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Deficient Myocardial Organization and Pathological Fibrosis in Fetal Aortic Stenosis-Association of Prenatal Ultrasound with Postmortem Histology. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8100121. [PMID: 34677190 PMCID: PMC8540431 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8100121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In fetal aortic stenosis (AS), it remains challenging to predict left ventricular development over the course of pregnancy. Myocardial organization, differentiation and fibrosis could be potential biomarkers relevant for biventricular outcome. We present four cases of fetal AS with varying degrees of severity and associate myocardial deformation on fetal ultrasound with postmortem histopathological characteristics. During routine fetal echocardiography, speckle tracking recordings of the cardiac four-chamber view were performed to assess myocardial strain as parameter for myocardial deformation. After pregnancy termination, postmortem cardiac specimens were examined using immunohistochemical labeling (IHC) of key markers for myocardial organization, differentiation and fibrosis and compared to normal fetal hearts. Two cases with critical AS presented extremely decreased left ventricular (LV) strain on fetal ultrasound. IHC showed overt endocardial fibro-elastosis, which correlated with pathological fibrosis patterns in the myocardium and extremely disturbed cardiomyocyte organization. The LV in severe AS showed mildly reduced myocardial strain and less severe disorganization of the cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, the degree of reduction in myocardial deformation corresponded with high extent to the amount of pathological fibrosis patterns and cardiomyocyte disorganization. Myocardial deformation on fetal ultrasound seems to hold promise as a potential biomarker for left ventricular structural damage in AS.
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Early myocardial damage (EMD) and valvular dysfunction after femur fracture in pigs. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8503. [PMID: 33875675 PMCID: PMC8055677 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86151-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Musculoskeletal injuries are the most common reason for surgery in severely injured patients. In addition to direct cardiac damage after physical trauma, there is rising evidence that trauma induces secondary cardiac structural and functional damage. Previous research associates hip fractures with the appearance of coronary heart disease: As 25% of elderly patients developed a major adverse cardiac event after hip fracture. 20 male pigs underwent femur fracture with operative stabilization via nailing (unreamed, reamed, RIA I and a new RIA II; each group n = 5). Blood samples were collected 6 h after trauma and the concentration of troponin I and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) as biomarkers for EMD were measured. At baseline and 6 h after trauma, transesophageal ECHO (TOE) was performed; and invasive arterial and left ventricular blood pressure were measured to evaluate the cardiac function after femur fracture. A systemic elevation of troponin I and HFABP indicate an early myocardial damage after femur fracture in pigs. Furthermore, various changes in systolic (ejection fraction and cardiac output) and diastolic (left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, mitral valve deceleration time and E/A ratio) parameters illustrate the functional impairment of the heart. These findings were accompanied by the development of valvular dysfunction (pulmonary and tricuspid valve). To the best of our knowledge, we described for the first time the development of functional impairment of the heart in the context of EMD after long bone fracture in pigs. Next to troponin and HFABP elevation, alterations in the systolic and diastolic function occurred and were accompanied by pulmonary and tricuspid valvular insufficiency. Regarding EMD, none of the fracture stabilization techniques (unreamed nailing, reaming, RIA I and RIA II) was superior.
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Weber B, Lackner I, Gebhard F, Miclau T, Kalbitz M. Trauma, a Matter of the Heart-Molecular Mechanism of Post-Traumatic Cardiac Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E737. [PMID: 33450984 PMCID: PMC7828409 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trauma remains a leading global cause of mortality, particularly in the young population. In the United States, approximately 30,000 patients with blunt cardiac trauma were recorded annually. Cardiac damage is a predictor for poor outcome after multiple trauma, with a poor prognosis and prolonged in-hospitalization. Systemic elevation of cardiac troponins was correlated with survival, injury severity score, and catecholamine consumption of patients after multiple trauma. The clinical features of the so-called "commotio cordis" are dysrhythmias, including ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest as well as wall motion disorders. In trauma patients with inappropriate hypotension and inadequate response to fluid resuscitation, cardiac injury should be considered. Therefore, a combination of echocardiography (ECG) measurements, echocardiography, and systemic appearance of cardiomyocyte damage markers such as troponin appears to be an appropriate diagnostic approach to detect cardiac dysfunction after trauma. However, the mechanisms of post-traumatic cardiac dysfunction are still actively being investigated. This review aims to discuss cardiac damage following trauma, focusing on mechanisms of post-traumatic cardiac dysfunction associated with inflammation and complement activation. Herein, a causal relationship of cardiac dysfunction to traumatic brain injury, blunt chest trauma, multiple trauma, burn injury, psychosocial stress, fracture, and hemorrhagic shock are illustrated and therapeutic options are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte Weber
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, 86081 Ulm, Germany; (B.W.); (I.L.); (F.G.)
| | - Ina Lackner
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, 86081 Ulm, Germany; (B.W.); (I.L.); (F.G.)
| | - Florian Gebhard
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, 86081 Ulm, Germany; (B.W.); (I.L.); (F.G.)
| | - Theodore Miclau
- Orthopaedic Trauma Institute, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 2550 23rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA;
| | - Miriam Kalbitz
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, 86081 Ulm, Germany; (B.W.); (I.L.); (F.G.)
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Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated Cardiac Injury during Experimental Sepsis. Mediators Inflamm 2020; 2020:6051983. [PMID: 32410859 PMCID: PMC7199613 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6051983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is associated with global cardiac dysfunction and with high mortality rate. The development of septic cardiomyopathy is due to complex interactions of damage-associated molecular patters, cytokines, and complement activation products. The aim of this study was to define the effects of sepsis on cardiac structure, gap junction, and tight junction (TJ) proteins. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture in male C57BL/6 mice. After a period of 24 h, the expression of cardiac structure, gap junction, and TJ proteins was determined. Murine HL-1 cells were stimulated with LPS, and mRNA expression of cardiac structure and gap junction proteins, intracellular reactive oxygen species, and troponin I release was analyzed. Furthermore, pyrogenic receptor subtype 7 (P2X7) expression and troponin I release of human cardiomyocytes (iPS) were determined after LPS exposure. In vivo, protein expression of connexin43 and α-actinin was decreased after the onset of polymicrobial sepsis, whereas in HL-1 cells, mRNA expression of connexin43, α-actinin, and desmin was increased in the presence of LPS. Expression of TJ proteins was not affected in vivo during sepsis. Although the presence of LPS and nigericin resulted in a significant troponin I release from HL-1 cells. Sepsis affected cardiac structure and gap junction proteins in mice, potentially contributing to compromised cardiac function.
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Kalbitz M, Amann EM, Bosch B, Palmer A, Schultze A, Pressmar J, Weber B, Wepler M, Gebhard F, Schrezenmeier H, Brenner R, Huber-Lang M. Experimental blunt chest trauma-induced myocardial inflammation and alteration of gap-junction protein connexin 43. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187270. [PMID: 29121655 PMCID: PMC5679619 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Severe blunt chest trauma in humans is associated with high mortality rates. Whereas lung tissue damage and lung inflammation after blunt chest trauma have extensively been investigated, the traumatic and posttraumatic effects on the heart remain poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to define cardiac injury patterns in an experimental blunt chest trauma model in rats. METHODS Experimental blunt chest trauma was induced by a blast wave in rats, with subsequent analysis of its effects on the heart. The animals were subjected either to a sham or trauma procedure. Systemic markers for cardiac injury were determined after 24 h and 5 days. Postmortem analysis of heart tissue addressed structural injury and inflammation 24 h and 5 days after trauma. RESULTS Plasma levels of extracellular histones were elevated 24 h and 5 days after blunt chest trauma compared to sham-treated animals. In the heart, up-regulation of interleukin-1β 24 h after trauma and increased myeloperoxidase activity 24 h and 5 days after trauma were accompanied by reduced complement C5a receptor-1 expression 24 h after trauma. Histological analysis revealed extravasation of erythrocytes and immunohistochemical analysis alteration of the pattern of the gap-junction protein connexin 43. Furthermore, a slight reduction of α-actinin and desmin expression in cardiac tissue was found after trauma together with a minor increase in sarcoplasmatic/endoplasmatic reticlulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA) expression. CONCLUSIONS The clinically highly relevant rat model of blast wave-induced blunt chest trauma is associated with cardiac inflammation and structural alterations in cardiac tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Kalbitz
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Elisa Maria Amann
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Baden-Württemberg–Hessen and University Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Belinda Bosch
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Annette Palmer
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Trauma-Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anke Schultze
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Trauma-Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen Pressmar
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Birte Weber
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Wepler
- Institute of Anaesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Engineering, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Florian Gebhard
- Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hubert Schrezenmeier
- Institute of Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Baden-Württemberg–Hessen and University Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rolf Brenner
- Division of Biochemistry of Joint and Connective Tissue Diseases, Department of Orthopedics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus Huber-Lang
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Trauma-Immunology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Maeda E, Pian H, Ohashi T. Temporal regulation of gap junctional communication between tenocytes subjected to static tensile strain with physiological and non-physiological amplitudes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 482:1170-1175. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Sukhacheva TV, Chudinovskikh YA, Eremeeva MV, Serov RA, Bockeria LA. Proliferative Potential of Cardiomyocytes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Correlation with Myocardial Remodeling. Bull Exp Biol Med 2016; 162:160-169. [PMID: 27882462 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-016-3566-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T V Sukhacheva
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Yu A Chudinovskikh
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - M V Eremeeva
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - R A Serov
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - L A Bockeria
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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Schulz R, Görge PM, Görbe A, Ferdinandy P, Lampe PD, Leybaert L. Connexin 43 is an emerging therapeutic target in ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardioprotection and neuroprotection. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 153:90-106. [PMID: 26073311 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Connexins are widely distributed proteins in the body that are crucially important for heart and brain functions. Six connexin subunits form a connexon or hemichannel in the plasma membrane. Interactions between two hemichannels in a head-to-head arrangement result in the formation of a gap junction channel. Gap junctions are necessary to coordinate cell function by passing electrical current flow between heart and nerve cells or by allowing exchange of chemical signals and energy substrates. Apart from its localization at the sarcolemma of cardiomyocytes and brain cells, connexins are also found in the mitochondria where they are involved in the regulation of mitochondrial matrix ion fluxes and respiration. Connexin expression is affected by age and gender as well as several pathophysiological alterations such as hypertension, hypertrophy, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, ischemia, post-myocardial infarction remodeling or heart failure, and post-translationally connexins are modified by phosphorylation/de-phosphorylation and nitros(yl)ation which can modulate channel activity. Using knockout/knockin technology as well as pharmacological approaches, one of the connexins, namely connexin 43, has been identified to be important for cardiac and brain ischemia/reperfusion injuries as well as protection from it. Therefore, the current review will focus on the importance of connexin 43 for irreversible injury of heart and brain tissues following ischemia/reperfusion and will highlight the importance of connexin 43 as an emerging therapeutic target in cardio- and neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Schulz
- Institut für Physiologie, JustusLiebig Universität Giessen, Gießen, Germany.
| | | | - Anikó Görbe
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Hungary; Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Paul D Lampe
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Luc Leybaert
- Physiology Group, Department Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
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Zhang W, Zhao G, Hu X, Wang M, Li H, Ye Y, Du Q, Yao J, Bao Z, Hong W, Fu G, Ge J, Qiu Z. Aliskiren-attenuated myocardium apoptosis via regulation of autophagy and connexin-43 in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Cell Mol Med 2014; 18:1247-56. [PMID: 24702827 PMCID: PMC4124010 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
There are controversies about the mechanism of myocardium apoptosis in hypertensive heart disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among autophagy, Cx43 and apoptosis in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and establish whether Aliskiren is effective or not for the treatment of myocardium apoptosis. Twenty-one SHRs aged 52 weeks were randomly divided into three groups, the first two receiving Aliskiren at a dose of 10 and 25 mg/kg/day respectively; the third, placebo for comparison with seven Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) as controls. After a 2-month treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart to bw ratios (HW/BW%) and angiotensin II (AngII) concentration were significantly enhanced in SHRs respectively. Apoptotic cardiomyocytes detected with TUNEL and immunofluorescent labelling for active caspase-3 increased nearly fourfolds in SHRs, with a decline in the expression of survivin and AKT activation, and an increase in caspase-3 activation and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Myocardium autophagy, detected with immunofluorescent labelling for LC3-II, increased nearly threefolds in SHRs, with the up-regulation of Atg5, Atg16L1, Beclin-1 and LC3-II. The expression of Cx43 plaque was found to be down-regulated in SHRs. Aliskiren significantly reduced SBP, HW/BW%, AngII concentration and the expression of AT(1)R. Thus, Aliskiren protects myocardium against apoptosis by decreasing autophagy, up-regulating Cx43. These effects showed a dose-dependent tendency, but no significance. In conclusion, the myocardium apoptosis developed during the hypertensive end-stage of SHRs could be ameliorated by Aliskiren via the regulation of myocardium autophagy and maladaptive remodelling of Cx43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Research (Therapy) Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Xiaona Hu
- Gastroenterology Department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric MedicineShanghai, China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Research (Therapy) Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hua Li
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Yong Ye
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
- Institute of Biomedical Science, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Qijun Du
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Jin Yao
- Cardiovascular Department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Bao
- Gastroenterology Department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric MedicineShanghai, China
| | - Wei Hong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric MedicineShanghai, China
- Geriatrics Department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Guosheng Fu
- Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Research (Therapy) Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence to: Zhaohui QIU, Ph.D., Junbo GE, M.D., Guosheng FU, M.D., Cardiovascular department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, 221 Yananxi Road, Shanghai 200040, China. Tel.: +86 21 62483180 (ext. 1919) Fax: +86 21 62484879 E-mail: (or) (or)
| | - Junbo Ge
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
- Institute of Biomedical Science, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
- *Correspondence to: Zhaohui QIU, Ph.D., Junbo GE, M.D., Guosheng FU, M.D., Cardiovascular department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, 221 Yananxi Road, Shanghai 200040, China. Tel.: +86 21 62483180 (ext. 1919) Fax: +86 21 62484879 E-mail: (or) (or)
| | - Zhaohui Qiu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric MedicineShanghai, China
- Cardiovascular Department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
- *Correspondence to: Zhaohui QIU, Ph.D., Junbo GE, M.D., Guosheng FU, M.D., Cardiovascular department, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, 221 Yananxi Road, Shanghai 200040, China. Tel.: +86 21 62483180 (ext. 1919) Fax: +86 21 62484879 E-mail: (or) (or)
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Veeraraghavan R, Gourdie RG, Poelzing S. Mechanisms of cardiac conduction: a history of revisions. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2014; 306:H619-27. [PMID: 24414064 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00760.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac conduction is the process by which electrical excitation spreads through the heart, triggering individual myocytes to contract in synchrony. Defects in conduction disrupt synchronous activation and are associated with life-threatening arrhythmias in many pathologies. Therefore, it is scarcely surprising that this phenomenon continues to be the subject of active scientific inquiry. Here we provide a brief review of how the conceptual understanding of conduction has evolved over the last century and highlight recent, potentially paradigm-shifting developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rengasayee Veeraraghavan
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, and Center for Heart and Regenerative Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic University, Roanoke, Virginia; and
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Huffnagel IC, Clur SAB, Bams-Mengerink AM, Blom NA, Wanders RJA, Waterham HR, Poll-The BT. Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata and cardiac pathology. J Med Genet 2013; 50:419-24. [DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2013-101536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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12
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Salameh A, Dhein S. Effects of mechanical forces and stretch on intercellular gap junction coupling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2012; 1828:147-56. [PMID: 22245380 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2011.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Revised: 12/17/2011] [Accepted: 12/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical forces provide fundamental physiological stimulus in living organisms. Recent investigations demonstrated how various types of mechanical load, like strain, pressure, shear stress, or cyclic stretch can affect cell biology and gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC). Depending on the cell type, the type of mechanical load and on strength and duration of application, these forces can induce hypertrophic processes and modulate the expression and function of certain connexins such as Cx43, while others such as Cx37 or Cx40 are reported to be less mechanosensitive. In particular, not only expression but also subcellular localization of Cx43 is altered in cardiomyocytes submitted to cyclic mechanical stretch resulting in the typical elongated cell shape with an accentuation of Cx43 at the cell poles. In the heart both cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts can alter their GJIC in response to mechanical load. In the vasculature both endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells are subject to strain and cyclic stretch resulting from the pulsatile flow. In addition, vascular endothelial cells are mainly affected by shear stress resulting from the blood flow parallel to their surface. These mechanical forces lead to a regulation of GJIC in vascular tissue. In bones, osteocytes and osteoblasts are coupled via gap junctions, which also react to mechanical forces. Since gap junctions are involved in regulation of cell growth and differentiation, the mechanosensitivity of the regulation of these channels might open new perspectives to explain how cells can respond to mechanical load, and how stretch induces self-organization of a cell layer which might have implications for embryology and the development of organs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Communicating junctions, roles and dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Salameh
- Clinic for Pediatric Cardiology, University of Leipzig, Heart Centre, Germany
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