人胚胎干细胞和诱导型人多能干细胞分化的心肌细胞在药物心脏毒性筛选中的应用

心脏毒性是药物研发失败的主要原因之一,也是临床前安全评价研究的难题之一。人胚胎干细胞和诱导型人多能干细胞均具有无限增殖、自我更新和多向分化的特性,为体外心脏毒性筛选实验提供了细胞资源。人胚胎干细胞和诱导型人多能干细胞诱导分化的心肌细胞相似,具有相同的形态结构,且随着培养时间的推移,功能性心、Na^＋、Ca^2＋通道密度逐渐增加、心肌特异性基因ANF、α—MHC、MLC-2α的表达量增加,具有相似的动作电位时程和收缩性等特点,相当于幼稚型心肌细胞。将它们应用于已知作用药物的心脏毒性筛选,检测心肌细胞离子通道、动作电位、心脏损伤标志物、收缩功能的变化,获得与临床相似的结果。因此,建立人胚胎干细胞和诱导型人多能干细胞诱导分化心肌细胞的体外评价模型,大大减少了药物研发的时间和成本,克服了种属间的差异,推动了心脏毒性体外评价方法的发展。     

microRNA转基因小鼠在心脏发育研究中的应用

microRNA（miRNA）参与调控胚胎心脏的发育,在心脏形态发生、心肌细胞生长及分化过程中发挥着极其重要的作用。通过转基因技术可以实现特异miRNA在心肌组织的过表达与敲除,据此建立的心肌特异性miRNA转基因小鼠模型可以在整体水平揭示miRNA心脏方面的功能。近年,以miRNA为研究对象的心肌特异性转基因小鼠模型数量不断增加。     

心脏特异性高表达hAPE1基因小鼠的构建与鉴定

本研究拟建立心脏特异性表达hAPE1转基因小鼠,为研究hAPE1基因功能及其突变与心脏发育和心血管疾病的关系提供工具动物。将人APE1(human APE1,hAPE1)基因插入到心脏特异性启动子α-肌球蛋白重链(α-MHC)下游,构建了心肌细胞特异性表达hAPE1的转基因表达载体,显微注射法导入C57BL/6J小鼠受精卵中,经胚胎移植获得转基因首建者小鼠,建立hAPE1转基因小鼠,PCR鉴定转基因小鼠基因型,Western blotting鉴定h APE1蛋白在心脏中的表达并筛选高表达的转基因品系。研究表明,将含有心肌细胞特异性α-MHC启动子和hAPE1基因的转基因载体进行显微注射于小鼠胚胎中,接着将胚胎移植入假孕母鼠的输卵管中发育,建立了心脏组织特异性高表达hAPE1转基因小鼠品系,获得子代小鼠40只。PCR检测发现有15只小鼠在其基因组上整合有hAPE1基因,Western blotting检测hAPE1在这些小鼠心脏中高度特异性表达。本研究成功获得了在小鼠心肌细胞中特异性表达hAPE1的转基因小鼠,为研究基因在心脏发育与相关疾病中的功能提供了有利的工具。     

一种新的分化心肌细胞筛选策略：稳定表达αMHC-Blar-2A-EGFP-Rex-mCherry-2A-neo融合基因的人胚胎干细胞系的建立及其向心肌细胞定向分化的鉴定

心肌梗死是威胁人类健康的重要疾病之一,胚胎干细胞来源的心肌细胞移植是目前治疗心肌梗死的研究热点. 但是由于受到分化的心肌细胞纯度的影响,限制了心肌分化的机理研究以及临床应用. 本实验构建含有心肌特异性启动子α MHC启动的灭瘟素（Blasticidin,简称Blar）抗性基因及增强绿色荧光蛋白（EGFP）的慢病毒表达载体αMHC-Blar-2A-EGFP-Rex-mCherry-2A-neo. 应用慢病毒转染技术将慢病毒转染到人胚胎干细胞（hESCs）,胚胎干细胞特异性启动子Rex启动mCherry和neo抗性蛋白的表达. 经过G418药物筛选,建立G418和mCherry阳性的细胞系. 通过PCR及流式细胞术,进一步鉴定稳定转染的hESCs细胞系;核型分析表明,该细胞系在建立过程中仍保持细胞核型的稳定. 在诱导稳定转染的hESCs向心肌细胞分化的实验中,分化的心肌细胞表达心肌细胞特异的肌钙蛋白(cTnT),同时具有EGFP和Blasticidin药物筛选的双标记.本实验建立的这一细胞系可用于心肌细胞的纯化,为深入研究心肌发生发育的关键调控机制及临床应用奠定基础.     

利用果蝇模型研究人类心脏早期发育的分子机理(英文)

近年来 ,果蝇心脏特化的遗传机制已初步研究清楚 ,但控制人类心脏早期发育的基因尚待鉴定。因为调控果蝇和脊椎动物早期心脏细胞命运定型的途径具有保守性 ,果蝇是一种探讨人类心脏早期发育的分子机理的理想动物模式。为此目的 ,我们采用P转座子和EMS诱变技术建立了约 3 0 0 0个隐性致死基因平衡系。通过心脏前体细胞特异性抗体免疫组化筛选 ,我们检出 2 0 0余个表现心脏突变表型的平衡致死系。我们进一步利用RNAi技术对一些基因的功能进行了初步的研究 ,证明这些基因表现RNAi的突变表型 ,该类突变表型与基因突变时表现的表型相似 ,即心管呈缺陷型或无心脏前体细胞形成。利用果蝇和人类基因组计划获得的成果 ,我们从果蝇心脏侯选基因中初步克隆和鉴定了 5 0个人类同源基因 ,其中 2 0个是新基因。Northen印迹分析表明 ,一部分人类基因在心脏组织中有表达 ,从而为研究这些基因在人类心脏早期发育中的作用提供了信息。目前 ,我们正在建立转基因果蝇 ,以此为模型研究这些基因是否对心肌细胞发生或心肌功能起调控作用。产生心肌细胞突变类型的基因如果类似于人类心脏病综合症 ,则可以作为人类心脏疾病侯选基因作进一步的分析。     

心脏基因转录潜能的区域化

心脏基因在心肌中的区域化表达是一个非常普遍的现象,通过转基因动物研究心肌中的转录潜能的区域化已取得了重大的进展.房室转录区域化最早是在线状心管形成时开始出现的.之后,在胚胎心脏的各个部分均可以发现转基因区域化表达.对于转基因在心肌中区域化表达的分子机理的研究,现在主要集中在对转基因调控区域的顺式调控元件和反式调控元件的解析,以及在心肌细胞中对于转录很重要的基因或是已被证明会介导位置信息的基因的表达模式和功能的研究上.     

利用果蝇模型研究人类心脏早期发育的分子机理

近年来,果蝇心脏转化的遗传机制已初步研究清楚,但控制人类心脏早期发育的基因尚待鉴定。因为调控果蝇和脊椎动物早期心脏细胞命运定型的途径具有保守性,果蝇是一种探讨人类心脏早期发育的分子机理的理想动物模型。为此目的,我们采用P转座子和EMS诱变技术建立了约3000个隐性致死基因平衡系。通过心脏前体细胞特异性抗体免疫组化筛选,我们选出200余个表现心脏突变表型的平衡致死系。我们进一步利用RNAi技术对一些基因的功能进行了初步的研究,证明这些基因表现RNAi的突变表型,该类突变表型与基因突变时表现的表型相似,即心管呈缺陷型或无心脏前体细胞形成。利用果蝇和人类基因组计划获得的成果,我们从果蝇心脏侯选基因中初步克隆和鉴定了50个人类同源基因,其中20个是新基因。Northen印迹分析表明,一部分人类基因在心脏组织中有表达,从而为研究这些基因在人类心脏早期发育中的作用提供了信息。目前,我们正在建立转基因果蝇,以此为模型研究这些基因是否对心肌细胞发生或心肌功能起调控作用。产生心肌细胞突变类型的基因如果类似于人类心脏病综合症,则可以作为人类心脏疾病侯选基因作进一步的分析。     

低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白2结合蛋白在心脏特异转基因小鼠中引起的心脏功能代偿

目的建立心脏特异表达的低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白2结合蛋白(Lrp2bp)转基因小鼠,研究该基因在心肌病发病中的作用。方法克隆鼠源Lrp2bp基因入α-MHC启动子下游,构建a-MHC-Lrp2bp表达载体,显微注射法建立Lrp2bp转基因小鼠。PCR鉴定转基因首建鼠的基因型。Westernblotting鉴定Lrp2bp在心脏中的表达,心脏超声检测转基因鼠及野生型小鼠心脏结构和功能,透射电镜观察心肌细胞的超微结构改变。结果得到了4个Lrp2bp转基因品系,其中3个品系心脏Lrp2bp蛋白表达量与同龄野生型鼠相比明显增加。1M龄转基因小鼠与同窝阴性对照小鼠相比,心壁变厚,心腔变大,射血分数和短轴缩短率下降。结论心脏特异表达的Lrp2bp基因能引起心肌肥厚表型,可能是参与心肌代偿性肥厚的基因之一。     

raldh2基因阻抑导致斑马鱼心脏发育畸形的机制

目的通过显微注射吗啡啉修饰的反义寡核苷酸(MO)阻抑视黄醛脱氢酶2(raldh2)基因表达,探讨raldh2基因阻抑对斑马鱼胚胎心脏发育的影响及可能的分子机制。方法根据斑马鱼raldh2基因起始密码区域序列设计合成吗啡啉修饰的反义寡核苷酸,采用显微注射方法阻抑斑马鱼胚胎raldh2基因表达。构建raldh2-EG-FP重组质粒进一步验证MO的特异性和有效性。分析raldh2基因阻抑后对胚胎发育,尤其心脏表型和功能的影响。通过胚胎整体原位杂交,分析心脏相关nppa和tbx20基因表达模式以及raldh2阻抑后对其表达的影响。结果显微注射raldh2-MO能有效地特异地阻抑斑马鱼胚胎raldh2基因表达,raldh2-MO对胚胎发育影响呈剂量依赖性。raldh2基因阻抑可导致胚胎心脏发育畸形,干扰正常的房室分化和向右环化,导致房室瓣血液反流。与野生型胚胎比较,raldh2基因阻抑组胚胎心率和心室收缩分数降低(P<0.05),心功能受损。整体原位杂交结果显示raldh2基因阻抑后nppa基因表达改变,心室部位nppa表达清晰,而心房部位表达减弱。tbx20基因在心脏、运动神经元、顶盖及视网膜表达,raldh2基因阻抑后,tbx20表达下调,在心脏表达减弱,以心房和流出道部位更显著。结论 raldh2基因在心脏早期发育的多个环节发挥重要作用,影响房室分化、心管环化和心肌收缩等。在心脏发育过程中nppa和tbx20基因表达受到raldh2基因调控,可能参与RA信号缺乏导致心脏畸形的潜在分子机制。     

胚胎干细胞定向分化为心肌细胞研究进展

胚胎干细胞在体外可分化为 3个胚层的所有组织细胞。诱导人类胚胎干细胞定向分化为心肌细胞可为心肌梗死、心肌坏死等重大心脏疾病患者实施细胞治疗 ,也可作为种子细胞 ,用于构建供器官移植用的人造心脏 ;进一步可研究心肌细胞发育分化的分子机理及更直观的用于体外筛选人类心血管药物等。对人类胚胎干细胞及其定向分化为心肌细胞分子机理的研究进展及其所面临的问题作一综述。     

Enhancement by growth factors of cardiac myocyte differentiation from embryonic stem cells: a promising foundation for cardiac regeneration

Cell transplantation is a promising, still novel, potentially therapeutic approach for the treatment of heart diseases. Clinical applications require generation of large number of donor cells. Embryonic stem (ES) cells are capable of self-renewal apparently in an unlimited fashion, in vitro. Theoretically, they can differentiate into any cell type required for cell transplantation, including cardiac myocytes. Diverse growth factors have been implicated in programming diverse cellular processes, including development of the embryonic heart, ES cell self-renewal, and cardiac myocyte differentiation from ES cells. This review addresses the current understanding of the role of growth factors in the differentiation of cardiac myocytes from ES-embryoid body cell systems in vitro as well as cardiac regeneration in vivo.     

Early postnatal cardiac changes and premature death in transgenic mice overexpressing a mutant form of serum response factor

Serum response factor (SRF) is a key regulator of a number of extracellular signal-regulated genes important for cell growth and differentiation. A form of the SRF gene with a double mutation (dmSRF) was generated. This mutation reduced the binding activity of SRF protein to the serum response element and reduced the capability of SRF to activate the atrial natriuretic factor promoter that contains the serum response element. Cardiac-specific overexpression of dmSRF attenuated the total SRF binding activity and resulted in remarkable morphologic changes in the heart of the transgenic mice. These mice had dilated atrial and ventricular chambers, and their ventricular wall thicknesses were only 1/2 to 1/3 the thickness of that of nontransgenic mice. Also these mice had smaller cardiac myocytes and had less myofibrils in their myocytes relative to nontransgenic mice. Altered gene expression and slight interstitial fibrosis were observed in the myocardium of the transgenic mice. All the transgenic mice died within the first 12 days after birth, because of the early onset of severe, dilated cardiomyopathy. These results indicate that dmSRF overexpression in the heart apparently alters cardiac gene expression and blocks normal postnatal cardiac growth and development.     

Targeted disruption of CRE-binding factor TREB5 gene leads to cellular necrosis in cardiac myocytes at the embryonic stage.

TREB5 (hXBP-1) is a basic region leucine zipper protein which binds to a CRE-like element in both human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 and MHC class II genes. To study the function(s) of TREB5 in normal development, we have generated TREB5 deficient mice by gene targeting. Heterozygous mutant mice have not exhibited any obvious abnormalities; however, homozygous mutant embryos die between embryonic days 10.5 and 14.5. The major defect responsible for lethality is cellular necrosis of cardiac myocytes located at the atrium and the truncus arteriosus with its following ventricle. Necrotic alteration was not observed in either the endocardial cushion or the conotruncal ridge. These results indicate that TREB5 plays an essential role in maintenance and/or growth of cardiac myocytes during cardiogenesis.     

Comparative analysis of mRNA isoform expression in cardiac hypertrophy and development reveals multiple post-transcriptional regulatory modules

Cardiac hypertrophy is enlargement of the heart in response to physiological or pathological stimuli, chiefly involving growth of myocytes in size rather than in number. Previous studies have shown that the expression pattern of a group of genes in hypertrophied heart induced by pressure overload resembles that at the embryonic stage of heart development, a phenomenon known as activation of the "fetal gene program". Here, using a genome-wide approach we systematically defined genes and pathways regulated in short- and long-term cardiac hypertrophy conditions using mice with transverse aortic constriction (TAC), and compared them with those regulated at different stages of embryonic and postnatal development. In addition, exon-level analysis revealed widespread mRNA isoform changes during cardiac hypertrophy resulting from alternative usage of terminal or internal exons, some of which are also developmentally regulated and may be attributable to decreased expression of Fox-1 protein in cardiac hypertrophy. Genes with functions in certain pathways, such as cell adhesion and cell morphology, are more likely to be regulated by alternative splicing. Moreover, we found 3'UTRs of mRNAs were generally shortened through alternative cleavage and polyadenylation in hypertrophy, and microRNA target genes were generally de-repressed, suggesting coordinated mechanisms to increase mRNA stability and protein production during hypertrophy. Taken together, our results comprehensively delineated gene and mRNA isoform regulation events in cardiac hypertrophy and revealed their relations to those in development, and suggested that modulation of mRNA isoform expression plays an importance role in heart remodeling under pressure overload.     

PARM-1 Is an Endoplasmic Reticulum Molecule Involved in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Rat Cardiac Myocytes

To identify novel transmembrane and secretory molecules expressed in cardiac myocytes, signal sequence trap screening was performed in rat neonatal cardiac myocytes. One of the molecules identified was a transmembrane protein, prostatic androgen repressed message-1 (PARM-1). While PARM-1 has been identified as a gene induced in prostate in response to castration, its function is largely unknown. Our expression analysis revealed that PARM-1 was specifically expressed in hearts and skeletal muscles, and in the heart, cardiac myocytes, but not non-myocytes expressed PARM-1. Immunofluorescent staining showed that PARM-1 was predominantly localized in endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In Dahl salt-sensitive rats, high-salt diet resulted in hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy and subsequent heart failure, and significantly stimulated PARM-1 expression in the hearts, with a concomitant increase in ER stress markers such as GRP78 and CHOP. In cultured cardiac myocytes, PARM-1 expression was stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines, but not by hypertrophic stimuli. A marked increase in PARM-1 expression was observed in response to ER stress inducers such as thapsigargin and tunicamycin, which also induced apoptotic cell death. Silencing PARM-1 expression by siRNAs enhanced apoptotic response in cardiac myocytes to ER stresses. PARM-1 silencing also repressed expression of PERK and ATF6, and augmented expression of CHOP without affecting IRE-1 expression and JNK and Caspase-12 activation. Thus, PARM-1 expression is induced by ER stress, which plays a protective role in cardiac myocytes through regulating PERK, ATF6 and CHOP expression. These results suggested that PARM-1 is a novel ER transmembrane molecule involved in cardiac remodeling in hypertensive heart disease.