人参皂甙Rb1抑制扩张型心肌病发生中的HB-EGF表达和纤维化

目的HB-EGF过表达可促进心肌纤维化及心肌细胞凋亡,本文研究人参皂甙Rb1对cTnT^R141W转基因扩张型心肌病小鼠发病过程中的HB-EGF表达和心肌纤维化的影响。方法将cTnT^R141W转基因小鼠随机分为模型组和人参皂甙Rb1组（70 mg/kg/d）,连续给药7个月,取野生型小鼠作为对照组。用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析。心脏超声检测心功能及心脏几何构型。计算心重指数。光镜观察心肌细胞及间质变化。Western blot检测心脏HB-EGF,pSTAT3表达水平。结果Rb1长期给药能显著改善该模型的心功能和心脏几何构型,将死亡率降低50%。Rb1治疗组心重指数降低11.3%（P〈0.05）,光镜观察显示Rb1能减轻心肌细胞排列紊乱以及间质纤维化。Western blot结果显示Rb1能够显著降低模型中的HB-EGF及pSTAT3的表达。结论Rb1抑制心肌病发生中的HB-EGF表达及抑制下游信号pSTAT的激活,并改善扩张型心肌病模型的心功能及心脏重构。     

cTnT^（R141W）转基因小鼠扩张型心肌病模型的建立

目的建立cTnT^R141W扩张型心肌病的转基因小鼠模型。方法把cTnT^R141W基因插入-αMHC启动子下游,构建转基因表达载体,通过显微注射法建立cTnT^R141W转基因C57BL/6J小鼠。PCR鉴定cTnT^R141W转基因小鼠的基因表型,实时PCR检测基因的拷贝数,Northern blotting检测基因表达,光学显微镜和超声检测cTnT^R141W转基因小鼠心脏的病理改变。结果建立了3个系的cTnT^R141W转基因小鼠。3个系的基因拷贝数分别是15、20和59拷贝。cTnT^R141W基因在心脏组织的表达水平高于内源性cTnT。病理分析显示cTnT^R141W转基因小鼠心房心室明显大于野生型,心室壁明显变薄,心肌细胞不均匀肥大,心肌间质纤维增多。超声检查显示心室腔明显扩大,收缩期容积和舒张期容积显著增大,射血分数、短轴缩短率、室壁运动度明显降低。结论cTnT^R141W转基因小鼠的全心扩大,室壁变薄,心肌细胞肥大,间质纤维化以及心肌收缩力下降,说明成功建立了cTnT^R141W转基因小鼠扩张型心肌病模型,为研究扩张型心肌病发病机制和药物研发提供了有价值的动物模型。     

cTnT^R92Q转基因小鼠肥厚型心肌病模型的建立

目的建立cTnT^R92Q肥厚型心肌病的转基因小鼠模型。方法把cTnT^R92Q基因插入-αMHC启动子下游,构建转基因表达载体,通过显微注射法建立cTnT^R92Q转基因C57BL/6J小鼠。PCR鉴定cTnT^R92Q转基因小鼠的基因表型,RT-PCR检测基因表达,光学显微镜和超声检测cTnT^R92Q转基因小鼠心脏的病理改变。结果建立了3个不同表达水平的cTnT^R92Q转基因小鼠品系。转入的cTnT^R92Q基因在心脏组织的表达水平高于内源性cTnT。组织学分析显示cTnT^R92Q转基因小鼠心脏变大,心室壁肥厚,心腔变小,心肌细胞排列紊乱,心肌间质纤维增多。超声检查显示心室壁变厚,收缩期容积和舒张期容积显著缩小,射血分数、短轴缩短率明显增加。结论cTnT^R92Q转基因小鼠心脏变大,室壁变厚,心腔变小,心肌细胞排列紊乱,间质纤维化以及心肌舒张功能失调,说明成功建立了cTnT^R92Q转基因小鼠肥厚型心肌病模型,为研究肥厚型心肌病发病机制和药物研发提供了有价值的动物模型。     

