Modulation of gene expression in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes by surface modification of polylactide-co-glycolide substrates.
Myocardial tissue engineering presents a potential treatment option for heart disease. Cardiomyocytes isolated at various stages of development retain the ability to form contractile networks in vitro, which suggests that it should be possible to reconstitute viable myocardium given the appropriate architecture, stimuli, and cardiomyogenic cell source. This study investigates the effects of modifying substrate surface energy (by plasma etching) and protein coating (by fibronectin adsorption) on neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM) function. Primary NRVMs were cultured for 96 h on modified and control films of a common degradable polymer, polylactide-co-glycolide. Cultures were analyzed for cell spreading, protein content, and mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic factor and beta-myosin heavy chain. The results demonstrate that NRVMs cultured on etched films significantly increased in spreading, myofibril development, protein content, and gene expression of atrial natriuretic factor and beta-myosin heavy chain compared with unetched films, and that this surface energy effect is overwhelmed by the addition of fibronectin. Conclusions from this study are that surface energy and protein adsorption influence the gene expression of adherent NRVMs, and may be important for modulating the function of engineered myocardium.
Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, 7523 Boelter Hall, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
David A
DA
Brown
Ramin E
RE
Beygui
William R
WR
MacLellan
Hillel
H
Laks
James C Y
JC
Dunn
Benjamin M
BM
Wu
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000235:genetics*; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D051381:Rats; D017155:Wettability
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C000594638:MYH7 protein, rat; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains