1
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Kesidou D, Beqqali A, Baker AH. The dual effects of miR-222 in cardiac hypertrophy: bridging pathological and physiological paradigms. Cardiovasc Res 2024; 120:217-219. [PMID: 38484215 PMCID: PMC10939457 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Kesidou
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew H Baker
- Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, EH16 4TJ Edinburgh, UK
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, 6229ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
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2
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Passi R, Cholewa-Waclaw J, Wereski R, Bennett M, Veizades S, Berkeley B, Caporali A, Li Z, Rodor J, Dewerchin M, Mills NL, Beqqali A, Brittan M, Baker AH. COVID-19 plasma induces subcellular remodelling within the pulmonary microvascular endothelium. Vascul Pharmacol 2024; 154:107277. [PMID: 38266794 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2024.107277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect multiple organ systems, including the pulmonary vasculature. Endothelial cells (ECs) are thought to play a key role in the propagation of COVID-19, however, our understanding of the exact scale of dysregulation sustained by the pulmonary microvasculature (pMV) remains incomplete. Here we aim to identify transcriptional, phenotypic, and functional changes within the pMV induced by COVID-19. METHODS AND RESULTS Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMVEC) treated with plasma acquired from patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19 were compared to HPMVEC treated with plasma from patients hospitalised without COVID-19 but with other severe illnesses. Exposure to COVID-19 plasma caused a significant functional decline in HPMVECs as seen by a decrease in both cell viability via the WST-1 cell-proliferation assay and cell-to-cell barrier function as measured by electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. High-content imaging using a Cell Painting image-based assay further quantified morphological variations within sub-cellular organelles to show phenotypic changes in the whole endothelial cell, nucleus, mitochondria, plasma membrane and nucleolus morphology. RNA-sequencing of HPMVECs treated with COVID-19 plasma suggests the observed phenotype may, in part, be regulated by genes such as SMAD7, BCOR, SFMBT1, IFIT5 and ZNF566 which are involved in transcriptional regulation, protein monoubiquitination and TGF-β signalling. CONCLUSION AND IMPACT During COVID-19, the pMV undergoes significant remodelling, which is evident based on the functional, phenotypic, and transcriptional changes seen following exposure to COVID-19 plasma. The observed morphological variation may be responsible for downstream complications, such as a decline in overall cellular function and cell-to-cell barrier integrity. Moreover, genes identified through bulk RNA sequencing may contribute to our understanding of the observed phenotype and assist in developing strategies that can inform the rescue of the dysregulated endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainha Passi
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), KU Leuven, and VIB Centre for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Justyna Cholewa-Waclaw
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh Bioquarter, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Ryan Wereski
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Matthew Bennett
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Stefan Veizades
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford 94305, CA, USA
| | - Bronwyn Berkeley
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Andrea Caporali
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Ziwen Li
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Julie Rodor
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Mieke Dewerchin
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), KU Leuven, and VIB Centre for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicholas L Mills
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Mairi Brittan
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Andrew H Baker
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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3
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Kesidou D, Bennett M, Monteiro JP, McCracken IR, Klimi E, Rodor J, Condie A, Cowan S, Caporali A, Wit JBM, Mountford JC, Brittan M, Beqqali A, Baker AH. Extracellular vesicles from differentiated stem cells contain novel proangiogenic miRNAs and induce angiogenic responses at low doses. Mol Ther 2024; 32:185-203. [PMID: 38096818 PMCID: PMC10787168 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from healthy endothelial cells (ECs) have shown potential for promoting angiogenesis, but their therapeutic efficacy remains poorly understood. We have previously shown that transplantation of a human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cell product (hESC-ECP), promotes new vessel formation in acute ischemic disease in mice, likely via paracrine mechanism(s). Here, we demonstrated that EVs from hESC-ECPs (hESC-eEVs) significantly increased EC tube formation and wound closure in vitro at ultralow doses, whereas higher doses were ineffective. More important, EVs isolated from the mesodermal stage of the differentiation (hESC-mEVs) had no effect. Small RNA sequencing revealed that hESC-eEVs have a unique transcriptomic profile and are enriched in known proangiogenic microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs). Moreover, an in silico analysis identified three novel hESC-eEV-miRNAs with potential proangiogenic function. Differential expression analysis suggested that two of those, miR-4496 and miR-4691-5p, are highly enriched in hESC-eEVs. Overexpression of miR-4496 or miR-4691-5p resulted in increased EC tube formation and wound closure in vitro, validating the novel proangiogenic function of these miRNAs. In summary, we demonstrated that hESC-eEVs are potent inducers of EC angiogenic response at ultralow doses and contain a unique EV-associated miRNA repertoire, including miR-4496 and miR-4691-5p, with novel proangiogenic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Kesidou
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Matthew Bennett
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - João P Monteiro
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ian R McCracken
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Eftychia Klimi
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Julie Rodor
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Alison Condie
- Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh EH14 4BE, UK
| | - Scott Cowan
- Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh EH14 4BE, UK
| | - Andrea Caporali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Jan B M Wit
- Mirabilis Therapeutics BV, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Mairi Brittan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
| | - Andrew H Baker
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; CARIM Institute, University of Maastricht, Maastricht 6229HX, the Netherlands.
