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Systematic Analysis of Gene Expression Differences between Left and Right Atria in Different Mouse Strains and in Human Atrial Tissue

Kahr, PC; Piccini, I; Fabritz, L; Greber, B; Schöler, H; Scheld, HH; Hoffmeier, A; Brown, NA; Kirchhof, P (2011) Systematic Analysis of Gene Expression Differences between Left and Right Atria in Different Mouse Strains and in Human Atrial Tissue. PLOS ONE, 6 (10). e26389 (1) - e26389 (11). ISSN 1932-6203 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0026389
SGUL Authors: Brown, Nigel Andrew

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Abstract

Background: Normal development of the atria requires left-right differentiation during embryonic development. Reduced expression of Pitx2c (paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2, isoform c), a key regulator of left-right asymmetry, has recently been linked to atrial fibrillation. We therefore systematically studied the molecular composition of left and right atrial tissue in adult murine and human atria. Methods: We compared left and right atrial gene expression in healthy, adult mice of different strains and ages by employing whole genome array analyses on freshly frozen atrial tissue. Selected genes with enriched expression in either atrium were validated by RT-qPCR and Western blot in further animals and in shock-frozen left and right atrial appendages of patients undergoing open heart surgery. Results: We identified 77 genes with preferential expression in one atrium that were common in all strains and age groups analysed. Independent of strain and age, Pitx2c was the gene with the highest enrichment in left atrium, while Bmp10, a member of the TGFb family, showed highest enrichment in right atrium. These differences were validated by RT-qPCR in murine and human tissue. Western blot showed a 2-fold left-right concentration gradient in PITX2 protein in adult human atria. Several of the genes and gene groups enriched in left atria have a known biological role for maintenance of healthy physiology, specifically the prevention of atrial pathologies involved in atrial fibrillation, including membrane electrophysiology, metabolic cellular function, and regulation of inflammatory processes. Comparison of the array datasets with published array analyses in heterozygous Pitx2c+/2 atria suggested that approximately half of the genes with left-sided enrichment are regulated by Pitx2c. Conclusions: Our study reveals systematic differences between left and right atrial gene expression and supports the hypothesis that Pitx2c has a functional role in maintaining ‘‘leftness’’ in the atrium in adult murine and human hearts.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Copyright: 2011 Kahr et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Keywords: Animals, Blotting, Western, Gene Expression Profiling, Genome, Heart Atria, Humans, Mice, Muscle Proteins, Science & Technology, Multidisciplinary Sciences, Science & Technology - Other Topics, MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES, LEFT-RIGHT ASYMMETRY, CHROMOSOME 4Q25, FIBRILLATION, PROTEIN, PERSISTENT, GRADIENTS, VARIANTS, MODEL, RISK, General Science & Technology, MD Multidisciplinary
Journal or Publication Title: PLOS ONE
ISSN: 1932-6203
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Dates:
DateEvent
19 October 2011Published
Web of Science ID: WOS:000296507500059
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/107041
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0026389

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