心脏特异表达人源FAM55A转基因小鼠的建立

目的建立心脏特异表达的人源FAM55A转基因小鼠,为研究该基因在心肌病发病中的作用提供模型。方法 Western blot检测FAM55A在野生型小鼠与cTnTR141W转基因小鼠心脏组织中的表达变化及其在野生小鼠的组织表达谱。克隆人源FAM55A基因入α-MHC启动子下游构建a-MHC-FAM55A表达载体,显微注射法建立FAM55A转基因小鼠。PCR鉴定转基因首建鼠的基因型。Western blot鉴定人源FAM55A在转基因小鼠心脏中的表达,超声检测转基因小鼠心脏的几何构型和功能。HE染色检测转基因小鼠心脏的病理改变。结果 FAM55A在野生型小鼠心脏中有少量表达,在扩张型心肌病小鼠的心脏中表达增加。建立了1个心脏组织特异表达人源FAM55A转基因小鼠品系。与野生型小鼠相比,FAM55A转基因小鼠的心脏收缩期和舒张期左室前壁从1月龄到5月龄持续增厚,3月龄转基因小鼠心脏射血分数和短轴缩短率稍有增强,1月龄和5月龄转基因小鼠心脏功能则与同龄野生型小鼠相比无变化。组织学检测显示,转基因小鼠心脏左室心肌细胞不均匀肥大,但不发生紊乱。结论 FAM55A在扩张型心肌病小鼠的心脏中表达上调,建立了心脏特异表达的人源FAM55A转基因小鼠,为进一步和心肌病小鼠模型杂交,研究该基因在心肌病发病中的作用提供了工具。     

人参皂苷Rb1通过上调PGC-1α缓解糖尿病心肌病

目的:研究人参皂苷Rb1对糖尿病心肌病的治疗作用并阐明其分子机制。方法:采用腹腔注射链脲佐菌素的方法,建立糖尿病心肌病动物模型。将小鼠分为3组:WT组,DM组,DM+Rb1组。超声心动图分析小鼠心功能;Western blot分析PGC-1α、cleaved caspase-3、bcl-2等蛋白表达;MitoSOX染色分析线粒体ROS含量;透射电镜分析线粒体数目。结果:与WT组相比,DM组小鼠心功能显著下降(LVEF,P<0.01),PGC-1α表达下调(P<0.01),线粒体数目减少(P<0.01);而Rb1处理后,显著改善了DM小鼠心功能(LVEF,P<0.01),恢复了PGC-1α表达(P<0.05),增加了线粒体数目(P<0.05)。同时,Rb1处理后,减少了糖尿病小鼠心肌线粒体ROS产生(P<0.01),恢复了bcl-2蛋白表达(P<0.01),降低了cleaved caspase-3蛋白表达(P<0.01),从而减少了高糖引起的细胞凋亡(P<0.05)。而siPGC-1α处理后,阻断了Rb1的上述作用。结论:人参皂苷Rb1通过上调PGC-1α改善糖尿病小鼠心功能,缓解糖尿病心肌病。其机制可能与人参皂苷Rb1降低心肌线粒体ROS产生并减少心肌细胞凋亡有关。     

人参皂甙 Rb1与Re对大鼠缺血再灌注心肌细胞凋亡的影响

目的观察人参皂甙Rb1与Re对缺血再灌注心肌细胞凋亡的影响,并比较两者的效应差异.方法结扎Wistar大鼠左冠状动脉前降支,建立大鼠缺血再灌注动物模型;采用透射电镜、缺口末端标记法检测心肌凋亡细胞,利用光学显微镜进行细胞计数.结果 (1)透射电镜发现缺血再灌注组缺血区出现心肌凋亡细胞,假手术组未发现心肌凋亡细胞;(2)缺血再灌注组心肌细胞凋亡数为134.45±45.61个/视野,人参皂甙Rb1治疗组51.65±13.71个/视野,人参皂甙Re治疗组90.66±19.22个/视野,三组间有非常显著性差异(P<0.01).结论心肌缺血再灌注诱导心肌细胞凋亡,人参皂甙Rb1和Re均可显著减少缺血再灌注心肌细胞的凋亡.证实人参皂甙Rb1与Re均有抑制缺血再灌注心肌细胞凋亡,减轻心肌缺血再灌注损伤的作用;人参皂甙Rb1的抗心肌细胞凋亡作用较Re的效果为佳.     