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4
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McCracken IR, Dobie R, Bennett M, Passi R, Beqqali A, Henderson NC, Mountford JC, Riley PR, Ponting CP, Smart N, Brittan M, Baker AH. Mapping the developing human cardiac endothelium at single-cell resolution identifies MECOM as a regulator of arteriovenous gene expression. Cardiovasc Res 2022; 118:2960-2972. [PMID: 35212715 PMCID: PMC9648824 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Coronary vasculature formation is a critical event during cardiac development, essential for heart function throughout perinatal and adult life. However, current understanding of coronary vascular development has largely been derived from transgenic mouse models. The aim of this study was to characterize the transcriptome of the human foetal cardiac endothelium using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to provide critical new insights into the cellular heterogeneity and transcriptional dynamics that underpin endothelial specification within the vasculature of the developing heart. METHODS AND RESULTS We acquired scRNA-seq data of over 10 000 foetal cardiac endothelial cells (ECs), revealing divergent EC subtypes including endocardial, capillary, venous, arterial, and lymphatic populations. Gene regulatory network analyses predicted roles for SMAD1 and MECOM in determining the identity of capillary and arterial populations, respectively. Trajectory inference analysis suggested an endocardial contribution to the coronary vasculature and subsequent arterialization of capillary endothelium accompanied by increasing MECOM expression. Comparative analysis of equivalent data from murine cardiac development demonstrated that transcriptional signatures defining endothelial subpopulations are largely conserved between human and mouse. Comprehensive characterization of the transcriptional response to MECOM knockdown in human embryonic stem cell-derived EC (hESC-EC) demonstrated an increase in the expression of non-arterial markers, including those enriched in venous EC. CONCLUSIONS scRNA-seq of the human foetal cardiac endothelium identified distinct EC populations. A predicted endocardial contribution to the developing coronary vasculature was identified, as well as subsequent arterial specification of capillary EC. Loss of MECOM in hESC-EC increased expression of non-arterial markers, suggesting a role in maintaining arterial EC identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R McCracken
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK,Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Ross Dobie
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Matthew Bennett
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Rainha Passi
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK,MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | | | - Paul R Riley
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Chris P Ponting
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Nicola Smart
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Mairi Brittan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
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5
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Spiroski AM, McCracken IR, Thomson A, Magalhaes-Pinto M, Lalwani MK, Newton KJ, Miller E, Bénézech C, Hadoke P, Brittan M, Mountford JC, Beqqali A, Gray GA, Baker AH. Human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cell product injection attenuates cardiac remodeling in myocardial infarction. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:953211. [PMID: 36299872 PMCID: PMC9588936 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.953211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mechanisms contributing to tissue remodeling of the infarcted heart following cell-based therapy remain elusive. While cell-based interventions have the potential to influence the cardiac healing process, there is little direct evidence of preservation of functional myocardium. Aim The aim of the study was to investigate tissue remodeling in the infarcted heart following human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cell product (hESC-ECP) therapy. Materials and methods Following coronary artery ligation (CAL) to induce cardiac ischemia, we investigated infarct size at 1 day post-injection in media-injected controls (CALM, n = 11), hESC-ECP-injected mice (CALC, n = 10), and dead hESC-ECP-injected mice (CALD, n = 6); echocardiography-based functional outcomes 14 days post-injection in experimental (CALM, n = 13; CALC, n = 17) and SHAM surgical mice (n = 4); and mature infarct size (CALM and CALC, both n = 6). We investigated ligand-receptor interactions (LRIs) in hESC-ECP cell populations, incorporating a publicly available C57BL/6J mouse cardiomyocyte-free scRNAseq dataset with naive, 1 day, and 3 days post-CAL hearts. Results Human embryonic stem cell-derived endothelial cell product injection reduces the infarct area (CALM: 54.5 ± 5.0%, CALC: 21.3 ± 4.9%), and end-diastolic (CALM: 87.8 ± 8.9 uL, CALC: 63.3 ± 2.7 uL) and end-systolic ventricular volume (CALM: 56.4 ± 9.3 uL, CALC: 33.7 ± 2.6 uL). LRI analyses indicate an alternative immunomodulatory effect mediated via viable hESC-ECP-resident signaling. Conclusion Delivery of the live hESC-ECP following CAL modulates the wound healing response during acute pathological remodeling, reducing infarct area, and preserving functional myocardium in this relatively acute model. Potential intrinsic myocardial cellular/hESC-ECP interactions indicate that discreet immunomodulation could provide novel therapeutic avenues to improve cardiac outcomes following myocardial infarction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Mishel Spiroski
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- BHF Centre for Vascular Regeneration, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Ian R. McCracken
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Thomson
- Edinburgh Preclinical Imaging, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Marlene Magalhaes-Pinto
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- BHF Centre for Vascular Regeneration, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mukesh K. Lalwani
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J. Newton
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Miller
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Cecile Bénézech
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Hadoke
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mairi Brittan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- BHF Centre for Vascular Regeneration, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian A. Gray
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew H. Baker
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- BHF Centre for Vascular Regeneration, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Andrew H. Baker,
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6
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van den Hoogenhof MMG, El Azzouzi H, Beqqali A. Editorial: RNA Biology in Cardiovascular Disease. Front Genet 2021; 12:775091. [PMID: 34712276 PMCID: PMC8546179 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.775091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maarten M G van den Hoogenhof
- Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Heidelberg University Clinic, Heidelberg, Germany.,Partner Site Heidelberg, German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hamid El Azzouzi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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7
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Kesidou D, da Costa Martins PA, de Windt LJ, Brittan M, Beqqali A, Baker AH. Extracellular Vesicle miRNAs in the Promotion of Cardiac Neovascularisation. Front Physiol 2020; 11:579892. [PMID: 33101061 PMCID: PMC7546892 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.579892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide claiming almost 17. 9 million deaths annually. A primary cause is atherosclerosis within the coronary arteries, which restricts blood flow to the heart muscle resulting in myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac cell death. Despite substantial progress in the management of coronary heart disease (CHD), there is still a significant number of patients developing chronic heart failure post-MI. Recent research has been focused on promoting neovascularisation post-MI with the ultimate goal being to reduce the extent of injury and improve function in the failing myocardium. Cardiac cell transplantation studies in pre-clinical models have shown improvement in cardiac function; nonetheless, poor retention of the cells has indicated a paracrine mechanism for the observed improvement. Cell communication in a paracrine manner is controlled by various mechanisms, including extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs have emerged as novel regulators of intercellular communication, by transferring molecules able to influence molecular pathways in the recipient cell. Several studies have demonstrated the ability of EVs to stimulate angiogenesis by transferring microRNA (miRNA, miR) molecules to endothelial cells (ECs). In this review, we describe the process of neovascularisation and current developments in modulating neovascularisation in the heart using miRNAs and EV-bound miRNAs. Furthermore, we critically evaluate methods used in cell culture, EV isolation and administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Kesidou
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Paula A. da Costa Martins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Leon J. de Windt
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Mairi Brittan
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Howard Baker
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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8
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van den Hoogenhof MM, Beqqali A, Amin AS, van der Made I, Aufiero S, Khan MA, Schumacher CA, Jansweijer JA, van Spaendonck-Zwarts KY, Remme CA, Backs J, Verkerk AO, Baartscheer A, Pinto YM, Creemers EE. RBM20 Mutations Induce an Arrhythmogenic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Related to Disturbed Calcium Handling. Circulation 2018; 138:1330-1342. [DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.117.031947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Mutations in RBM20 (RNA-binding motif protein 20) cause a clinically aggressive form of dilated cardiomyopathy, with an increased risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. RBM20 is a splicing factor that targets multiple pivotal cardiac genes, such as Titin (TTN) and CAMK2D (calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II delta). Aberrant TTN splicing is thought to be the main determinant of RBM20-induced dilated cardiomyopathy, but is not likely to explain the increased risk of arrhythmias. Here, we investigated the extent to which RBM20 mutation carriers have an increased risk of arrhythmias and explore the underlying molecular mechanism.
