Expression of ANO1 During Cardiac Fibroblasts Differentiation and Its Electrophysiological Characteristics As Calcium-Activated Chloride Channel Protein

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression and electrophysiological characteristics of calcium-activated chlorine channel anoctamin-1 (ANO1) protein during the differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into myofibroblasts (MFs), and to elucidate the role of ANO1 in myocardial fibrosis.METHODS:The primary CFs from neonatal rats were isolated and the cells differentiated into MFs by subculture. The Ca2+-activated Cl- current (ICl(Ca)) in CFs and MFs were measured by whole-cell patch clamp, and the expressions of ANO1, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and vimentin in CFs and MFs were detected by immunofluorescence assay and Western blot, respectively.RESULTS:The current density in the early adherent CFs was stronger than that in MFs. ANO1 was expressed preferentially within and around the nuclei, and a small amount of ANO1 was expressed on the cell membrane. Moreover, ANO1 expression was weak in the early adherent CFs and displayed stronger expression in the MFs with proliferation tendency.CONCLUSION:The expression of ANO1 is closely related to the differentiation of MFs and it may be involved in modulation myocardial fibrosis.