Hi! I have been trying to induce hypertrophy to H9c2 cell line by depleting the medium for 24h before starting the treatment with Ang II 1uM for 24-48h more. I have seen increased cell size after 24 hours of treatment already. However, ANP, BNP and B-MHC markers don't appear to be expressed even in the control group. Has anyone encountered this problem? Do they express these proteins?
Sara Delgado Tomás The H9c2 cell line is produced from embryonic rat heart tissue and is widely used as a cardiomyocyte hypertrophy model. H9c2 cells have been shown to express ANP and BNP in response to hypertrophic stimuli such as pressure overload or treatment with hypertrophic drugs such as phenylephrine. Nevertheless, the degree of expression of these markers might differ depending on the experimental settings.
In terms of B-MHC expression, H9c2 cells have been shown to express both -MHC and -MHC isoforms, which may be controlled hypertrophy-specifically. Yet, the expression of certain MHC isoforms can be affected by cell differentiation as well as culture circumstances.
It is crucial to note that the expression of hypertrophic markers can be influenced by a variety of parameters, including the length and strength of the hypertrophic stimulus, culture conditions, and cell passage number. Moreover, depending on the sensitivity of the assay performed, the markers may not be expressed at detectable levels in the control group.
To establish the lack or presence of hypertrophic markers in H9c2 cells, quantitative PCR or Western blot analysis using specific antibodies for ANP, BNP, and B-MHC is indicated, as well as optimizing the experimental conditions to promote robust hypertrophy. To confirm the findings, the data might be compared to other existing hypertrophy models.
