Identification and immunolocalisation of annexins V and VI, the major cardiac annexins, in rat heart

A conserved annexin A6-mediated membrane repair mechanism in muscle, heart, and nerve

Membrane instability and disruption underlie myriad acute and chronic disorders. Anxa6 encodes the membrane-associated protein annexin A6 and was identified as a genetic modifier of muscle repair and muscular dystrophy. To evaluate annexin A6’s role in membrane repair in vivo, we inserted sequences encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the last coding exon of Anxa6. Heterozygous Anxa6gfp mice expressed a normal pattern of annexin A6 with reduced annexin A6GFP mRNA and protein. High-resolution imaging of wounded muscle fibers showed annexin A6GFP rapidly formed a repair cap at the site of injury. Injured cardiomyocytes and neurons also displayed repair caps after wounding, highlighting annexin A6–mediated repair caps as a feature in multiple cell types. Using surface plasmon resonance, we showed recombinant annexin A6 bound phosphatidylserine-containing lipids in a Ca²⁺- and dose-dependent fashion with appreciable binding at approximately 50 μM Ca²⁺. Exogenously added recombinant annexin A6 localized to repair caps and improved muscle membrane repair capacity in a dose-dependent fashion without disrupting endogenous annexin A6 localization, indicating annexin A6 promotes repair from both intracellular and extracellular compartments. Thus, annexin A6 orchestrates repair in multiple cell types, and recombinant annexin A6 may be useful in additional chronic disorders beyond skeletal muscle myopathies.

Cardiomyocyte damage control in heart failure and the role of the sarcolemma

The cardiomyocyte plasma membrane, termed the sarcolemma, is fundamental for regulating a myriad of cellular processes. For example, the structural integrity of the cardiomyocyte sarcolemma is essential for mediating cardiac contraction by forming microdomains such as the t-tubular network, caveolae and the intercalated disc. Significantly, remodelling of these sarcolemma microdomains is a key feature in the development and progression of heart failure (HF). However, despite extensive characterisation of the associated molecular and ultrastructural events there is a lack of clarity surrounding the mechanisms driving adverse morphological rearrangements. The sarcolemma also provides protection, and is the cell's first line of defence, against external stresses such as oxygen and nutrient deprivation, inflammation and oxidative stress with a loss of sarcolemma viability shown to be a key step in cell death via necrosis. Significantly, cumulative cell death is also a feature of HF, and is linked to disease progression and loss of cardiac function. Herein, we will review the link between structural and molecular remodelling of the sarcolemma associated with the progression of HF, specifically considering the evidence for: (i) Whether intrinsic, evolutionary conserved, plasma membrane injury-repair mechanisms are in operation in the heart, and (ii) if deficits in key 'wound-healing' proteins (annexins, dysferlin, EHD2 and MG53) may play a yet to be fully appreciated role in triggering sarcolemma microdomain remodelling and/or necrosis. Cardiomyocytes are terminally differentiated with very limited regenerative capability and therefore preserving cell viability and cardiac function is crucially important. This review presents a novel perspective on sarcolemma remodelling by considering whether targeting proteins that regulate sarcolemma injury-repair may hold promise for developing new strategies to attenuate HF progression.

Annexin V-TRAIL fusion protein is a more sensitive and potent apoptotic inducer for cancer therapy

The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising cancer therapeutic agent, which kills cancer cells selectively, while leaving normal cells unharmed. However, the emerging resistance of tumor cells and patients to TRAIL-induced apoptosis limits its further application. In this study, we developed a chimeric protein Annexin V-TRAIL (designated as TP8) with higher efficacy than TRAIL both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the EC₅₀ of TP8 on a series of tumor cells was much lower than wild-type TRAIL. Annexin V provided this recombinant protein with higher efficacy, while leaving tumor specificity of TRAIL unchanged since TP8 had no effects on normal cells. Invivo, TP8 effectively suppressed tumor growth and prolonged tumor doubling time and tumor growth delay time in mouse xenografts involving multiple cancer cell types including A549, Colo205 and Bel7402. This study provides a new rational strategy to treat TRAIL-resistant cancers.

