title: Emerin expression in tubular aggregates.
abstract: Emerin is an inner nuclear membrane protein that is mutated or not expressed in patients with X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (X-EDMD/EMD). Cytoplasmic localization of emerin in cultured cells or tissues has been reported, although this remains a controversial issue. Tubular aggregates (TAs) are pathological structures seen in the sarcoplasm of human skeletal muscle fibers in various disorders. The TAs derive from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and represent, probably, an adaptive response of the SR to various insults to the muscle fibers. In the present study, we present immunohistochemical evidence of emerin expression in TAs. Muscle biopsies with tubular aggregates from four male, unrelated patients were studied. The percentage of muscle fibers containing TAs varied between 5 and 20%. Routine histochemistry revealed intense reaction of TAs with NADH-TR, AMPDA, and NSE, but not with COX, SDH, myosin ATPase (pH 9.4, 4.3, 4.6), PAS, and Oil red O staining. Immunohistochemical study revealed strong immunostaining of TAs with antibodies against emerin and 7 SERCA2-ATPase. Immunostaining of TAs was also seen with antibodies against heat shock protein and dysferlin, but not with antibodies to lamin A, dystrophin, adhalin, beta, gamma, delta sarcoglycans, and merosin. These results suggest that emerin, an inner nuclear membrane protein, is present at the TAs. The interpretation and significance of this finding is discussed in relation to experimental data suggesting that normal emerin localization at the inner nuclear membrane depends on lamin A and mutations in the N-terminal domain of emerin cause mislocalization of the protein to the sarcoplasmic membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Athens, V. Sofias 74, 11528 Athens, Greece. pmanta@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terzis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Chrysanthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kontou
authors.forename: Demetris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vassilopoulos
mesh_terms: D000659:AMP Deaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D006801:Humans; D006836:Hydro-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020389:Muscular Dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020914:Myopathies, Structural, Congenital / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D013946:Thymopoietins; C092710:emerin; D009243:NAD; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D000659:AMP Deaminase; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D006836:Hydro-Lyases; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; C045581:lactate dehydratase; C506946:ATP2A2 protein, human; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases