Perfusate Biomarkers of DCD Cardiac Graft Quality Identified With Proteomics: Studies in an Isolated Rat Heart Model.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation with donation after circulatory death (DCD) enhances cardiac graft availability, but exposes hearts to potentially damaging conditions, such as warm ischemia. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP), used for graft transportation, allows biomarker determination in perfusate. Using our isolated, rat heart model of DCD, we evaluated potent. METHODS: Isolated, perfused adult male Wistar rat hearts (n = 5/group) underwent different warm ischemic durations to simulate DCD, followed by reperfusion to simulate NMP. Perfusate samples were collected after 10 min reperfusion, and proteins were analyzed using mass spectrometry. Cardiac recovery was evaluated after 60 min reperfusion. The relationship between perfusate proteins and cardiac recovery was investigated. RESULTS: Cardiac recovery decreased with increasing ischemic duration. Principal component analysis of perfusate proteins demonstrated segregation by ischemic group. Several proteins demonstrated an On-Off pattern, and correlated with key outcome measurements. Other proteins were released by all hearts and were confirmed as predictors of cardiac recovery, for example, heat shock protein 70 and valosin-containing protein (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.962-0.968, respectively; P < 0.05 for all). Additionally, proteins such as glycogen phosphorylase, muscle associated (AUC = 0.9632; P < 0.05) showed potential as novel biomarkers for evaluating cardiac graft quality, unlike lactate release after 10 min of reperfusion (AUC = 0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple perfusate proteins, such as heat shock protein 70, valosin-containing protein, or glycogen phosphorylase, muscle associated, released during early reperfusion are promising as biomarkers for assessing graft quality during NMP. Perfusate proteins, as biomarkers, offer the possibility of both rapid immune detection and out-of-hospital implementation, and may provide valuable information about graft quality, especially when profiled with serial sampling during NMP.

Circulating factors, in both donor and ex-situ heart perfusion, correlate with heart recovery in a pig model of DCD.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplantation with donation after circulatory death and ex-situ heart perfusion offers excellent outcomes and increased transplantation rates. However, improved graft evaluation techniques are required to ensure effective utilization of grafts. Therefore, we investigated circulating factors, both in-situ and ex-situ, as potential biomarkers for cardiac graft quality. METHODS: Circulatory death was simulated in anesthetized male pigs with warm ischemic durations of 0, 10, 20, or 30 minutes. Hearts were explanted and underwent ex-situ perfusion for 3 hours in an unloaded mode, followed by left ventricular loading for 1 hour, to evaluate cardiac recovery (outcomes). Multiple donor blood and ex-situ perfusate samples were used for biomarker evaluation with either standard biochemical techniques or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: Circulating adrenaline, both in the donor and at 10 minutes ex-situ heart perfusion, negatively correlated with cardiac recovery (p < 0.05 for all). We identified several new potential biomarkers for cardiac graft quality that can be measured rapidly and simultaneously with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. At multiple timepoints during unloaded ex-situ heart perfusion, perfusate levels of acetone, betaine, creatine, creatinine, fumarate, hypoxanthine, lactate, pyruvate and succinate (p < 0.05 for all) significantly correlated with outcomes; the optimal timepoint being 60 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: In heart donation after circulatory death, circulating adrenaline levels are valuable for cardiac graft evaluation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is of particular interest, as it measures multiple metabolites in a short timeframe. Improved biomarkers may allow more precision and therefore better support clinical decisions about transplantation suitability.

Open- vs. closed-chest pig models of donation after circulatory death.

Background: During donation after circulatory death (DCD), cardiac grafts are exposed to potentially damaging conditions that can impact their quality and post-transplantation outcomes. In a clinical DCD setting, patients have closed chests in most cases, while many experimental models have used open-chest conditions. We therefore aimed to investigate and characterize differences in open- vs. closed-chest porcine models. Methods: Withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) was simulated in anesthetized juvenile male pigs by stopping mechanical ventilation following the administration of a neuromuscular block. Functional warm ischemic time (fWIT) was defined to start when systolic arterial pressure was <50 mmHg. Hemodynamic changes and blood chemistry were analyzed. Two experimental groups were compared: (i) an open-chest group with sternotomy prior to WLST and (ii) a closed-chest group with sternotomy after fWIT. Results: Hemodynamic changes during the progression from WLST to fWIT were initiated by a rapid decline in blood oxygen saturation and a subsequent cardiovascular hyperdynamic (HD) period characterized by temporary elevations in heart rates and arterial pressures in both groups. Subsequently, heart rate and systolic arterial pressure decreased until fWIT was reached. Pigs in the open-chest group displayed a more rapid transition to the HD phase after WLST, with peak heart rate and peak rate-pressure product occurring significantly earlier. Furthermore, the HD phase duration tended to be shorter and less intense (lower peak rate-pressure product) in the open-chest group than in the closed-chest group. Discussion: Progression from WLST to fWIT was more rapid, and the hemodynamic changes tended to be less pronounced in the open-chest group than in the closed-chest group. Our findings support clear differences between open- and closed-chest models of DCD. Therefore, recommendations for clinical DCD protocols based on findings in open-chest models must be interpreted with care.

Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles alter cardiac recovery and metabolism in a rat heart model of donation after circulatory death.

Conditions to which the cardiac graft is exposed during transplantation with donation after circulatory death (DCD) can trigger the recruitment of macrophages that are either unpolarized (M0) or pro-inflammatory (M1) as well as the release of extracellular vesicles (EV). We aimed to characterize the effects of M0 and M1 macrophage-derived EV administration on post-ischaemic functional recovery and glucose metabolism using an isolated rat heart model of DCD. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 20 min aerobic perfusion, followed by 27 min global, warm ischaemia or continued aerobic perfusion and 60 min reperfusion with or without intravascular administration of EV. Four experimental groups were compared: (1) no ischaemia, no EV; (2) ischaemia, no EV; (3) ischaemia with M0-macrophage-dervied EV; (4) ischaemia with M1-macrophage-derived EV. Post-ischaemic ventricular and metabolic recovery were evaluated. During reperfusion, ventricular function was decreased in untreated ischaemic and M1-EV hearts, but not in M0-EV hearts, compared to non-ischaemic hearts (p < 0.05). In parallel with the reduced functional recovery in M1-EV versus M0-EV ischaemic hearts, rates of glycolysis from exogenous glucose and oxidative metabolism tended to be lower, while rates of glycogenolysis and lactate release tended to be higher. EV from M0- and M1-macrophages differentially affect post-ischaemic cardiac recovery, potentially by altering glucose metabolism in a rat model of DCD. Targeted EV therapy may be a useful approach for modulating cardiac energy metabolism and optimizing graft quality in the setting of DCD.

Hypothermic Oxygenated Perfusion Improves Vascular and Contractile Function by Preserving Endothelial Nitric Oxide Production in Cardiac Grafts Obtained With Donation After Circulatory Death.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac donation after circulatory death is a promising option to increase graft availability. Graft preservation with 30 minutes of hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) before normothermic machine perfusion may improve cardiac recovery as compared with cold static storage, the current clinical standard. We investigated the role of preserved nitric oxide synthase activity during HOPE on its beneficial effects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a rat model of donation after circulatory death, hearts underwent in situ ischemia (21 minutes), were explanted for a cold storage period (30 minutes), and then reperfused under normothermic conditions (60 minutes) with left ventricular loading. Three cold storage conditions were compared: cold static storage, HOPE, and HOPE with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). To evaluate potential confounding effects of high coronary flow during early reperfusion in HOPE hearts, bradykinin was administered to normalize coronary flow to HOPE levels in 2 additional groups (cold static storage and HOPE with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester). Cardiac recovery was significantly improved in HOPE versus cold static storage hearts, as determined by cardiac output, left ventricular work, contraction and relaxation rates, and coronary flow (P<0.05). Furthermore, HOPE attenuated postreperfusion calcium overload. Strikingly, the addition of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester during HOPE largely abolished its beneficial effects, even when early reperfusion coronary flow was normalized to HOPE levels. CONCLUSIONS: HOPE provides superior preservation of ventricular and vascular function compared with the current clinical standard. Importantly, HOPE's beneficial effects require preservation of nitric oxide synthase activity during the cold storage. Therefore, the application of HOPE before normothermic machine perfusion is a promising approach to optimize graft recovery in donation after circulatory death cardiac grafts.

Simultaneous assessment of mechanical and electrical function in Langendorff-perfused ex-vivo mouse hearts.

Background: The Langendorff-perfused ex-vivo isolated heart model has been extensively used to study cardiac function for many years. However, electrical and mechanical function are often studied separately-despite growing proof of a complex electro-mechanical interaction in cardiac physiology and pathology. Therefore, we developed an isolated mouse heart perfusion system that allows simultaneous recording of electrical and mechanical function. Methods: Isolated mouse hearts were mounted on a Langendorff setup and electrical function was assessed via a pseudo-ECG and an octapolar catheter inserted in the right atrium and ventricle. Mechanical function was simultaneously assessed via a balloon inserted into the left ventricle coupled with pressure determination. Hearts were then submitted to an ischemia-reperfusion protocol. Results: At baseline, heart rate, PR and QT intervals, intra-atrial and intra-ventricular conduction times, as well as ventricular effective refractory period, could be measured as parameters of cardiac electrical function. Left ventricular developed pressure (DP), left ventricular work (DP-heart rate product) and maximal velocities of contraction and relaxation were used to assess cardiac mechanical function. Cardiac arrhythmias were observed with episodes of bigeminy during which DP was significantly increased compared to that of sinus rhythm episodes. In addition, the extrasystole-triggered contraction was only 50% of that of sinus rhythm, recapitulating the "pulse deficit" phenomenon observed in bigeminy patients. After ischemia, the mechanical function significantly decreased and slowly recovered during reperfusion while most of the electrical parameters remained unchanged. Finally, the same electro-mechanical interaction during episodes of bigeminy at baseline was observed during reperfusion. Conclusion: Our modified Langendorff setup allows simultaneous recording of electrical and mechanical function on a beat-to-beat scale and can be used to study electro-mechanical interaction in isolated mouse hearts.

Effects of graft preservation conditions on coronary endothelium and cardiac functional recovery in a rat model of donation after circulatory death.

BACKGROUND: Use of cardiac grafts obtained with donation after circulatory death (DCD) could significantly improve donor heart availability. As DCD hearts undergo potentially deleterious warm ischemia and reperfusion, clinical protocols require optimization to ensure graft quality. Thus, we investigated effects of alternative preservation conditions on endothelial and/or vascular and contractile function in comparison with the current clinical standard. METHODS: Using a rat DCD model, we compared currently used graft preservation conditions, St. Thomas n°2 (St. T) at 4°C, with potentially more suitable conditions for DCD hearts, adenosine-lidocaine preservation solution (A-L) at 4°C or 22°C. Following general anesthesia and diaphragm transection, hearts underwent either 0 or 18 min of in-situ warm ischemia, were explanted, flushed and stored for 15 min with either St. T at 4°C or A-L at 4°C or 22°C, and then reperfused under normothermic, aerobic conditions. Endothelial integrity and contractile function were determined. RESULTS: Compared to 4°C preservation, 22°C A-L significantly increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dimerization and reduced oxidative tissue damage (p < 0.05 for all). Furthermore, A-L at 22°C better preserved the endothelial glycocalyx and coronary flow compared with St. T, tended to reduce tissue calcium overload, and stimulated pro-survival signaling. No significant differences were observed in cardiac function among ischemic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-two-degree Celsius A-L solution better preserves the coronary endothelium compared to 4°C St. T, which likely results from greater eNOS dimerization, reduced oxidative stress, and activation of the reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathway. Improving heart preservation conditions immediately following warm ischemia constitutes a promising approach for the optimization of clinical protocols in DCD heart transplantation.

Pre-ischemic Lactate Levels Affect Post-ischemic Recovery in an Isolated Rat Heart Model of Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD).

Introduction: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) could substantially improve donor heart availability. In DCD, the heart is not only exposed to a period of warm ischemia, but also to a damaging pre-ischemic phase. We hypothesized that the DCD-relevant pre-ischemic lactate levels negatively affect the post-ischemic functional and mitochondrial recovery in an isolated rat heart model of DCD. Methods: Isolated, working rat hearts underwent 28.5' of global ischemia and 60' of reperfusion. Prior to ischemia, hearts were perfused with one of three pre-ischemic lactate levels: no lactate (0 Lac), physiologic lactate (0.5 mM; 0.5 Lac), or DCD-relevant lactate (1 mM; 1 Lac). In a fourth group, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter was added in reperfusion to 1 Lac hearts (1 Lac + Ru360). Results: During reperfusion, left ventricular work (heart rate-developed pressure product) was significantly greater in 0.5 Lac hearts compared to 0 Lac or 1 Lac. In 1 vs. 0.5 Lac hearts, in parallel with a decreased function, cellular and mitochondrial damage was greater, tissue calcium content tended to increase, while oxidative stress damage tended to decrease. The addition of Ru360 to 1 Lac hearts partially abrogated the negative effects of the DCD-relevant pre-ischemic lactate levels (greater post-ischemic left ventricular work and less cytochrome c release in 1 Lac+Ru360 vs. 1 Lac). Conclusion: DCD-relevant levels of pre-ischemic lactate (1 mM) reduce contractile, cellular, and mitochondrial recovery during reperfusion compared to physiologic lactate levels. Inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uptake during early reperfusion improves the post-ischemic recovery of 1 Lac hearts, indicating calcium overload as a potential therapeutic reperfusion target for DCD hearts.

The blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) effect of in-vitro myoglobin and hemoglobin.

The presence of deoxygenated hemoglobin (Hb) results in a drop in T2 and T2* in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), known as the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD-)effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate if deoxygenated myoglobin (Mb) exerts a BOLD-like effect. Equine Met-Mb powder was dissolved and converted to oxygenated Mb. T1, T2, T2*-maps and BOLD-bSSFP images at 3Tesla were used to scan 22 Mb samples and 12 Hb samples at room air, deoxygenation, reoxygenation and after chemical reduction. In Mb, T2 and T2* mapping showed a significant decrease after deoxygenation (- 25% and - 12%, p < 0.01), increase after subsequent reoxygenation (+ 17% and 0% vs. room air, p < 0.01), and finally a decrease in T2 after chemical reduction (- 28%, p < 0.01). An opposite trend was observed with T1 for each stage, while chemical reduction reduced BOLD-bSSFP signal (- 3%, p < 0.01). Similar deflections were seen at oxygenation changes in Hb. The T1 changes suggests that the oxygen content has been changed in the specimen. The shortening of transverse relaxation times in T2 and T2*-mapping after deoxygenation in Mb specimens are highly indicative of a BOLD-like effect.

Hypothermic, oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) provides cardioprotection via succinate oxidation prior to normothermic perfusion in a rat model of donation after circulatory death (DCD).

In donation after circulatory death (DCD), cardiac grafts are subjected to warm ischemia in situ, prior to a brief period of cold, static storage (CSS) at procurement, and ex situ, normothermic, machine perfusion (NMP) for transport and graft evaluation. Cold ischemia and normothermic reoxygenation during NMP could aggravate graft injury through continued accumulation and oxidation, respectively, of mitochondrial succinate, and the resultant oxidative stress. We hypothesized that replacing CSS with hypothermic, oxygenated perfusion (HOPE) could provide cardioprotection by reducing cardiac succinate levels before NMP. DCD was simulated in male Wistar rats. Following 21 minutes in situ ischemia, explanted hearts underwent 30 minutes hypothermic storage with 1 of the following: (1) CSS, (2) HOPE, (3) hypothermic deoxygenated perfusion (HNPE), or (4) HOPE + AA5 (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor) followed by normothermic reperfusion to measure cardiac and metabolic recovery. After hypothermic storage, tissue ATP/ADP levels were higher and succinate concentration was lower in HOPE vs CSS, HNPE, and HOPE + AA5 hearts. After 60 minutes reperfusion, cardiac function was increased and cellular injury was decreased in HOPE compared with CSS, HNPE, and HOPE + AA5 hearts. HOPE provides improved cardioprotection via succinate oxidation prior to normothermic reperfusion compared with CSS, and therefore is a promising strategy for preservation of cardiac grafts obtained with DCD.

