Immunological identification of five troponin T isoforms reveals an elaborate maturational troponin T profile in rabbit myocardium

Cardiac troponins - a paradigm for diagnostic biomarker identification and development

The introduction of cardiac troponins into clinical diagnostics has not only improved diagnostic pathways for myocardial infarction but also profoundly influenced the definition of myocardial infarction. The term troponin appeared in the literature almost 60 years ago, i.e. shortly after this journal was founded. The development of cardiac troponins from proteins involved in muscle contraction, which were in the focus of few specialized research groups from physiology and biochemistry, to one of the most frequently measured protein biomarkers in medicine is a paradigmatic success story which is also reflected in almost 300 publications on the topic in this journal. From the viewpoint of biomarker development the critical success factors were medical need, timely generation of medical evidence, and the rapid development of robust and precise laboratory assays.

Cardiovascular Biomarkers: Lessons of the Past and Prospects for the Future

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major healthcare burden on the population worldwide. Early detection of this disease is important in prevention and treatment to minimise morbidity and mortality. Biomarkers are a critical tool to either diagnose, screen, or provide prognostic information for pathological conditions. This review discusses the historical cardiac biomarkers used to detect these conditions, discussing their application and their limitations. Identification of new biomarkers have since replaced these and are now in use in routine clinical practice, but still do not detect all disease. Future cardiac biomarkers are showing promise in early studies, but further studies are required to show their value in improving detection of CVD above the current biomarkers. Additionally, the analytical platforms that would allow them to be adopted in healthcare are yet to be established. There is also the need to identify whether these biomarkers can be used for diagnostic, prognostic, or screening purposes, which will impact their implementation in routine clinical practice.

Self-organization of rat cardiac cells into contractile 3-D cardiac tissue

The mammalian heart is not known to regenerate following injury. Therefore, there is great interest in developing viable tissue-based models for cardiac assist. Recent years have brought numerous advances in the development of scaffold-based models of cardiac tissue, but a self-organizing model has yet to be described. Here, we report the development of an in vitro cardiac tissue without scaffolding materials in the contractile region. Using an optimal concentration of the adhesion molecule laminin, a confluent layer of neonatal rat cardiomyogenic cells can be induced to self-organize into a cylindrical construct, resembling a papillary muscle, which we have termed a cardioid. Like endogenous heart tissue, cardioids contract spontaneously and can be electrically paced between 1 and 5 Hz indefinitely without fatigue. These engineered cardiac tissues also show an increased rate of spontaneous contraction (chronotropy), increased rate of relaxation (lusitropy), and increased force production (inotropy) in response to epinephrine. Cardioids have a developmental protein phenotype that expresses both alpha- and beta-tropomyosin, very low levels of SERCA2a, and very little of the mature isoform of cardiac troponin T.

Re-expression of fetal troponin isoforms in the postinfarction failing heart of the rat

Molecular switches between the troponin T and I isoforms are known to occur in various conditions, but the results from studies of failing human hearts with various etiologies are contradictory and it is not certain whether troponin isoform changes occur. Therefore, the molecular switching of troponin isoforms during normal development and heart failure (HF) after myocardial infarction were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats at the fetal, neonate, and normal adult stages, and in a postinfarction adult HF group. During normal development, switching from the fetal to the adult pattern of the troponin T and I isoforms was observed. Immunoblotting of postinfarction failing hearts revealed a marked increase in the fetal isoform of cardiac TnT (cTnT) (fetal/adult cTnT isoforms: normal adult = 0.61 +/- 0.09 vs postinfarction HF = 1.59 +/- 0.13, p < 0.001). Also, the amount of the adult troponin I (TnI) isoform decreased significantly in the postinfarction failing heart. In the semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as an internal standard, the mRNA of fetal cTnT increased in the postinfarction failing heart (fetal cTnT/GAPDH: control = 0.22 vs HF rat = 0.84, p < 0.05). Therefore, molecular switching of the troponin T and I isoforms occurred during the normal development of the rat, and there was re-expression of the fetal pattern of the isoforms in the postinfarction failing heart of the adult rat.

Cardiac Troponin T and Creatine Kinase MB Content in Skeletal Muscle of the Uremic Rat

Background: The assertion that creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and the developmental isoforms of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) are expressed by skeletal muscle in some clinical settings is an extrapolation from nonuremic rodent studies. We studied the content of CK-MB and cTnT in skeletal muscle of the renal-insufficient rat.

Methods: Skeletal muscles (gastrocnemius) were collected from both five-sixths nephrectomized rats (n = 11) and sham-operated controls (n = 11). cTnT content was analyzed by Elecsys (Roche), immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry with antibodies M7 and M11-7 (Roche). CK isoenzymes were analyzed electrophoretically.

Results: Trace concentrations of cTnT were detected in some of the skeletal muscle samples [controls (3 of 11) and uremic rats (1 of 11)] at concentrations &lt;0.01% of that detected in heart. By contrast, positive staining appeared in both groups with M11-7 by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. No immunoreactivity was detected in skeletal muscle using M7 in the immunoblot format, although immunoreactivity was detected by immunohistochemistry in all samples. The median percentages of CK-MB were 6.0% and 4.1% for the skeletal muscle from control and uremic rats, respectively.

Conclusion: The detection of cTnT and CK-MB in skeletal muscle does not differ for uremic rats compared with sham-operated controls. cTnT isoforms detected by qualitative methods are not detected with the cTnT immunoassay. Observations with rodents should not necessarily be extrapolated to humans.

Altered cross-bridge characteristics following haemodynamic overload in rabbit hearts expressing V3 myosin

1. Our goal in this study was to evaluate the effect of haemodynamic overload on cross-bridge (XBr) kinetics in the rabbit heart independently of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms, which are known to modulate kinetics in small mammals. We applied a myothermal-mechanical protocol to isometrically contracting papillary muscles from two rabbit heart populations: (1) surgically induced right ventricular pressure overload (PO), and (2) sustained treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU). Both treatments resulted in a 100 % V3 MHC profile. 2. XBr force-time integral (FTI), evaluated during the peak of the twitch from muscle FTI and tension-dependent heat, was greater in the PO hearts (0.80 +/- 0.10 versus 0.45 +/- 0.05 pN s, means +/- S.E.M., P = 0.01). 3. Within the framework of a two-state XBr model, the PO XBr developed more force while attached (5.8 +/- 0.9 versus 2.7 +/- 0.3 pN), with a lower cycling rate (0.89 +/- 0.10 versus 1.50 +/- 0.14 s(-1)) and duty cycle (0.14 +/- 0.03 versus 0.24 +/- 0.02). 4. Only the ventricular isoforms of myosin light chain 1 and 2 and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were expressed, with no difference in cTnI phosphorylation between the PO and PTU samples. The troponin T (TnT) isoform compositions in the PO and PTU samples were significantly different (P = 0.001), with TnT2 comprising 2.29 +/- 0.03 % in PO hearts versus 0.98 +/- 0.01 % in PTU hearts of total TnT. 5. This study demonstrates that MHC does not mediate dramatic alterations in XBr function induced by haemodynamic overload. Our findings support the likelihood that differences among other thick and thin filament proteins underlie these XBr alterations.

RNA Expression of Cardiac Troponin T Isoforms in Diseased Human Skeletal Muscle

Background: The expression of multiple cardiac troponin T (cTnT) isoforms has been demonstrated in diseased human skeletal muscle. However, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) expression has been described only in heart muscle. The goal of this study was to determine whether mRNA for cTnT, slow skeletal troponin T (sTnT), or cTnI was expressed in skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods: Total mRNA was extracted from healthy human heart (n = 4), healthy human skeletal muscle (n = 5), and skeletal muscle from patients with ESRD (n = 7) and DMD (n = 5). Total RNA (1 μg) was reverse-transcribed using Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase. The reverse-transcribed cDNAs were amplified by PCR using oligonucleotide primers specific for cTnT, sTnT, and cTnI sequences (GenBank accession numbers X74819, m19308, and X54163, respectively).

Results: In all heart specimens, a 150-bp cTnT amplicon was detected. Skeletal muscle from four of seven patients with ESRD and two of five patients with DMD showed expression of a 150-bp amplicon. Using DNA sequencing and a comparison program, the 150-bp amplicons found in heart and diseased skeletal muscle specimens were 100% identical and specific to the cTnT mRNA sequence. No cTnT mRNA expression was found in healthy skeletal muscle. No evidence of sTnT mRNA was found in heart muscle. A 200-bp sTnT amplicon specific to a human sTnT sequence was detected in all skeletal muscle specimens. A 250-bp cTnI amplicon specific to the cTnI sequence was detected in all heart specimens. However, no cTnI mRNA expression was found in healthy or diseased skeletal muscle specimens. cTnT mRNA expression in both heart and diseased skeletal muscles corresponded with cTnT isoform expression, respectively, as determined by Western blot analysis.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate cTnT mRNA expression, but no cTnI mRNA expression, by reverse transcription-PCR in diseased human skeletal muscle that expresses cTnT isoforms.

Cardiac troponin T isoforms expressed in renal diseased skeletal muscle will not cause false-positive results by the second generation cardiac troponin T assay by Boehringer Mannheim

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the two monoclonal anti-cardiac troponin T (cTnT) antibodies (MAbs) used in the second generation cTnT assay by Boehringer Mannheim (BM, capture Ab, M11.7; detection Ab, M7) would detect cTnT isoforms expressed in human skeletal muscle in response to chronic renal disease (CRD). cTnT expression was examined in skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from 45 CRD patients, as well as nondiseased human heart (n = 3) and skeletal muscle (n = 3). cTnT proteins were resolved by modified 7.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with the following anti-cTnT MAbs: M11.7; M7; JS-2, Lakeland Biomedical; and 13–11, Duke University. All four antibodies detected the cTnT isoforms (Ta, Te) expressed in human myocardium. In 20 of 45 skeletal muscle biopsies, MAb M11.7 recognized its epitope in one to three proteins, molecular mass 34–36 kDa, designated Te, Td, and Tc; the strongest signal was that of Te. The same proteins were recognized by MAbs JS-2 and 13–11. The BM M7 antibody did not detect the cTnT isoforms in the molecular mass range of 34–36 kDa. However, MAb M7 did detect a cTnT isoform, molecular mass 39 kDa, in 2 of 45 biopsies. This isoform had an electrophoretic mobility similar to the predominant heart cTnT isoform, Ta. We conclude that cTnT isoforms are expressed in the skeletal muscle of CRD patients. However, given the epitopes recognized by the BM MAbs M7 and M11.7 and the variable presence of these cTnT isoforms in skeletal muscle, the second generation BM cTnT assay will not detect these isoforms if they are released from skeletal muscle into the circulation.

Functional significance of alterations in cardiac contractile protein isoforms

Multiple closely related, yet distinct, isoforms exist for each of the cardiac contractile proteins. The isoform composition of the heart changes in response to developmental and physiologic cues. This paper reviews the molecular basis for cardiac contractile protein isoform diversity and the functional consequences of isoform shifts.

Coelectrophoresis of cardiac tissue from human, dog, rat and mouse: towards the establishment of an integrated two-dimensional protein database

We have investigated the feasibility of identifying homologous proteins in whole tissue protein extracts of dog, mouse and rat hearts by comparison with our human heart two-dimensional (2-D) database. Samples of ventricular myocardial tissue from each of these species were coelectrophoresed with a human tissue sample. Gels were silver stained and patterns were analysed using PDQUEST. The number of proteins comigrating with human proteins was 301, 201 and 356 for the dog, mouse and rat, respectively. In the dog pattern, 33 of these comigrating proteins were tentatively identified from the similarity between their migration properties and those of known human proteins. Twenty-nine such proteins were identified in the mouse pattern while 30 comigrating rat proteins were identified. While these tentative identifications require confirmation, we feel that this technique offers a useful shortcut in the characterisation of proteins present in similar tissue samples from different species and avoids the necessity for duplicating laborious procedures, such as protein microsequencing, otherwise used in the identification of these proteins in each species.

