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Differential versican isoforms and aggrecan expression in the chicken embryo aorta
Enrique Arciniegas1, Carmen Yudith Neves, Daniel Candelle
1Laboratorio de Microscopía Electrónica, Servicio Autónomo Instituto de Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. earciniegasbeta@yahoo.com
Summary
Versican and aggrecan, key chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), show distinct expression patterns in chicken aortic development and endothelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), with versican, particularly the V2 isoform, playing a prominent role.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Extracellular Matrix Research
Background:
- Large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), including versican and aggrecan, are implicated in cardiovascular development and disease.
- Their specific roles in later embryonic development and endothelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) remain less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and localization of versican and aggrecan in the aortic wall during advanced chicken embryo development.
- To examine the expression of versican isoforms during in vivo aortic remodeling and in vitro EMT.
Main Methods:
- Immunolabeling of serial cryosections of chicken embryo aortas.
- Immunoblotting to analyze protein content and isoforms.
- In vitro studies of endothelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT).
Main Results:
- Versican was immunoreactive in the intimal thickening of developing aortas, with the V2 isoform being predominant.
- Aggrecan showed weak immunoreactivity, primarily in lamellar and interlamellar cell layers.
- Versican was detected in endothelial cells, migrating cells, and their extracellular matrix during EMT in vitro.
- Both V0 and V2 versican isoforms were present at day 14 of development, with V2 dominating intimal thickening and EMT.
Conclusions:
- Versican and aggrecan exhibit distinct spatial and temporal expression patterns, suggesting differential functions in aortic wall remodeling.
- The predominance of the versican V2 isoform during intimal thickening and EMT indicates a significant role in these processes.
- Versican localization and isoform expression vary between in vivo development and in vitro EMT models.