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。     

磁共振成像对扩张型心肌病转基因模型小鼠左右心室对比分析

目的对cTnTR141W扩张型心肌病转基因模型小鼠左、右心室进行对比分析,研究cTnTR141W转基因小鼠作为右心室心肌病的动物模型的可行性。方法利用7.0 T高场强磁共振成像(MRI)技术,定量分析了2、4、6和8月龄对照组及cTnTR141W转基因模型小鼠左、右心室的舒张末容积(EDV)、收缩末容积(ESV)和射血分数(EF)的变化情况,同时对6月龄对照组cTnTR141W转基因模型小鼠心肌组织进行组织学分析。结果转基因阴性对照小鼠相比,cTnTR141W转基因小鼠左、右心室的容积在2月龄时已有增大趋势,而射血分数有减小趋势。右心室射血分数减小出现最早也最显著(P<0.05)。随年龄增加,cTnTR141W转基因小鼠与转基因阴性对照小鼠相比,右心室的结构和功能的病理生理变化与左心室同时趋于严重。该小鼠左、右心室在4月龄后表现典型的扩张型心肌病表型。结论 cTnTR141W转基因模型小鼠左心室和右心室的扩张性心肌病表型同时出现,该小鼠可作为右室性心肌病等右心室功能下降相关疾病研究的动物模型。     

心脏特异表达NOL3转基因小鼠的建立

目的建立心脏特异表达NOL3转基因小鼠,用于研究该基因在心肌病发病中的作用。方法Western blot检测小鼠NOL3表达谱。构建aMHC-NOL3表达载体,显微注射法建立NOL3转基因小鼠。PCR鉴定转基因鼠的基因型,心脏超声检测转基因及野生型小鼠心脏功能及几何构型。结果NOL3在1月龄野生型鼠心脏、脑、骨骼肌中的高表达,在心脏中的表达不随年龄而改变。通过转基因小鼠的筛选,得到了3个NOL3转基因品系,其中1个品系心脏NOL3蛋白表达量与野生型鼠相比明显增加。单转NOL3基因的小鼠心脏功能及几何构型与野生型小鼠相比无显著变化。结论成功建立了心脏特异表达NOL3转基因小鼠,为进一步和心肌病小鼠模型杂交,研究该基因在心肌病发病中的作用提供了工具。     

心脏特异表达Calponin 1转基因小鼠的心脏功能分析

目的建立心脏特异表达Calponin 1转基因小鼠,研究Calponin 1对心脏发育及心肌病的调节作用。方法利用心脏特异启动子α-MHC构建转基因表达载体,显微注射法建立Calponin 1转基因小鼠,PCR法鉴定转基因小鼠的基因型,Western Blot检测Calponin 1在心脏组织中的表达,心脏超声检测转基因小鼠的心脏结构和功能,HE染色和Masson染色检测转基因小鼠心脏的病理改变。结果 Calponin 1在野生型小鼠心脏中有表达,在扩张型心肌病小鼠的心脏组织表达降低。通过显微注射法,建立了2个心脏组织Calponin 1基因高表达的转基因小鼠系。与野生型小鼠相比,Calponin 1转基因小鼠收缩期左室内径（LVID,systolic）增加28%（P〈0.01,n=12）,舒张期左室内径（LVID,diastolic）增加16.2%（P〈0.01,n=12）,收缩期左室后壁厚度（LVPW,systolic）减小15.7%（P〈0.01,n=12）,舒张期左室后壁厚度（LVPW,diastolic）减小21%（P〈0.01,n=12）,射血分数（ejection fraction,EF）降低11.5%（P〈0.01,n=12）,短轴内径缩短率（fraction shortening,FS）降低14.6%（P〈0.05,n=12）。转基因小鼠心脏组织病理H＆E染色和Masson染色显示,转基因小鼠心室扩张,心肌细胞不均匀肥大,细胞间隙变大,心肌间质纤维增多。结论 Calponin 1在心脏特异过表达引起转基因小鼠心脏左室内径增加,收缩期容积和舒张期容积显著增大,心室壁变薄,射血分数及短轴缩短率降低等扩张性心肌病表型,推测Calponin 1是参与心肌病病理发生的基因之一。     