Mechanical Postconditioning Promotes Glucose Metabolism and AMPK Activity in Parallel with Improved Post-Ischemic Recovery in an Isolated Rat Heart Model of Donation after Circulatory Death.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) could improve donor heart availability; however, warm ischemia-reperfusion injury raises concerns about graft quality. Mechanical postconditioning (MPC) may limit injury, but mechanisms remain incompletely characterized. Therefore, we investigated the roles of glucose metabolism and key signaling molecules in MPC using an isolated rat heart model of DCD. Hearts underwent 20 minutes perfusion, 30 minutes global ischemia, and 60 minutes reperfusion with or without MPC (two cycles: 30 seconds reperfusion-30 seconds ischemia). Despite identical perfusion conditions, MPC either significantly decreased (low recovery = LoR; 32 ± 5%; p < 0.05), or increased (high recovery = HiR; 59 ± 7%; p < 0.05) the recovery of left ventricular work compared with no MPC (47 ± 9%). Glucose uptake and glycolysis were increased in HiR vs. LoR hearts (p < 0.05), but glucose oxidation was unchanged. Furthermore, in HiR vs. LoR hearts, phosphorylation of raptor, a downstream target of AMPK, increased (p < 0.05), cytochrome c release (p < 0.05) decreased, and TNFα content tended to decrease. Increased glucose uptake and glycolysis, lower mitochondrial damage, and a trend towards decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines occurred specifically in HiR vs. LoR MPC hearts, which may result from greater AMPK activation. Thus, we identify endogenous cellular mechanisms that occur specifically with cardioprotective MPC, which could be elicited in the development of effective reperfusion strategies for DCD cardiac grafts.

Differential effects of ischemia/reperfusion on endothelial function and contractility in donation after circulatory death.

BACKGROUND: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) could significantly improve cardiac graft availability. However, DCD hearts undergo potentially deleterious warm ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). As endothelial damage is a key factor in cardiac I/R injury, we aimed to investigate the tolerance of cardiac and endothelial function after various durations of warm ischemia to improve the timing and choice of cardioprotective therapies. METHODS: Isolated, working rat hearts were perfused for 20 minutes aerobically, then underwent various periods of warm global ischemia and either 30 or 60 minutes of reperfusion. RESULTS: Compared with non-ischemic hearts, recovery of left ventricular work (heart rate-developed pressure product) was significantly reduced at 60 minutes of reperfusion with ≥27 minutes of ischemia (p <0.05 for all), but was unchanged after 21 or 24 minutes of ischemia. Markers of cell death and edema significantly increased with ≥27-minute ischemia compared with non-ischemic hearts (p <0.05 for all). Endothelial-dependent vasodilation was significantly impaired compared with non-ischemic hearts with ≥24 minutes of ischemia, whereas endothelial-independent vasodilation was impaired with ≥27 minutes of ischemia (p <0.05 for all). Furthermore, with ≥24 minutes of ischemia, superoxide production by nitric oxide synthase and peroxynitrite levels were significantly increased compared with non-ischemic hearts, suggesting endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling (p <0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS: The first signs of endothelial dysfunction after cardiac ischemia occur with less ischemia than cardiac functional alterations, and may result from increased eNOS uncoupling. Strategies aimed at improving eNOS coupling may thus help to optimize both endothelial and myocardial recovery, ultimately facilitating DCD heart transplantation.

