组织工程化成年心肌细胞的构建

背景：采用成年心肌细胞构建组织工程细胞已成为心脏疾病领域新的科研热点。 目的：探讨简单、快捷的成年大鼠心肌细胞分离方法,并初步探索组织工程化成年心肌细胞的构建方式。 方法：采用分段式酶消化方法消化成年大鼠心室肌心肌细胞。分别转染腺病毒和脂质体介导的红色荧光蛋白基因,倒置荧光显微镜、流式细胞仪检测组织工程细胞的构建效率。转染腺病毒介导的缺氧诱导因子1a,采用Western blot检测目标蛋白的表达。 结果与结论：采用分段式酶消化方法可获得大量心肌细胞。流式细胞分析表明所获得的成年心肌细胞的存活率为(87.03±0.70)%。与脂质体转染相比(转染效率为0),腺病毒感染效率高,为(70.31±1.39)%,荧光显微镜下细胞发出红色荧光。在腺病毒转染第4天后,可有效表达目标蛋白缺氧诱导因子1a。以上结果表明分段式酶消化法是成熟心肌细胞的快速分离方式,并明确重组腺病毒载体是转染心肌细胞的最佳基因载体。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程全文链接：     

Postnatal changes in caldesmon expression and localization in cardiac myocytes

Caldesmon is a heat-stable protein found in both muscle and non-muscle tissue. It binds to a number of contractile and cytoskeletal proteins and may be involved in regulating acto-myosin interaction in smooth muscle cells and/or the assembly of microfilaments in muscle and non-muscle cells. We have shown previously that caldesmon is localized at the Z-lines in adult cardiac myocytes and that both the low- and high-molecular-weight forms (/-caldesmon and h-caldesmon, respectively) are present in atrial and ventricular myocytes. Here we examined the expression of caldesmon and its localization in freshly isolated cardiac myocytes during postnatal development and when these myocytes were grown in culture. We found that /-caldesmon is expressed in both neonatal and adult rat ventricular myocytes. The expression of h-caldesmon, however, was not detected in myocytes from newborn animals but increased during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development. Caldesmon was generally not co-localized with alpha-actinin at the Z-lines in neonatal myocytes but became increasingly more so during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development. When myocytes from 5- and 10-day-old rats were grown in primary culture, h-caldesmon expression decreased and caldesmon could not be detected at the Z-lines in the cultured cells. These results indicate that caldesmon plays a role at the Z-lines in adult cardiac myocytes; however, its localization at the Z-lines is not necessary for the prenatal development that occurs at these sites or for the establishment of a contractile phenotype in cultured cardiac myocytes.     

Modified gating behaviour of aconitine treated single sodium channels from adult cardiac myocytes

Currents through single Na channels of ventricular cells from adult mouse and guinea pig hearts were studied using the patch clamp technique. Under control conditions the majority of openings is brief and a clustering at the beginning of the depolarizing pulse can be observed. Only between 1 and 8% of the sweeps show long lasting bursts. The bursting may account for a second slow phase of decay of macroscopic currents. In the presence of aconitine in the pipette up to 80% of the sweeps showed bursts underlying the slow inactivation of aconitine modified macroscopic currents. The mean open times are unchanged but the number of openings per sweep is dramatically increased due to aconitine. It is discussed that Na channels may function in different modes. One mode is characterized by a fast transition into an absorbing state the other one by frequent reopenings (bursts). aconitine favours the bursting mode.     

Effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide on membrane currents in mammalian cardiac myocytes

We examined the effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the membrane currents of single atrial and ventricular cells of guinea pig heart. The tightseal whole-cell voltage-clamp technique was used. In atrial cells, like isoproterenol, CGRP increased the L-type Ca channel current (I _Ca.L) in a concentration-dependent manner. Human CGRP-(8-37), a putative CGRP receptor antagonist, completely abolished the CGRP-induced increase of I _Ca.L. Although the effects of CRGP were similar to those of isoproterenol, propranolol, a -adrenergic receptor antagonist, did not affect the CGRP-induced increase of I _Ca.L. After I _Ca.L had been maximally activated by isoproterenol (2 M) or intracellular cyclic adenosine 5-monophosphate (100 M), CGRP failed to increase I _Ca.L. Acetylcholine antagonized the effects of CGRP on I _Ca.L. Unlike the effects on atrial cells, CGRP had no significant effects on the membrane currents of ventricular myocytes. Thes results indicate that CGRP increases I _Ca.L via adenylate cyclase activation by binding to specific membrane receptors in cardiac atrial myocytes. Furthermore, CGRP receptors are expressed in atrial cells but probably not in ventricular cells.     

A slowly inactivating transient outward current in rat ventricular myocytes

In rat ventricular myocytes we found two components of transient outward current, which could be discriminated time- and voltage-dependently. Besides the well known fastly inactivating transient outward current (i_to,f, =35±8ms, n=4) we investigated properties of a slowly inactivating transient outward current (i_to,s, =1.7±0.4s, n=4). Because of the slow inactivation process of i_to,s tail currents were observed at –25mV. The inactivation curve of i_to,f was characterized by a half-inactivation voltage of –58.4±1.4mV and a slope factor of 5.6±0.5mV (n=4). The inactivation curves of i_to,s and tail currents were nearly identical but significantly different from the i_to,f-curve. Half-inactivation voltages of i_to,s and tail currents were –87.5±6mV and –89.1±5mV (n=4), respectively. Slope factors were 10.3±2.9mV and 9.8 ±1.7mV (n=4). The activation gate of i_to,s was half-maximally opened at –11.5±2.6mV, and the slope factor was –10.6±1.7mV (n=3). i_to,s tail current reversed its direction at –62±3.2mV (n=5). This indicates, that i_to,s- current flow is carried mainly by potassium ions. I_to,s- current was not abolished by Tetrodotoxin (TTX) and Cd.     

枸橼酸铁铵对原代培养的大鼠心肌细胞铜蓝蛋白、膜铁转运辅助蛋白和膜铁转运蛋白表达的影响

目的 观察枸橼酸铁铵(FAC)对原代培养的大鼠心肌细胞铁释放相关蛋白表达的影响,探讨枸橼酸铁铵对心肌细胞铁代谢的影响机制. 方法 以原代培养的乳鼠心肌细胞为材料,分为对照组、20mg/L枸橼酸铁铵组、40mg/L枸橼酸铁铵组和80mg/L枸橼酸铁铵组,每组6个重复.然后检测心肌细胞存活率、搏动频率,免疫组织化学检测铜蓝蛋白(CP)、膜铁转运辅助蛋白(HP)和膜铁转运蛋白(FP1)表达的变化. 结果 各剂量枸橼酸铁铵对大鼠心肌细胞存活率无明显影响;心肌细胞搏动频率减慢,停止跳动的细胞数量明显增加,收缩幅度逐渐降低;随着枸橼酸铁铵浓度的增加,心肌细胞铜蓝蛋白、膜铁转运辅助蛋白和膜铁转运蛋白的表达均增加. 结论 枸橼酸铁铵影响大鼠心肌细胞的生理功能,IRP-IRE可能参与膜铁转运蛋白表达的调控,铜蓝蛋白、膜铁转运辅助蛋白表达的升高可能与铁处理增加细胞的氧化紧张性有关.     

Developmental changes of the ultrarapid delayed rectifier K+ current in rat ventricular myocytes

 Recent studies have shown the presence of a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) sensitive, ultrarapid delayed rectifier K⁺ current (I _K,ur) in adult human atria, but an apparent absence of this current in adult human ventricles. The present experiment was designed to investigate the postnatal changes of I _K,ur in rat ventricular myocytes. The presence of I _K,ur was evaluated with the use of a low concentration of 4-AP (50 μM). In 3-day-old newborns, the channel activity of rapidly activating outward current was predominantly the transient outward current (I _to). I _K,ur could be recorded in a small number of 3-day-old cells lacking I _to (16%). In 10-day-old and adult rat ventricular myocytes, almost all cells expressed I _to and its current density increased significantly with age. The fraction of cells expressing I _K,ur dramatically decreased with age and no I _K,ur-like component could be detected in the adult cells. These findings first demonstrate that the expression of I _K,ur is regulated developmentally in mammalian ventricular myocytes. Received: 21 August 1996 / Received after revision: 11 September 1996 / Accepted: 1 October 1996     

MRS: a noninvasive window into cardiac metabolism

A well‐functioning heart requires a constant supply of a balanced mixture of nutrients to be used for the production of adequate amounts of adenosine triphosphate, which is the main energy source for most cellular functions. Defects in cardiac energy metabolism are linked to several myocardial disorders. MRS can be used to study in vivo changes in cardiac metabolism noninvasively. MR techniques allow repeated measurements, so that disease progression and the response to treatment or to a lifestyle intervention can be monitored. It has also been shown that MRS can predict clinical heart failure and death. This article focuses on in vivo MRS to assess cardiac metabolism in humans and experimental animals, as experimental animals are often used to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development of metabolic diseases. Various MR techniques, such as cardiac ³¹P‐MRS, ¹H‐MRS, hyperpolarized ¹³C‐MRS and Dixon MRI, are described. A short overview of current and emerging applications is given. Cardiac MRS is a promising technique for the investigation of the relationship between cardiac metabolism and cardiac disease. However, further optimization of scan time and signal‐to‐noise ratio is required before broad clinical application. In this respect, the ongoing development of advanced shimming algorithms, radiofrequency pulses, pulse sequences, (multichannel) detection coils, the use of hyperpolarized nuclei and scanning at higher magnetic field strengths offer future perspective for clinical applications of MRS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depressed contractile reserve and impaired calcium handling of cardiac myocytes from chronically unloaded hearts are ameliorated with the administration of physiological treatment dose of T3 in rats

Aim: Chronic cardiac unloading causes a time‐dependent upregulation of phospholamban (PLB) and depression of myocyte contractility in normal rat hearts. As thyroid hormone is known to decrease PLB expression, we examined whether thyroid hormone restores the depressed contractile performance of myocytes from chronically unloaded hearts. Methods: Cardiac unloading was induced by heterotopic heart transplantation in isogenic rats for 5 weeks. Animals were treated with either vehicle or physiological treatment dose of 3,5,3′‐triiodo‐l ‐thyronine (T3) that does not cause hyperthyroidism for the last 3 weeks (n = 20 each). Results: In vehicle‐treated animals, myocyte relaxation and [Ca²⁺]_i decay were slower in unloaded hearts than in recipient hearts. Myocyte shortening in response to high [Ca²⁺]_o was also depressed with impaired augmentation of peak‐systolic [Ca²⁺]_i in unloaded hearts compared with recipient hearts. In vehicle‐treated rats, protein levels of PLB were increased by 136% and the phosphorylation level of PLB at Ser16 were decreased by 32% in unloaded hearts compared with recipient hearts. By contrast, in the T3‐treated animals, the slower relaxation, delayed [Ca²⁺]_i decay, and depressed contractile reserve in myocytes from unloaded hearts were all returned to normal levels. Furthermore, in the T3‐treated animals, there was no difference either in the PLB protein level or in its Ser16‐phosphorylation level between unloaded and recipient hearts. Conclusion: These results suggest that the treatment with physiological treatment dose of thyroid hormone rescues the impaired myocyte relaxation and depressed contractile reserve at least partially through the restoration of PLB protein levels and its phosphorylation state in chronically unloaded hearts.     

Reduction of calcium-independent transient outward potassium current density in DOCA salt hypertrophied rat ventricular myocytes

Saline-drinking, left-nephrectomized rats made hypertensive by deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) pellet implantation at the time of surgery develop a cardiac hypertrophy, which becomes maximal after 6–7 weeks. The hypertrophy results in a marked increase in the amplitude and duration of both the early and the late component of the ventricular action potential plateau recorded in the isolated perfused rat heart. The 4-aminopyridine(4-AP)-sensitive calcium-independent transient outward potassium current was markedly depressed in hypertrophied ventricular myocytes resulting in a highly significant decrease in current density (from 19.9±3.5 to 6.4±3.1 pA/pF at +60 mV). Activation/ voltage and steady-state inactivation/voltage relationships were moderately although non-significantly shifted towards negative potentials. The steady-state outward current measured at the end of 1-s depolarizing pulses was not significantly changed in hypertrophied myocytes. 4-AP induced a smaller increase in plateau amplitude and duration in hypertrophied rather than in control hearts, a point that is well explained by the depression of the transient outward current resulting from hypertrophy. We also demonstrated that a complete recovery of both cell capacitance and transient outward current amplitude occurs in myocytes from saline-drinking rats studied 13 weeks after DOCA pellet implantation, showing that hypertrophy regresses as a result of pellet elimination. Several mechanisms can be involved in the observed phenomena, including the possibility that the expression of potassium channels responsible for the transient outward current is not enhanced by hypertrophy in contrast with what occurs in the case of calcium channels. We conclude that the depression of the calcium-independent transient outward potassium current appears responsible for the major part of the hypertrophy-induced action potential lengthening in rat ventricular myocytes.     

Contractile protein gene expression in serum-free cultured adult rat cardiac myocytes

The effects of two adhesion substrates (serum and laminin) and time in culture on the expression of genes encoding myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and -skeletal actin were analysed in myocytes isolated from adult rat heart and maintained in serum-free culture. Relative messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) abundances were quantitated by dot-blot analysis. Gene expression was not influenced by the substrate used. Time in culture induced a decrease in total mRNA abundance and an up-regulation of -MHC and -skeletal actin genes. It is proposed that atrophy of adult myocytes is associated with a pattern of gene expression similar to the fetal program.     

Modular organization of cardiac energy metabolism: energy conversion,transfer and feedback regulation

To meet high cellular demands, the energy metabolism of cardiac muscles is organized by precise and coordinated functioning of intracellular energetic units (ICEUs). ICEUs represent structural and functional modules integrating multiple fluxes at sites of ATP generation in mitochondria and ATP utilization by myofibrillar, sarcoplasmic reticulum and sarcolemma ion‐pump ATPases. The role of ICEUs is to enhance the efficiency of vectorial intracellular energy transfer and fine tuning of oxidative ATP synthesis maintaining stable metabolite levels to adjust to intracellular energy needs through the dynamic system of compartmentalized phosphoryl transfer networks. One of the key elements in regulation of energy flux distribution and feedback communication is the selective permeability of mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) which represents a bottleneck in adenine nucleotide and other energy metabolite transfer and microcompartmentalization. Based on the experimental and theoretical (mathematical modelling) arguments, we describe regulation of mitochondrial ATP synthesis within ICEUs allowing heart workload to be linearly correlated with oxygen consumption ensuring conditions of metabolic stability, signal communication and synchronization. Particular attention was paid to the structure–function relationship in the development of ICEU, and the role of mitochondria interaction with cytoskeletal proteins, like tubulin, in the regulation of MOM permeability in response to energy metabolic signals providing regulation of mitochondrial respiration. Emphasis was given to the importance of creatine metabolism for the cardiac energy homoeostasis.     

Ontogenetic profile of glutamate uptake in brain structures slices from rats: sensitivity to guanosine

The excitotoxicity of the neurotransmitter glutamate has been shown to be connected with many acute and chronic diseases of the CNS. High affinity sodium-dependent glutamate transporters play a key role in maintaining adequate levels of extracellular glutamate. In the present study, we used slices of striatum, hippocampus and cortex from rat brain to describe the in vitro profile of glutamate uptake during development and ageing, and its sensitivity to guanosine. In all structures, glutamate uptake was higher in immature animals. There was a maximum decrease in glutamate uptake in striatum and hippocampus in 15-month-old rats, which later increased, while in cortex there was a significant decrease in rats aged 60 days old. The effect of guanosine seems to be age and structure dependent since the increase in basal glutamate uptake was only seen in slices of cortex from 10-day-old animals.     

Ionic mechanisms of desflurane on prolongation of action potential duration in rat ventricular myocytes

Purpose

Despite the fact that desflurane prolongs the QTC interval in humans, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie these actions. We investigated the effects of desflurane on action potential (AP) duration and underlying electrophysiological mechanisms in rat ventricular myocytes.

Materials and Methods

Rat ventricular myocytes were enzymatically isolated and studied at room temperature. AP was measured using a current clamp technique. The effects of 6% (0.78 mM) and 12% (1.23 mM) desflurane on transient outward K⁺ current (I_to), sustained outward current (I_sus), inward rectifier K⁺ current (I_KI), and L-type Ca²⁺ current were determined using a whole cell voltage clamp.

Results

Desflurane prolonged AP duration, while the amplitude and resting membrane potential remained unchanged. Desflurane at 0.78 mM and 1.23 mM significantly reduced the peak I_to by 20±8% and 32±7%, respectively, at +60 mV. Desflurane (1.23 mM) shifted the steady-state inactivation curve in a hyperpolarizing direction and accelerated inactivation of the current. While desflurane (1.23 mM) had no effects on I_sus and I_KI, it reduced the L-type Ca²⁺ current by 40±6% (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Clinically relevant concentrations of desflurane appear to prolong AP duration by suppressing I_to in rat ventricular myocytes.     

Phospholipid homeostasis regulates lipid metabolism and cardiac function through SREBP signaling in Drosophila

The epidemic of obesity and diabetes is causing an increased incidence of dyslipidemia-related heart failure. While the primary etiology of lipotoxic cardiomyopathy is an elevation of lipid levels resulting from an imbalance in energy availability and expenditure, increasing evidence suggests a relationship between dysregulation of membrane phospholipid homeostasis and lipid-induced cardiomyopathy. In the present study, we report that the Drosophila easily shocked (eas) mutants that harbor a disturbance in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) synthesis display tachycardia and defects in cardiac relaxation and are prone to developing cardiac arrest and fibrillation under stress. The eas mutant hearts exhibit elevated concentrations of triglycerides, suggestive of a metabolic, diabetic-like heart phenotype. Moreover, the low PE levels in eas flies mimic the effects of cholesterol deficiency in vertebrates by stimulating the Drosophila sterol regulatory element-binding protein (dSREBP) pathway. Significantly, cardiac-specific elevation of dSREBP signaling adversely affects heart function, reflecting the cardiac eas phenotype, whereas suppressing dSREBP or lipogenic target gene function in eas hearts rescues the cardiac hyperlipidemia and heart function disorders. These findings suggest that dysregulated phospholipid signaling that alters SREBP activity contributes to the progression of impaired heart function in flies and identifies a potential link to lipotoxic cardiac diseases in humans.     

Cardiac basal metabolism: energetic cost of calcium withdrawal in the adult rat heart

Aim: Cardiac basal metabolism upon extracellular calcium removal and its relationship with intracellular sodium and calcium homeostasis was evaluated. Methods: A mechano-calorimetric technique was used that allowed the simultaneous and continuous measurement of both heat rate and resting pressure in arterially perfused quiescent adult rat hearts. Using pharmacological tools, the possible underlying mechanisms related to sodium and calcium movements were investigated. Results: Resting heat rate (expressed in mW g⁻¹_{dry wt}) increased upon calcium withdrawal (+4.4 ± 0.2). This response was: (1) unaffected by the presence of tetrodotoxin (+4.3 ± 0.6), (2) fully blocked by both, the decrease in extracellular sodium concentration and the increase in extracellular magnesium concentration, (3) partially blocked by the presence of either nifedipine (+2.8 ± 0.4), KB-R7943 (KBR; +2.5 ± 0.2), clonazepam (CLO; +3.1 ± 0.3) or EGTA (+1.9 ± 0.3). The steady heat rate under Ca²⁺-free conditions was partially reduced by the addition of Ru360 (−1.1 ± 0.2) but not CLO in the presence of EGTA, KBR or Ru360. Conclusion: Energy expenditure for resting state maintenance upon calcium withdrawal depends on the intracellular rise in both sodium and calcium. Our data are consistent with a mitochondrial Ca²⁺ cycling, not detectable under normal calcium diastolic levels. The experimental condition here analysed, partially simulates findings reported under certain pathological situations including heart failure in which mildly increased levels of both diastolic sodium and calcium have also been found. Therefore, under such pathological conditions, hearts should distract chemical energy to fuel processes associated with sodium and calcium handling, making more expensive the maintenance of their functions.     

N-乙酰基-丝氨酰-天门冬酰-赖氨酰-脯氨酸对大鼠心脏成纤维细胞胶原蛋白合成及表达的调节作用

目的：探讨N-乙酰基-丝氨酰-天门冬酰-赖氨酰-脯氨酸(AcSDKP)对血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF)诱导的大鼠心脏成纤维细胞胶原合成的调节作用。方法：建立新生大鼠心脏成纤维细胞系;采用~3H-脯氨酸掺入法检测心脏成纤维细胞胶原蛋白的合成。采用Western印迹法检测心脏成纤维细胞Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白的表达。结果：PDGF对心脏成纤维细胞胶原蛋白合成的促进作用与浓度相关,并以10 ng/ml时最强。AcSDKP对PDGF介导的心脏成纤维细胞胶原合成有抑制作用,并且在10~(-9)mol/L时作用最强。结论：AcSDKP对PDGF介导的心脏成纤维细胞胶原合成有明显抑制作用,可能与其抗心脏纤维化的作用相关。