Overexpression of cardiac connexin45 increases susceptibility to ventricular tachyarrhythmias in vivo

Electrophysiological remodeling involving gap junctions has been demonstrated in failing hearts and may contribute to intercellular uncoupling, delayed conduction, enhanced arrhythmias, and vulnerability to sudden death in patients with heart failure. Recently, we showed that failing human hearts exhibit marked increases in connexin45 (Cx45) expression in addition to previously documented decreases in connexin43 (Cx43) expression. Each of these changes results in reduced gap junction coupling. The objective of the present study was to examine functional consequences of increased Cx45 in cardiac gap junctions. Transgenic mice with cardiac-selective overexpression of the developmentally downregulated cardiac connexin, connexin45 (Cx45OE mice) were subjected to in vivo electrophysiology studies in which an intracardiac catheter was used to induce ventricular arrhythmias in anesthetized mice, and in which ambulatory ECG monitoring was used to detect spontaneous arrhythmias in unanesthetized mice. Hearts were analyzed by TaqMan RT-PCR, immunostaining, immunoblotting, and echocardiography. Lucifer yellow and neurobiotin dye transfer was used to assess coupling in transgenic and control myocyte cultures. Cx45 mRNA was two orders of magnitude greater in Cx45OE mice. Cx45-immunoreactive signal at gap junctions increased twofold and total Cx45 protein by immunoblotting increased 25% in Cx45OE mice compared with nontransgenic littermate controls. Functionally, Cx45OE mice exhibited more inducible ventricular tachycardia than controls but did not exhibit any other functional or structural derangements as assessed by echocardiography. Ventricular myocytes isolated from Cx45OE mice exhibited diminished intercellular transfer of Lucifer yellow dye and increased transfer of neurobiotin, consistent with altered cell-to-cell communication. Thus increased myocardial expression of Cx45 results in remodeling of intercellular coupling and greater susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias in vivo.     

Mice Lacking Connexin45 Conditionally in Cardiac Myocytes Display Embryonic Lethality Similar to That of Germline Knockout Mice Without Endocardial Cushion Defect

The gap junction protein connexin45-deficient (Cx45-KO) mice die shortly after the hearts begin to beat. In addition to the heart defect, they also show defective vascular development which may be closely related with the cardiac phenotype. Therefore, we created mice whose floxed-Cx45 locus could be removed conditionally. We utilized cardiac α-actin-Cre transgenic mice to investigate the specific cardiac muscular function of Cx45 in vivo. The resultant conditional mutants were lethal, showing conduction block similar to that of the Cx45-KO mice. Unlike Cx45-KO, development of the endocardial cushion was not disrupted in the conditional mutants. X-gal staining was detected in the embryonic cardiac myocytes as a hallmark of Cre-loxP mediated floxed-Cx45 deletion. These results reconfirm the requirement of Cx45 for developing cardiac myocytes. These also indicate that establishing the first contractions is a crucial task for the early hearts.     

MicroRNA-1 Downregulation Increases Connexin 43 Displacement and Induces Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Rodent Hypertrophic Hearts