Mitochondrial integrity during early reperfusion in an isolated rat heart model of donation after circulatory death-consequences of ischemic duration.

BACKGROUND: Cardioprotection and graft evaluation after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) are essential in facilitating heart transplantation with donation after circulatory death. Given the key role of mitochondria in IR, we aimed to investigate the tolerance of cardiac mitochondria to warm, global ischemia and to determine the predictive value of early reperfusion mitochondria-related parameters for post-ischemic cardiac recovery. METHODS: Isolated, working rat hearts underwent 0, 21, 24, 27, 30, or 33 minutes of warm, global ischemia, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Functional recovery (developed pressure × heart rate) was determined at 60 minutes of reperfusion, whereas mitochondrial integrity was measured at 10 minutes of reperfusion. RESULTS: Functional recovery at 60 minutes of reperfusion decreased with ≥ 27 minutes of ischemia vs no ischemia (n = 7-8/group; p < 0.01). Cytochrome c, succinate release, and mitochondrial Ca2+ content increased with ≥ 27 minutes of ischemia vs no ischemia (p < 0.05). Ischemia at ≥ 21 minutes decreased mitochondrial coupling, adenosine 5'-triphosphate content, mitochondrial Ca2+ retention capacity, and increased oxidative damage vs no ischemia (p < 0.05). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) from reverse electron transfer increased with 21 and 27 minutes of ischemia vs no ischemia and 33 minutes of ischemia (p < 0.05), whereas ROS from forward electron transfer increased only with 33 minutes of ischemia vs no ischemia (p < 0.05). Mitochondrial coupling and adenosine 5'-triphosphate content correlated positively and cytochrome c, succinate, oxidative damage, and mitochondrial Ca2+ content correlated negatively with cardiac functional recovery (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs with shorter periods of ischemia than cardiac dysfunction. Mitochondrial coupling, ROS emission from reverse electron transfer, and calcium retention are particularly sensitive to early reperfusion injury, reflecting potential targets for cardioprotection. Indicators of mitochondrial integrity may be of aid in evaluating suitability of donation after circulatory death grafts for transplantation.

Characterization of cytoskeleton features and maturation status of cultured human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

Recent innovations in stem cell technologies and the availability of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have opened new possibilities for studies and drug testing on human cardiomyocytes in vitro. Still, there are concerns about the precise nature of such 'reprogrammed' cells. We have performed an investigation using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy on several cellular features using commercially available hiPSC-CMs. For some selected developmentally regulated or cardiac chamber-specific proteins, we have compared the results from hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes with freshly isolated, ventricular cardiomyocytes from adult rats. The results show that all typical cardiac proteins are expressed in these hiPSC-CMs. Furthermore, intercalated disc-like structures, calcium cycling proteins, and myofibrils are present. However, some of these proteins are only known from early developmental stages of the ventricular myocardium or the diseased adult heart. A heterogeneous expression pattern in the cell population was noted for some muscle proteins, such as for myosin light chains, or incomplete organization in sarcomeres, such as for telethonin. These observations indicate that hiPSC-CMs can be considered genuine human cardiomyocytes of an early developmental state. The here described marker proteins of maturation may become instrumental in future studies attempting the improvement of cardiomyocyte in vitro models.

Rat Heterotopic Heart Transplantation Model to Investigate Unloading-Induced Myocardial Remodeling.

Unloading of the failing left ventricle in order to achieve myocardial reverse remodeling and improvement of contractile function has been developed as a strategy with the increasing frequency of implantation of left ventricular assist devices in clinical practice. But, reverse remodeling remains an elusive target, with high variability and exact mechanisms still largely unclear. The small animal model of heterotopic heart transplantation (hHTX) in rodents has been widely implemented to study the effects of complete and partial unloading on cardiac failing and non-failing tissue to better understand the structural and molecular changes that underlie myocardial recovery. We herein review the current knowledge on the effects of volume unloading the left ventricle via different methods of hHTX in rats, differentiating between changes that contribute to functional recovery and adverse effects observed in unloaded myocardium. We focus on methodological aspects of heterotopic transplantation, which increase the correlation between the animal model and the setting of the failing unloaded human heart. Last, but not least, we describe the late use of sophisticated techniques to acquire data, such as small animal MRI and catheterization, as well as ways to assess unloaded hearts under "reloaded" conditions. While giving regard to certain limitations, heterotopic rat heart transplantation certainly represents the crucial model to mimic unloading-induced changes in the heart and as such the intricacies and challenges deserve highest consideration. Careful translational research will further improve our knowledge of the reverse remodeling process and how to potentiate its effect in order to achieve recovery of contractile function in more patients.