Role of regulatory proteins (troponin-tropomyosin) in pathologic states

In vertebrate striated muscle, troponin-tropomyosin is responsible, in part, not only for transducing the effect of calcium on contractile protein activation, but also for inhibiting actin and myosin interaction when calcium is absent. The regulatory troponin (Tn) complex displays several molecular and calcium binding variations in cardiac muscles of different species and undergoes genetic changes with development and in various pathologic states. Extensive reviews on the role of tropomyosin (Tm) and Tn in the regulation of striated muscle contraction have been published describing the molecular mechanisms involved in contractile protein regulation. In our studies, we have found an increase in Mg2+ ATPase activity in cardiac myofibrils from dystrophic hamsters and in rats with chronic coronary artery narrowing. The abnormalities in myofibrillar ATPase activity from cardiomyopathic hamsters were largely corrected by recombining the preparations with a TnTm complex isolated from normal hamsters indicating that the TnTm may play a major role in altered myocardial function. We have also observed down regulation of Ca2+ Mg2+ ATPase of myofibrils from hypertrophic guinea pig hearts, myocardial infarcted rats and diabetic-hypertensive rat hearts. In myosin from diabetic rats, this abnormality was substantially corrected by adding troponin-tropomyosin complex from control hearts. All of these disease models are associated with decreased ATPase activities of pure myosin and in the case of rat and hamster models, shifts of myosin heavy chain from alpha to beta predominate. In summary, there are three main troponin subunit components which might alter myofibrillar function however, very few direct links of molecular alterations in the regulatory proteins to physiologic and pathologic function have been demonstrated so far.

C2C12 cells: biophysical, biochemical, and immunocytochemical properties

We examined the myofibril biochemical, structural, and biophysical properties of C2C12, a mouse skeletal muscle cell line (American Type Culture Collection), to assess whether force development and the sensitivity of the myofilaments to calcium could be measured in C2C12 myotubes and whether a cardiac contractile protein, troponin T, is expressed and incorporated into C2C12 myofibrils. When myoblasts fused and differentiated into myotubes, expression of myofilament proteins was initiated. Multiple cardiac and skeletal muscle troponin T isoforms were coexpressed. Cardiac troponin T expression increased and then decreased with time. Fluorescence immunocytochemistry demonstrated incorporation of cardiac troponin T isoforms into the myofibrils. At the time of the biophysical studies, mean myotube diameter was 12 microns (range 5-25 microns), and mean length was 290 microns (range 130-520 microns). The estimated maximum force developed by chemically skinned myotubes at 6-7 days poststarvation, 0.88 +/- 0.12 microN (mean +/- 95% confidence interval, n = 5), was significantly less (P < 0.05) than that at 10-13 days poststarvation, 1.12 +/- 0.12 microN (n = 7). The force-pCa relation yielded a Hill coefficient of 2.9 +/- 0.6 (n = 7) and half-maximal activation at pCa of 5.77 +/- 0.20. The demonstration that the biophysical properties of C2C12 cells can be measured and that cardiac and skeletal muscle troponin T isoforms are incorporated and colocalized into myofibrils suggest that these cells could be a useful model to assess the effects of exogenous native and mutated cardiac and skeletal contractile protein isoforms on myofilament function.

In situ study of myofibrils, mitochondria and bound creatine kinases in experimental cardiomyopathies

Human cardiomyopathy has been extensively studied in the last decade, and knowledge of the functional and structural alterations of the heart has grown. However, understanding of the pathogenesis has come mostly from experimental studies. A number of work have been designed to elucidate if alterations of the contractile apparatus of cardiac cells contribute to the impairment of heart mechanics in cardiomyopathies. As well, an important question is to be solved: whether energy supply of the contraction-relaxation cycle is sufficient in the myopathic heart. Use of cardiac fibers skinned by different techniques allows to evaluate functional ability of myofibrils, mitochondria and bound creatine kinase which plays an important role in cardiomyocyte energy metabolism. The data presented in this chapter show that experimental cardiomyopathies of various types have some common features. These are an increase in calcium sensitivity of myofibrils and a depression of functional activity of mitochondrial creatine kinase. Possible mechanisms and physiological significance of these changes are discussed.

Molecular basis of cardiac troponin T isoform heterogeneity in rabbit heart

In the rabbit heart, multiple isoforms of cardiac troponin T (cTnT1 through cTnT5, from largest in size to smallest), a protein essential for calcium-regulated myofibrillar ATPase activity, have been identified, and a correlation has been found between these isoforms and myofilament sensitivity to calcium. We have sought to establish the molecular basis of this diversity. Restriction-digest analysis of genomic DNA has indicated that the rabbit cTnT gene is a single-copy gene. cTnT cDNA clones were isolated from cDNA libraries, yielding a consensus sequence for the protein. Newborn rabbit heart cDNAs, obtained using the reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), were amplified using primers derived from this cDNA. Three full-length cDNAs that differed by the inclusion or exclusion of three short nucleotide sequences within the cDNAs were obtained. Amplification in the 5' half of the cDNAs confirmed that multiple cTnT products arose because of the variable inclusion of an 18- and a 30-nt sequence. The 30-nt sequence has homology with previously described alternatively spliced exons in rat and chicken cTnT, whereas the 18-nt sequence has not been described previously. RT-PCR in the 3' half of the cDNAs confirmed an additional region of heterogeneity: the presence, in part or in full, or absence of a 9-nt region, which matches the alternatively spliced exon 12 described for rat cTnT. In vitro transcription and translation of four cDNA clones containing both the 18- and 30-nt sequences, the 30-nt sequence, the 18-nt sequence, or neither generated protein isoforms that comigrated with cTnT1, cTnT2, cTnT3, and cTnT4, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Molecular cloning and developmental expression of human cardiac troponin T

We have isolated a full-size cDNA coding for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) from a human adult heart library, using a slow skeletal TnT probe. This cDNA detected a 1.2 kb mRNA in fetal and post-natal human heart, the amount of which increased during ontogenic development. Interestingly, a similar transcript was coexpressed in fetal skeletal muscle, together with the 0.9 kb slow skeletal muscle mRNA, and its expression was down-regulated during further development.

Isolation of human cardiac troponin T and localization of epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies to cardiac troponin T

Human cardiac troponin T has been isolated and its properties compared with those of rabbit skeletal and bovine cardiac troponin T. Seven monoclonal antibodies to troponin T have been obtained. Two antibodies cross-reacted with both cardiac and skeletal troponin T and recognized epitopes located between residues 98-177 of bovine cardiac troponin T. Five other antibodies were specific for cardiac troponin T and recognized antigenic determinants located between residues 180-258 of bovine cardiac troponin T. Localization of antigenic determinants in the central part of troponin T seems to be due to the high hydrophilicity and flexibility of this part of the molecule. The monoclonal antibodies thus obtained may be used for diagnosing various types of human heart diseases.

Troponin T isoform expression in the normal and failing human left ventricle: a correlation with myofibrillar ATPase activity

The expression of troponin T, a thin filament regulatory protein, was examined in normal and failing left ventricles. The samples were obtained from the hearts of patients with severe heart failure who were undergoing cardiac transplantation, and from normal adult hearts that could not be used for transplantation. Western blots of the myofibrillar proteins demonstrated two isoforms, troponin T 1 (TnT1) and troponin T 2 (TnT2). TnT2 is expressed at significantly higher levels in failing hearts (p less than 0.004). Western blots of two-dimension SDS-PAGE gels resolved two dominant spots of TnT1 and of TnT2 and several minor troponin T species. Alkaline phosphatase treatment markedly decreased the sizes of the two acidic spots while increasing the two more basic spots by a comparable amount. Myofibrillar ATPase activity had an inverse and negative linear relationship (r = 0.7, p less than 0.02) with the myofibrillar percentage of total troponin T comprised of TnT2. In that heart failure in these transplant patients had multiple bases, we propose that rather than a cause of heart failure, the disease-associated changes in troponin T isoform expression are an adaptation to abnormal myocardial function.

