Non-muscle Myosin IIB Research Articles

Distinct Expression of Nonmuscle Myosin IIB in Pulmonary Arteries of Patients With Aortic Stenosis vs Insufficiency Undergoing a Ross Procedure

BackgroundClinical studies have revealed a greater risk of pulmonary autograft dilation after the Ross procedure in patients with preoperative aortic insufficiency (AI). The present study examined whether the morphologic, biomechanical, and cellular properties of the pulmonary artery (PA) from patients with AI were phenotypically different compared with patients diagnosed with aortic stenosis (AS). MethodsPA segments were harvested from patients undergoing the Ross procedure for AS (n = 16) and AI (n = 6). Preoperative aortic annulus was significantly larger (P < 0.05) in patients with AI (28.5 ± 1.8 mm) vs AS (22.8 ± 1.2 mm). Morphologic, biomechanical, and cellular phenotypes of the PA were analyzed. ResultsCollagen and elastin content in the media of the PA wall were similar in patients with AS and AI. Elastic modulus and energy loss of the PA were not significantly different between the groups. In the media of the PA, expression of a panel of vascular smooth muscle cell–specific proteins were similar in patients with AS and AI. In contrast, nonmuscle myosin IIB protein levels in the PA of AS patients were significantly higher compared with AI patients, and immunofluorescence identified staining in α-smooth muscle actin–positive vascular smooth muscle cells. ConclusionsDespite similar morphological and biomechanical properties, the disparate expression of nonmuscle myosin IIB protein distinguishes the PA of patients with AI from patients with AS. The biological role in vascular smooth muscle cells and the potential contribution of nonmuscle myosin IIB to pulmonary autograft dilation in a subset of AI patients after the Ross procedure remain to be determined.

Oncolytic Virus Therapy with HSV-1 for Hematologic Malignancies

Background: Oncolytic virus (OV) is an attractive and rapidly developing antitumor therapy. OVs preferentially replicate in tumor cells and exhibit a tumoricidal activity without damaging normal cells. G47Δ is a herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 genetically engineered to enhance tumor selectivity and immunogenicity. Clinical trials of G47Δ have been conducted for brain and prostate cancers. Anecdotal reports that leukemia and lymphoma shrink following viral infection imply effectiveness of OV therapy against hematological malignancies. Aim: We examined whether G47Δ has the potential for treatment of hematological malignancies. Methods: T-01, an HSV-1 containing modification in the same genes as G47Δ, was used in this study. To assess T-01 infectivity and cytotoxicity for hematological tumor cells, cell lines and clinical samples were incubated with the virus. T-GFP, T-01 containing the GFP gene, was used to quantify the viral infectivity. To examine antitumor activity in vivo, we injected T-01 into subcutaneously inoculated tumors in immunodeficient SCID-Beige mice. To identify the differences between T-01-susceptible and resistant cells, we examined the involvement of HSV entry receptors (nectin-1, HVEM, PILRα, non-muscle myosin IIA and IIB) and antiviral molecules (cGAS-STING and PKR-eIF2α pathways). Jurkat and THP-1 cell lines were infected with the lentivirus vector expressing shRNA against nectin-1. Ramos and RL-male-1 (murine leukemia) cell lines were infected with the lentivirus vector expressing human nectin-1. Results: 15 of 21 cell lines from T-, B-, and myeloid-derived hematological malignancies were infected and killed by T-01. 8 of 15 clinical samples were also killed by T-01, and all the susceptible samples were from relapsed patients. Growth of the subcutaneous GRANTA-519 and ED-40515 (ATL cell line) tumors was significantly suppressed by intratumor injection of T-01. The expression level of nectin-1, the amount of viral entry, and the cytotoxicity were positively correlated in cell lines and clinical samples (Figure 1). In agreement with this, knockdown of nectin-1 decreased the amount of viral entry, and overexpression of nectin-1 induced cytotoxicity by T-01 (Figure 2). In contrast, there was no correlation between the expression levels of the antiviral molecules and the cytotoxicity. Conclusion: Oncolytic HSV-1 has the potential for treatment of relapsed hematological malignancies. Entry via nectin-1 is a determining factor of susceptibility to oncolytic HSV-1 for hematological malignancies. Nectin-1 may be useful as a biomarker for efficacy of G47Δ. Disclosures Takaori-Kondo: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ono: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin: Research Funding; Chugai: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria. Kadowaki:Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Honoraria, Research Funding; Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo Company Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Eisai Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck &amp; Co., Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis AG: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer Japan Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Nonmuscle myosin IIA and IIB differently suppress microtubule growth to stabilize cell morphology.

Precise regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics is important in many fundamental cellular processes such as cell shape determination. Actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeletons mutually regulate their stability and dynamics. Nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) is a candidate protein that mediates the actin-MT crosstalk. NMII regulates the stability and dynamics of actin filaments to control cell morphology. Additionally, previous reports suggest that NMII-dependent cellular contractility regulates MT dynamics, and MTs also control cell morphology; however, the detailed mechanism whereby NMII regulates MT dynamics and the relationship among actin dynamics, MT dynamics and cell morphology remain unclear. The present study explores the roles of two well-characterized NMII isoforms, NMIIA and NMIIB, on the regulation of MT growth dynamics and cell morphology. We performed RNAi and drug experiments and demonstrated the NMII isoform-specific mechanisms-NMIIA-dependent cellular contractility upregulates the expression of some mammalian diaphanous-related formin (mDia) proteins that suppress MT dynamics; NMIIB-dependent inhibition of actin depolymerization suppresses MT growth independently of cellular contractility. The depletion of either NMIIA or NMIIB resulted in the increase in cellular morphological dynamicity, which was alleviated by the perturbation of MT dynamics. Thus, the NMII-dependent control of cell morphology significantly relies on MT dynamics.

An Improved Method of Maintaining Primary Murine Cardiac Fibroblasts in Two-Dimensional Cell Culture

Primary cardiac fibroblasts are notoriously difficult to maintain for extended periods of time in cell culture, due to the plasticity of their phenotype and sensitivity to mechanical input. In order to study cardiac fibroblast activation in vitro, we have developed cell culture conditions which promote the quiescent fibroblast phenotype in primary cells. Using elastic silicone substrata, both rat and mouse primary cardiac fibroblasts could be maintained in a quiescent state for more than 3 days after isolation and these cells showed low expression of myofibroblast markers, including fibronectin extracellular domain A, non-muscle myosin IIB, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Gene expression was also more fibroblast-like vs. that of myofibroblasts, as Tcf21 was significantly upregulated, while Fn1-EDA, Col1A1 and Col1A2 were markedly downregulated. Cell culture conditions (eg. serum, nutrient concentration) are critical for the control of temporal fibroblast proliferation. We propose that eliminating mechanical stimulus and limiting the nutrient content of cell culture media can extend the quiescent nature of primary cardiac fibroblasts for physiological analyses in vitro.

Inhibition of non-muscle myosinIIB enhances cellular degradation of insoluble form of FTD/ALS-linked TDP-43 protein and reduces cellular toxicity

Inhibition of non-muscle myosinIIB enhances cellular degradation of insoluble form of FTD/ALS-linked TDP-43 protein and reduces cellular toxicity

Abstract 901: Muscle-specific Stress Fibers Give Rise to Sarcomeres in Cardiomyocytes

The sarcomere is the contractile unit that drives muscle contraction. Despite its importance, little is understood about how a disordered acto-myosin distribution converts into an ordered contractile array during sarcomere assembly. Here, we take advantage of a sarcomere assembly assay we developed using human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomycytes to image the formation of sarcomeres, using live-cell high resolution microscopy. Our data show that a population of muscle specific stress fibers (MSFs) are essential sarcomere precursors. Interestingly, MSFs are formed at the leading edge of cells, undergo retrograde flow, and transition into sarcomere-containing myofibrils on the dorsal surface of cardiomyocytes. This is in direct contradiction to a recent report claiming sarcomeres are formed from adhesions on the ventral surface of cardiomyocytes. We have been able to recapitulate this other group's published experiments and definitively show that sarcomeres are not forming from the bottom of the cells or streaming out of adhesions. Instead, our 3D microscopy data shows that this group was imaging sarcomeres which were already formed on the dorsal surface and were traveling to the ventral surface of the cells. After this important clarification, we used our assay to show that the transition of MSFs to sarcomere-containing myofibrils requires formin-mediated actin polymerization and the non-muscle myosin IIA and myosin IIB. We conclude that sarcomeres form by a "templating" mechanism similar to that originally postulated by Howard Holtzer &gt;30 years ago. Furthermore, our data show short β cardiac myosin II filaments are themselves templated by "non-muscle" myosin II filaments. Subsequently, the short β cardiac myosin II filaments grow to form ~1.5 μm long filaments that then “stitch” together to form the stack of filaments at the core of the sarcomere (i.e., the A-band). Taken together, our data show that the differentiation of cardiomyocytes from stem cells is a powerful tool for dissecting the mechanisms controlling sarcomere assembly.

Nonmuscle myosin IIA and IIB differentially modulate migration and alter gene expression in primary mouse tumorigenic cells.

Though many cancers are known to show up-regulation of nonmuscle myosin (NM) IIA and IIB, the mechanism by which NMIIs aid in cancer development remains unexplored. Here we demonstrate that tumor-generating, fibroblast-like cells isolated from 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC)-induced murine tumor exhibit distinct phospho-dependent localization of NMIIA and NMIIB at the perinuclear area and tip of the filopodia and affect cell migration differentially. While NMIIA-KD affects protrusion dynamics and increases cell directionality, NMIIB-KD lowers migration speed and increases filopodial branching. Strategically located NMIIs at the perinuclear area colocalize with the linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) protein Nesprin2 and maintain the integrity of the nuclear-actin cap. Interestingly, knockdown of NMIIs results in altered expression of genes involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and cellular senescence. NMIIB-KD cells display down-regulation of Gsc and Serpinb2, which is strikingly similar to Nesprin2-KD cells as assessed by quantitative PCR analysis. Further gene network analysis predicts that NMIIA and NMIIB may act on similar pathways but through different regulators. Concomitantly, knockdown of NMIIA or NMIIB lowers the growth rate and tumor volume of 3MC-induced tumor in vivo. Altogether, these results open a new window to further investigate the effect of LINC-associated perinuclear actomyosin complex on mechanoresponsive gene expression in the growing tumor.

Non-muscle Myosin-II Is Required for the Generation of a Constriction Site for Subsequent Abscission

SummaryIt remains unknown when, where, and how the site of abscission is generated during cytokinesis. Here, we show that the sites of constriction, i.e., the sites of future abscission, are initially formed at the ends of the intercellular bridge during early midbody stage, and that these sites are associated with the non-muscle myosin-IIB (not myosin-IIA), actin filaments, and septin 9 until abscission. The ESCRT-III component CHMP4B localizes to the midbody and “spreads” to the site of abscission only during late midbody stage. Strikingly, inhibition of myosin-II motor activity by a low dose of Blebbistatin completely abolishes the formation of the constriction sites, resulting in the localization of all the above-mentioned components to the midbody region. These data strongly suggest that a secondary actomyosin ring provides the primary driving force for the thinning of the intercellular bridge to allow ESCRT-mediated membrane fission.

Differential contributions of nonmuscle myosin IIA and IIB to cytokinesis in human immortalized fibroblasts

Nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) plays an important role in cytokinesis by constricting a contractile ring. However, it is poorly understood how NMII isoforms contribute to cytokinesis in mammalian cells. Here, we investigated the roles of the two major NMII isoforms, NMIIA and NMIIB, in cytokinesis using a WI-38 VA13 cell line (human immortalized fibroblast). In this cell line, NMIIB tended to localize to the contractile ring more than NMIIA. The expression level of NMIIA affected the localization of NMIIB. Most NMIIB accumulated at the cleavage furrow in NMIIA-knockout (KO) cells, and most NMIIA was displaced from this location in exogenous NMIIB-expressing cells, indicating that NMIIB preferentially localizes to the contractile ring. Specific KO of each isoform elicited opposite effects. The rate of furrow ingression was decreased and increased in NMIIA-KO and NMIIB-KO cells, respectively. Meanwhile, the length of NMII-filament stacks in the contractile ring was increased and decreased in NMIIA-KO and NMIIB-KO cells, respectively. Moreover, NMIIA helped to maintain cortical stiffness during cytokinesis. These findings suggest that appropriate ratio of NMIIA and NMIIB in the contractile ring is important for proper cytokinesis in specific cell types. In addition, two-photon excitation spinning-disk confocal microscopy enabled us to image constriction of the contractile ring in live cells in a three-dimensional manner.

Muscle-specific stress fibers give rise to sarcomeres in cardiomyocytes.

The sarcomere is the contractile unit within cardiomyocytes driving heart muscle contraction. We sought to test the mechanisms regulating actin and myosin filament assembly during sarcomere formation. Therefore, we developed an assay using human cardiomyocytes to monitor sarcomere assembly. We report a population of muscle stress fibers, similar to actin arcs in non-muscle cells, which are essential sarcomere precursors. We show sarcomeric actin filaments arise directly from muscle stress fibers. This requires formins (e.g., FHOD3), non-muscle myosin IIA and non-muscle myosin IIB. Furthermore, we show short cardiac myosin II filaments grow to form ~1.5 μm long filaments that then 'stitch' together to form the stack of filaments at the core of the sarcomere (i.e., the A-band). A-band assembly is dependent on the proper organization of actin filaments and, as such, is also dependent on FHOD3 and myosin IIB. We use this experimental paradigm to present evidence for a unifying model of sarcomere assembly.

Myofibril Assembly in Cultured Mouse Neonatal Cardiomyocytes.

The formation of myofibrils was analyzed in neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes grown in culture and stained with fluorescent antibodies directed against myofibrillar proteins. The cardiomyocyte cultures also were exposed to siRNA probes to test the role of nonmuscle myosin IIB expression in the formation of myofibrils. In culture, new myofibrils formed in the spreading cell margins surrounding contractile myofibrils previously assembled in utero. Observations indicated that assembly of mature myofibrils occurred in three-stages, as previously reported in cultured mouse skeletal muscle. Premyofibrils, characterized by minisarcomeres with nonmuscle myosin IIB and muscle-specific alpha-actinin bound to actin filaments, formed in the first stage; followed by nascent myofibrils, the second stage when muscle myosin II and titin were first detected. In the mature myofibril stage muscle myosin II filaments aligned in periodic A-Bands; late assembling proteins, including myomesin and telethonin, were integrated in the sarcomeres, and nonmuscle IIB was absent from the sarcomeres. Treatment of the cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes with gene-specific siRNAs for nonmuscle myosin IIB, led to a marked decrease in the formation of premyofibrils, and subsequently of mature myofibrils. Anat Rec, 301:2067-2079, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Giantin Is Required for Post-Alcohol Recovery of Golgi in Liver Cells

