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Vesicle‐associated protein‐A is differentially expressed during intestinal smooth muscle cell differentiation
Author(s) -
Gabetta Vijayalakshmi,
Trzyna Wendy,
Phiel Christopher,
McHugh Kirk M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.10349
Subject(s) - biology , myocyte , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , northern blot , western blot , messenger rna , cellular differentiation , cell , gene , genetics
Gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscle diseases represent a major health concern affecting in excess of 2 million people each year. Little is currently known regarding the molecular mechanisms controlling either normal or pathogenic GI smooth muscle development. In an effort to identify the specific gene products responsible for modulating GI smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation, we performed differential display on distinct intestinal SMC (ISMC) phenotypes. This analysis identified over 40 unique transcripts that appeared to be differentially expressed in distinct SMC phenotypes. One such transcript that appeared to be preferentially expressed in immature smooth muscle myocytes was identified as vesicle‐associated membrane protein, associated protein A (VAP‐A). Northern blot analysis confirmed that VAP‐A was expressed threefold higher in immature smooth muscle myocytes when compared with both smooth muscle myoblasts and mature smooth muscle myocytes. VAP‐A mRNA was differentially expressed during normal rat development and showed peak levels of expression in the intestine during late embryogenesis and early neonatal development. These observations provide the first evidence that VAP‐A–mediated membrane trafficking may play an important role in modulating ISMC differentiation. Developmental Dynamics 228:11–20, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.