Transcriptional control mechanisms in the wall of the urinary bladder. Myocardin family coactivators and the transcriptomic impact of denervation.
Författare
Summary, in English
The generation of caveolae depends on caveolins and cavins. We found that most caveolae proteins are regulated by MRTFs via proximal promoter sequences. MRTFs thus likely represent major drivers of formation of caveolae in SMCs. We also found that Cavin3 (Prkcdbp) is preferentially expressed in SMCs compared to other cells. Knockout of Cavin3 reduced the number of caveolae in the SMC membrane, but not elsewhere, and at the same time reduced Caveolin-1, Caveolin-3 and Cavin1. This suggests that Cavin3 contributes to the generation of caveolae in SMCs.
Dense bodies in smooth muscle may be regarded as equivalents of Z-discs in striated muscle. The protein Nexilin (NEXN) was previously identified as a Z-disc-localized protein that controls mechanical stability. We found that Nexilin (NEXN) is highly expressed in SMCs and regulated by MRTF- and YAP/TAZ-coactivators. Nexilin was moreover found to be a dense body-associated protein in SMCs that promotes actin polymerization, differentiation and motility.
Bladder wall remodelling in pathological situations is accompanied by reduced innervation. A second aim of this work was to define changes in gene expression after denervation. We show that numerous mRNAs and miRNAs are differentially expressed in the denervated bladder. Pathway analysis indicates that many of the differentially expressed genes are related to proliferation (60%). This is no surprise because the bladder weight increases 5-fold following denervation. Cthrc1 is upregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels, correlating with bladder weight, and overexpression and knockdown of this protein influences SMC proliferation in vitro.
Neural plasticity is influenced by neurotrophic factors released from the target organs. We addressed if the bladder may influence its own nerve supply by such a mechanism. We demonstrate that neurotrophic factors, including NGF, BDNF, and NT-3, are synthesized in the bladder wall, and promote outgrowth of neurites from the pelvic ganglia in vitro, presumably via Trk-receptors.
In conclusion, the studies summarized here provide understanding of the transcriptional control of key proteins and ultrastructural features of SMCs. They also unveil molecular mechanisms of bladder remodelling following denervation. Manipulation of some of the genes identified here represents promising strategies for recovering bladder function in disease.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2018
Språk
Engelska
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Volym
2018
Issue
104
Fulltext
Dokumenttyp
Doktorsavhandling
Förlag
Lund University: Faculty of Medicine
Ämne
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Urology and Nephrology
Status
Published
Forskningsgrupp
- Cellular Biomechanics
Handledare
- Karl Swärd
- Bengt Uvelius
- Catarina Rippe
- Mari Ekman
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1652-8220
- ISBN: 978-91-7619-672-4
Försvarsdatum
20 september 2018
Försvarstid
09:00
Försvarsplats
Segerfalksalen, BMC A10, Sölvegatan 17 i Lund
Opponent
- Per Lindahl (professor)