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Hyaluronan Mediates Cardiac Myocyte Phenotypic Response
Author(s) -
Lin Victor,
Chopra Anant,
Janmey Paul,
Kresh J. Yasha
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.1128.1
Subject(s) - phenotype , myocyte , cardiac myocyte , medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
Hyaluronan (HA) has been used extensively for tissue engineering approaches for organ repair, enhancing cellular response and wound healing. Hyaluronic acid is also the major glycosaminoglycan of the early cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM). This study investigated the response of neonatal ventricular cardiac myocytes (NVRM) to HA gels conjugated with ECM proteins like gelatin and fibronectin (Fbn). HA gels were designed to act as a biomimetic microenvironment aimed at improving myocyte structure and function. After 48 hours of culture, cells were fixed and stained for the α‐actinin, f‐actin, and CD44. qRT‐PCR was performed to analyze the expression of α and β myosin heavy chains as well as CD44 and integrin beta 1. Our results show a higher ratio of expression for myosin heavy chain α to myosin heavy chain β on Fbn‐HA gels compared to other substrates. The response (cell shape, myofibril assembly and organization) to Fbn coated HA gels exhibited the largest spread area, organized myofibril formation, and contractile function (105% increase). These results implicate the importance of ligand type and activity on myocyte remodeling and suggest that HA gels bound with specific ECM proteins are crucial for inducing/preserving a normal cardiomyocyte phenotype.