title: Limitations of nls beta-galactosidase as a marker for studying myogenic lineage or the efficacy of myoblast transfer.
abstract: Nuclear localizing beta-galactosidase (nls beta-gal) is used as a marker for studying myoblast cell lineage and for evaluating myoblast survival after myoblast transfer, a procedure with potential use for gene complementation for muscular dystrophy. Usefulness of this construct depends on the establishment of the extent to which nls beta-gal or its mRNA may be translocated from the nucleus that encodes it to other non-coding myonuclei in hybrid myofibers and the ease with which the encoding and non-coding myonuclei can be distinguished. Previous in vitro studies (Ralston and Hall 1989. Science, 244:1066-1068) have suggested limited translocation of the fusion protein. We re-examined the extent to which nls beta-gal is translocated in hybrid myofibers, both in vitro and in vivo, and evaluated the extent to which one can rely on histochemistry to distinguish encoding from non-coding nuclei in these myofibers.
  
  
  
  Myotubes formed in co-cultures of a myoblast line (MM14 cells), stably transfected with a construct consisting of a nls beta-gal under the control of the myosin light chain 3F promoter and 3' enhancer (3FlacZ10 cells), and [3H]-thymidine-labeled parental MM14 cells (plated at ratios of 1:6 or 1:20, respectively) were reacted with X-gal. After autoradiography, the distance over which nls beta-gal was translocated in hybrid myotubes was determined. In vivo translocation of nls beta-gal was evaluated by injecting [3H]-thymidine-labeled 3FlacZ10 myoblasts into the regenerating extensor digitorum longus muscle of immunosuppressed normal and mdx (dystrophin deficient) mice. Sections stained with X-gal and subjected to autoradiography permitted determination of the extent of nls beta-gal translocation in hybrid myofibers.
  
  
  
  In vitro: All nuclei in > 92% of hybrid myotubes showed evidence of nls beta-gal after exposure to X-gal, suggesting extensive translocation. Within hybrid myotubes, MM14-derived myonuclei approximately 350 microns from a 3FlacZ10-derived myonucleus showed evidence of nls beta-gal. In vivo: Similar translocation of nls beta-gal was observed in vivo. One week after myoblast transfer, donor-derived myonuclei were distinguishable from host-derived myonuclei containing nls beta-gal by the greater accumulation of reaction product in donor myonuclei after X-gal staining. However, 2 weeks after injection, host myonuclei often contained a significant amount of nls beta-gal, and accumulation of reaction product could not be used as the criterion for identification of donor myonuclei.
  
  
  
  Translocation of nls beta-gal (or its mRNA) is significantly greater than previously reported (Ralston and Hall 1989), resulting in large numbers of nls beta-gal positive non-coding myonuclei in hybrid myofibers. One week after myoblast transfer, distinguishing between nls beta-gal encoding and non-coding myonuclei in hybrid myofibers after X-gal staining of sectioned muscle is feasible; however, by 2 weeks, nls beta-gal increases in host myonuclei, making identification of donor-derived myonuclei problematic. Translocation of nls beta-gal to non-coding myonuclei in hybrid myofibers must be considered when nls beta-gal is used for studies of myogenic lineage or the efficacy of myoblast transfer therapy, particularly if long-term survival of hybrid myotubes is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ontell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ontell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D015415:Biomarkers; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase