Journal: Matrix Biology Plus

Article Title: Temporal expression and spatial distribution of the proteoglycan versican during cardiac fibrosis development

doi: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2023.100135

Figure Lengend Snippet: Versican ( VCAN ) expression is regulated by cytokines and mechanical stretch in cardiac cells. (A) mRNA expression of versican was upregulated by TGF-β1, and downregulated by TNF-α, and IL-1β in cardiac fibroblasts, and (B) in addition by IL-4 in cardiomyocytes compared to control (Control, n = 3). (C, D) Versican and α-SMA ( ACTA2 ) mRNA expression were increased after biaxial strain of 10% (stretch) for 24 h at 1 Hz frequency in fibroblasts compared to non-stretched cells (Control, n = 9). Gene expression is presented as values relative to Control. Bar graphs represent mean ± SD. One-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test (A, B) and Student’s t -test (C, D) were used for statistical analysis. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. *P < 0.05 Control vs. cytokine treatment or stretch.

Article Snippet: Fetal human cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) (Cell Applications, CA, #306-05F) and primary human cardiomyocytes (CMs) (PromoCell, Germany, #C-12810) were used for in vitro experiments.

Techniques: Expressing, Control, Gene Expression

Journal: Nature

Article Title: The extracellular matrix protein agrin promotes heart regeneration in mice

doi: 10.1038/nature22978

Figure Lengend Snippet: a, b, Representative fields of heart cultures stained with DAPI (blue), cTnT (green) and Ki67 (red). White arrows indicate Ki67+cTnT+ cells. CMs, cardiomyocytes. c, d, Percentage of proliferating cardiomyocytes from P1 (c) or P7 (d) hearts in response to P1 and P7 ECM particles. n = 2,069 cardiomyocytes from three samples (c); n = 2,221 cardiomyocytes from four samples (d). e, f, Percentage of proliferating cardiomyocytes (Ki67+cTnT+) in response to P1 and P7 ECM in P1 (e) or P7 (f) cultures, with or without the broad MMP inhibitor (Marimastat). n = 3,480 cardiomyocytes from three samples (e); n = 23,445 cardiomyocytes from four samples (f). g, h, Percentage of P1 (g) or P7 (h) proliferating cardiomyocytes in response to MMP9- or MMP12-cleaved ECM fragments. n = 11,820 cardiomyocytes from four samples (g); n = 15,509 cardiomyocytes from four samples (h). i, qPCR of Agrn mRNA in P1 and P7 hearts. n = 8 P1 and 3 P7 hearts. j, Quantification of western blots for agrin from P1, P7 and 12-week-old (12W) adult heart lysates. A.U., arbitrary units. n = 3 samples per group. k, Images of P1 and P7 heart sections stained for agrin (green) and DAPI (blue). n = 3 samples per group. l, qPCR analysis of cardiac populations (FB, fibroblasts; CM, cardiomyocytes; EC, endothelial cells). n = 4 cardiomyocyte, 4 non-cardiomyocyte, 4 fibroblast, 4 non-fibroblast, 7 endothelial cells and 7 non-endothelial cell samples. Scale bars, 40 μm (a) and 10 μm (k). Data are presented as mean ±s.e.m. *P < 0.05, **P< 0.01, ***P< 0.001; statistical significance was calculated using ANOVA followed by a Dunnett’s post hoc test relative to the control group (c–h) or a Tukey’s post hoc test (j), statistical significance was calculated using a one-tailed t-test (i, l).

Article Snippet: Separation to distinct cardiac cell populations was performed by using the Neonatal Cardiac Endothelial Cell Isolation kit (130-104-183, Miltenyi Biotec), Neonatal Cardiac Fibroblast Cell Isolation kit (130-101-372, Miltenyi Biotec) or by Neonatal Cardiomyocyte Isolation kit (130-100-825, Miltenyi Biotec), according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Techniques: Staining, Western Blot, Control, One-tailed Test