Expression and localisation of thymosin beta-4 in the developing human early fetal heart
Expression and localisation of thymosin beta-4 in the developing human early fetal heart
Background
The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and localisation of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) in the developing human heart. Tβ4 is a cardioprotective protein which may have therapeutic potential. While Tβ4 is an endogenously produced protein with known importance during development, its role within the developing human heart is not fully understood. Elucidating the localisation of Tβ4 within the developing heart will help in understanding its role during cardiac development and is crucial for understanding its potential for cardioprotection and repair in the adult heart.
Methods
Expression of Tβ4 mRNA in the early fetal human heart was assessed by PCR using both ventricular and atrial tissue. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to assess the localisation of Tβ4 in sections of early fetal human heart. Co-staining with CD31, an endothelial cell marker, and with myosin heavy chain, a cardiomyocyte marker, was used to determine whether Tβ4 is localised to these cell types within the early fetal human heart.
Results
Tβ4 mRNA was found to be expressed in both the atria and the ventricles of the early fetal human heart. Tβ4 protein was found to be primarily localised to CD31-expressing endothelial cells and the endocardium as well as being present in the epicardium. Tβ4-associated fluorescence was greater in the compact layer of the myocardial wall and the interventricular septum than in the trabecular layer of the myocardium.
Conclusions
The data presented illustrates expression of Tβ4 in the developing human heart and demonstrates for the first time that Tβ4 in the human heart is primarily localised to endothelial cells of the cardiac microvasculature and coronary vessels as-well as to the endothelial-like cells of the endocardium and to the epicardium.
1-11
Saunders, Vinay
0097e3f0-9e0f-4bcd-8b56-0d90201bd2f9
Dewing, Jennifer M.
4c4af0cf-b622-4f1c-aced-51a844e60475
Sanchez-elsner, Tilman
b8799f8d-e2b4-4b37-b77c-f2f0e8e2070d
Wilson, David I.
c3a39c4c-722b-4ff6-9531-a8d04e9a40c1
9 November 2018
Saunders, Vinay
0097e3f0-9e0f-4bcd-8b56-0d90201bd2f9
Dewing, Jennifer M.
4c4af0cf-b622-4f1c-aced-51a844e60475
Sanchez-elsner, Tilman
b8799f8d-e2b4-4b37-b77c-f2f0e8e2070d
Wilson, David I.
c3a39c4c-722b-4ff6-9531-a8d04e9a40c1
Saunders, Vinay, Dewing, Jennifer M., Sanchez-elsner, Tilman and Wilson, David I.
(2018)
Expression and localisation of thymosin beta-4 in the developing human early fetal heart.
PLoS ONE, 13 (11), , [e0207248].
(doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207248).
Abstract
Background
The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and localisation of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) in the developing human heart. Tβ4 is a cardioprotective protein which may have therapeutic potential. While Tβ4 is an endogenously produced protein with known importance during development, its role within the developing human heart is not fully understood. Elucidating the localisation of Tβ4 within the developing heart will help in understanding its role during cardiac development and is crucial for understanding its potential for cardioprotection and repair in the adult heart.
Methods
Expression of Tβ4 mRNA in the early fetal human heart was assessed by PCR using both ventricular and atrial tissue. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was used to assess the localisation of Tβ4 in sections of early fetal human heart. Co-staining with CD31, an endothelial cell marker, and with myosin heavy chain, a cardiomyocyte marker, was used to determine whether Tβ4 is localised to these cell types within the early fetal human heart.
Results
Tβ4 mRNA was found to be expressed in both the atria and the ventricles of the early fetal human heart. Tβ4 protein was found to be primarily localised to CD31-expressing endothelial cells and the endocardium as well as being present in the epicardium. Tβ4-associated fluorescence was greater in the compact layer of the myocardial wall and the interventricular septum than in the trabecular layer of the myocardium.
Conclusions
The data presented illustrates expression of Tβ4 in the developing human heart and demonstrates for the first time that Tβ4 in the human heart is primarily localised to endothelial cells of the cardiac microvasculature and coronary vessels as-well as to the endothelial-like cells of the endocardium and to the epicardium.
Text
journal.pone.0207248
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 26 October 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 9 November 2018
Published date: 9 November 2018
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 426080
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/426080
ISSN: 1932-6203
PURE UUID: 2d95c028-c318-44da-bd42-c730a635ca8e
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 13 Nov 2018 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:56
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Contributors
Author:
Vinay Saunders
Author:
Jennifer M. Dewing
Author:
David I. Wilson
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