Human Erbb2-induced Erk activity robustly stimulates cycling and functional remodeling of rat and human cardiomyocytes

  1. Nicholas Strash
  2. Sophia DeLuca
  3. Geovanni L Janer Carattini
  4. Soon Chul Heo
  5. Ryne Gorsuch
  6. Nenad Bursac  Is a corresponding author
  1. Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, United States
  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, United States
5 figures, 1 table and 6 additional files

Figures

Figure 1 with 3 supplements
LV-delivered mitogens drive hiPSC-CM proliferation in monolayers.

(A) Schematic of experimental design in hiPSC-CM monolayers. (B–F) Flow cytometry analysis of mCherry+ hiPSC-CMs showing (B) fold-change (FC) in EdU incorporation relative to control LV-transduced hiPSC-CMs, (C) percentage of H3P+ CMs, (D, E) percentage of 2N and >2N cells in all CMs (D) and EdU+ CMs (E), and (F) percentage of apoptotic Cc3+ CMs. (G, H) Analysis of relative (G) gene expression of Yap and its targets Ctgf and Cyr61, and (H) total and active Yap protein abundance in caYap8SA-transduced vs. control hiPSC-CMs. (I,J) Representative immunostaining images (I) and quantified nuclear mean fluorescence intensity (MFI; J) of YAP in caYap8SA-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. (K, L) Analysis of relative (K) expression of Ctnnb1 and Wnt-signaling genes Lef1 and Axin2 and (L) Ctnnb1 protein abundance in caCtnnb1-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. (M, N) Analysis of relative Ccnd2 (M) gene and (N) protein expression and (O, P) representative immunostaining images (O) and quantified nuclear MFI (P) of Ccnd2 in Ccnd2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max. Column graphs showing mean+ SD (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). See Supplementary file 1 for sample numbers and complete statistical information for all figures. Cc3, cleaved caspase-3; hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; LV, lentiviral vector.

Figure 1—figure supplement 1
Lentiviral design and transduction efficiency in CM monolayers.

(A) Schematic depicting compositions of lentiviral constructs used to perturb specified pathways. (B–E) Flow cytometry analysis of mCherry signal was used to quantify lentiviral transduction efficiency in (B) hiPSC-CM and (C) NRVM monolayers. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max (*p<0.05, **p< 0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; LV, lentiviral vector; NRVM, neonatal rat ventricular myocyte.

Figure 1—figure supplement 2
Flow cytometry method for analysis of CM proliferation and apoptosis.

(A) Representative flow cytometry analysis plots showing gating strategies for various stains. All samples used the same indicated FSC-A by SSC-A and FSC-H by FSC-A gating to gate all single cells while excluding doublets. For cTnT staining to verify differentiation purity, the isotype is in red and the stained sample is in blue. For EdU staining, the unstained sample is in red and the stained sample is in blue. For mCherry detection, the non-transduced sample is in red and the transduced sample is in blue. Plots shown for hiPSC-CMs; NRVM analysis was conducted in the same manner. (B) Validation of the flow cytometry analysis method in hiPSC-CMs exposed for 48 hr to a known mitogen, the GSK-3 inhibitor CHIR99021 (2 µM), and simultaneously incubated with EdU. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; LV, lentiviral vector; NRVM, neonatal rat ventricular myocyte.

Figure 1—figure supplement 3
cahErbb2 induces cycling in low-glucose, palmitate-containing maturation culture media.

(A) Schematic of experimental design in hiPSC-CM monolayers. (B) Flow cytometry analysis of control mCherry+ hiPSC-CMs, showing the fold-change (FC) in CM EdU incorporation in a maturation media (MM) and control media (Mills Ctrl) from Mills et al. relative to our standard media used in Figure 1 (Stand). (C, D) Flow cytometry analysis of hiPSC-CMs transduced with cahErbb2 or control lentivirus (LV) and cultured in MM, showing (C) relative FC in CM EdU incorporation or (D) H3P expression. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte.

Figure 2 with 1 supplement
cahErbb2 induces NRVM cycle entry in monolayers and promotes sarcomere disassembly in NRVMs and hiPSC-CMs.

(A) Schematic of experimental design in NRVM monolayers. (B–E) Flow cytometry analysis of mCherry+ NRVMs showing (B) fold-change (FC) in EdU incorporation relative to control LV-treated NRVMs, (C) percentage of H3P+ CMs, and (D, E) percentage of 2N and >2N cells in all CMs (D) and EdU+ CMs (E). (F) Representative immunostaining images of sarcomeric α-actinin showing sarcomeric structure in LV transduced NRVMs and hiPSC-CMs. (G) Relative expression of Erbb2, sarcomeric genes (Myh6, Myh7, and Tnnt2), and dedifferentiation marker Runx1 in cahErbb2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max. Column graphs showing mean+ SD (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; LV, lentiviral vector; NRVM, neonatal rat ventricular myocyte.

Figure 2—figure supplement 1
cahErbb2 expression does not affect non-CM abundance or CM size in hiPSC-CM and NRVM monolayers.

(A) Quantification of non-CM abundance based on cTnT staining and flow cytometry analysis of hiPSC-CMs (left) and Mef2c expression in immunostained NRVMs (right). (B) Relative CM size in hiPSC-CMs (left) and NRVMs (right) quantified from flow cytometry forward scatters. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; LV, lentiviral vector; NRVM, neonatal rat ventricular myocyte.

Figure 3 with 3 supplements
cahErbb2 induces NRVM cycle entry in cardiobundles and promotes sarcomere disassembly and contractile dysfunction.

(A) Schematic of experimental design in NRVM cardiobundles. (B) Representative immunostaining images of cardiobundle cross-sections showing morphology (top), EdU incorporation (middle), and whole-mount tissue showing sarcomere structure (bottom). (C–G) Quantification of immunostained cardiobundle cross-sections for (C) NRVM EdU incorporation and (D) total, (E) F- actin+, (F) vimentin+ cross-sectional area (CSA), and (G) Quantified F-actin+ CSA per nuclei number within this area, shown as a measure of CM size. (H, I) Force analysis in LV-transduced cardiobundles showing (H) representative twitch traces and quantified maximum twitch amplitude and (I) passive force-length and force amplitude at 12% stretch (0% stretch is culture length of 7 mm). Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max. Line plot showing mean+ SEM (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). LV, lentiviral vector; NRVM, neonatal rat ventricular myocyte.

Figure 3—figure supplement 1
LV transduction does not affect NRVM cardiobundles.

(A) Representative immunostaining images of cardiobundle cross-sections showing morphology (left), EdU incorporation (middle), and whole-mount tissue showing sarcomere structure (right). (B, C) Quantification of immunostained cardiobundle cross-sections for (B) CM and total EdU incorporation, and (C) total and F- actin+ CSA. (D, E) Force analysis in cardiobundles showing (D) representative twitch traces and quantified maximum twitch amplitude and (E) passive force-length and force amplitude at 12% stretch (0% stretch is culture length of 7 mm). Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max. Line plot showing mean+ SEM (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). CM, cardiomyocyte; CSA, cross-sectional area; LV, lentiviral vector.

Figure 3—figure supplement 2
Twitch kinetics and unloaded contractile force in cardiobundles.

(A–C) Twitch kinetics in cardiobundles characterized by (A) total twitch duration, (B) time to peak, and (C) relaxation time. (D, E) Passive force-length relationship shown from the slack length where tissues were fully unloaded (passive force=0)—16% stretch (D, 0% stretch is culture length of 7 mm) and corresponding twitch forces measured at a slack length (E). Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max. Line plot showing mean+ SEM (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). LV, lentiviral vector.

Figure 3—figure supplement 3
Underlying mechanisms of increased passive tension in cahErbb2-expressing cardiobundles.

(A) Representative cross-sectional immunostaining images of cardiobundles made using standard (Ctrl) or 1.4× larger (1.4×) cell/hydrogel volume and corresponding quantifications of nuclei per cross-section (CS), and total and acellular CS area (CSA) shown relative to Ctrl group, as well as total and acellular CSA shown relative to CahErbb2 group. (B) Passive force in 1.4× cardiobundles quantified at 12% stretch shown relative to Ctrl group. (C) Representative cross-sectional immunostaining images and corresponding quantification of collagen I (Coll1) abundance. (D) Vimentin abundance quantified from cardiobundle cross-section images in Figure 3B. (E) Longitudinal tissue sections and corresponding quantification of nestin abundance. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV or Ctrl). LV, lentiviral vector.

cahErbb2 but not carErbb2 activates Erk signaling to drive proliferation in CMs.

(A–B) Representative Western blots and quantified relative protein (A) and Erk target gene expression (B) in carErbb2- or cahErbb2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CM monolayers. (C) Representative immunostaining images and quantified nuclear MFI of Erk in cahErbb2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. (D) Quantified relative Erk target gene expression in cahErbb2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CM monolayers. (E) Representative immunostaining images and quantified nuclear MFI of Akt in cahErbb2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. (F) Representative Western blots and quantified relative phosphorylated mTOR (pmTOR) and ribosomal protein S6 (pS6) expression in carErbb2- or cahErbb2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. (G) Representative immunostaining images and quantified nuclear MFI of pS6 in cahErbb2-transduced versus control hiPSC-CMs. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max. Column graphs showing mean+ SD (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; LV, lentiviral vector MFI, mean fluorescence intensity.

Figure 5 with 2 supplements
Erk or Mek inhibition attenuates cahErbb2-induced effects in NRVM cardiobundles.

(A) Schematic of experimental design in cahErbb2 and Ctrl LV NRVM cardiobundles. (B) Representative immunostaining images of cardiobundle cross-sections showing morphology (top), EdU incorporation (middle), and whole-mount tissue showing sarcomere structure (bottom). (C–F) Quantification of immunostained cardiobundle cross-sections for (C) NRVM EdU incorporation and (D) total, (E) F- actin+, and (F) vimentin+ cross-sectional area (CSA). (G, H) Force analysis in cardiobundles showing (G) representative twitch traces and quantified maximum twitch amplitude and (H) passive force-length and force amplitude at 12% stretch (0% stretch is culture length of 7 mm). Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max. Line plot showing mean+ SEM (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV; #p<0.05, ##p<0.01, ###p<0.001 vs. cahErbb2). LV, lentiviral vector; NRVM, neonatal rat ventricular myocyte.

Figure 5—figure supplement 1
Erk or Mek inhibition attenuates cahErbb2-induced proliferation in hiPSC-CMs.

(A) Schematic of experimental design in hiPSC-CM monolayers. (B, C) Flow cytometry analysis of cahErbb2-transduced and control mCherry+ hiPSC-CMs treated for 48 hr with vehicle control or increasing doses (10 nM, 100 nM, and 1 µM) of Erk (SCH772984) or Mek (PD0325901) inhibitors showing (B) the fold-change in CM EdU incorporation relative to corresponding vehicle-treated CMs and (C) Cc3 expression. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV). Cc3, cleaved caspase-3; hiPSC-CM, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte; LV, lentiviral vector.

Figure 5—figure supplement 2
Twitch kinetics of NRVM cardiobundles treated with Erki or Meki.

(A–C) Twitch kinetics in cardiobundles characterized by (A) total twitch duration, (B) time to peak, and (C) relaxation time. Data: box and whiskers showing distribution and min to max (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Ctrl LV; #p<0.05, ##p<0.01, ###p<0.001 vs. cahErbb2). NRVM, neonatal rat ventricular myocyte.

Tables

Key resources table
Reagent type (species) or resourceDesignationSource or referenceIdentifiersAdditional information
AntibodyAnti-Cardiac Troponin T (Rabbit polyclonal)Abcamab45932FC (1:200)
AntibodyAnti-Sarcomeric Alpha Actinin (Mouse monoclonal)Sigma-AldrichA7811IF (1:200)
AntibodyCleaved Caspase-3 (Asp175) (Rabbit polyclonal)Cell Signaling Technology9661FC (1:800)
AntibodyGAPDH (Mouse monoclonal)Santa Cruz Biotechnologysc-47724WB (1:1000)
AntibodyMouse IgG1, kappa monoclonal [15-6E10A7] - Isotype ControlAbcamab170190FC (1:2000)
AntibodyPhospho-p44/42 MAPK (Erk1/2) (Thr202/Tyr204) (Rabbit polyclonal)Cell Signaling Technology9101WB (1:1000)
Antibodyp44/42 MAPK (Erk1/2) (Total Erk) (Rabbit polyclonal)Cell Signaling Technology9102WB (1:1000)
AntibodyPhospho-Histone H3 (Ser10) (6G3) (Mouse monoclonal)Cell Signaling Technology9706FC (1:1000)
AntibodyPhospho-mTOR (Ser2448) (Rabbit polyclonal)Cell Signaling Technology2971WB (1:1000)
AntibodyPhospho-S6 Ribosomal Protein (Ser235/236) (Rabbit polyclonal)Cell Signaling Technology2211WB (1:1000)IF (1:100)
AntibodyRabbit IgG, polyclonal - Isotype ControlAbcamab37415FC (1:2000)
AntibodyRecombinant Anti-active YAP1 [EPR19812] (Rabbit polyclonal)Abcamab205270WB (1:1000)IF (1:500)
AntibodyRecombinant Anti-AKT1 (phospho S473) [EP2109Y] (Rabbit monoclonal)Abcamab81283WB (1:5000)
AntibodyRecombinant Anti-AKT1+ AKT2+ AKT3 [EPR16798] (Rabbit monoclonal)Abcamab179463WB (1:10,000)IF (1:100)
AntibodyRecombinant Anti-Cyclin D2 (Rabbit monoclonal)Abcamab207604WB (1:1000)IF (1:100)
AntibodyRecombinant Anti-Vimentin [EPR3776] (Rabbit monoclonal)Abcamab92547IF (1:500)
AntibodyYAP (D8H1X) (Total Yap) (Rabbit monoclonal)Cell Signaling Technology14074WB (1:1000)IF (1:200)
Antibodyβ-Catenin (Carboxy-terminal Antigen) (Rabbit polyclonal)Cell Signaling Technology9587WB (1:1000)
Chemical compound, drugSCH772984Cayman Chemical19166
Chemical compound, drugPD0325901Sigma-AldrichPZ0162-5MG
Commercial assay, kitClick-iT EdU Alexa Fluor 647 Flow Cytometry Assay KitThermo Fisher ScientificC10419
Commercial assay, kitClick-iT EdU Alexa Fluor 488 Imaging KitThermo Fisher ScientificC10337
Cell line (Homo sapiens, male)DU11 iPSC LineDuke University Stem Cell Core
Cell line (H. sapiens)Hek293TATCCCRL-3216
Strain, strain background (Rattus Norvegicus)P2 Sprague-Dawley Rat PupsCharles River
Recombinant DNA reagentpLV-beta-catenin deltaN90pLV-beta-catenin deltaN90 was a gift from Bob WeinbergAddgene plasmid # 36985Used to generate new plasmids
Recombinant DNA reagentHER2 CA (V659E)HER2 CA (V659E) was a gift from Mien-Chie HungAddgene plasmid # 16259Used to generate new plasmids
Recombinant DNA reagentR777-E020 Hs.CCND2-nostopR777-E020 Hs.CCND2-nostop was a gift from Dominic EspositoAddgene plasmid # 70304Used to generate new plasmids
Recombinant DNA reagentpSV2 neuNTpSV2 neuNT was a gift from Bob WeinbergAddgene plasmid # 10,918Used to generate new plasmids
Recombinant DNA reagentpCMV-flag YAP2 5SApCMV-flag YAP2 5SA was a gift from Kunliang GuanAddgene plasmid # 27371Used to generate new plasmids
Recombinant DNA reagentPax2psPAX2 was a gift from Didier TronoAddgene plasmid # 12260Used to generate lentivirus in HEK293Ts
Recombinant DNA reagentVSVGpMD2.G was a gift from Didier TronoAddgene plasmid # 12259Used to generate lentivirus in HEK293Ts
Recombinant DNA reagentControl Lentivirus (MHCK7-mCherry)This manuscriptSee Materials and methods section
Recombinant DNA reagentCyclin Lentivirus (MHCK7-Ccnd2-P2A-mCherry-NLS)This manuscriptSee Materials and methods section
Recombinant DNA reagentB-catenin Lentivirus (MHCK7- Ctnnb1(∆90)-P2A-mCherry-NLS)This manuscriptSee Materials and methods section
Recombinant DNA reagentHuman Erbb2 Lentivirus (MHCK7-Erbb2(V659E-P2A-mCherry))This manuscriptSee Materials and methods section
Recombinant DNA reagentRat Erbb2 Lentivirus (MHCK7-Erbb2(V663E-P2A-mCherry-NLS))This manuscriptSee Materials and methods section
Recombinant DNA reagentYap Lentivirus (MHCK7-Yap8SA-P2A-mCherry-NLS)This manuscriptSee Materials and methods section
Software, algorithmCellProfilerMcQuin et al., 2018https://cellprofiler.org/
Software, algorithmImageJSchneider et al., 2012https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/
Software, algorithmFlowJo SoftwareThe FlowJo team, 2021
Software, algorithmGraphPad Prismhttps://www.graphpad.com/
Software, algorithmMatlab
Sequence-based reagentYap1PrimerBank ID: 303523510c1F:TAGCCCTGCGTAGCCAGTTAR:TCATGCTTAGTCCACTGTCTGT
Sequence-based reagentMyh6NCBI PrimerBlastF:GCCCTTTGACATTCGCACTGR:GGTTTCAGCAATGACCTTGCC
Sequence-based reagentMyh7PrimerBank ID: 115496168c1F:ACTGCCGAGACCGAGTATGR:GCGATCCTTGAGGTTGTAGAGC
Sequence-based reagentCtgfPrimerBank ID: 98986335c1F:CAGCATGGACGTTCGTCTGR:AACCACGGTTTGGTCCTTGG
Sequence-based reagentCyr61PrimerBank ID: 197313774c3F:CAGCATGGACGTTCGTCTGR:AACCACGGTTTGGTCCTTGG
Sequence-based reagentCtnnb1PrimerBank ID: 148233337c2F:CATCTACACAGTTTGATGCTGCTR:GCAGTTTTGTCAGTTCAGGGA
Sequence-based reagentLef1PrimerBank ID: 260656055c1F:AGAACACCCCGATGACGGAR:GGCATCATTATGTACCCGGAAT
Sequence-based reagentAxin2PrimerBank ID: 195927058c1F:CAACACCAGGCGGAACGAAR:GCCCAATAAGGAGTGTAAGGACT
Sequence-based reagentCcnd2PrimerBank ID: 209969683c3F:TTTGCCATGTACCCACCGTCR:AGGGCATCACAAGTGAGCG
Sequence-based reagentErbb2PrimerBank ID: 54792097c2F:TGTGACTGCCTGTCCCTACAAR:CCAGACCATAGCACACTCGG
Sequence-based reagentEpha2PrimerBank ID: 296010835c2F:AGAGGCTGAGCGTATCTTCATR:GGTCCGACTCGGCATAGTAGA
Sequence-based reagentEpha4PrimerBank ID: 45439363c3F:GCAAGGAGACGTTTAACCTGTR:CTTGGGTGAAGCTCTCATCAG
Sequence-based reagentFn1PrimerBank ID: 47132556c2F:AGGAAGCCGAGGTTTTAACTGR:AGGACGCTCATAAGTGTCACC
Sequence-based reagentDusp5PrimerBank ID: 62865889c2F:GCCAGCTTATGACCAGGGTGR:GTCCGTCGGGAGACATTCAG
Sequence-based reagentDusp6PrimerBank ID: 42764682c1F:GAAATGGCGATCAGCAAGACGR:CGACGACTCGTATAGCTCCTG
Sequence-based reagentSpry4PrimerBank ID: 188595696c1F:TCTGACCAACGGCTCTTAGACR:GTGCCATAGTTGACCAGAGTC
Sequence-based reagentEtv5PrimerBank ID: 194018465c1F:TCAGCAAGTCCCTTTTATGGTCR:GCTCTTCAGAATCGTGAGCCA
Sequence-based reagentPhlda1PrimerBank ID: 83977458c1F:GAAGATGGCCCATTCAAAAGCGR:GAGGAGGCTAACACGCAGG
Sequence-based reagentSpry2PrimerBank ID: 22209007c1F:CCTACTGTCGTCCCAAGACCTR:GGGGCTCGTGCAGAAGAAT
Sequence-based reagentDusp4PrimerBank ID: 325651887c1F:GGCGGCTATGAGAGGTTTTCCR:TGGTCGTGTAGTGGGGTCC
Sequence-based reagentEtv4PrimerBank ID: 118918427c2F:CAGTGCCTTTACTCCAGTGCCR:CTCAGGAAATTCCGTTGCTCT
Sequence-based reagentFosPrimerBank ID: 254750707c2F:GGGGCAAGGTGGAACAGTTATR:CCGCTTGGAGTGTATCAGTCA
Sequence-based reagentDab2PrimerBank ID: 349585059c1F:GTAGAAACAAGTGCAACCAATGGR:GCCTTTGAACCTTGCTAAGAGA
Sequence-based reagentPdgfaPrimerBank ID: 197333758c1F:GCAAGACCAGGACGGTCATTTR:GGCACTTGACACTGCTCGT
Sequence-based reagentRunx1PrimerBank ID: 169790826c1F:CTGCCCATCGCTTTCAAGGTR:GCCGAGTAGTTTTCATCATTGCC
Sequence-based reagentHprt1PrimerBank ID: 164518913c1F:CCTGGCGTCGTGATTAGTGR:AGACGTTCAGTCCTGTCCATAA

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  1. Nicholas Strash
  2. Sophia DeLuca
  3. Geovanni L Janer Carattini
  4. Soon Chul Heo
  5. Ryne Gorsuch
  6. Nenad Bursac
(2021)
Human Erbb2-induced Erk activity robustly stimulates cycling and functional remodeling of rat and human cardiomyocytes
eLife 10:e65512.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.65512