Downregulation of the muscle-specific microRNA-1 (miR-1) mediates the induction of pathologic cardiac hypertrophy. Dysfunction of the gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43), an established miR-1 target, during cardiac hypertrophy leads to ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT). However, it is still unknown whether miR-1 and Cx43 are interconnected in the pro-arrhythmic context of hypertrophy. Thus, in this study we investigated whether a reduction in the extent of cardiac hypertrophy could limit the pathological electrical remodeling of Cx43 and the onset of VT by modulating miR-1 levels. Wistar male rats underwent mechanical constriction of the ascending aorta to induce pathologic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and afterwards were randomly assigned to receive 10mg/kg valsartan, VAL (LVH+VAL) delivered in the drinking water or placebo (LVH) for 12 weeks. Sham surgery was performed for control groups. Programmed ventricular stimulation reproducibly induced VT in LVH compared to LVH+VAL group. When compared to sham controls, rats from LVH group showed a significant decrease of miR-1 and an increase of Cx43 expression and its ERK1/2-dependent phosphorylation, which displaces Cx43 from the gap junction. Interestingly, VAL administration to rats with aortic banding significantly reduced cardiac hypertrophy and prevented miR-1 down-regulation and Cx43 up-regulation and phosphorylation. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments in neonatal cardiomyocytes (NCMs) in vitro confirmed that Cx43 is a direct target of miR-1. Accordingly, in vitro angiotensin II stimulation reduced miR-1 levels and increased Cx43 expression and phosphorylation compared to un-stimulated NCMs. Finally, in vivo miR-1 cardiac overexpression by an adenoviral vector intra-myocardial injection reduced Cx43 expression and phosphorylation in mice with isoproterenol-induced LVH. In conclusion, miR-1 regulates Cx43 expression and activity in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of pressure overload-induced myocyte hypertrophy reduces the risk of life-threatening VT by normalizing miR-1 expression levels with the consequent stabilization of Cx43 expression and activity within the gap junction.     

Removal of the Cardiac Troponin I N-terminal Extension Improves Cardiac Function in Aged Mice

The cardiac troponin I (cTnI) isoform contains a unique N-terminal extension that functions to modulate activation of cardiac myofilaments. During cardiac remodeling restricted proteolysis of cTnI removes this cardiac specific N-terminal modulatory extension to alter myofilament regulation. We have demonstrated expression of the N-terminal-deleted cTnI (cTnI-ND) in the heart decreased the development of the cardiomyopathy like phenotype in a β-adrenergic-deficient transgenic mouse model. To investigate the potential beneficial effects of cTnI-ND on the development of naturally occurring cardiac dysfunction, we measured the hemodynamic and biochemical effects of cTnI-ND transgenic expression in the aged heart. Echocardiographic measurements demonstrate cTnI-ND transgenic mice exhibit increased systolic and diastolic functions at 16 months of age compared with age-matched controls. This improvement likely results from decreased Ca²⁺ sensitivity and increased cross-bridge kinetics as observed in skinned papillary bundles from young transgenic mice prior to the effects of aging. Hearts of cTnI-ND transgenic mice further exhibited decreased β myosin heavy chain expression compared to age matched non-transgenic mice as well as altered cTnI phosphorylation. Finally, we demonstrated cTnI-ND expressed in the heart is not phosphorylated indicating the cTnI N-terminal is necessary for the higher level phosphorylation of cTnI. Taken together, our data suggest the regulated proteolysis of cTnI during cardiac stress to remove the unique cardiac N-terminal extension functions to improve cardiac contractility at the myofilament level and improve overall cardiac function.     

Phenotype of Cardiomyopathy in Cardiac-specific Heat Shock Protein B8 K141N Transgenic Mouse

A K141N missense mutation in heat shock protein (HSP) B8, which belongs to the small HSP family, causes distal hereditary motor neuropathy, which is characterized by the formation of inclusion bodies in cells. Although the HSPB8 gene causes hereditary motor neuropathy, obvious expression of HSPB8 is also observed in other tissues, such as the heart. The effects of a single mutation in HSPB8 upon the heart were analyzed using rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Expression of HSPB8 K141N by adenoviral infection resulted in increased HSPB8-positive aggregates around nuclei, whereas no aggregates were observed in myocytes expressing wild-type HSPB8. HSPB8-positive aggresomes contained amyloid oligomer intermediates that were detected by a specific anti-oligomer antibody (A11). Expression of HSPB8 K141N induced slight cellular toxicity. Recombinant HSPB8 K141N protein showed reactivity against the anti-oligomer antibody, and reactivity of the mutant HSPB8 protein was much higher than that of wild-type HSPB8 protein. To extend our in vitro study, cardiac-specific HSPB8 K141N transgenic (TG) mice were generated. Echocardiography revealed that the HSPB8 K141N TG mice exhibited mild hypertrophy and apical fibrosis as well as slightly reduced cardiac function, although no phenotype was detected in wild-type HSPB8 TG mice. A single point mutation of HSPB8, such as K141N, can cause cardiac disease.