Interaction of annexin A6 with alpha actinin in cardiomyocytes

Background

Annexins are calcium dependent phospholipid binding proteins that are expressed in a wide variety of tissues and implicated in various extra- and intracellular processes. In myocardial tissue, annexins A2, A5 and A6 are particularly abundant, of which the expression levels of annexin A6 has been found to be maximal. Conflicting reports from transgenic mice overexpressing annexin A6 or null mice lacking annexin A6 showed imbalances in intracellular calcium turnover and disturbed cardiac contractility. However, few studies have focussed on the signalling module of annexin A6 in the heart either in normal or in pathological state.

Results

To identify the putative binding partners of annexin A6 in the heart, ventricular extracts were subjected to glutathione S-transferase (GST)- annexin A6 pull down assay and the GST- annexin A6 bound proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. The pull down fractions of ventricular extracts with GST-full length annexin A6 as well as GST-C terminus deleted annexin A6 when immunoblotted with anti sarcomeric alpha (α)-actinin antibody showed the presence of α-actinin in the immunoblot which was absent when GST-N terminus deleted annexin A6 was used for pull down. Overexpression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged full length annexin A6 showed z-line like appearance in cardiomyocytes whereas GFP-N termimus deleted annexin A6 was mostly localized to the nucleus. Overexpression of GFP-C terminus deleted annexin A6 in cardiomyocytes showed aggregate like appearance in the cytoplasm. Double immunofluorescent staining of cardiomyocytes with anti annexin A6 and anti sarcomeric α-actinin antibodies showed perfect co-localization of these two proteins with annexin A6 appearing like a component of sarcomere. Transient knockdown of annexin A6 in cardiomyocytes by shRNA significantly enhances the contractile functions but does not affect the z-band architecture, as revealed by α-actinin immunostaining in shRNA treated cells.

Conclusions

In overall, the present study demonstrated for the first time that annexin A6 physically interacts with sarcomeric α-actinin and alters contractility of cardiomyocytes suggesting that it might play important role in excitation and contraction process.

Annexin A6 at the cardiac myocyte sarcolemma--evidence for self-association and binding to actin

The plasma membrane of the heart muscle cell and its underlying cytoskeleton are vitally important to the function of the heart. Annexin A6 is a major cellular calcium and phospholipid binding protein. Here we show that annexin A6 copurifies with sarcolemma isolated from pig heart. Two pools of annexin A6 are present in the sarcolemma fraction, one dependent on calcium and one that resists extraction by the calcium chelator EGTA. Potential annexin A6 binding proteins in the sarcolemma fraction were identified using Far Western blotting. Two major annexin A6 binding proteins were identified as actin and annexin A6 itself. Annexin A6 bound to itself both in the presence and in the absence of calcium ions. Sites for self association were mapped by performing Western blots on proteolytic fragments of recombinant annexin A6. Annexin A6 bound preferentially not only to the N terminal fragment (domains I-IV, residues 1-352) but also to C-terminal fragments corresponding to domains V+VI and domains VII+VIII. Actin binding to annexin A6 was calcium-dependent and exclusively to the N-terminal fragment of annexin A6. A calcium-dependent complex of annexin A6 and actin may stabilize the cardiomyocyte sarcolemma during cell stimulation.

Quantitative analysis of [99mTc]C2A-GST distribution in the area at risk after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion using a compartmental model

OBJECTIVE

It was recently demonstrated that the radiolabeled C2A domain of synaptotagmin I accumulates avidly in the area at risk after ischemia and reperfusion. The objective was to quantitatively characterize the dynamic uptake of radiolabeled C2A in normal and ischemically injured myocardia using a compartmental model.

METHODS

To induce acute myocardial infarction, the left descending coronary artery was ligated for 18 min, followed by reperfusion. [99mTc]C2A-GST or its inactivated form, [99mTc]C2A-GST-NHS, was injected intravenously at 2 h after reperfusion. A group of four rats was sacrificed at 10, 30, 60 and 180 after injection. Uptake of [99mTc]C2A-GST and [99mTc]C2A-GST-NHS in the area at risk and in the normal myocardium were determined by gamma counting. A compartmental model was developed to quantitatively interpret myocardial uptake kinetic data. The model consists of two physical spaces (vascular space and tissue space), with plasma activity as input. The model allows for [99mTc]C2A-GST and [99mTc]C2A-GST-NHS diffusion between vascular and tissue spaces, as well as for [99mTc]C2A-GST sequestration in vascular and tissue spaces via specific binding.

RESULTS

[99mTc]C2A-GST uptake in the area at risk was significantly higher than that for [99mTc]C2A-GST-NHS at all time points. The compartmental model separated [99mTc]C2A-GST uptake in the area at risk due to passive retention from that due to specific binding. The maximum amount of [99mTc]C2A-GST that could be sequestered in the area at risk due to specific binding was estimated at a total of 0.048 nmol/g tissue. The rate of [99mTc]C2A-GST sequestration within the tissue space of the area at risk was 0.012 ml/min. Modeling results also revealed that the diffusion rate of radiotracer between vascular and tissue spaces is the limiting factor of [99mTc]C2A-GST sequestration within the tissue space of the area at risk.

CONCLUSION

[99mTc]C2A-GST is sequestered in the ischemically injured myocardium in a well-defined dynamic profile. Model parameters will be valuable indicators for gauging and guiding the development of future-generation molecular probes.

SPECT imaging of myocardial infarction using 99mTc-labeled C2A domain of synaptotagmin I in a porcine ischemia-reperfusion model

INTRODUCTION

The C2A domain of synaptotagmin I recognizes necrotic and apoptotic cells by binding to exposed anionic phospholipids. The goal is to explore the potential imaging utility of 99mTc-labeled C2A in the detection of acute cardiac cell death in a porcine model that resembles human cardiovascular physiology.

METHODS

Ischemia (20-25 min) was induced in pigs (M/F, 20-25 kg) using balloon angioplasty. 99mTc-C2A-GST (n=7) or 99mTc-BSA (n=2) was injected intravenously 1-2 h after reperfusion. Noninfarct animals were injected with 99mTc-C2A-GST (n=4). SPECT images were acquired at 3 and 6 h postinjection. Cardiac tissues were analyzed to confirm the presence of cell death.

RESULTS

Focal uptake was detected in five out of seven subjects at 3 h and in all infarct subjects at 6 h postinjection but not in infarct animals injected with 99mTc-BSA or in noninfarct animals with 99mTc-C2A-GST. Gamma counting of infarct versus normal myocardium yielded a 10.2+/-5.7-fold elevation in absolute radioactivity, with histologically confirmed infarction.

CONCLUSIONS

We present data on imaging myocardial cell death in the acute phase of infarction in pigs. C2A holds promise and warrants further development as an infarct-avid molecular probe.

Downregulated cardiac annexin VI mRNA and protein levels in chronically fibrillating human atria

OBJECTIVES

We compared the expression and distribution of atrial annexin VI between patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR).

METHODS

Atrial appendages were obtained during cardiac surgery from 20 patients with chronic AF and 34 matched controls in SR. The expression and distribution of annexin VI were analyzed using semiquantitative RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunoconfocal microscopy.

RESULTS

In the AF group, compared to SR, the mRNA was reduced to <35% and the protein to <50% in amount (for each atrium, all p < 0.01). Immunoconfocal microscopy confirmed the downregulation of annexin VI protein in AF and demonstrated the colocalization of annexin VI with both Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers and L-type Ca(2+) channels in the sarcolemma, but not with ryanodine receptors in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrial annexin VI, spatially colocalized with both Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers and L-type Ca(2+) channels in the myocyte membrane, is downregulated during chronic AF.

Anti-annexin V antibodies: are they prothrombotic?

Annexin V inhibits prothrombin activation and is able to prevent thrombus formation under normal venous and arterial blood flow conditions. Antibodies to annexin V have been identified in association with several pathological conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with or without anti-phospholipid syndrome, recurrent spontaneous abortions and systemic sclerosis (SSc). These antibodies are suspected to exert a detrimental role and interfere with annexin V function. Thus, they have been associated with the occurrence of foetal loss and venous and/or arterial thrombosis in SLE patients, as well as digital ischemia in SSc patients. However, their true pathogenic role remains to be proven.

Annexin VI regulation of cardiac function

Annexins are a family of membrane binding proteins that are characterized by a hypervariable amino terminus followed by a series of highly conserved Ca2+-phospholipid binding domains. Annexins function by binding to anionic phospholipid surfaces in a Ca2+-dependent manner. They self-associate to form trimers which further assemble into sheets that cover the membrane surface and alter properties such as fluidity and permeability. This submembranous skeleton alters integral protein functions such as ion transport properties and shields the surface from phospholipid binding proteins such as phospholipases and protein kinase C. Transgenic mouse hearts overexpressing wild type annexin VI (AnxVI673), a dominant-negative truncated annexin VI (residues 1-129, Anx129) and an annexin VI-null mouse (AnxVI-/-) have implicated the protein as a regulator of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis which affects cardiac function.

Clinical significance of measurement of plasma annexin V concentration of patients in the emergency room

Annexin V, a calcium-binding protein, is widely present in various organs and tissues. In the present study, plasma annexin V concentration was measured in 158 patients who were brought to the emergency room, including 25 patients suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 14 with cerebrovascular disease, 11 with trauma of the extremities, 11 with severe trauma associated with visceral damage, and 35 with witnessed cardiac arrest. Annexin V concentration in normal healthy individuals (n=110) was 1.9+/-0.7 ng/ml. Annexin V concentration in AMI and cardiac arrest patients was 11.0+/-4.9 and 15.3+/-7.9 ng/ml, respectively, being significantly higher than that in patients with cerebrovascular disease (5.4+/-2.7 ng/ml). The value in severe trauma patients was 15.9+/-9.4 ng/ml, being significantly higher than that in patients with trauma of the extremities (5.6+/-1.2 ng/ml). Annexin V concentrations in the cardiac arrest and AMI patients who survived more than 24 h after admission were lower than those in patients who died within 24 h after the onset of symptoms. Annexin V content in the lungs and myocardium in normal rats was extremely high in comparison to that in brain and skeletal muscle. These results suggest that the high levels of plasma annexin V in patients with AMI, cardiac arrest and severe trauma reflect the severity of damage of the myocardium and/or other visceral organs, and measurement of plasma annexin V concentration may help to assess the prognosis of patients brought to the emergency room.

DT40 cells lacking the Ca2+-binding protein annexin 5 are resistant to Ca2+-dependent apoptosis

Annexins are widely expressed Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins with poorly understood physiological roles. Proposed functions include Ca(2+) channel activity and vesicle trafficking, but neither have been proven in vivo. Here we used targeted gene disruption to generate B-lymphocytes lacking annexin 5 (Anx5) expression and show that this results in reduced susceptibility to a range of apoptotic stimuli. By comparison B-lymphocytes lacking annexin 2 (Anx2) showed no such resistance, providing evidence that this effect is specific to loss of Anx5. The defect in the ANX5(-/-) cells occurs early in the apoptotic program before nuclear condensation, caspase 3 activation, and cell shrinkage, but downstream of an initial Ca(2+) influx. Only UVA/B irradiation induced similar levels of apoptosis in wild-type and ANX5(-/-) cells. Unexpectedly, ANX5(-/-) cells permeabilized in vitro also failed to release mitochondrial cytochrome C, suggesting a possible mechanism for their resistance to apoptosis. These findings demonstrate a role for Anx5 in determining the susceptibility of B-lymphocytes to apoptosis.

Altered mechanical properties and intracellular calcium signaling in cardiomyocytes from annexin 6 null-mutant mice

Annexin 6 is one of a widely expressed family of calcium-binding proteins found in most mammalian tissues, including the heart. Several studies have implicated annexin 6 in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ signaling, and it has been shown in vitro to act as a modulator of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-release channel, cardiac L-type calcium channel, and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. To investigate the role of annexin 6 in intact cardiomyocytes, we used mice containing a targeted disruption of the annexin 6 gene. Compared with controls, the myocytes of annexin 6 null-mutant mice demonstrated a significant increase in the rates of shortening and relengthening. Intracellular Ca2+ transients in fura-2-loaded cardiomyocytes induced by caffeine showed a normal baseline and amplitude, whereas the rate of decay was doubled in annexin 6-/- myocytes compared with control mice. These results show that annexin 6 knockout in the mouse leads to an increase in myocyte contractility and faster diastolic Ca2+ removal from the cytoplasm. In light of published findings showing annexin 6 to be down-regulated in end-stage heart failure, these results are consistent with a role for annexin 6 as a negative inotropic factor in the regulation of cardiomyocyte mechanics.

Localization of annexin V in rat normal kidney and experimental glomerulonephritis

The localization of annexin V, a calcium binding protein, was immunochemically and immunohistologically studied in experimental rat glomerulonephritis using annexin V polyclonal antibody. Plasma and urinary annexin V levels were measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Urinary annexin V level, which was correlated with urinary L-lactate dehydrogenase activity, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity and protein level, increased time-dependently after the injection of nephritogenic antigen (bovine glomerular basement membrane), progressively increasing to attain a peak level at 4 weeks of 51.5 +/- 11.3 ng/h. However, plasma annexin V level showed no increase during the study period. Normal kidneys showed strong staining for annexin V in distal tubules, being particularly strong in tubules of the inner stripe of the outer medulla, but could not be detected in proximal tubules. Annexin V was seen in visceral epithelial cells. Bowman's capsule of the glomerulus, the vascular endothelium of arterioles and interlobular arteries, and vascular smooth muscle. In nephritis, the lumen of distal tubules and the luminal cell membrane were deeply stained, with leakage of annexin V being observed from tubular cells. In the present study, renal annexin V was markedly excreted into urine, and its urinary level reflected the severity of damage of renal tissue and the progression of nephritis. These changes of annexin V in the distal tubule and visceral epithelial cells may be of significance in cell injury of the kidney.

Membrane-bound 3D structures reveal the intrinsic flexibility of annexin VI

Several quasi-ordered arrays and three two-dimensional crystal forms of annexin VI were obtained on artificial lipid monolayers. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the crystal forms exhibit marked differences in the orientations of the two lobes, revealing flexibility of the linker between the two lobes of annexin VI. Evidence is presented that the lobes may bind the monolayer in a parallel orientation, or an antiparallel orientation, in which the second lobe is turned away from the monolayer. It is hypothesized that annexin VI may also adopt several conformations in vivo, underlying different functional roles.

Expression and localization of the annexins II, V, and VI in myocardium from patients with end-stage heart failure

Annexins II, V, and VI belong to a family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins that have been involved mainly in signal transduction, differentiation, membrane trafficking events, or binding to the extracellular matrix, or that might be effective as Ca(2+)-channels. They are abundant in the mammalian myocardium and might play a role in ventricular remodeling and altered calcium handling during heart failure. To test this hypothesis, we compared the expression and distribution of these annexins in nonfailing (n = 9) and failing human hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 11). Northern blot and slot blot analysis were used to determine the annexin mRNA levels and Western blots were used to quantify the amounts of annexin proteins. Distribution of annexins was studied by immunohistofluorescence labeling and compared with that of a sarcolemmal marker (Na+/K(+)-ATPase) and of a myofibrillar protein (alpha-actinin). We showed that nonfailing hearts contained a higher amount of annexin VI than of annexin V or II (13.5 +/- 1.8, 3.7 +/- 0.2, and 2.5 +/- 0.5 microg/mg protein, respectively). In failing hearts, there was a parallel increase in both mRNA and protein levels of annexin II (146% and 132%, p < 0.05, respectively) and annexin V (152%, p < 0.01, 147%, p < 0.005, respectively); the protein level of annexin VI was also increased (117%, p < 0.05), whereas the increase of its mRNA level was statistically insignificant. We observed a predominant localization of annexin II in interstitium, and of annexins V and VI in cardiomyocytes at the level of the sarcolemma, T-tubules, and intercalated disks in nonfailing hearts, whereas in failing hearts enlarged interstitium contained all three annexins. Furthermore, annexin V staining at the level of cardiomyocytes almost disappeared. In conclusion, we showed that heart failure is accompanied by marked overexpression of annexins II and V, as well as translocation of annexin V from cardiomyocytes to interstitial tissue. The data suggest that annexins may contribute to ventricular remodeling and annexin V to impaired Ca2+ handling in failing heart.

Immunological development and cardiovascular function are normal in annexin VI null mutant mice

Annexins are calcium-binding proteins of unknown function but which are implicated in important cellular processes, including anticoagulation, ion flux regulation, calcium homeostasis, and endocytosis. To gain insight into the function of annexin VI, we performed targeted disruption of its gene in mice. Matings between heterozygous mice produced offspring with a normal Mendelian pattern of inheritance, indicating that the loss of annexin VI did not interfere with viability in utero. Mice lacking annexin VI reached sexual maturity at the same age as their normal littermates, and both males and females were fertile. Because of interest in the role of annexin VI in cardiovascular function, we examined heart rate and blood pressure in knockout and wild-type mice and found these to be identical in the two groups. Similarly, the cardiovascular responses of both sets of mice to septic shock were indistinguishable. We also examined components of the immune system and found no differences in thymic, splenic, or bone marrow lymphocyte levels between knockout and wild-type mice. This is the first study of annexin knockout mice, and the lack of a clear phenotype has broad implications for current views of annexin function.

Localization and quantitation of cardiac annexins II, V, and VI in hypertensive guinea pigs

Annexins are characterized by Ca2+-dependent binding to phospholipids. Annexin II mainly participates in cell-cell adhesion and signal transduction, whereas annexins V and VI also seem to regulate intracellular calcium cycling. Their abundance and localization were determined in left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) from hypertensive guinea pigs, during the transition from compensatory hypertrophy to heart failure. Immunoblot analysis of annexins II, V, and VI revealed an increased accumulation (2.6-, 1.45-, and 2.3-fold, respectively) in LV from hypertensive guinea pigs and no modification in RV. Immunofluorescent labeling of annexins II, V, and VI; of Na+-K+-ATPase; and of sarcomeric alpha-actinin showed that in control LV and RV, 1) annexin II is present in nonmuscle cells; 2) annexins V and VI are mainly observed in the sarcolemma and intercalated disks of myocytes; 3) annexins II, V, and VI strongly label endothelial cells and adventitia of coronary arteries; and 4) annexin VI is present in the media. At the onset of heart failure, the most striking changes are the increased protein accumulation in LV and the very strong labeling of annexins II, V, and VI in interstitial tissue, suggesting a role in fibrosis development and cardiac remodeling.

Crystal structure of bovine annexin VI in a calcium-bound state

The crystal structure of a calcium-bound form of bovine annexin VI has been determined with X-ray diffraction data to 2.9 A by molecular replacement. Six Ca2+ ions were found, five in AB loops, one in a DE loop. Two loops (II-AB, which binds calcium, and V-AB, which does not) have conformations that differ significantly from those in calcium-free, human recombinant annexin VI. There are only small differences between the calci- and the apo-annexin VI in the rest of the molecule. Calcium by itself does not promote a major conformational change.

