2 and MEF2C bind each other's regulatory elements, activate each other's expression and form a protein complex that synergistically activates transcription, enhancing cardiac muscle development. This model links Shh signalling to MEF2C function during cardiomyogenesis and offers mechanistic insight into their in vivo functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastassia Voronova
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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van Dartel DAM, Piersma AH. The embryonic stem cell test combined with toxicogenomics as an alternative testing model for the assessment of developmental toxicity. Reprod Toxicol 2011; 32:235-44. [PMID: 21575713 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2011.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2011] [Revised: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
One of the most studied in vitro alternative testing methods for identification of developmental toxicity is the embryonic stem cell test (EST). Although the EST has been formally validated, the applicability domain as well as the predictability of the model needs further study to allow successful implementation of the EST as an alternative testing method in regulatory toxicity testing. Genomics technologies have already provided a proof of principle of their value in identification of toxicants such as carcinogenic compounds. Also within the EST, gene expression profiling has shown its value in the identification of developmental toxicity and in the evaluation of factors critical for risk assessment, such as dose and time responses. It is expected that the implementation of genomics into the EST will provide a more detailed end point evaluation as compared to the classical morphological scoring of differentiation cultures. Therefore, genomics may contribute to improvement of the EST, both in terms of definition of its applicability domain as well as its predictive capacity. In the present review, we present the progress that has been made with regard to the prediction of developmental toxicity using the EST combined with transcriptomics. Furthermore, we discuss the developments of additional aspects required for further optimization of the EST, including kinetics, the use of human embryonic stem cells (ESC) and computational toxicology. Finally, the current and future use of the EST model for prediction of developmental toxicity in testing strategies and in regulatory toxicity evaluations is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorien A M van Dartel
- Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Kleger A, Seufferlein T, Malan D, Tischendorf M, Storch A, Wolheim A, Latz S, Protze S, Porzner M, Proepper C, Brunner C, Katz SF, Varma Pusapati G, Bullinger L, Franz WM, Koehntop R, Giehl K, Spyrantis A, Wittekindt O, Lin Q, Lin Q, Zenke M, Fleischmann BK, Wartenberg M, Wobus AM, Boeckers TM, Liebau S. Modulation of calcium-activated potassium channels induces cardiogenesis of pluripotent stem cells and enrichment of pacemaker-like cells. Circulation 2010; 122:1823-36. [PMID: 20956206 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.110.971721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ion channels are key determinants for the function of excitable cells, but little is known about their role and involvement during cardiac development. Earlier work identified Ca(2+)-activated potassium channels of small and intermediate conductance (SKCas) as important regulators of neural stem cell fate. Here we have investigated their impact on the differentiation of pluripotent cells toward the cardiac lineage. METHODS AND RESULTS We have applied the SKCa activator 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone on embryonic stem cells and identified this particular ion channel family as a new critical target involved in the generation of cardiac pacemaker-like cells: SKCa activation led to rapid remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton, inhibition of proliferation, induction of differentiation, and diminished teratoma formation. Time-restricted SKCa activation induced cardiac mesoderm and commitment to the cardiac lineage as shown by gene regulation, protein, and functional electrophysiological studies. In addition, the differentiation into cardiomyocytes was modulated in a qualitative fashion, resulting in a strong enrichment of pacemaker-like cells. This was accompanied by induction of the sino-atrial gene program and in parallel by a loss of the chamber-specific myocardium. In addition, SKCa activity induced activation of the Ras-Mek-Erk signaling cascade, a signaling pathway involved in the 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone-induced effects. CONCLUSIONS SKCa activation drives the fate of pluripotent cells toward mesoderm commitment and cardiomyocyte specification, preferentially into nodal-like cardiomyocytes. This provides a novel strategy for the enrichment of cardiomyocytes and in particular, the generation of a specific subtype of cardiomyocytes, pacemaker-like cells, without genetic modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kleger
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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Schwientek P, Ellinghaus P, Steppan S, D'Urso D, Seewald M, Kassner A, Cebulla R, Schulte-Eistrup S, Morshuis M, Röfe D, El Banayosy A, Körfer R, Milting H. Global gene expression analysis in nonfailing and failing myocardium pre- and postpulsatile and nonpulsatile ventricular assist device support. Physiol Genomics 2010; 42:397-405. [DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00030.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanical unloading by ventricular assist devices (VAD) leads to significant gene expression changes often summarized as reverse remodeling. However, little is known on individual transcriptome changes during VAD support and its relationship to nonfailing hearts (NF). In addition no data are available for the transcriptome regulation during nonpulsatile VAD support. Therefore we analyzed the gene expression patterns of 30 paired samples from VAD-supported (including 8 nonpulsatile VADs) and 8 nonfailing control hearts (NF) using the first total human genome array available. Transmural myocardial samples were collected for RNA isolation. RNA was isolated by commercial methods and processed according to chip-manufacturer recommendations. cRNA were hybridized on Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 arrays, providing coverage of the whole human genome Array. Data were analyzed using Microarray Analysis Suite 5.0 (Affymetrix) and clustered by Expressionist software (Genedata). We found 352 transcripts were differentially regulated between samples from VAD implantation and NF, whereas 510 were significantly regulated between VAD transplantation and NF (paired t-test P < 0.001, fold change ≥1.6). Remarkably, only a minor fraction of 111 transcripts was regulated in heart failure (HF) and during VAD support. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of paired VAD and NF samples revealed separation of HF and NF samples; however, individual differentiation of VAD implantation and VAD transplantation was not accomplished. Clustering of pulsatile and nonpulsatile VAD did not lead to robust separation of gene expression patterns. During VAD support myocardial gene expression changes do not indicate reversal of the HF phenotype but reveal a distinct HF-related pattern. Transcriptome analysis of pulsatile and nonpulsatile VAD-supported hearts did not provide evidence for a pump mode-specific transcriptome pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Schwientek
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
- Centrum für Biotechnologie, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | - Sonja Steppan
- Bayer-Schering Pharma AG, Target Discovery, Wuppertal; and
| | | | | | - Astrid Kassner
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
| | - Ramona Cebulla
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
| | - Sebastian Schulte-Eistrup
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
| | - Michiel Morshuis
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
| | - Daniela Röfe
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
| | - Aly El Banayosy
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
| | - Reiner Körfer
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
| | - Hendrik Milting
- Herz- und Diabeteszentrum NRW, Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie, Erich und Hanna Klessmann-Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Forschung und Entwicklung, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen
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