Chronic nonocclusive coronary artery constriction impairs ventricular function, myocardial structure, and cardiac contractile protein enzyme activity in rats

To determine the effects of chronic nonocclusive coronary constriction on cardiac hemodynamics, structural integrity, and contractile protein enzyme activity, the left coronary artery was narrowed in rats, and measurements of ventricular performance, magnitude, and distribution of tissue damage and myofibrillar Mg2+ and Ca2+ myosin ATPase activities were evaluated 1 month later. In the presence of coronary artery stenosis averaging 58%, three levels of involvement of global cardiac performance were identified, and the rats were divided accordingly. In the first group, only left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased; in the second group, LVEDP and left ventricular +dP/dt and/or -dP/dt were affected; and in the third group, LVEDP, left ventricular +dP/dt and -dP/dt, and right ventricular end-diastolic pressure were impaired. Thus, left ventricular moderate dysfunction, severe dysfunction, and failure occurred with coronary narrowing. On a structural basis, coronary constriction resulted in an ongoing process characterized by acute myocytolytic necrosis and foci of replacement fibrosis in different stages of healing. The number of these lesion profiles in the left ventricular myocardium increased 4.7-, 4.4-, and 8.3-fold in rats with moderate dysfunction, severe dysfunction, and failure, respectively. Biochemically, Mg(2+)-ATPase activity of myofibrils increased biventricularly when moderate dysfunction was present. However, this parameter decreased with the appearance of severe dysfunction, reaching control values in ventricular failure. Ca2+ myosin ATPase activity was reduced in the left ventricle of rats with severe dysfunction and failure, whereas it was elevated in the right ventricle of rats with severe dysfunction. In conclusion, a fixed lesion of the left main coronary artery with a modest reduction in vessel luminal diameter generates a conditioned state of the heart characterized by a continuous loss of myocytes and replacement scarring, which, in combination with alterations in contractile protein enzyme activity, may be responsible for a number of abnormalities in cardiac dynamics ranging from moderate dysfunction to pump failure.

Force-pCa relation and troponin T isoforms of rabbit myocardium

We have previously reported the existence of at least four troponin T isoforms in rabbit ventricular muscle and described the changes in their distribution with development. In this report we test whether the proportions of the troponin T isoforms are related to the sensitivity of the myofilaments to calcium. We measured the force-pCa relations in 12 detergent-skinned ventricular strands of cardiac muscle from newborn (2-5-day-old) rabbits. We determined from each strand the amount of each troponin T isoform relative to the total amount of troponin T by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and densitometric scans of Western blots probed with a cardiac-specific troponin T monoclonal antibody, MAb 13-11. To assess the presence of different relative amounts of cardiac and slow skeletal troponin I among the strands, we determined the amount of cardiac troponin I relative to tropomyosin. We determined the Hill coefficient and the pCa for half-maximal force, pCa50, for each strand. pCa50 was related directly to the relative amount of troponin T2 (pslope = 0.037). Our results do not indicate a relation between the Hill coefficient and troponin T2. We also did not find a relation between pCa50 and the cardiac troponin I/tropomyosin ratio, which suggests that the correlation between pCa50 and troponin T2 was not a result of changes in the relative amounts of cardiac and slow skeletal muscle troponin I. Our findings indicate that a relation exists between the force-pCa characteristics of rabbit myocardium and the troponin T isoforms that it expresses, suggesting a role for troponin T in modulating the sensitivity of cardiac myofilaments to calcium.

Troponin T isoform expression in humans. A comparison among normal and failing adult heart, fetal heart, and adult and fetal skeletal muscle

The expression of troponin (Tn) T, a thin-filament regulatory protein, was examined in left ventricular myocardium from normal and from failing adult human hearts. The differences in isoform expression between normal and failing myocardium led us to examine the ontogenic expression of TnT in human striated muscle. Left ventricular samples were obtained from patients with severe heart failure undergoing cardiac transplantation and normal adult organ donors. Fetal muscle was obtained from aborted fetuses after 14-15 weeks of gestation, and adult skeletal muscle was obtained from surgical biopsies. Western blots of normal and failing adult heart proteins demonstrated that two isoforms, TnT1 and TnT2, are expressed in different amounts, with TnT2 being significantly greater in failing hearts (p less than 0.004). Western blots of two-dimensional gels of these proteins resolved two predominant spots of both TnT1 and TnT2 and several minor TnT species. Alkaline phosphatase treatment converted the two major spots of each isoform into the single more basic spots. A comparison of the ATPase activities and the TnT2 percentage of total TnT in individual failing and normal adult hearts demonstrated an inverse and negative relation (r = 0.7, p less than 0.02). In the fetal heart, four TnT isoforms were found, two of which had the same electrophoretic mobilities as the adult cardiac isoforms TnT1 and TnT2. Fetal skeletal muscle expressed two of the four fetal cardiac TnT isoforms, one of which comigrated with adult cardiac TnT1. These cardiac isoforms were expressed in low abundance in fetal skeletal muscle relative to seven fast skeletal muscle TnT isoforms. No cardiac isoforms were present in adult skeletal muscle. Because many etiologies caused heart failure in the transplant patients, we propose that the disease-associated increased expression of the TnT isoform TnT2 is an adaptation to the heart failure state and a partial recapitulation of the fetal expression of cardiac TnT isoforms.

