Intracellular localization of Cthrc1 characterizes differentiated smooth muscle.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We recently reported expression of collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (Cthrc1) in injured arteries and proteolytic cleavage of Cthrc1 in smooth muscle cells in vitro. The present study characterizes Cthrc1 processing and determines its biological significance.

Methods and results

Domain-specific antibodies localized full-length Cthrc1 in the cytoplasm of vascular, gastrointestinal, and uterine smooth muscle as well as in some neurons. Unlike smooth muscle alpha-actin, Cthrc1 was not expressed in the embryonic myocardium. Intracellular localization of full-length Cthrc1 was sharply reduced in dedifferentiated smooth muscle of the developing neointima despite the previously shown increase in mRNA levels with accompanying extracellular Cthrc1 immunoreactivity.

SUBMITTER: Leclair RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3508505 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature