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Functional implications of tissue factor localization to cell-cell contacts in myocardium
T Luther1, D D Dittert, M Kotzsch
1Institute of Pathology, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany. luther@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de
The Journal of Pathology
|August 22, 2000
Summary
Tissue factor (TF) is found in cardiac muscle, particularly at cardiomyocyte junctions, suggesting a structural role. Reduced TF levels in sepsis correlate with cardiac dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Tissue factor (TF) is a procoagulant receptor protein.
- Recent studies suggest TF's role in cell adhesion and migration via cytoskeletal interactions.
- TF is abundant in myocardium but not skeletal muscle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular distribution and roles of TF in the myocardium.
- To examine TF's relationship with cytoskeletal proteins in cardiac muscle.
- To quantify TF levels in different cardiac muscle segments and pathological conditions.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of TF, desmin, and vinculin in juvenile, adult, and pathologically altered human and rabbit hearts.
- Quantification of TF levels in various cardiac muscle segments (atria, ventricles).
- Assessment of TF expression in models of hypertension, hypertrophy, sepsis, and endotoxemia.
Main Results:
- TF predominantly co-localizes with desmin and vinculin at intercalated discs in adult and juvenile hearts.
- TF levels are lowest in the right atrium and highest in the left ventricle, correlating with cardiomyocyte contact sites.
- Reduced TF levels were observed in hypertensive, hypertrophic, septic human hearts, and in a rabbit endotoxemia model.
Conclusions:
- TF's localization at cardiomyocyte contact sites suggests a structural role in cardiac muscle maintenance.
- Decreased TF expression in sepsis may contribute to cardiac failure.
- TF distribution varies across cardiac regions and is altered in pathological states.