In situ reprogramming to transdifferentiate fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes using adenoviral vectors: Implications for clinical myocardial regeneration

Objective

The reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells improves ventricular function in myocardial infarction models. Only integrating persistent expression vectors have thus far been used to induce reprogramming, potentially limiting its clinical applicability. We therefore tested the reprogramming potential of nonintegrating, acute expression adenoviral (Ad) vectors.

Clinical diversity of MYH7‐related cardiomyopathies: Insights into genotype–phenotype correlations

MYH7‐related disease (MRD) is the most common hereditary primary cardiomyopathy (CM), with pathogenic MYH7 variants accounting for approximately 40% of familial hypertrophic CMs. MRDs may also present as skeletal myopathies, with or without CM. Since pathogenic MYH7 variants result in highly variable clinical phenotypes, from mild to fatal forms of cardiac and skeletal myopathies, genotype–phenotype correlations are not always apparent, and translation of the genetic findings to clinical practice can be complicated. Data on genotype–phenotype correlations can help facilitate more specific and personalized decisions on treatment strategies, surveillance, and genetic counseling. We present a series of six MRD pedigrees with rare genotypes, encompassing various clinical presentations and inheritance patterns. This study provides new insights into the spectrum of MRD that is directly translatable to clinical practice.     

MYH9-RD患者中性粒细胞包涵体的定位和本质鉴定

目的检测和分析非肌性肌球蛋白重链ⅡA(NMMHC-ⅡA)在MYH9-RD患者中性粒细胞胞浆中的定位及表达,以确定包涵体的构成本质。方法应用间接免疫荧光技术,观察MYH9-RD患者及正常对照者NMMHC-ⅡA在胞浆中的定位和分布情况;应用Western blot技术检测和分析中性粒细胞中NMMHC-ⅡA在患者和正常对照者之间蛋白表达水平的差异。结果免疫荧光技术清楚地显示了患者中性粒细胞胞浆中呈绿色荧光的"梭形"包涵体的形态和轮廓,与瑞特姬姆萨染色显示的包涵体形状、大小基本一致,但更为清晰;而正常对照者除有散点状的荧光斑点外,无包涵体形成;Western blot结果显示患者NMMHC-ⅡA表达量较正常对照者降低。结论 MYH9-RD患者中性粒细胞包涵体的主要成份是NMMHC-ⅡA,NMMHC-ⅡA的显阴性作用导致了包涵体的形成。     

LncRNA SENCR overexpression attenuated the proliferation,migration and phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells in aortic dissection via the miR-206/myocardin axis

Background and aimsSmooth muscle and endothelial cell-enriched migration/differentiation-associated lncRNA (SENCR) has been reported to be associated with some cardiovascular diseases; however, its function and exact molecular mechanism in aortic dissection (AD) remain undefined. Thus, we investigated the effects of SENCR on AD and its potential mechanisms.Methods and resultsSENCR expression in aortic media specimens from AD patients was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The roles of SENCR in vascular smooth muscle cell (VMSC) proliferation and migration as well as in the regulation of contractile phenotype genes were studied using CCK-8, wound healing, Transwell, qPCR and Western blot assays. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to identify the regulatory correlation between SENCR, miR-206 and myocardin. Furthermore, mouse AD models were constructed with ApoE^?/- mice, and the effect of upregulated SENCR on phenotypic switching in the AD model was detected using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays. SENCR overexpression inhibited VSMC proliferation, migration and synthetic phenotype-related gene expression; decreased miR-206 expression; increased myocardin expression; and suppressed rupture of the aortic media in mice. SENCR knockdown had the opposite effects. Our results further suggested that miR-206 upregulation could reverse the inhibitory roles of SENCR upregulation and that myocardin upregulation could restore the function of SENCR upregulation in VSMCs. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that SENCR regulated miR-206, which directly targeted myocardin in VSMCs.ConclusionSENCR overexpression suppressed VMSC proliferation and migration, maintained the contractile phenotype and suppressed aortic dilatation via the miR-206/myocardin axis.     

MYH7基因Glu931del突变导致恶性肥厚型心肌病

目的 本研究拟查明1个中国汉族肥厚型心肌病（HCM）家系的致病突变,并探讨基因型-表型关联。方法 利用二代测序技术,全面筛查家系先证者的28个HCM相关致病基因。通过Sanger测序,在家系中验证和筛查发现的可能致病突变,并对突变携带者进行表型分析。结果 二代测序发现先证者携带MYH7基因Glu931del杂合突变。家系筛查发现4名患者均携带该突变,突变与疾病共分离,该突变为此HCM家系的致病突变,常染色体显性遗传。Glu931del突变位于MYH7基因第23外显子,三个核苷酸缺失（c.2791_2793del GAG）,导致其所编码的心脏β-肌球蛋白重链的第931位谷氨酸缺失。MYH7基因第931位谷氨酸残基在不同物种间高度保守。临床表型分析发现,家系中4例患者的左心室最厚厚度在19mm-30mm之间,静息状态均无明显左室流出道梗阻,表现为胸痛、心悸和呼吸困难,并伴黑曚或有晕厥史。该家系另有两例患者在家系筛查前发生猝死,确诊年龄分别为5岁和6岁,死亡年龄均为16岁。该家系随访12年,HCM临床症状进展较快,1例患者左心室最大厚度由7mm发展为30mm,两例患者心功能进展为NYHA分级Ⅲ/Ⅳ级。结论 MYH7基因Glu931del突变导致的HCM表型较严重,易发生猝死和心衰,但也存在较大的表型异质性。二代高通量测序可以用于HCM致病基因的全面筛查。     

Identification and characterization of oviductal glycoprotein-binding protein partner on gametes: epitopic similarity to non-muscle myosin IIA, MYH 9

The mammalian estrogen induced oviductal glycoprotein (OGP) has been known to associate with capacitated sperm, oocytes and developing embryos. This study aimed to identify the putative binding partner of OGP on gametes using N-terminal peptide of bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) OGP, Nmon, as bait. A protein(s) of molecular size approximately 54 kDa was detected by far-western blot analysis of detergent solubilized human sperm proteins. MALDI-TOF mass spectra analysis of approximately 54 kDa tryptic peptides gave a significant hit to non-muscle myosin heavy chain. Biochemical characterization of approximately 54 kDa was done with antibodies specific to non-muscle myosin IIA, MYH9. The approximately 54 kDa protein, possible breakdown product of MYH9, immunoreacted with MYH9 antibody in western blot analysis. OGP binding to approximately 54 kDa could also be demonstrated in far-western blot analysis of detergent solubilized human sperm proteins and nuclear matrix intermediate filament (NM-IF) preparations from human sperm and mouse oocytes. Far-western blot analysis of MYH9 enriched by immunoprecipitation identified the native approximately 220 kDa protein as OGP-binding partner. The identical and characteristic immunogold localization pattern of Nmon and MYH9 on sperm NM-IF preparation substantiated these findings. The results suggest that OGP binds to both gametes through its interaction with MYH9 through the non-glycosylated N-terminal conserved region of OGP, spanning the residues 11-137.     

Comprehensive analysis of the contribution of germline MYH variation to early-onset colorectal cancer

Mutations in the base excision repair gene MYH have recently been shown to confer recessive susceptibility to colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. To evaluate the contribution of germline MYH mutations to early-onset colorectal cancer, we screened a series of 358 unselected early-onset cases for germline changes in the coding sequence of the gene. Two cases harbored biallelic germline mutations (0.6%; 95% CI = 0.06-2.0) and 8 single MYH mutations (2.2%; 95% CI = 0.9-4.4). Both cases harboring biallelic MYH mutations had multiple polyps but not profuse polyposis. All cases had distally sited tumors. No biallelic mutations were detected among 354 controls. These results confirm that biallelic MYH mutations confer susceptibility to colorectal cancer but are unlikely to account for more than 3% of early-onset colorectal cancer.