Methods:
We compared clinical characteristics of RBM20 and TTN mutation carriers and used our previously generated Rbm20 knockout (KO) mice to investigate downstream effects of Rbm20-dependent splicing. Cellular electrophysiology and Ca
2+
measurements were performed on isolated cardiomyocytes from Rbm20 KO mice to determine the intracellular consequences of reduced Rbm20 levels.
Results:
Sustained ventricular arrhythmias were more frequent in human RBM20 mutation carriers than in TTN mutation carriers (44% versus 5%, respectively,
P
=0.006). Splicing events that affected Ca
2+
- and ion-handling genes were enriched in Rbm20 KO mice, most notably in the genes CamkIIδ and RyR2. Aberrant splicing of CamkIIδ in Rbm20 KO mice resulted in a remarkable shift of CamkIIδ toward the δ-A isoform that is known to activate the L-type Ca
2+
current (
I
Ca,L
). In line with this, we found an increased
I
Ca,L
, intracellular Ca
2+
overload and increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
content in Rbm20 KO myocytes. In addition, not only complete loss of Rbm20, but also heterozygous loss of Rbm20 increased spontaneous sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
releases, which could be attenuated by treatment with the
I
Ca,L
antagonist verapamil.
Conclusions:
We show that loss of Rbm20 disturbs Ca
2+
handling and leads to more proarrhythmic Ca
2+
releases from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Patients that carry a pathogenic RBM20 mutation have more ventricular arrhythmias despite a similar left ventricular function, in comparison with patients with a TTN mutation. Our experimental data suggest that RBM20 mutation carriers may benefit from treatment with an
I
Ca,L
blocker to reduce their arrhythmia burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten M.G. van den Hoogenhof
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ahmad S. Amin
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingeborg van der Made
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simona Aufiero
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (S.A., M.A.F.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mohsin A.F. Khan
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (S.A., M.A.F.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cees A. Schumacher
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joeri A. Jansweijer
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Carol Ann Remme
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Backs
- Department of Molecular Cardiology and Epigenetics, Heidelberg University, Germany (J.B.)
| | - Arie O. Verkerk
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biology (A.o.V.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antonius Baartscheer
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yigal M. Pinto
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther E. Creemers
- Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.M.G.v.d.H., A.B., A.S.A., I.v.d.M., S.A., M.A.F.K., C.A.S., J.A.J., C.A.R., A.o.V., A.B., Y.M.P., E.E.C.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Al-Saaidi RA, Rasmussen TB, Birkler RID, Palmfeldt J, Beqqali A, Pinto YM, Nissen PH, Baandrup U, Mølgaard H, Hey TM, Eiskjaer H, Bross P, Mogensen J. The clinical outcome of LMNA missense mutations can be associated with the amount of mutated protein in the nuclear envelope. Eur J Heart Fail 2018; 20:1404-1412. [PMID: 29943882 DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.1241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Lamin A/C mutations are generally believed to be associated with a severe prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate disease expression in three affected families carrying different LMNA missense mutations. Furthermore, the potential molecular disease mechanisms of the mutations were investigated in fibroblasts obtained from mutation carriers. METHODS AND RESULTS A LMNA-p.Arg216Cys missense mutation was identified in a large family with 36 mutation carriers. Disease expression was unusual with a late onset and a favourable prognosis. Two smaller families with severe disease expression were shown to carry a LMNA-p.Arg471Cys and LMNA-p.Arg471His mutation, respectively. LMNA gene and protein expression was investigated in eight different mutation carriers by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and protein mass spectrometry. The results showed that all mutation carriers incorporated mutated lamin protein into the nuclear envelope. Interestingly, the ratio of mutated to wild-type protein was only 30:70 in LMNA-p.Arg216Cys carriers with a favourable prognosis while LMNA-p.Arg471Cys and LMNA-p.Arg471His carriers with a more severe outcome expressed significantly more of the mutated protein by a ratio of 50:50. CONCLUSION The clinical findings indicated that some LMNA mutations may be associated with a favourable prognosis and a low risk of sudden death. Protein expression studies suggested that a severe outcome was associated with the expression of high amounts of mutated protein. These findings may prove to be helpful in counselling and risk assessment of LMNA families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha A Al-Saaidi
- Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University and University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Rune I D Birkler
- Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University and University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Johan Palmfeldt
- Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University and University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yigal M Pinto
- Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter H Nissen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Baandrup
- Centre for Clinical Research, North Denmark Regional Hospital/Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Henning Mølgaard
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thomas M Hey
- Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Hans Eiskjaer
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Bross
- Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University and University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jens Mogensen
- Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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10
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Aufiero S, van den Hoogenhof MMG, Reckman YJ, Beqqali A, van der Made I, Kluin J, Khan MAF, Pinto YM, Creemers EE. Cardiac circRNAs arise mainly from constitutive exons rather than alternatively spliced exons. RNA 2018; 24:815-827. [PMID: 29567830 PMCID: PMC5959250 DOI: 10.1261/rna.064394.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a relatively new class of RNA molecules, and knowledge about their biogenesis and function is still in its infancy. It was recently shown that alternative splicing underlies the formation of circular RNAs (circRNA) arising from the Titin (TTN) gene. Since the main mechanism by which circRNAs are formed is still unclear, we hypothesized that alternative splicing, and in particular exon skipping, is a major driver of circRNA production. We performed RNA sequencing on human and mouse hearts, mapped alternative splicing events, and overlaid these with expressed circRNAs at exon-level resolution. In addition, we performed RNA sequencing on hearts of Rbm20 KO mice to address how important Rbm20-mediated alternative splicing is in the production of cardiac circRNAs. In human and mouse hearts, we show that cardiac circRNAs are mostly (∼90%) produced from constitutive exons and less (∼10%) from alternatively spliced exons. In Rbm20 KO hearts, we identified 38 differentially expressed circRNAs of which 12 were produced from the Ttn gene. Even though Ttn appeared the most prominent target of Rbm20 for circularization, we also detected Rbm20-dependent circRNAs arising from other genes including Fan1, Stk39, Xdh, Bcl2l13, and Sorbs1 Interestingly, only Ttn circRNAs seemed to arise from Rbm20-mediated skipped exons. In conclusion, cardiac circRNAs are mostly derived from constitutive exons, suggesting that these circRNAs are generated at the expense of their linear counterpart and that circRNA production impacts the accumulation of the linear mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Aufiero
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten M G van den Hoogenhof
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Yolan J Reckman
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Ingeborg van der Made
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda Kluin
- Cardiothoracic Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Mohsin A F Khan
