Key result
Preformed endothelial networks significantly reduce cardiac myocyte death and improve tissue organization versus simultaneous seeding.
Why the study?
The role of endothelial-cardiac myocyte interactions in cardiac myocyte survival and spatial organization was unknown.
Do endothelial cells promote cardiac myocyte survival and spatial reorganization in a 3-dimensional configuration?
Do endothelial cells promote cardiac myocyte survival and spatial reorganization in a 3-dimensional configuration?
Endothelial cells promote the survival, spatial organization, and synchronized contraction of nearby cardiac myocytes, suggesting that functional CM-endothelium interactions are crucial for cardiac regeneration strategies.
BACKGROUND: Endothelial-cardiac myocyte (CM) interactions play a key role in regulating cardiac function, but the role of these interactions in CM survival is unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that endothelial cells (ECs) promote CM survival and enhance spatial organization in a 3-dimensional configuration. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microvascular ECs and neonatal CMs were seeded on peptide hydrogels in 1 of 3 experimental configurations: CMs alone, CMs mixed with ECs (coculture), or CMs seeded on preformed EC networks (prevascularized). Capillary-like networks formed by ECs promoted marked CM reorganization along the EC structures, in contrast to limited organization of CMs cultured alone. The presence of ECs markedly inhibited CM apoptosis and necrosis at all time points. In addition, CMs on preformed EC networks resulted in significantly less CM apoptosis and necrosis compared with simultaneous EC-CM seeding (P<0.01, ANOVA). Furthermore, ECs promoted synchronized contraction of CMs as well as connexin 43 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide direct evidence for a novel role of endothelium in survival and organization of nearby CMs. Successful strategies for cardiac regeneration may therefore depend on establishing functional CM-endothelium interactions.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Narmoneva et al. (2004) studied this question. Endothelial cells (coculture or prevascularized networks) vs. Cardiac myocytes cultured alone was evaluated on Cardiac myocyte apoptosis, necrosis, and spatial organization (p=<0.01). Culturing cardiac myocytes on preformed endothelial cell networks significantly reduced myocyte apoptosis and necrosis compared with simultaneous seeding (P<0.01) and promoted spatial reorganization.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: