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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Protein Isolation from the Developing Embryonic Mouse Heart Valve Region
Published on: September 23, 2014
Expression analysis of plvap in mouse heart development, homeostasis and injury
Yu Sui1, Shan Kou1, Kaixin Ge2
1School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Plasmalemma vesicle associated protein (PLVAP) expression varies in the mouse heart during development and injury. This study details PLVAP localization in endothelial and mesothelial cells, offering insights into cardiac function and repair.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Plasmalemma vesicle associated protein (PLVAP) is primarily known for its expression in endothelial cells, localizing to transport structures.
- PLVAP is implicated in heart development and cardiac repair, but its dynamic expression patterns are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively analyze the temporal and spatial expression patterns of PLVAP in the mouse heart across different developmental stages and pathological conditions.
- To elucidate the role of PLVAP in heart development, homeostasis, and response to injury.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of PLVAP expression in mouse hearts.
- Examination of PLVAP localization during embryonic, neonatal, and adult stages.
- Assessment of PLVAP expression in a mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy and failure induced by transverse aortic constriction.
Main Results:
- During embryonic and neonatal stages, PLVAP was found in endocardial, epicardial, and coronary vascular endothelial cells.
- In adult hearts, PLVAP expression persisted in endocardial and some coronary vascular endothelial cells, but epicardial expression was lost postnatally.
- Following transverse aortic constriction, PLVAP expression was observed in endocardial and coronary vascular endothelial cells of the injured heart.
Conclusions:
- PLVAP exhibits dynamic expression in the mouse heart, changing with development and in response to injury.
- The findings provide a detailed map of PLVAP distribution, enhancing our understanding of its function in cardiac development and pathology.
- PLVAP's presence in specific cell types during injury suggests a potential role in cardiac repair mechanisms.
Abstract:
Plasmalemma vesicle associated protein (PLVAP) is commonly considered to be specifically expressed in endothelial cells in which it localized to diaphragms of caveolae, fenestrae, and transendothelial channels. PLVAP is reported to be an important regulator of heart development and a novel target to promote cardiac repair in the ischemic heart. However, the dynamics of plvap expression in heart development, homeostasis and pathology have not been comprehensively described. In this study, we analyzed the temporal and spatial expression of plvap in mouse heart under different conditions. We found that, during embryonic and neonatal stages, PLVAP was detected in endocardial endothelial cells, epicardial mesothelial cells, and a small amount of coronary vascular endothelial cells. In adult heart, PLVAP was also identified in endocardial cells and a few coronary vascular endothelial cells. However, epicardial expression of PLVAP was lost during postnatal heart development and cannot be detected in mouse heart by immunostaining since 3-week-old. We also analyzed the expression of plvap in a model of cardiac hypertrophy and failure induced by transverse aortic constriction surgery, and identified expression of PLVAP in endocardial cells and coronary vascular endothelial cells in the injured heart. This study provides new evidence to better understand the role of plvap in mouse heart development and injury.
