Objective: To investigate the expression and electrophysiological characteristics of calcium-activated chlorine channel anoctamin-1 (ANO1) protein during the differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into myofibroblasts (MFs), and to elucidate the role of ANO1 in myocardial fibrosis.
Methods: The primary CFs from neonatal rats were isolated and the cells differentiated into MFs by subculture. The Ca2+-activated Cl- current (ICl(Ca)) in CFs and MFs were measured by whole-cell patch clamp, and the expressions of ANO1, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and vimentin in CFs and MFs were detected by immunofluorescence assay and Western blot, respectively.
Results: The current density in the early adherent CFs was stronger than that in MFs. ANO1 was expressed preferentially within and around the nuclei, and a small amount of ANO1 was expressed on the cell membrane. Moreover, ANO1 expression was weak in the early adherent CFs and displayed stronger expression in the MFs with proliferation tendency.
Conclusion: The expression of ANO1 is closely related to the differentiation of MFs and it may be involved in modulation myocardial fibrosis.
目的: 研究钙激活氯通道蛋白ANO1在心肌成纤维细胞(CFs)向成肌纤维细胞(MFs)分化过程中的表达规律及其电生理特性,探索ANO1在心肌纤维化进程中的作用。方法: 以刚分离贴壁的大鼠原代CFs及其分化的MFs为研究对象,利用全细胞膜片钳检测钙激活氯通道电流变化,采用免疫荧光标记技术和Western blot检测ANO1、α-SMA和vimentin在CFs和MFs细胞中的表达特征。结果: 刚贴壁培养的CFs钙激活氯通道电流密度远高于MFs;ANO1主要表达于CFs和MFs的细胞核周围及细胞核上,少量表达于细胞膜;ANO1在刚贴壁的CFs中表达较弱,而在有分裂增殖趋向的MFs细胞中表达较为明显。结论: ANO1的表达与MFs的分化过程密切相关,提示其可能参与调节心肌纤维化进程。.
Keywords: ANO1; calcium-activated chloride channels; cardiac fibroblasts; myocardial fibrosis; whole-cell patch clamp.