Identification of and pattern of transitions of cardiac, adult slow and slow skeletal muscle-like embryonic isoforms of troponin T in developing rat and human skeletal muscles

Using a monoclonal antibody (CDC4) that recognizes both the cardiac and slow skeletal isoforms of troponin T in an immunoblotting procedure, the composition of troponin T isoforms in adult and developing skeletal muscles of the rat and human were studied. Two major isoforms of slow troponin T (HS1 and HS2) were detected in all the adult human skeletal muscles investigated. Significant amounts of another isoform (HS3) in addition to HS1 and HS2 were also detectable in a subgroup of these muscles. All the human fetal skeletal muscles at 20 weeks of gestation expressed HS1 and HS2 isoforms but not HS3. The fetal skeletal muscles, also expressed cardiac troponin T in addition. Unlike the human skeletal muscles, only a single isoform of slow troponin T was detected by antibody CDC4 in both the adult and neonatal rat skeletal muscles. The investigation of fetal rat skeletal muscles using the same antibody, however, detected the presence of not only the embryonic cardiac and adult slow skeletal isoforms but also five additional not previously described isoforms (Es1-Es5) of troponin T. These embryonic isoforms, Es1-Es5, were undetectable in the postnatal skeletal muscles although their small amounts could be detected in the neonatal rat hearts. The analysis of individual skeletal muscles from different parts of the body at different stages of fetal development showed marked variations in both the composition of troponin T isoforms and the time sequence of their transitions in each muscle.

Transitions from fetal to fast troponin T isoforms are coordinated with changes in tropomyosin and alpha-actinin isoforms in developing rabbit skeletal muscle

In adult fast skeletal muscle, specific combinations of thin filament and Z-line protein isoforms are coexpressed. To determine whether the expression of these sets of proteins, designated the TnT1f, TnT2f, and TnT3f programs, is coordinated during development, we characterized the transitions in troponin T (TnT), tropomyosin (Tm), and alpha-actinin isoforms that occur in developing fetal and neonatal rabbit skeletal muscle. Two coordinated developmental transitions were identified, and a novel pattern of thin filament expression was found in fetal muscle. In fetal muscle, new TnT species--whose protein and immunochemical properties suggest that they are the products of a new TnT gene--are expressed in combination with beta 2 Tm and alpha-actinin1f/s. This pattern, which is found in both back and hindlimb muscles, is specific to fetal and early neonatal muscle. Just prior to birth, there is a transition from the fetal program to the isoforms that define the TnT3f program, TnT3f, and alpha beta Tm. Like the fetal program, expression of the TnT3f program appears to be a general feature of muscle development, because it occurs in a variety of fast muscles as well as in the slow muscle soleus. The transition to adult patterns of thin filament expression begins at the end of the first postnatal week. Based on studies of erector spinae, the isoforms comprising the TnT2f program, TnT2f, alpha 2 Tm, and alpha-actinin2f, appear and increase coordinately at this time. The transitions, first to the TnT3f program, and then to adult patterns of expression indicate that synthesis of the isoforms comprising each program is coordinated during muscle specialization and throughout muscle development. In addition, these observations point to a dual role for the TnT3f program, which is the major thin filament program in some adult muscles, but appears to bridge the transition from developmentally to physiologically regulated patterns of thin filament expression during the late fetal and early neonatal development.