In hepatocytes and alcohol-metabolizing cultured cells, Golgi undergoes ethanol (EtOH)-induced disorganization. Perinuclear and organized Golgi is important in liver homeostasis, but how the Golgi remains intact is unknown. Work from our laboratories showed that EtOH-altered cellular function could be reversed after alcohol removal; we wanted to determine whether this recovery would apply to Golgi. We used alcohol-metabolizing HepG2 (VA-13) cells (cultured with or without EtOH for 72 h) and rat hepatocytes (control and EtOH-fed (Lieber–DeCarli diet)). For recovery, EtOH was removed and replenished with control medium (48 h for VA-13 cells) or control diet (10 days for rats). Results: EtOH-induced Golgi disassembly was associated with de-dimerization of the largest Golgi matrix protein giantin, along with impaired transport of selected hepatic proteins. After recovery from EtOH, Golgi regained their compact structure, and alterations in giantin and protein transport were restored. In VA-13 cells, when we knocked down giantin, Rab6a GTPase or non-muscle myosin IIB, minimal changes were observed in control conditions, but post-EtOH recovery was impaired. Conclusions: These data provide a link between Golgi organization and plasma membrane protein expression and identify several proteins whose expression is important to maintain Golgi structure during the recovery phase after EtOH administration.

STEF/TIAM2-mediated Rac1 activity at the nuclear envelope regulates the perinuclear actin cap

The perinuclear actin cap is an important cytoskeletal structure that regulates nuclear morphology and re-orientation during front-rear polarisation. The mechanisms regulating the actin cap are currently poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that STEF/TIAM2, a Rac1 selective guanine nucleotide exchange factor, localises at the nuclear envelope, co-localising with the key perinuclear proteins Nesprin-2G and Non-muscle myosin IIB (NMMIIB), where it regulates perinuclear Rac1 activity. We show that STEF depletion reduces apical perinuclear actin cables (a phenotype rescued by targeting active Rac1 to the nuclear envelope), increases nuclear height and impairs nuclear re-orientation. STEF down-regulation also reduces perinuclear pMLC and decreases myosin-generated tension at the nuclear envelope, suggesting that STEF-mediated Rac1 activity regulates NMMIIB activity to promote stabilisation of the perinuclear actin cap. Finally, STEF depletion decreases nuclear stiffness and reduces expression of TAZ-regulated genes, indicating an alteration in mechanosensing pathways as a consequence of disruption of the actin cap.

Different contributions of nonmuscle myosin IIA and IIB to the organization of stress fiber subtypes in fibroblasts.

We demonstrated that myosin IIA and IIB are essential for the formation of transverse arcs and ventral stress fibers, respectively. Furthermore, we illustrated the roles of both isoforms in lamellar flattening and also raised the possibility that actin filaments in ventral stress fibers are in a stretched conformation.

Cardiomyocyte binucleation is associated with aberrant mitotic microtubule distribution, mislocalization of RhoA and IQGAP3, as well as defective actomyosin ring anchorage and cleavage furrow ingression.

After birth mammalian cardiomyocytes initiate a last cell cycle which results in binucleation due to cytokinesis failure. Despite its importance for cardiac regenerative therapies, this process is poorly understood. Here, we aimed at a better understanding of the difference between cardiomyocyte proliferation and binucleation and providing a new tool to distinguish these two processes. Monitoring of cell division by time-lapse imaging revealed that rat cardiomyocyte binucleation stems from a failure to properly ingress the cleavage furrow. Astral microtubule required for actomyosin ring anchorage and thus furrow ingression were not symmetrically distributed at the periphery of the equatorial region during anaphase in binucleating cardiomyocytes. Consequently, RhoA, the master regulator of actomyosin ring formation and constriction, non-muscle myosin IIB, a central component of the actomyosin ring, as well as IQGAP3 were abnormally localized during cytokinesis. In agreement with improper furrow ingression, binucleation in vitro and in vivo was associated with a failure of RhoA and IQGAP3 to localize to the stembody of the midbody. Taken together, these results indicate that naturally occurring cytokinesis failure in primary cardiomyocytes is due to an aberrant mitotic microtubule apparatus resulting in inefficient anchorage of the actomyosin ring to the plasma cell membrane. Thus, cardiomyocyte binucleation and division can be discriminated by the analysis of RhoA as well as IQGAP3 localization.

Nonmuscle myosin IIA and IIB differentially contribute to intrinsic and directed migration of human embryonic lung fibroblasts

Nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) plays an essential role in directional cell migration. In this study, we investigated the roles of NMII isoforms (NMIIA and NMIIB) in the migration of human embryonic lung fibroblasts, which exhibit directionally persistent migration in an intrinsic manner. NMIIA-knockdown (KD) cells migrated unsteadily, but their direction of migration was approximately maintained. By contrast, NMIIB-KD cells occasionally reversed their direction of migration. Lamellipodium-like protrusions formed in the posterior region of NMIIB-KD cells prior to reversal of the migration direction. Moreover, NMIIB KD led to elongation of the posterior region in migrating cells, probably due to the lack of load-bearing stress fibers in this area. These results suggest that NMIIA plays a role in steering migration by maintaining stable protrusions in the anterior region, whereas NMIIB plays a role in maintenance of front-rear polarity by preventing aberrant protrusion formation in the posterior region. These distinct functions of NMIIA and NMIIB might promote intrinsic and directed migration of normal human fibroblasts.

Phenotypic characterization of adenomyosis occurring at the inner and outer myometrium.

ObjectiveTo estimate the phenotypic characterization of fibrotic process in adenomyosis occurring at the inner or the outer myometrium.MethodsEight cases of adenomyosis occurring at the inner myometrium (Subtype I) and 10 cases of adenomyosis occurring at the outer myometrium (Subtype II), and 10 normal counterparts were used in this study. A immunohistochemical study for smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was performed using cytoskeletal proteins, Type I and III collagen, TGF-β and its signaling molecules.ResultsAn increased expression of Type I collagen was observed in the extracellular matrix of adenomyotic foci. In normal uteri, immunostaining of SMC differentiation marker proteins (Desmin, Smoothelin, Myosin heavy chain (MHC)) were absent or only found in low numbers at the inner myometrium, while all of these marker proteins were clearly stained at the outer myometrium. In both types of adenomyotic foci, Desmin, Smoothelin, and MHC commonly showed a negative staining at the adjacent area to the glands. A significant staining of Non-muscle myosin IIB, TGF-β, and phosphorylated TGF-β type I receptors were found only at the SMCs of Subtype II adenomyosis. The Smad3/2 ratio of Subtype II adenomyosis was significantly higher than that of Subtype I.ConclusionsThe inner myometrium of normal uteri was composed of undifferentiated phenotypes of SMCs, while the outer myometrium was composed of terminally differentiated SMCs. Various fibrotic processes have been suggested in the development of uterine adenomyosis. Distinct expression patterns of fibrosis related proteins have been shown to be implicated with differences in the subtypes of adenomyosis.

Non-muscle myosin IIB (Myh10) is required for epicardial function and coronary vessel formation during mammalian development.

The coronary vasculature is an essential vessel network providing the blood supply to the heart. Disruptions in coronary blood flow contribute to cardiac disease, a major cause of premature death worldwide. The generation of treatments for cardiovascular disease will be aided by a deeper understanding of the developmental processes that underpin coronary vessel formation. From an ENU mutagenesis screen, we have isolated a mouse mutant displaying embryonic hydrocephalus and cardiac defects (EHC). Positional cloning and candidate gene analysis revealed that the EHC phenotype results from a point mutation in a splice donor site of the Myh10 gene, which encodes NMHC IIB. Complementation testing confirmed that the Myh10 mutation causes the EHC phenotype. Characterisation of the EHC cardiac defects revealed abnormalities in myocardial development, consistent with observations from previously generated NMHC IIB null mouse lines. Analysis of the EHC mutant hearts also identified defects in the formation of the coronary vasculature. We attribute the coronary vessel abnormalities to defective epicardial cell function, as the EHC epicardium displays an abnormal cell morphology, reduced capacity to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and impaired migration of epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs) into the myocardium. Our studies on the EHC mutant demonstrate a requirement for NMHC IIB in epicardial function and coronary vessel formation, highlighting the importance of this protein in cardiac development and ultimately, embryonic survival.

Tropomodulin 1 controls erythroblast enucleation via regulation of F-actin in the enucleosome

AbstractBiogenesis of mammalian red blood cells requires nuclear expulsion by orthochromatic erythoblasts late in terminal differentiation (enucleation), but the mechanism is largely unexplained. Here, we employed high-resolution confocal microscopy to analyze nuclear morphology and F-actin rearrangements during the initiation, progression, and completion of mouse and human erythroblast enucleation in vivo. Mouse erythroblast nuclei acquire a dumbbell-shaped morphology during enucleation, whereas human bone marrow erythroblast nuclei unexpectedly retain their spherical morphology. These morphological differences are linked to differential expression of Lamin isoforms, with primary mouse erythroblasts expressing only Lamin B and primary human erythroblasts only Lamin A/C. We did not consistently identify a continuous F-actin ring at the cell surface constriction in mouse erythroblasts, nor at the membrane protein-sorting boundary in human erythroblasts, which do not have a constriction, arguing against a contractile ring-based nuclear expulsion mechanism. However, both mouse and human erythroblasts contain an F-actin structure at the rear of the translocating nucleus, enriched in tropomodulin 1 (Tmod1) and nonmuscle myosin IIB. We investigated Tmod1 function in mouse and human erythroblasts both in vivo and in vitro and found that absence of Tmod1 leads to enucleation defects in mouse fetal liver erythroblasts, and in CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, with increased F-actin in the structure at the rear of the nucleus. This novel structure, the “enucleosome,” may mediate common cytoskeletal mechanisms underlying erythroblast enucleation, notwithstanding the morphological heterogeneity of enucleation across species.

Abstract 32: The Role of Cyclin A2 in Adult Human Cardiomyocyte Plasticity

The adult mammalian heart is known to have a very low abundance of progenitor cells which can take part in active cycling and regeneration after damage. Cardiomyocytes exit the cell cycle soon after birth coincident with the silencing of cyclin A2 (CCNA2). In our previous studies, we demonstrated that viral delivery of Ccna2 induces cardiac regeneration in infarcted hearts of small and large animal models. However, the molecular mechanism whereby Ccna2 induces cardiac regeneration and increase in cardiac function deserves further study. To explore further, we isolated adult mouse cardiomyocytes and induced Ccna2 expression by using adenovirus transfection and cultured them for 3 weeks. Co-expression of the mature cardiac marker troponin Tc with the immature cardiac marker non-muscle myosin IIB was observed. Additionally, expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition markers (vimentin and FSP1) was observed. Also, decreased expression of mature cardiac markers α-MHC , ckmt2 and cTnT was noted. To study the factors responsible for human cardiomyocyte plasticity and cell division, we have optimized a novel method for culturing adult human cardiomyocytes in our laboratory. We cultured cardiomyocytes isolated from heart tissue obtained from a 55 yr old male patient. After transfection with CCNA2 adenovirus made for human use (cTnT promoter driving human CCNA2 cDNA), they were co-transfected with two more adenoviruses (1) cTnT-GFP to label cardiomyocytes (green) and (2) CMV-α-actinin-m-Cherry to label the sarcomere (red). Time lapse live epifluorescence microscopy was carried out for 70 hrs and time lapse movies were prepared (please refer the youtube link to see a representative time lapse movie https://youtu.be/OBrJGCq7YCA ). Movies were analyzed to calculate the cytokinesis index in samples transfected with (Test) and without (Null) CCNA2 adenoviruses. We observed a significantly higher cytokinesis index in CCNA2 samples versus Null. We are further investigating the role of cyclin A2 in dedifferentiation of adult human cardiomyocytes to generate immature or progenitor cardiac cells and their contractile status, which could be utilized for regeneration and functional restoration of damaged adult heart tissue.