心肌α肌球蛋白重链启动子驱动的CREG蛋白表达载体的构建及鉴定

目的：构建心肌特异性α-肌球蛋白重链（α—myosin heavy chain,α—MHC）启动子启动E1A基因阻遏子（cellular repressor of E1A—stimulated genes,CREG）和增强型绿色荧光蛋白（enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP）融合的真核表达载体。绿色荧光蛋白作为报告基因,方便在心肌细胞中直接观察CREG蛋白的表达,为心肌特异性转CREG基因动物模型制备提供载体。方法：用BamHI和EcoRI双酶切pcDNA3．1myc—His／hCREG质粒得到CREG基因,亚克隆入增强绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒pEGFP-N1中,构建pCREG-EGFP-N1;根据Genebank中公布的α-MHC基因的启动子序列,人工合成pUC57-α-MHC启动子基因序列,经AseI和NheI双酶切得到启动子α—MHC,亚克隆入pCREG—EGFP-N1中替代原CMV启动子,构建pα-MHC-CREG—EGFP-N1,测序鉴定。用脂质体法将该质粒转染体外培养的小鼠原代心肌细胞,荧光显微镜下观测绿色荧光蛋白的表达;Western blot检测CREG蛋白的表达。结果：成功构建pα—MHC—CREG-EGFP-N1质粒,酶切及测序结果正确;成功转染入原代培养小鼠心肌细胞,在荧光显微镜下可见绿色荧光蛋白的表达,Westem blot检测到CREG蛋白的表达。结论：重组质粒pα-MHC—CREG—EGFP-N1体外转染入原代培养小鼠心肌细胞后,目的基因能够在心肌细胞中有效表达,检测方法简便可靠,为下一步建立心肌细胞特异性表达CREG的过表达转基因小鼠、深入探讨CREG在心肌疾病发生中的生物学功能研究奠定了基础。     

心脏和软骨细胞特异性表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠的基因型鉴定

我们曾经报道了分别在心脏(α—MHC—Cre)和软骨细胞(Col2A1-Cre)特异性表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠的成功研制。为了对这2种转基因小鼠进行特异性的基因型鉴定,设计了2对特异性PCR引物,其中一条引物分别位于α-肌球蛋白重链基因(α-MHC)启动子和Ⅱ型胶原(Col2Al)启动子上。以6种不同组织特异性Cre重组酶转基因小鼠基因组DNA为模板,利用设计的特异性引物以及位于Cre编码区的通用引物进行PCR反应。结果显示,2对特异性引物可以分别将心肌细胞特异性和软骨细胞特异性Cre重组酶转基因小鼠与其他组织特异性Cre重组酶转基因小鼠有效区分开来。     

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。     

特异性检测胰腺组织表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠的方法

利用组织特异性分子标志物启动子调控Cre重组酶,研制了6种在不同组织中特异性表达Cre重组酶的转基因小鼠.这些转基因小鼠的基因型鉴定均使用设计在Cre基因编码区的通用引物.为了特异性检测胰腺组织表达Cre重组酶的转基因小鼠,在大鼠胰岛素RIP启动子上和Cre基因上设计1对引物进行PCR扩增,并通过凝胶电泳进行分析.PCR结果显示,设计在Cre基因上的通用引物可以从6种不同组织特异性Cre重组酶转基因小鼠基因组DNA中扩增获得480 bp产物;利用本研究设计的特异性引物可以从胰腺组织表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠基因组DNA中扩增200 bp的目的条带.这一结果表明,利用特异性引物进行PCR反应,可有效地将胰腺组织表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠与其他多种组织的Cm重组酶转基因小鼠鉴别开来.     

造血干细胞特异性表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠的建立

EDAG是在胚胎发育阶段造血干细胞特异性表达的基因.为了在早期造血组织细胞中实现相关基因的条件敲除,构建了含有早期造血组织特异性表达的EDAG启动子和Cre重组酶基因的转基因EDAG-Cre表达载体质粒.通过显微注射的方法将线性化的5.6kb的EDAG-Cre转基因片段导入小鼠受精卵细胞核,获得的新生小鼠经过PCR鉴定,常规方法培育传代.结果发现,共获得了6只阳性转基因首建鼠,其中4只已经建系并稳定传代.RT-PCR分析表明Cre重组酶基因在阳性转基因小鼠的骨髓、脾脏、胸腺、外周血以及胎肝等组织中均有表达,重组酶活性也在脾和骨髓中获得确认.EDAG-Cre重组酶转基因小鼠的建立,为研究早期造血组织以及造血干细胞特异性基因条件敲除小鼠模型的建立奠定了基础.     

心肌α肌球蛋白重链启动子驱动的CREG 蛋白表达载体 的构建及鉴定

目的:构建心肌特异性α-肌球蛋白重链(α-myosin heavy chain,α-MHC)启动子启动E1A基因阻遏子(cellular repressorof E1A-stimulated genes,CREG)和增强型绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)融合的真核表达载体。绿色荧光蛋白作为报告基因,方便在心肌细胞中直接观察CREG蛋白的表达,为心肌特异性转CREG基因动物模型制备提供载体。方法:用BamH I和EcoR I双酶切pcDNA3.1 myc-His/hCREG质粒得到CREG基因,亚克隆入增强绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒pEGFP-N1中,构建pCREG-EGFP-N1;根据Genebank中公布的α-MHC基因的启动子序列,人工合成pUC57-α-MHC启动子基因序列,经Ase I和Nhe I双酶切得到启动子α-MHC,亚克隆入pCREG-EGFP-N1中替代原CMV启动子,构建pα-MHC-CREG-EGFP-N1,测序鉴定。用脂质体法将该质粒转染体外培养的小鼠原代心肌细胞,荧光显微镜下观测绿色荧光蛋白的表达;Western blot检测CREG蛋白的表达。结果:成功构建pα-MHC-CREG-EGFP-N1质粒,酶切及测序结果正确;成功转染入原代培养小鼠心肌细胞,在荧光显微镜下可见绿色荧光蛋白的表达,Western blot检测到CREG蛋白的表达。结论:重组质粒pα-MHC-CREG-EGFP-N1体外转染入原代培养小鼠心肌细胞后,目的基因能够在心肌细胞中有效表达,检测方法简便可靠,为下一步建立心肌细胞特异性表达CREG的过表达转基因小鼠、深入探讨CREG在心肌疾病发生中的生物学功能研究奠定了基础。     

角质细胞特异性表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠的建立

构建了含有角质细胞特异性角质素5启动子、Cre重组酶基因和人生长激素基因plyA的转基因载体pK5-Cre-hGH。以显微注射的方法将4．2kb的转基因片段K5-Cre-hGH引入小鼠基因组,共注射720枚受精卵,其中龄5枚移植至29只假孕母鼠的输卵管中发育,获得子代小鼠48只,经基因型鉴定有12只小鼠在其基因组上整合有Cre基因,整合率为25％。将带有cre重组酶基因的小鼠与基因组上携带loxP位点的smad4条件基因打靶小鼠杂交以检测Cre重组酶组织特异性表达情况以及介导重组的功能。结果表明,K5-Cre转基因小鼠只在皮肤组织中表达Cre重组酶并能在体内成功地介导loxP位点的重组。     

MLC_2-糜酶融合基因克隆及转基因小鼠的产生

为研究糜酶基因在体内的结构与功能以及与心肌肥厚的关系,并提高糜酶基因在小鼠心脏中的表达,构建肌球蛋白轻链－２启动子（ｍｙｏｓｉｎｌｉｇｈｔｃｈａｉｎ－２ｐｒｏｍｏｔｅｒ,ＭＬＣ２）－糜酶融合基因并产生转基因小鼠．通过删除糜酶基因启动子序列,构建结构基因克隆,然后与大鼠心脏肌球蛋白轻链－２启动子序列相拼接,构建ＭＬＣ２－糜酶融合基因克隆,回收并纯化融合基因片段,显微注射入小鼠受精卵产生转基因小鼠,经ＰＣＲ扩增、Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ印迹杂交和ＰＣＲ扩增产物的测序,筛选和确定转基因鼠．在新出生的４６只小鼠中有２只为转基因阳性鼠,且外源基因能稳定遗传给后代,从而获得了可用于研究糜酶基因在体内的结构与功能以及与心肌肥厚的关系的转基因小鼠模型．     