Ovariectomy enhances the expression and nuclear translocation of annexin 5 in rat anterior pituitary gonadotrophs

An observation of abundant annexin 5, a novel calcium and phospholipid binding protein, in gonadotrophs of the anterior pituitary gland of ovariectomized rats (Kawaminami et al., 1997 (in press)) led us to investigate the effect of ovariectomy on the subcellular distribution and synthesis of annexin 5. Gonadotrophs, which were identified by immunocytochemistry with anti LHbeta antiserum, dramatically increased their size three weeks after ovariectomy. These 'castration cells' were shown to contain abundant annexin 5 associated with the plasma membrane, nuclear envelope and nucleoplasm. True localization within the nucleus was shown by optical sectioning with a confocal microscope. Northern blot analysis showed that annexin 5 mRNA in the anterior pituitary gland was increased 24 h after ovariectomy. It further increased in parallel with LHbeta mRNA at three weeks and it decreased in parallel with LHbeta mRNA when estradiol (250 microg/animal per day) was given for 3 days. These results show that the expression of pituitary annexin 5 is controlled by ovarian estradiol and imply that annexin 5 plays a physiological role in the nucleus of activated gonadotrophs.

Differential expression and localization of annexin V in cardiac myocytes during growth and hypertrophy

Recently it was shown that annexin V is the most prominent member of the annexin family in the adult heart [1]. Amongst others, annexin V has been suggested to play a role in developmental processes. The aim of the present study was to explore whether in the heart annexin V content and localization change during maturational and hypertrophic growth, in order to obtain indications that annexin V is involved in cardiac growth processes. First, in the intact rat heart annexin V content and localization were studied during perinatal development. It was clearly demonstrated that annexin V content in total heart transiently increased in the first week after birth, from 0.79 +/- 0.06 microg/mg protein at 1 day before birth to a peak value of 1.24 +/- 0.08 microg/mg protein 6 days after birth, whereafter annexin V protein levels declined to a value of 0.70 +/- 0.06 microg/mg protein at 84 days after birth (p < 0.05). Differences in annexin V content were also observed between myocytes isolated from neonatal and adult hearts [0.81 +/- 0.09 and 0.17 +/- 0.08 microg/mg protein, respectively (p < 0.05)]. Moreover, during cardiac maturational growth the subcellular localization of annexin V might change from a cytoplasmic to a more prominent sarcolemmal localization. Second, in vivo hypertrophy induced by aortic coarctation resulted in a marked degree of hypertrophy (22% increase in ventricular weight), but was not associated with a change in annexin V localization or content. The quantitative results obtained with intact hypertrophic rat hearts are supported by findings in neonatal ventricular myocytes, in which hypertrophy was induced by phenylephrine (10(-5) M). In the latter model no changes in annexin V content could be observed either. In conclusion, the marked alterations in annexin V content during the maturational growth in the heart suggest a possible involvement of this protein in this process. In contrast, the absence of changes in annexin V content and localization in hypertrophied hearts compared to age matched control hearts suggests that annexin V does not play a crucial role in the maintenance of the hypertrophic phenotype of the cardiac muscle cell. This notion is supported by observations in phenylephrine-induced hypertrophied neonatal cardiomyocytes.

Localization of annexin V in the adult and neonatal heart

Annexins are a major family of intracellular Ca2+-binding proteins which have been implicated in a variety of cellular functions. Several conflicting reports have been published on the location of annexin V in the heart. In this paper we have used confocal microscopy to demonstrate that annexin V is associated with the sarcolemma and intercalated discs of cardiac myocytes in sections of adult porcine and rat heart. In addition, we have used confocal microscopy of isolated rat myocytes to show that this association is stable even after cells were treated with the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA-AM, to reduce cytosolic calcium levels to very low levels. This demonstrates that annexin V associates tightly with the sarcolemma and suggests that components in addition to phospholipid are involved in binding annexin V to the membrane. Furthermore, we show that, in sections of the neonatal rat left ventricle, annexin V has a different subcellular location than that observed in the terminally differentiated adult myocyte. In these differentiating neonatal cells, annexin V is also located in the nucleoplasm and at the periphery of the nucleus. These results demonstrate that the subcellular location of annexin V is differentially regulated and suggest that annexin V regulates calcium-dependent processes at both the sarcolemma and the nucleus.

Presence and comparison of Ca2+ transport activity of annexins I, II, V, and VI in large unilamellar vesicles

This study evaluated whether annexins I, II and VI possess Ca2+ transport activity in phospholipid membranes by the burst method, and the activity of each was compared with that of annexin V. Briefly, in the presence of 400 microM Ca2+, each annexin at 50 nM was added to large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) which were then burst in fura-2 solution with 0.2% Triton X-100, followed by examination of Ca2+ signals. Annexins I, II, V and VI were all shown to express, each to a different degree, Ca2+ activity toward phosphatidylserine/phosphatidyl- ethanolamine-LUV. Ca2+ signal intensity increased dependent on annexin concentration, and the Ca2+ transport activity of annexin V and VI was higher than that of annexin I and II. However, none of annexin I, II, V and VI expressed Ca2+ transport activity in LUV produced using phosphatidylcholine. Ca(2+)-incorporated LUV with no annexin showed signals whose intensity was proportional to Ca2+ concentration. The Ca2+ transport activity of the annexins could be effectively measured by the burst method. Ca2+ signal intensity would thus appear to be unique for each of the annexins and to be determined by the particular function and specificity of each of those considered in this study.

Measurement of plasma annexin V by ELISA in the early detection of acute myocardial infarction

Annexin V is a calcium binding protein which is widely present in various cells and tissues. Using annexin V which we isolated and purified from human cardiac muscle, we prepared an anti-human cardiac annexin V monoclonal antibody. Identification of annexin V was made by means of partial amino acid sequences. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using this monoclonal antibody and anti-canine cardiac annexin V polyclonal antibody. With this ELISA, plasma annexin V concentration was measured in 196 normal healthy individuals, 23 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients who were hospitalized within 6 h after the onset of chest pain, and 130 patients with other diseases, including lung, liver and kidney disease. The plasma annexin V concentration in normal healthy individuals was 1.7 +/- 0.6 ng/ml (mean +/- S.D.), while that in AMI patients was elevated to 13.2 +/- 6.8 ng/ml (P < 0.0001) at the time of initial blood drawing, 3.2 +/- 1.5 h after onset of pain, and these values were higher than normal in 21 out of 23 cases (91.3%) of AMI. In all cases excepting 3, annexin V concentration immediately decreased after the onset of pain. The annexin V concentration in patients with old myocardial infarction, chest pain syndrome, valvular heart disease, lung disease and kidney disease was 1.8 +/- 0.8, 2.0 +/- 0.7, 1.7 +/- 1.1, 2.3 +/- 1.4 and 2.1 +/- 1.2 ng/ml, respectively, being within normal limits. The values in liver disease patients and trauma patients were 3.7 +/- 2.7 (P < 0.05) and 3.3 +/- 2.4 (P < 0.05) ng/ml, respectively, being slightly higher than that in normal healthy individuals.

Purification of cardiac annexin V from the beagle dog heart and changes in its localization in the ischemic rat heart

We isolated and purified 35 kDa protein from the myocardium of the beagle dog and identified it to be annexin V from partial amino acid sequence determination. It was confirmed that anticanine cardiac annexin V rabbit polyclonal antibody, which was produced using the 35 kDa protein, cross-reacts with annexin V of the myocardium, lung, liver, kidney, and brain of the rat. The localization of cardiac annexin V and the effect of ischemia for 30-180 min in the rat were immunohistochemically studied with the use of the Langendorff perfusion heart. In the normal myocardium, annexin V, accompanied by cross-striation, was observed throughout the cell. In ischemia of 30 min, extracellular leakage of annexin V was observed with uneven staining in the cytoplasm. When the ischemic time exceeded 60 min, annexin V was observed in the cell membrane with a decrease of annexin V in the cytoplasm. Also, extracellular leakage of annexin V was observed prominently. In ischemia for 180 min, almost all the annexin V in the cytoplasm disappeared. These results suggest that the level of ischemia can be estimated from the changes in localization of annexin V.