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. 2002 Sep 1;30(17):3788-94.
doi: 10.1093/nar/gkf497.

Gene expression profiling of the aging mouse cardiac myocytes

Natalya Bodyak  1 , Peter M Kang, Makoto Hiromura, Indra Sulijoadikusumo, Nobuo Horikoshi, Konstantin Khrapko, Anny Usheva
Affiliations

Gene expression profiling of the aging mouse cardiac myocytes

Natalya Bodyak et al. Nucleic Acids Res. .

Abstract

Heart disease remains the most frequent cause of death in the general population with increasing incidence in the elderly population. The pathologic failure of the aging heart may be related to structural and functional alterations in cardiac muscle cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the aging-related decline in cardiac muscle function are largely unknown. To provide the first analysis of cardiac aging at the level of gene expression, we established and compared cDNA libraries from apparently healthy young and aged mouse ventricular cardiac muscle cells. We report the identification of genes that exhibit aging-related changes of mRNA levels. Aging expression profiles in aged hearts indicate decreased cellular adaptation and protection against stress-induced injury together with the development of contractile dysfunction. The data suggest reduced activity of the mitochondrial electron transport system and reduced levels of cardiac-specific transcription regulators. The cardiomyocyte aging profile of gene expression displays similarities with known heart disorders. Genes whose mRNA levels change with aging in cardiomyocytes might profoundly affect pathological changes in the heart.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Confocal microscopy of LVCs from healthy young and aged mouse hearts. Anti-alpha actinin–FITC conjugated antibodies (green) were used to label the alpha actinin distribution in the contractile apparatus. The autofluorescent lipofuscin inclusions (pink and yellow) were visualized with the Texas red filter. Nuclei are labeled with arrows. Pictures were taken at magnification ×600 and simultaneously with three of the filters. (A) LVCs from young animals. (B) LVCs from aged animals.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Representative northern blot analyses confirming changes in mRNA levels. Total cellular RNA samples (2 µg) from young and aged LVCs were examined by northern blot analysis. Genes to which the probes correspond are identified to the left of the autoradiograms. Y, young LVCs; A, aged LVCs. Probes were radioactively labeled differentially expressed cDNA fragments. The level of mRNA specific for beta actin did not change significantly with aging and was used as an internal control.
Figure 3
Figure 3
DNA arrays were used to confirm differential gene expression profiles. Identical DNA array membranes were probed with individual 33P-labeled cDNA libraries prepared from (A) young and (B) aged LVCs. Arrays contain oligonucleotide probes that are specific for the 45 differentially expressed clones and for 120 additional genes with known function in the cardiac muscle cells. Bottom panels of (A) and (B) show an enlargement of the boxed portions in the top panels. Matrix overlay maps the individual oligonucleotides for each of the genes. Hybridization position of some of the differentially expressed genes in the magnified region: 1 and 2, cytochrome NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1; 3 and 4, cytochrome c oxidase, subunit 3; 5 and 6, cytochrome b; 33 and 34, cardiac myosin light-chain; 41 and 42, α B-crystallin; 65 and 66, Hsp25.
Figure 1
Figure 1
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