Dynamic patterns of ventricular remodeling and apoptosis in hearts unloaded by heterotopic transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical unloading of failing hearts can trigger functional recovery but results in progressive atrophy and possibly detrimental adaptation. In an unbiased approach, we examined the dynamic effects of unloading duration on molecular markers indicative of myocardial damage, hypothesizing that potential recovery may be improved by optimized unloading time. METHODS: Heterotopically transplanted normal rat hearts were harvested at 3, 8, 15, 30, and 60 days. Forty-seven genes were analyzed using TaqMan-based microarray, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In parallel with marked atrophy (22% to 64% volume loss at 3 respectively 60 days), expression of myosin heavy-chain isoforms (MHC-α/-ß) was characteristically switched in a time-dependent manner. Genes involved in tissue remodeling (FGF-2, CTGF, TGFb, IGF-1) were increasingly upregulated with duration of unloading. A distinct pattern was observed for genes involved in generation of contractile force; an indiscriminate early downregulation was followed by a new steady-state below normal. For pro-apoptotic transcripts bax, bnip-3, and cCasp-6 and -9 mRNA levels demonstrated a slight increase up to 30 days unloading with pronunciation at 60 days. Findings regarding cell death were confirmed on the protein level. Proteasome activity indicated early increase of protein degradation but decreased below baseline in unloaded hearts at 60 days. CONCLUSIONS: We identified incrementally increased apoptosis after myocardial unloading of the normal rat heart, which is exacerbated at late time points (60 days) and inversely related to loss of myocardial mass. Our findings suggest an irreversible detrimental effect of long-term unloading on myocardium that may be precluded by partial reloading and amenable to molecular therapeutic intervention.

Recruitment of EB1, a master regulator of microtubule dynamics, to the surface of the Theileria annulata schizont.

The apicomplexan parasite Theileria annulata transforms infected host cells, inducing uncontrolled proliferation and clonal expansion of the parasitized cell population. Shortly after sporozoite entry into the target cell, the surrounding host cell membrane is dissolved and an array of host cell microtubules (MTs) surrounds the parasite, which develops into the transforming schizont. The latter does not egress to invade and transform other cells. Instead, it remains tethered to host cell MTs and, during mitosis and cytokinesis, engages the cell's astral and central spindle MTs to secure its distribution between the two daughter cells. The molecular mechanism by which the schizont recruits and stabilizes host cell MTs is not known. MT minus ends are mostly anchored in the MT organizing center, while the plus ends explore the cellular space, switching constantly between phases of growth and shrinkage (called dynamic instability). Assuming the plus ends of growing MTs provide the first point of contact with the parasite, we focused on the complex protein machinery associated with these structures. We now report how the schizont recruits end-binding protein 1 (EB1), a central component of the MT plus end protein interaction network and key regulator of host cell MT dynamics. Using a range of in vitro experiments, we demonstrate that T. annulata p104, a polymorphic antigen expressed on the schizont surface, functions as a genuine EB1-binding protein and can recruit EB1 in the absence of any other parasite proteins. Binding strictly depends on a consensus SxIP motif located in a highly disordered C-terminal region of p104. We further show that parasite interaction with host cell EB1 is cell cycle regulated. This is the first description of a pathogen-encoded protein to interact with EB1 via a bona-fide SxIP motif. Our findings provide important new insight into the mode of interaction between Theileria and the host cell cytoskeleton.