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The impact of caffeine on connexin expression in the embryonic chick cardiomyocyte micromass culture system
Author(s) -
Ahir Bhavesh K.,
Pratten Margaret K.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.3219
Subject(s) - connexin , embryonic stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , gap junction , caffeine , biology , viability assay , cell culture , immunocytochemistry , cell signaling , cell , chemistry , signal transduction , biochemistry , endocrinology , genetics , intracellular , gene
Cardiomyocytes are electrically coupled by gap junctions, defined as clusters of low‐resistance multisubunit transmembrane channels composed of connexins (Cxs). The expression of Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45, which are present in cardiomyocytes, is known to be developmentally regulated. This study investigates the premise that alterations in gap junction proteins are one of the mechanisms by which teratogens may act. Specifically, those molecules known to be teratogenic in humans could cause their effects via disruption of cell‐to‐cell communication pathways, resulting in an inability to co‐ordinate tissue development. Caffeine significantly inhibited contractile activity at concentrations above and including 1500 μ m ( P < 0.05), while not affecting cell viability and total protein, in the embryonic chick cardiomyocyte micromass culture system. The effects of caffeine on key cardiac gap junction protein (Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45) expression were analysed using immunocytochemistry and in‐cell Western blotting. The results indicated that caffeine altered the expression pattern of Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45 at non‐cytotoxic concentrations (≥2000 μ m ), i.e., at concentrations that did not affect total cell protein and cell viability. In addition the effects of caffeine on cardiomyocyte formation and function (contractile activity score) were correlated with modulation of Cxs (Cx40, Cx43 and Cx45) expression, at above and including 2000 μ m caffeine concentrations ( P < 0.05). These experiments provide evidence that embryonic chick cardiomyocyte micromass culture may be a useful in vitro method for mechanistic studies of perturbation of embryonic heart development. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.