Cre重组酶表达载体的构建及其在转基因小鼠胰腺中的表达

组织特异性表达Cre重组酶的转基因小鼠是进行组织特异性条件敲除研究的关键。采用PCR扩增大鼠胰岛素基因705bp启动子指导发胰岛细胞中特异表达;同时采用改构的Cre重组酶基因,在其5'端添加有真核核糖体结合序列和核定位序列使Cre重组酶能穿越核膜在细胞核能发挥功能;同时,为了保证原核基因Cre能在真核系统顺利表达,在其3'端添加含内含子的人生长激素基因。构建的表达载体在去除原核序列后用显微注射方法转基因小鼠,在出生的27只仔鼠中,PCR检测共获得7只Cre整合阳性的转基因小鼠,整合率26％。这种Cre转基因小鼠与基因组小携带LoxP位点的条件基因打靶小鼠交配,在胰腺组织中可以检测到Cre介导的重组,表明Cre在转基因小鼠胰腺中有表达。     

胰腺组织表达Cre重组酶转基因小鼠的建立及鉴定

组织特异性表达Cre重组酶的转基因小鼠是进行组织特异性基因剔除研究的重要工具。为了建立胰腺组织特异性Cre转基因小鼠,我们通过PCR克隆了大鼠胰岛素基因启动子,并用它指导Cre基因在胰岛细胞中的特异性表达。在Cre重组酶基因5′端添加了真核核糖体结合序列和核定位序列以使Cre重组酶能穿越核膜在细胞核中发挥功能;同时,在Cre基因3′端添加了含内含子的3′端人生长激素基因。表达载体经显微注射导入小鼠受精卵以建立转基因小鼠。PCR检测显示共获得7只Cre整合阳性的转基因首建者小鼠;RTPCR结果表明其中1只首建者小鼠的子代鼠在胰腺中转录了外源基因,进一步的Southern杂交结果表明,该转基因小鼠能够在胰腺中表达有功能的Cre重组酶。      

Overexpression of Hsp27 ameliorates symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in APP/PS1 mice

Hsp27 belongs to the small heat shock protein family, which are ATP-independent chaperones. The most important function of Hsp27 is based on its ability to bind non-native proteins and inhibit the aggregation of incorrectly folded proteins maintaining them in a refolding-competent state. Additionally, it has anti-apoptotic and antioxidant activities. To study the effect of Hsp27 on memory and synaptic functions, amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, and neurodegeneration, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing human Hsp27 protein and crossed with APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse strain, a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using different behavioral tests, we found that spatial learning was impaired in AD model mice and was rescued by Hsp27 overexpression. Electrophysiological recordings have revealed that excitability of neurons was significantly increased, and long-term potentiation (LTP) was impaired in AD model mice, whereas they were normalized in Hsp27 overexpressing AD model mice. Using anti-amyloid antibody, we counted significantly less amyloid plaques in the brain of APPswe/PS1dE9/Hsp27 animals compared to AD model mice. These results suggest that overexpression of Hsp27 protein might ameliorate certain symptoms of AD.     

Long-Term Overexpression of Hsp70 Does Not Protect against Cardiac Dysfunction and Adverse Remodeling in a MURC Transgenic Mouse Model with Chronic Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation

Previous animal studies had shown that increasing heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) using a transgenic, gene therapy or pharmacological approach provided cardiac protection in models of acute cardiac stress. Furthermore, clinical studies had reported associations between Hsp70 levels and protection against atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia presenting in cardiology clinics and is associated with increased rates of heart failure and stroke. Improved therapies for AF and heart failure are urgently required. Despite promising observations in animal studies which targeted Hsp70, we recently reported that increasing Hsp70 was unable to attenuate cardiac dysfunction and pathology in a mouse model which develops heart failure and intermittent AF. Given our somewhat unexpected finding and the extensive literature suggesting Hsp70 provides cardiac protection, it was considered important to assess whether Hsp70 could provide protection in another mouse model of heart failure and AF. The aim of the current study was to determine whether increasing Hsp70 could attenuate adverse cardiac remodeling, cardiac dysfunction and episodes of arrhythmia in a mouse model of heart failure and AF due to overexpression of Muscle-Restricted Coiled-Coil (MURC). Cardiac function and pathology were assessed in mice at approximately 12 months of age. We report here, that chronic overexpression of Hsp70 was unable to provide protection against cardiac dysfunction, conduction abnormalities, fibrosis or characteristic molecular markers of the failing heart. In summary, elevated Hsp70 may provide protection in acute cardiac stress settings, but appears insufficient to protect the heart under chronic cardiac disease conditions.     

Cardiomyocyte overexpression of miR-27b induces cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in mice

Recent studies have begun to reveal critical roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. In this study, we tested whether a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-regulated miRNA played a pivotal role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure (HF). We observed that miR-27b was upregulated in hearts of cardiomyocyte-specific Smad4 knockout mice, which developed cardiac hypertrophy. In vitro experiments showed that the miR-27b expression could be inhibited by TGF-β1 and that its overexpression promoted hypertrophic cell growth, while the miR-27b suppression led to inhibition of the hypertrophic cell growth caused by phenylephrine (PE) treatment. Furthermore, the analysis of transgenic mice with cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of miR-27b revealed that miR-27b overexpression was sufficient to induce cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. We validated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) as a direct target of miR-27b in cardiomyocyte. Consistently, the miR-27b transgenic mice displayed significantly lower levels of PPAR-γ than the control mice. Furthermore, in vivo silencing of miR-27b using a specific antagomir in a pressure-overload-induced mouse model of HF increased cardiac PPAR-γ expression, attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction. The results of our study demonstrate that TGF-β1-regulated miR-27b is involved in the regulation of cardiac hypertrophy, and validate miR-27b as an efficient therapeutic target for cardiac diseases.     

Hsp27 is persistently expressed in zebrafish skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues but dispensable for their morphogenesis

Constitutive expression of Hsp27 has been demonstrated in vertebrate embryos, especially in developing skeletal and cardiac muscle. Results of several previous studies have indicated that Hsp27 could play a role in the development of these tissues. For example, inhibition of Hsp27 expression has been reported to cause defective development of mammalian myoblasts in vitro and frog embryos in vivo. In contrast, transgenic mice lacking Hsp27 develop normally. Here, we examined the distribution of Hsp27 protein in developing and adult zebrafish and effects of suppressing Hsp27 expression using phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMO) on zebrafish development. Consistent with our previous analysis of hsp27 messenger RNA expression, we detected the protein Hsp27 in cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle of both embryonic and adult zebrafish. However, embryos lacking detectable Hsp27 after injection of antisense hsp27 PMO exhibited comparable heart beat rates to that of control embryos and cardiac morphology was indistinguishable in the presence or absence of Hsp27. Loss of Hsp27 also had no effect on the structure of the skeletal muscle myotomes in the developing embryo. Finally, embryos injected with antisense hsp27 and scrambled control PMO displayed equal motility. We conclude that Hsp27 is dispensable for zebrafish morphogenesis but could play a role in long-term maintenance of heart and muscle tissues. Tucker and Ustyugov contributed equally to this work.     

心肌细胞过表达miR-27b导致小鼠发生心肌纤维化和线粒体损伤

以往的miRNA芯片研究结果显示, miR-27b在人类心脏疾病标本和压力负荷引起的小鼠心肌肥厚模型中表达水平明显升高, 提示其在心脏疾病发生过程中发挥了重要功能。为研究miR-27b在心脏组织中的功能, 文章建立了在心肌细胞特异性 a-肌球蛋白重链(a-MHC)启动子(5.5 kb)控制下过表达miR-27b的转基因小鼠。通过Real-time PCR检测, 发现miR-27b前体和成熟体表达水平在转基因小鼠心脏组织中明显升高。miR-27b转基因小鼠不仅出现心肌肥厚, 还表现出明显的心肌纤维化。进一步研究表明心肌纤维化的关键调节分子金属基质蛋白酶13(MMP13)是miR-27b的靶分子, 在miR-27b转基因小鼠中MMP13显著下调, 胶原分子I和 III则显著上调。此外, 还发现miR-27b转基因小鼠会出现心脏超微结构的损伤。以上研究结果表明, miR-27b可能通过抑制MMP13促进心肌纤维化。     

Cardiac H11 kinase/Hsp22 stimulates oxidative phosphorylation and modulates mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production: Involvement of a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism

H11 kinase/Hsp22 (Hsp22), a small heat shock protein upregulated by ischemia/reperfusion, provides cardioprotection equal to ischemic preconditioning (IPC) through a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanism. A main target of NO-mediated preconditioning is the mitochondria, where NO reduces O₂ consumption and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during ischemia. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that Hsp22 overexpression modulates mitochondrial function through an NO-sensitive mechanism. In cardiac mitochondria isolated from transgenic (TG) mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of Hsp22, mitochondrial basal, ADP-dependent, and uncoupled O₂ consumption was increased in the presence of either glucidic or lipidic substrates. This was associated with a decrease in the maximal capabilities of complexes I and III to generate superoxide anion in combination with an inhibition of superoxide anion production by the reverse electron flow. NO synthase expression and NO production were increased in mitochondria from TG mice. Hsp22-induced increase in O₂ consumption was abolished either by pretreatment of TG mice with the NO synthase inhibitor l-N^G-nitroarginine methyl ester (l-NAME) or in isolated mitochondria by the NO scavenger phenyltetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide. l-NAME pretreatment also restored the reverse electron flow. After anoxia, mitochondria from TG mice showed a reduction in both oxidative phosphorylation and H₂O₂ production, an effect partially reversed by l-NAME. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Hsp22 overexpression increases the capacity of mitochondria to produce NO, which stimulates oxidative phosphorylation in normoxia and decreases oxidative phosphorylation and reactive oxygen species production after anoxia. Such characteristics replicate those conferred by IPC, thereby placing Hsp22 as a potential tool for prophylactic protection of mitochondrial function during ischemia.     

Small heat shock proteins protect against alpha-synuclein-induced toxicity and aggregation

Protein misfolding and inclusion formation are common events in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or Huntington's disease (HD). Alpha-synuclein (aSyn) is the main protein component of inclusions called Lewy bodies (LB) which are pathognomic of PD, Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and other diseases collectively known as LB diseases. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are one class of the cellular quality control system that mediate protein folding, remodeling, and even disaggregation. Here, we investigated the role of the small heat shock proteins Hsp27 and alphaB-crystallin, in LB diseases. We demonstrate, via quantitative PCR, that Hsp27 messenger RNA levels are approximately 2-3-fold higher in DLB cases compared to control. We also show a corresponding increase in Hsp27 protein levels. Furthermore, we found that Hsp27 reduces aSyn-induced toxicity by approximately 80% in a culture model while alphaB-crystallin reduces toxicity by approximately 20%. In addition, intracellular inclusions were immunopositive for endogenous Hsp27, and overexpression of this protein reduced aSyn aggregation in a cell culture model.     

Targeted disruption of ICAM-1, P-selectin genes improves cardiac function and survival in TNF-alpha transgenic mice

We have developed a transgenic mouse model in which tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is overexpressed exclusively in the heart under the regulation of the alpha-myosin heavy chain promoter. These animals develop chronic heart failure associated with severe leukocyte infiltration in both the atria and the ventricles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of adhesion molecules in mediating cardiac dysfunction in the TNF-alpha transgenic model. TNF-alpha transgenic mice were bred with mice null for intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and P-selectin genes to obtain a lineage of ICAM-1 and P-selectin null mice with selective overexpression of TNF-alpha in the heart. TNF-alpha transgenic animals showed marked upregulation of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein; however, P-selectin mRNA and protein remained undetectable despite chronic TNF overexpression. Cardiac function was markedly improved in the ICAM-1(-/-), P-selectin(-/-), TNF-alpha transgenic group versus the ICAM(+/+), P-selectin(+/+), TNF-alpha transgenic group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed statistically significant prolonged survival in the ICAM-1(-/-), P-selectin(-/-), TNF-alpha transgenic animals. These data suggest that ICAM-1 mediates at least in part the cardiac dysfunction induced by TNF-alpha expression by cardiac myocytes.     

心肌细胞过表达miR-27b导致小鼠发生心肌纤维化和线粒体损伤

以往的miRNA芯片研究结果显示, miR-27b在人类心脏疾病标本和压力负荷引起的小鼠心肌肥厚模型中表达水平明显升高, 提示其在心脏疾病发生过程中发挥了重要功能。为研究miR-27b在心脏组织中的功能, 文章建立了在心肌细胞特异性 a-肌球蛋白重链(a-MHC)启动子(5.5 kb)控制下过表达miR-27b的转基因小鼠。通过Real-time PCR检测, 发现miR-27b前体和成熟体表达水平在转基因小鼠心脏组织中明显升高。miR-27b转基因小鼠不仅出现心肌肥厚, 还表现出明显的心肌纤维化。进一步研究表明心肌纤维化的关键调节分子金属基质蛋白酶13(MMP13)是miR-27b的靶分子, 在miR-27b转基因小鼠中MMP13显著下调, 胶原分子I和 III则显著上调。此外, 还发现miR-27b转基因小鼠会出现心脏超微结构的损伤。以上研究结果表明, miR-27b可能通过抑制MMP13促进心肌纤维化。     

Genetic manipulation of cardiac Hsp72 levels does not alter substrate metabolism but reveals insights into high-fat feeding-induced cardiac insulin resistance

Heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72) protects cells against a variety of stressors, and multiple studies have suggested that Hsp72 plays a cardioprotective role. As skeletal muscle Hsp72 overexpression can protect against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance, alterations in substrate metabolism may be a mechanism by which Hsp72 is cardioprotective. We investigated the impact of transgenically overexpressing (Hsp72 Tg) or deleting Hsp72 (Hsp72 KO) on various aspects of cardiac metabolism. Mice were fed a normal chow (NC) or HFD for 12 weeks from 8 weeks of age to examine the impact of diet-induced obesity on metabolic parameters in the heart. The HFD resulted in an increase in cardiac fatty acid oxidation and a decrease in cardiac glucose oxidation and insulin-stimulated cardiac glucose clearance; however, there was no difference in Hsp72 Tg or Hsp72 KO mice in these rates compared with their respective wild-type control mice. Although HFD-induced cardiac insulin resistance was not rescued in the Hsp72 Tg mice, it was preserved in the skeletal muscle, suggesting tissue-specific effects of Hsp72 overexpression on substrate metabolism. Comparison of two different strains of mice (BALB/c vs. C57BL/6J) also identified strain-specific differences in regard to HFD-induced cardiac lipid accumulation and insulin resistance. These strain differences suggest that cardiac lipid accumulation can be dissociated from cardiac insulin resistance. Our study finds that genetic manipulation of Hsp72 does not lead to alterations in metabolic processes in cardiac tissue under resting conditions, but identifies mouse strain-specific differences in cardiac lipid accumulation and insulin-stimulated glucose clearance.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12192-015-0571-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.