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Yigal M Pinto
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Esther E Creemers
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands
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11
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Damanafshan A, Elzenaar I, Samson-Couterie B, van der Made I, Bourajjaj M, van den Hoogenhof MM, van Veen HA, Picavet DI, Beqqali A, Ehler E, De Windt LJ, Pinto YM, van Oort RJ. The MEF2 transcriptional target DMPK induces loss of sarcomere structure and cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Res 2018; 114:1474-1486. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvy091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amin Damanafshan
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ies Elzenaar
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Benoit Samson-Couterie
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingeborg van der Made
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Meriem Bourajjaj
- Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten M van den Hoogenhof
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henk A van Veen
- Department of Medical Biology, Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daisy I Picavet
- Department of Medical Biology, Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Leon J De Windt
- Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Yigal M Pinto
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph J van Oort
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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12
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van Eldik W, den Adel B, Monshouwer-Kloots J, Salvatori D, Maas S, van der Made I, Creemers EE, Frank D, Frey N, Boontje N, van der Velden J, Steendijk P, Mummery C, Passier R, Beqqali A. Z-disc protein CHAPb induces cardiomyopathy and contractile dysfunction in the postnatal heart. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189139. [PMID: 29206857 PMCID: PMC5716575 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims The Z-disc is a crucial structure of the sarcomere and is implicated in mechanosensation/transduction. Dysregulation of Z-disc proteins often result in cardiomyopathy. We have previously shown that the Z-disc protein Cytoskeletal Heart-enriched Actin-associated Protein (CHAP) is essential for cardiac and skeletal muscle development. Furthermore, the CHAP gene has been associated with atrial fibrillation in humans. Here, we studied the misregulated expression of CHAP isoforms in heart disease. Methods and results Mice that underwent transverse aortic constriction and calcineurin transgenic (Tg) mice, both models of experimental heart failure, displayed a significant increase in cardiac expression of fetal isoform CHAPb. To investigate whether increased expression of CHAPb postnatally is sufficient to induce cardiomyopathy, we generated CHAPb Tg mice under the control of the cardiac-specific αMHC promoter. CHAPb Tg mice displayed cardiac hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis and enlargement of the left atrium at three months, which was more pronounced at the age of six months. Hypertrophy and fibrosis were confirmed by evidence of activation of the hypertrophic gene program (Nppa, Nppb, Myh7) and increased collagen expression, respectively. Connexin40 and 43 were downregulated in the left atrium, which was associated with delayed atrioventricular conduction. Tg hearts displayed both systolic and diastolic dysfunction partly caused by impaired sarcomere function evident from a reduced force generating capacity of single cardiomyocytes. This co-incided with activation of the actin signalling pathway leading to the formation of stress fibers. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the fetal isoform CHAPb initiates progression towards cardiac hypertrophy, which is accompanied by delayed atrioventricular conduction and diastolic dysfunction. Moreover, CHAP may be a novel therapeutic target or candidate gene for screening in cardiomyopathies and atrial fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willemijn van Eldik
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands (ICIN), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Brigit den Adel
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Daniela Salvatori
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Central Laboratory Animal Facility, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia Maas
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Central Laboratory Animal Facility, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ingeborg van der Made
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther E. Creemers
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Derk Frank
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Norbert Frey
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nicky Boontje
- Laboratory for Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda van der Velden
- Laboratory for Physiology, Institute for Cardiovascular Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Steendijk
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Mummery
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert Passier
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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13
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van den Hoogenhof MMG, van der Made I, Beqqali A, de Groot NE, Damanafshan A, van Oort RJ, Pinto YM, Creemers EE. The RNA-binding protein Rbm38 is dispensable during pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling in mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184093. [PMID: 28850611 PMCID: PMC5574583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of tightly controlled alternative pre-mRNA splicing in the heart is emerging. The RNA binding protein Rbm24 has recently been identified as a pivotal cardiac splice factor, which governs sarcomerogenesis in the heart by controlling the expression of alternative protein isoforms. Rbm38, a homolog of Rbm24, has also been implicated in RNA processes such as RNA splicing, RNA stability and RNA translation, but its function in the heart is currently unknown. Here, we investigated the role of Rbm38 in the healthy and diseased adult mouse heart. In contrast to the heart- and skeletal muscle-enriched protein Rbm24, Rbm38 appears to be more broadly expressed. We generated somatic Rbm38 -/- mice and show that global loss of Rbm38 results in hematopoietic defects. Specifically, Rbm38 -/- mice were anemic and displayed enlarged spleens with extramedullary hematopoiesis, as has been shown earlier. The hearts of Rbm38 -/- mice were mildly hypertrophic, but cardiac function was not affected. Furthermore, Rbm38 deficiency did not affect cardiac remodeling (i.e. hypertrophy, LV dilation and fibrosis) or performance (i.e. fractional shortening) after pressure-overload induced by transverse aorta constriction. To further investigate molecular consequences of Rbm38 deficiency, we examined previously identified RNA stability, splicing, and translational targets of Rbm38. We found that stability targets p21 and HuR, splicing targets Mef2d and Fgfr2, and translation target p53 were not altered, suggesting that these Rbm38 targets are tissue-specific or that Rbm38 deficiency may be counteracted by a redundancy mechanism. In this regard, we found a trend towards increased Rbm24 protein expression in Rbm38 -/- hearts. Overall, we conclude that Rbm38 is critical in hematopoiesis, but does not play a critical role in the healthy and diseased heart.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ingeborg van der Made
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nina E. de Groot
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amin Damanafshan
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph J. van Oort
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yigal M. Pinto
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther E. Creemers
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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14
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Rasmussen T, Al-Saaidi R, Birkler R, Palmfeldt J, Beqqali A, Pinto Y, Baandrup U, Moelgaard H, Hey T, Eiskjaer H, Bross P, Mogensen J. P1607Lamin A/C missense mutations causing cardiomyopathy are associated with highly variable outcomes despite uniform disease mechanisms. Eur Heart J 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx502.p1607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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15
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Devalla HD, Gélinas R, Aburawi EH, Beqqali A, Goyette P, Freund C, Chaix MA, Tadros R, Jiang H, Le Béchec A, Monshouwer-Kloots JJ, Zwetsloot T, Kosmidis G, Latour F, Alikashani A, Hoekstra M, Schlaepfer J, Mummery CL, Stevenson B, Kutalik Z, de Vries AA, Rivard L, Wilde AA, Talajic M, Verkerk AO, Al-Gazali L, Rioux JD, Bhuiyan ZA, Passier R. TECRL, a new life-threatening inherited arrhythmia gene associated with overlapping clinical features of both LQTS and CPVT. EMBO Mol Med 2016; 8:1390-1408. [PMID: 27861123 PMCID: PMC5167130 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201505719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic causes of many familial arrhythmia syndromes remain elusive. In this study, whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was carried out on patients from three different families that presented with life‐threatening arrhythmias and high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Two French Canadian probands carried identical homozygous rare variant in TECRL gene (p.Arg196Gln), which encodes the trans‐2,3‐enoyl‐CoA reductase‐like protein. Both patients had cardiac arrest, stress‐induced atrial and ventricular tachycardia, and QT prolongation on adrenergic stimulation. A third patient from a consanguineous Sudanese family diagnosed with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) had a homozygous splice site mutation (c.331+1G>A) in TECRL. Analysis of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) dynamics in human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CMs) generated from this individual (TECRLHom‐hiPSCs), his heterozygous but clinically asymptomatic father (TECRLHet‐hiPSCs), and a healthy individual (CTRL‐hiPSCs) from the same Sudanese family, revealed smaller [Ca2+]i transient amplitudes as well as elevated diastolic [Ca2+]i in TECRLHom‐hiPSC‐CMs compared with CTRL‐hiPSC‐CMs. The [Ca2+]i transient also rose markedly slower and contained lower sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium stores, evidenced by the decreased magnitude of caffeine‐induced [Ca2+]i transients. In addition, the decay phase of the [Ca2+]i transient was slower in TECRLHom‐hiPSC‐CMs due to decreased SERCA and NCX activities. Furthermore, TECRLHom‐hiPSC‐CMs showed prolonged action potentials (APs) compared with CTRL‐hiPSC‐CMs. TECRL knockdown in control human embryonic stem cell‐derived CMs (hESC‐CMs) also resulted in significantly longer APs. Moreover, stimulation by noradrenaline (NA) significantly increased the propensity for triggered activity based on delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) in TECRLHom‐hiPSC‐CMs and treatment with flecainide, a class Ic antiarrhythmic drug, significantly reduced the triggered activity in these cells. In summary, we report that mutations in TECRL are associated with inherited arrhythmias characterized by clinical features of both LQTS and CPVT. Patient‐specific hiPSC‐CMs recapitulated salient features of the clinical phenotype and provide a platform for drug screening evidenced by initial identification of flecainide as a potential therapeutic. These findings have implications for diagnosis and treatment of inherited cardiac arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsha D Devalla
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Roselle Gélinas
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elhadi H Aburawi
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Christian Freund
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Leiden University Medical Center hiPSC Core Facility, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-A Chaix
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rafik Tadros
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hui Jiang
- Beijing Genomics Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genomics, Shenzhen, China.,The Guangdong Enterprise Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen, China
| | - Antony Le Béchec
- Vital-IT group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Tom Zwetsloot
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Georgios Kosmidis
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Maaike Hoekstra
- Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jurg Schlaepfer
- Service de Cardiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christine L Mummery
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Brian Stevenson
- Vital-IT group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zoltan Kutalik
- Vital-IT group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Af de Vries
- Laboratory of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,ICIN-Netherlands Heart Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Léna Rivard
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Arthur Am Wilde
- Heart Center, Department of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Princess Al-Jawhara Al-Brahim Centre of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mario Talajic
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Arie O Verkerk
- Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lihadh Al-Gazali
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - John D Rioux
- Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada .,Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Zahurul A Bhuiyan
- Laboratoire Génétiqué Moléculaire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Robert Passier
- Department of Anatomy & Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands .,Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
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16
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Khan MAF, Reckman YJ, Aufiero S, van den Hoogenhof MMG, van der Made I, Beqqali A, Koolbergen DR, Rasmussen TB, van der Velden J, Creemers EE, Pinto YM. RBM20 Regulates Circular RNA Production From the Titin Gene. Circ Res 2016; 119:996-1003. [PMID: 27531932 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.309568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE RNA-binding motif protein 20 (RBM20) is essential for normal splicing of many cardiac genes, and loss of RBM20 causes dilated cardiomyopathy. Given its role in splicing, we hypothesized an important role for RBM20 in forming circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of noncoding RNA molecules. OBJECTIVE To establish the role of RBM20 in the formation of circRNAs in the heart. METHODS AND RESULTS Here, we performed circRNA profiling on ribosomal depleted RNA from human hearts and identified the expression of thousands of circRNAs, with some of them regulated in disease. Interestingly, we identified 80 circRNAs to be expressed from the titin gene, a gene that is known to undergo highly complex alternative splicing. We show that some of these circRNAs are dynamically regulated in dilated cardiomyopathy but not in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We generated RBM20-null mice and show that they completely lack these titin circRNAs. In addition, in a cardiac sample from an RBM20 mutation carrier, titin circRNA production was severely altered. Interestingly, the loss of RBM20 caused only a specific subset of titin circRNAs to be lost. These circRNAs originated from the RBM20-regulated I-band region of the titin transcript. CONCLUSIONS We show that RBM20 is crucial for the formation of a subset of circRNAs that originate from the I-band of the titin gene. We propose that RBM20, by excluding specific exons from the pre-mRNA, provides the substrate to form this class of RBM20-dependent circRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin A F Khan
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Yolan J Reckman
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Simona Aufiero
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Maarten M G van den Hoogenhof
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Ingeborg van der Made
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Dave R Koolbergen
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Torsten B Rasmussen
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Jolanda van der Velden
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.)
| | - Esther E Creemers
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.).
| | - Yigal M Pinto
- From the Department of Experimental Cardiology (M.A.F.K., Y.J.R., S.A., M.M.G.v.d.H., I.v.d.M., A.B., E.E.C., Y.M.P.), Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (M.A.F.K., S.A.), and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (D.R.K.), Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark (T.B.R.); and Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (J.v.d.V.).
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Beqqali A, Bollen IAE, Rasmussen TB, van den Hoogenhof MM, van Deutekom HWM, Schafer S, Haas J, Meder B, Sørensen KE, van Oort RJ, Mogensen J, Hubner N, Creemers EE, van der Velden J, Pinto YM. A mutation in the glutamate-rich region of RNA-binding motif protein 20 causes dilated cardiomyopathy through missplicing of titin and impaired Frank-Starling mechanism. Cardiovasc Res 2016; 112:452-63. [PMID: 27496873 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvw192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Mutations in the RS-domain of RNA-binding motif protein 20 (RBM20) have recently been identified to segregate with aggressive forms of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Loss of RBM20 in rats results in missplicing of the sarcomeric gene titin (TTN). The functional and physiological consequences of RBM20 mutations outside the mutational hotspot of RBM20 have not been explored to date. In this study, we investigated the pathomechanism of DCM caused by a novel RBM20 mutation in human cardiomyocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS We identified a family with DCM carrying a mutation (RBM20(E913K/+)) in a glutamate-rich region of RBM20. Western blot analysis of endogenous RBM20 protein revealed strongly reduced protein levels in the heart of an RBM20(E913K/+ )carrier. RNA deep-sequencing demonstrated massive inclusion of exons coding for the spring region of titin in the RBM20(E913K/+ )carrier. Titin isoform analysis revealed a dramatic shift from the less compliant N2B towards the highly compliant N2BA isoforms in RBM20(E913K/+ )heart. Moreover, an increased sarcomere resting-length was observed in single cardiomyocytes and isometric force measurements revealed an attenuated Frank-Starling mechanism (FSM), which was rescued by protein kinase A treatment. CONCLUSION A mutation outside the mutational hotspot of RBM20 results in haploinsufficiency of RBM20. This leads to disturbed alternative splicing of TTN, resulting in a dramatic shift to highly compliant titin isoforms and an impaired FSM. These effects may contribute to the early onset, and malignant course of DCM caused by RBM20 mutations. Altogether, our results demonstrate that heterozygous loss of RBM20 suffices to profoundly impair myocyte biomechanics by its disturbance of TTN splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilse A E Bollen
- Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Institute for Cardiovascular Research (ICaR-VU), van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Torsten B Rasmussen
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 44, DK-8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Maarten M van den Hoogenhof
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hanneke W M van Deutekom
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Schafer
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, 5 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169609, Singapore Division of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders, Duke-National University of Singapore, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Jan Haas
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Oudenarder Straße 16, 13347 Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Meder
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Oudenarder Straße 16, 13347 Berlin, Germany
| | - Keld E Sørensen
- Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 44, DK-8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ralph J van Oort
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jens Mogensen
- Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Norbert Hubner
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Oudenarder Straße 16, 13347 Berlin, Germany Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Esther E Creemers
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jolanda van der Velden
- Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Institute for Cardiovascular Research (ICaR-VU), van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yigal M Pinto
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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18
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Peters T, Hermans-Beijnsberger S, Beqqali A, Bitsch N, Nakagawa S, Prasanth KV, de Windt LJ, van Oort RJ, Heymans S, Schroen B. Long Non-Coding RNA Malat-1 Is Dispensable during Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Remodeling and Failure in Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150236. [PMID: 26919721 PMCID: PMC4769011 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules with diverse regulatory functions during embryonic development, normal life, and disease in higher organisms. However, research on the role of lncRNAs in cardiovascular diseases and in particular heart failure is still in its infancy. The exceptionally well conserved nuclear lncRNA Metastasis associated in lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (Malat-1) is a regulator of mRNA splicing and highly expressed in the heart. Malat-1 modulates hypoxia-induced vessel growth, activates ERK/MAPK signaling, and scavenges the anti-hypertrophic microRNA-133. We therefore hypothesized that Malat-1 may act as regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and failure during cardiac pressure overload induced by thoracic aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. Results Absence of Malat-1 did not affect cardiac hypertrophy upon pressure overload: Heart weight to tibia length ratio significantly increased in WT mice (sham: 5.78±0.55, TAC 9.79±1.82 g/mm; p<0.001) but to a similar extend also in Malat-1 knockout (KO) mice (sham: 6.21±1.12, TAC 8.91±1.74 g/mm; p<0.01) with no significant difference between genotypes. As expected, TAC significantly reduced left ventricular fractional shortening in WT (sham: 38.81±6.53%, TAC: 23.14±11.99%; p<0.01) but to a comparable degree also in KO mice (sham: 37.01±4.19%, TAC: 25.98±9.75%; p<0.05). Histological hallmarks of myocardial remodeling, such as cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, increased interstitial fibrosis, reduced capillary density, and immune cell infiltration, did not differ significantly between WT and KO mice after TAC. In line, the absence of Malat-1 did not significantly affect angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction, and overall remodeling. Above that, pressure overload by TAC significantly induced mRNA levels of the hypertrophy marker genes Nppa, Nppb and Acta1, to a similar extend in both genotypes. Alternative splicing of Ndrg2 after TAC was apparent in WT (isoform ratio; sham: 2.97±0.26, TAC 1.57±0.40; p<0.0001) and KO mice (sham: 3.64±0.37; TAC: 2.24±0.76; p<0.0001) and interestingly differed between genotypes both at baseline and after pressure overload (p<0.05 each). Conclusion These findings confirm a role for the lncRNA Malat-1 in mRNA splicing. However, no critical role for Malat-1 was found in pressure overload-induced heart failure in mice, despite its reported role in vascularization, ERK/MAPK signaling, and regulation of miR-133.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Peters
- Center for Heart Failure Research, Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Steffie Hermans-Beijnsberger
- Center for Heart Failure Research, Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole Bitsch
- Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kannanganattu V. Prasanth
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States of America
| | - Leon J. de Windt
- Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph J. van Oort
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stephane Heymans
- Center for Heart Failure Research, Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Heart Institute (ICIN), Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology (CMVB), Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Blanche Schroen
- Center for Heart Failure Research, Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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19
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West JA, Beqqali A, Ament Z, Elliott P, Pinto YM, Arbustini E, Griffin JL. A targeted metabolomics assay for cardiac metabolism and demonstration using a mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Metabolomics 2016; 12:59. [PMID: 27069442 PMCID: PMC4781888 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-016-0956-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metabolomics can be performed either as an 'open profiling' tool where the aim is to measure, usually in a semi-quantitative manner, as many metabolites as possible or perform 'closed' or 'targeted' analyses where instead a pre-defined set of metabolites are measured. Targeted methods can be designed to be more sensitive and quantitative and so are particularly appropriate to systems biology for quantitative models of systems or when metabolomics is performed in a hypothesis driven manner to test whether a particular pathway is perturbed. We describe a targeted metabolomics assay that quantifies a broad range of over 130 metabolites relevant to cardiac metabolism including the pathways of the citric acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation, glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, amino acid metabolism, the urea cycle, nucleotides and reactive oxygen species using tandem mass spectrometry to produce quantitative, sensitive and robust data. This assay is illustrated by profiling cardiac metabolism in a lamin A/C (Lmna) mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The model of DCM was characterised by increases in concentrations of proline and methyl-histidine suggestive of increased myofibrillar and collagen degradation, as well as decreases in a number of citric acid cycle intermediates and carnitine derivatives indicating reduced energy metabolism in the dilated heart. These assays could be used for any other cardiac or cardiovascular disease in that they cover central core metabolism and key pathways involved in cardiac metabolism, and may provide a general start for many mammalian systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. West
- The Department of Biochemistry & The Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA UK
- The Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research, 120 Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL UK
| | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zsuzsanna Ament
- The Department of Biochemistry & The Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA UK
- The Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research, 120 Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL UK
| | - Perry Elliott
- Heart Hospital, University College London, London, W1G 8PH UK
| | - Yigal M. Pinto
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Julian L. Griffin
- The Department of Biochemistry & The Cambridge Systems Biology Centre, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA UK
- The Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research, 120 Fulbourn Road, Cambridge, CB1 9NL UK
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20
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Weeland CJ, van den Hoogenhof MM, Beqqali A, Creemers EE. Insights into alternative splicing of sarcomeric genes in the heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2015; 81:107-13. [PMID: 25683494 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Driven by rapidly evolving technologies in next-generation sequencing, alternative splicing has emerged as a crucial layer in gene expression, greatly expanding protein diversity and governing complex biological processes in the cardiomyocyte. At the core of cardiac contraction, the physical properties of the sarcomere are carefully orchestrated through alternative splicing to fit the varying demands on the heart. By the recent discovery of RBM20 and RBM24, two major heart and skeletal muscle-restricted splicing factors, it became evident that alternative splicing events in the heart occur in regulated networks rather than in isolated events. Analysis of knockout mice of these splice factors has shed light on the importance of these fundamental processes in the heart. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the role and regulation of alternative splicing in the developing and diseased heart, specifically within the sarcomere. Through various examples (titin, myomesin, troponin T, tropomyosin and LDB3) we illustrate how alternative splicing regulates the functional properties of the sarcomere. Finally, we evaluate opportunities and obstacles to modulate alternative splicing in therapeutic approaches for cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelis J Weeland
- Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther E Creemers
- Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 15, 1105AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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21
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Al-Saaidi R, Rasmussen TB, Palmfeldt J, Nissen PH, Beqqali A, Hansen J, Pinto YM, Boesen T, Mogensen J, Bross P. The LMNA mutation p.Arg321Ter associated with dilated cardiomyopathy leads to reduced expression and a skewed ratio of lamin A and lamin C proteins. Exp Cell Res 2013; 319:3010-9. [PMID: 24001739 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Revised: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle characterized by cardiac chamber enlargement and reduced systolic function of the left ventricle. Mutations in the LMNA gene represent the most frequent known genetic cause of DCM associated with disease of the conduction systems. The LMNA gene generates two major transcripts encoding the nuclear lamina major components lamin A and lamin C by alternative splicing. Both haploinsuffiency and dominant negative effects have been proposed as disease mechanism for premature termination codon (PTC) mutations in LMNA. These mechanisms however are still not clearly established. In this study, we used a representative LMNA nonsense mutation, p.Arg321Ter, to shed light on the molecular disease mechanisms. Cultured fibroblasts from three DCM patients carrying this mutation were analyzed. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and sequencing of these PCR products indicated that transcripts from the mutant allele were degraded by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) mechanism. The fact that no truncated mutant protein was detectable in western blot (WB) analysis strengthens the notion that the mutant transcript is efficiently degraded. Furthermore, WB analysis showed that the expression of lamin C protein was reduced by the expected approximately 50%. Clearly decreased lamin A and lamin C levels were also observed by immunofluorescence microscopy analysis. However, results from both WB and nano-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry demonstrated that the levels of lamin A protein were more reduced suggesting an effect on expression of lamin A from the wild type allele. PCR analysis of the ratio of lamin A to lamin C transcripts showed unchanged relative amounts of lamin A transcript suggesting that the effect on the wild type allele was operative at the protein level. Immunofluorescence microscopy analysis showed no abnormal nuclear morphology of patient fibroblast cells. Based on these data, we propose that heterozygosity for the nonsense mutation causes NMD degradation of the mutant transcripts blocking expression of the truncated mutant protein and an additional trans effect on lamin A protein levels expressed from the wild type allele. We discuss the possibility that skewing of the lamin A to lamin C ratio may contribute to ensuing processes that destabilize cardiomyocytes and trigger cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Al-Saaidi
- Research Unit for Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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22
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van den Hoogenhof M, Beqqali A, van der Made I, Duncker D, van der Velden J, Pinto Y, Creemers E. Abstract 186: The Cardiac Specific Splicing Regulator Rbm20 decreases in Specific Forms of Acquired Heart Disease. Circ Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1161/res.113.suppl_1.a186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Introduction:
Rbm20 is a RNA-binding protein enriched in heart- and skeletal muscle. Mutations in Rbm20 have been described to cause heart failure. Furthermore, Rbm20 has been shown to regulate alternative splicing of titin (Ttn). This demonstrates that RBM20 has a major role in cardiac biology. However, it is unknown how Rbm20 expression changes in acquired heart disease. Therefore, we investigated expression of Rbm20 on mRNA and protein level and the degree of alternative splicing of Ttn in various forms of heart disease.
Methods:
We measured mRNA expression and protein levels of Rbm20 by western blotting and qPCR in transverse aorta constrictions (TAC) in mice and pigs, and in human heart disease including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), aortic stenosis (AoS) and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). We measured cardiac function in mice with echocardiography, and measured stress markers with qPCR. Furthermore, we analyzed Ttn splicing using qPCR and RT-PCR.
Results:
Real-time PCR and western blotting revealed that Rbm20 is selectively downregulated in mice after TAC and in patients with aortic stenosis. In contrast, we did not observe a difference in Rbm20 levels in patients with DCM, HCM and PAH. Furthermore, we measured functional parameters such as ejection fraction (EF), systolic left ventricular internal diameter (LVIDsys), and fractional shortening (FS), as well as ANF level in TAC mice, and correlated these to Rbm20 level. We found that the level of downregulation of Rbm20 is correlated with heart failure severity in mice after TAC. Also, we found that Ttn is differentially spliced after loss of Rbm20.
Conclusions:
Here we show for the first time that Rbm20 decreases in acquired forms of heart failure such as TAC in mice and pigs, and AoS in men. Furthermore, in experimental HF in mice, Rbm20 levels correlate to HF severity. Moreover, loss of Rbm20 leads to skipping of intron retention in Ttn in the region between exon 50-70. However, the biological effect of this event remains unclear. Given its major role in the heart, loss of Rbm20 may play an important role in the development of heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dirk Duncker
- Erasmus Med Cntr Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Yigal Pinto
- Academic Med Cntr Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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23
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du Puy L, Beqqali A, van Tol HTA, Monshouwer-Kloots J, Passier R, Haagsman HP, Roelen BAJ. Sarcosin (Krp1) in skeletal muscle differentiation: gene expression profiling and knockdown experiments. Int J Dev Biol 2012; 56:301-9. [PMID: 22562206 DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.113327lp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
SARCOSIN, also named Krp1, has been identified as a protein exclusively expressed in striated muscle tissue. Here we report on the role of SARCOSIN in skeletal muscle development and differentiation. We demonstrate, by means of whole-mount in situ hybridization, that Sarcosin mRNA is expressed in the myotome part of the mature somites in mouse embryos from embryonic day 9.5 onwards. Sarcosin is not expressed in the developing heart at these embryonic stages, and in adult tissues the mRNA expression levels are five times lower in the heart than in skeletal muscle. SARCOSIN protein partially co-localizes with the M-band protein myomesin and between and below laterally fusing myofibrils in adult skeletal muscle tissue. RNA interference mediated knock-down of SARCOSIN in the C2C12 myoblast cell line appeared to be stimulatory in the early phase of differentiation, but inhibitory at a later phase of differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie du Puy
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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24
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van Eldik W, Beqqali A, Monshouwer-Kloots J, Mummery C, Passier R. Cytoskeletal heart-enriched actin-associated protein (CHAP) is expressed in striated and smooth muscle cells in chick and mouse during embryonic and adult stages. Int J Dev Biol 2012; 55:649-55. [PMID: 21948713 DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.103207wv] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
We recently identified a new Z-disc protein, CHAP (Cytoskeletal Heart-enriched Actin-associated Protein), which is expressed in striated muscle and plays an important role during embryonic muscle development in mouse and zebrafish. Here, we confirm and further extend these findings by (i) the identification and characterization of the CHAP orthologue in chick and (ii) providing a detailed analysis of CHAP expression in mouse during embryonic and adult stages. Chick CHAP contains a PDZ domain and a nuclear localization signal, resembling the human and mouse CHAPa. CHAP is expressed in the developing heart and somites, as well as muscle precursors of the limb buds in mouse and chick embryos. CHAP expression in heart and skeletal muscle is maintained in adult mice, both in slow and fast muscle fibers. Moreover, besides expression in striated muscle, we demonstrate that CHAP is expressed in smooth muscle cells of aorta, carotid and coronary arteries in adult mice, but not during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willemijn van Eldik
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Beqqali A, Monshouwer-Kloots J, Monteiro R, Welling M, Bakkers J, Ehler E, Verkleij A, Mummery C, Passier R. CHAP is a newly identified Z-disc protein essential for heart and skeletal muscle function. J Cell Sci 2010; 123:1141-50. [PMID: 20215401 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.063859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the perception of Z-disc function has changed from a passive anchor for myofilaments that allows transmission of force, to a dynamic multicomplex structure, capable of sensing and transducing extracellular signals. Here, we describe a new Z-disc protein, which we named CHAP (cytoskeletal heart-enriched actin-associated protein), expressed in differentiating heart and skeletal muscle in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, in addition to its sarcomeric localization, CHAP was also able to translocate to the nucleus. CHAP was associated with filamentous actin in the cytoplasm and the nucleus when expressed ectopically in vitro, but in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes, CHAP disrupted the subcellular localization of alpha-actinin, another Z-disc protein. More importantly, knockdown of CHAP in zebrafish resulted in aberrant cardiac and skeletal muscle development and function. These findings suggest that CHAP is a critical component of the sarcomere with an important role in muscle development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Hubrecht Institute, Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Du Puy L, Beqqali A, Monshouwer-Kloots J, Haagsman HP, Roelen BAJ, Passier R. CAZIP, a novel protein expressed in the developing heart and nervous system. Dev Dyn 2010; 238:2903-11. [PMID: 19806667 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we have performed a whole genome micro-array analysis on human embryonic stem cells differentiating toward cardiomyocytes, which resulted in the identification of novel genes that were highly up-regulated during differentiation. Here, we describe one of these novel genes annotated as KIAA0774. The predicted protein contains a leucine-zipper domain at the C-terminus and has at least two isoforms (358 and 1354 amino acids). Whole-mount in situ hybridization confirmed that the mRNA of both the mouse and chicken orthologs of KIAA0774 is expressed during early cardiac development. Hence, we named this protein CAZIP (cardiac zipper protein). Later during embryonic development, Cazip was also expressed in parts of the nervous system. Northern blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that Cazip is expressed in heart and brain in adult mice. These results suggest a role for CAZIP in development and function of the heart and nervous system in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Du Puy
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Beqqali A, Kloots J, Ward_van Oostwaard D, Mummery C, Passier R. Genome_wide transcriptional profiling of human embryonic stem cells differentiating to cardiomyocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2006.03.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Beqqali A, Kloots J, Ward-van Oostwaard D, Mummery C, Passier R. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of human embryonic stem cells differentiating to cardiomyocytes. Stem Cells 2006; 24:1956-67. [PMID: 16675594 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2006-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Mammals are unable to regenerate their heart after major cardiomyocyte loss caused by myocardial infarction. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can give rise to functional cardiomyocytes and therefore have exciting potential as a source of cells for replacement therapy. Understanding the molecular regulation of cardiomyocyte differentiation from stem cells is crucial for the stepwise enhancement and scaling of cardiomyocyte production that will be necessary for transplantation therapy. Our novel hESC differentiation protocol is now efficient enough for meaningful genome-wide transcriptional profiling by microarray technology of hESCs, differentiating toward cardiomyocytes. Here, we have identified and validated time-dependent gene expression patterns and shown a reflection of early embryonic events; induction of genes of the primary mesoderm and endodermal lineages is followed by those of cardiac progenitor cells and fetal cardiomyocytes in consecutive waves of known and novel genes. Collectively, these results permit enhancement of stepwise differentiation and facilitate isolation and expansion of cardiac progenitor cells. Furthermore, these genes may provide new clinically relevant clues for identifying causes of congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelaziz Beqqali
- Hubrecht Laboratory, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
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