wg基因与心力衰竭发生的关系

心力衰竭已经成为人类健康的杀手,其发病机制有待阐明。wg基因直接调控心脏前体细胞的形成和特化过程,但其是否参与心力衰竭发生的过程尚不得而知。利用心力衰竭果蝇模型研究基因孵与心力衰竭的关系,结果表明两个孵基因突变杂合子的心力衰竭率分别高达52％和43％,而野生型对照组仅为25％,统计学分析差异显著,表明蜡可能与心力衰竭的发生有关。     

Comparison of Arrhythmogenicity and Proinflammatory Activity Induced by Intramyocardial or Epicardial Myoblast Sheet Delivery in a Rat Model of Ischemic Heart Failure

Although cell therapy of the failing heart by intramyocardial injections of myoblasts to results in regenerative benefit, it has also been associated with undesired and prospectively fatal arrhythmias. We hypothesized that intramyocardial injections of myoblasts could enhance inflammatory reactivity and facilitate electrical cardiac abnormalities that can be reduced by epicardial myoblast sheet delivery. In a rat model of ischemic heart failure, myoblast therapy either by intramyocardial injections or epicardial cell sheets was given 2 weeks after occlusion of the coronary artery. Ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) were assessed, using an implanted three-lead electrocardiograph at 1, 7, and 14 days after therapy, and 16-point epicardial electropotential mapping (EEPM) was used to evaluate ventricular arrhythmogenicity under isoproterenol stress. Cardiac functioning was assessed by echocardiography. Both transplantation groups showed therapeutic benefit over sham therapy. However, VPCs were more frequent in the Injection group on day 1 and day 14 after therapy than in animals receiving epicardial or sham therapy (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). EEPM under isoproterenol stress showed macroreentry at the infarct border area, leading to ventricular tachycardias in the Injection group, but not in the myoblast sheet- or sham-treated groups (p = 0.045). Both transplantation types modified the myocardial cytokine expression profile. In animals receiving epicardial myoblast therapy, selective reductions in the expressions of interferon gamma, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL12 were observed, accompanied by reduced infiltration of inflammatory CD11b- and CD68-positive leukocytes, compared with animals receiving myoblasts as intramyocardial injections. Intramyocardial myoblast delivery was associated with enhanced inflammatory and immunomodulatory reactivity and increased frequency of VPCs. In comparison to intramyocardial injection, the epicardial route may serve as the preferred method of skeletal myoblast transplantation to treat heart failure.     

冠脉结扎法制做大鼠心肌缺血模型

目的探讨大鼠心肌缺血动物模型的构建。方法缝扎大鼠冠脉左前降支,于左室前外侧壁形成缺血区域,约占左室壁面积的20%～50%。结果完成85例动物模型制作,存活74只,其中60只据术中所见、心电图、及病理检查证实有明确的心肌缺血,心功能下降。结论该方法制作简单可行,动物存活率满意;但模型欠稳定,需标本量较大以充分筛选。     

中医药心力衰竭动物模型的研究现状

心力衰竭是临床常见的一种心血管综合征.中医药治疗心衰采用的动物模型主要有疾病动物模型和病症结合动物模型.常用的疾病动物模型复制方法为缩窄腹主动脉法、结扎冠状动脉法、快速心室起搏法、戊巴比妥钠静脉注射法、阿霉素法和异丙肾上腺素注射法;常用的病症结合动物模型为心阳虚衰症急性心力衰竭动物模型、心气虚症心力衰竭动物模型、肾阳虚...     

Common Variants for Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a common disease with high morbidity and mortality; however, none of thedrugs available are now entirely optimal for the treatment of HF. In addition to various clinical diseases andenvironment influences, genetic factors also contribute to the development and progression of HF. Identifyingthe common variants for HF by genome-wide association studies will facilitate the understanding ofpathophysiological mechanisms underlying HF. This review summarizes the recently identified commonvariants for HF risk and outcome and discusses their implications for the clinic therapy.     

Pseudotyped AAV Vector-Mediated Gene Transfer in a Human Fetal Trachea Xenograft Model: Implications for In Utero Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis

Background

Lung disease including airway infection and inflammation currently causes the majority of morbidities and mortalities associated with cystic fibrosis (CF), making the airway epithelium and the submucosal glands (SMG) novel target cells for gene therapy in CF. These target cells are relatively inaccessible to postnatal gene transfer limiting the success of gene therapy. Our previous work in a human-fetal trachea xenograft model suggests the potential benefit for treating CF in utero. In this study, we aim to validate adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) gene transfer in a human fetal trachea xenograft model and to compare transduction efficiencies of pseudotyping AAV2 vectors in fetal xenografts and postnatal xenograft controls.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Human fetal trachea or postnatal bronchus controls were xenografted onto immunocompromised SCID mice for a four-week engraftment period. After injection of AAV2/2, 2/1, 2/5, 2/7 or 2/8 with a LacZ reporter into both types of xenografts, we analyzed for transgene expression in the respiratory epithelium and SMGs. At 1 month, transduction by AAV2/2 and AAV2/8 in respiratory epithelium and SMG cells was significantly greater than that of AAV2/1, 2/5, and 2/7 in xenograft tracheas. Efficiency in SMG transduction was significantly greater in AAV2/8 than AAV2/2. At 3 months, AAV2/2 and AAV2/8 transgene expression was >99% of respiratory epithelium and SMG. At 1 month, transduction efficiency of AAV2/2 and AAV2/8 was significantly less in adult postnatal bronchial xenografts than in fetal tracheal xenografts.

Conclusions/Significance

Based on the effectiveness of AAV vectors in SMG transduction, our findings suggest the potential utility of pseudotyped AAV vectors for treatment of cystic fibrosis. The human fetal trachea xenograft model may serve as an effective tool for further development of fetal gene therapy strategies for the in utero treatment of cystic fibrosis.     

An Integrated Mitochondrial ROS Production and Scavenging Model: Implications for Heart Failure

It has been observed experimentally that cells from failing hearts exhibit elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon increases in energetic workload. One proposed mechanism for this behavior is mitochondrial Ca²⁺ mismanagement that leads to depletion of ROS scavengers. Here, we present a computational model to test this hypothesis. Previously published models of ROS production and scavenging were combined and reparameterized to describe ROS regulation in the cellular environment. Extramitochondrial Ca²⁺ pulses were applied to simulate frequency-dependent changes in cytosolic Ca²⁺. Model results show that decreased mitochondrial Ca²⁺uptake due to mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter inhibition (simulating Ru360) or elevated cytosolic Na⁺, as in heart failure, leads to a decreased supply of NADH and NADPH upon increasing cellular workload. Oxidation of NADPH leads to oxidation of glutathione (GSH) and increased mitochondrial ROS levels, validating the Ca²⁺ mismanagement hypothesis. The model goes on to predict that the ratio of steady-state [H₂O₂]_m during 3Hz pacing to [H₂O₂]_m at rest is highly sensitive to the size of the GSH pool. The largest relative increase in [H₂O₂]_m in response to pacing is shown to occur when the total GSH and GSSG is close to 1 mM, whereas pool sizes below 0.9 mM result in high resting H₂O₂ levels, a quantitative prediction only possible with a computational model.     

小型猪急性心肌梗死后心力衰竭模型的构建

目的应用选择性冠状动脉前降支(LAD)球囊闭塞结合微血栓微球混悬液灌注方法造成心肌缺血坏死,探索建立稳定存活的小型猪急性心肌梗死(AMI)后心力衰竭(HF)动物模型。方法选择中国五指山小型猪18头,行冠脉造影后沿血管送球囊至LAD中段,依次扩张球囊阻断前向血流1、2、5 min,每次间隔60 s,然后扩张球囊堵闭血流120 min。再以4F导管超选LAD,行微血栓微球混悬液分次注入,间隔10 min重复注射,TIMI心肌灌注分级(TMPG)2级和左室舒张末压(LVEDP)15 mm Hg时停止注射,同时监测心电图及应用漂浮导管监测有创血流动力学参数。并行pigtail导管测量(LVEDP)的变化,待LVEDP稳定在15~18 mm Hg之间后结扎血管,并加压包扎。监测心肌坏死标志物(cTnI和CK-MB)变化。分别于制模前,制模后第1天、7天、14天行心脏超声检查,制模第14天复查有创血流动力学检查,并行心脏病理检查,认定和评价模型的成功率、稳定性和可重复性。结果制模14 d后共有15头小型猪成活,心电图、心肌坏死标记物、病理检查均符合AMI病理生理过程。其中14头小型猪达到动物模型标准【肺毛细血管楔压(PCWP)18 mmHg和心输出量(CO)下降30%以上】,模型成功率为77.78%。制模后第14天PCWP明显升高(P0.01),CO平均下降50.76%;左室射血分数(LVEF)明显降低(P0.01)。病理检查显示心肌梗死面积占左心室面积的25.4%~34.9%。结论球囊闭塞结合微血栓微球混悬液灌注构建小型猪急性心肌梗死后心力衰竭模型具有闭胸、高成功率、稳定和重复性好等优点,较药物、冠状动脉结扎和起搏诱导的心力衰竭模型更接近临床病理生理学特点。     

Epigenetic Switch at Atp2a2 and Myh7 Gene Promoters in Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure

Re-induction of fetal genes and/or re-expression of postnatal genes represent hallmarks of pathological cardiac remodeling, and are considered important in the progression of the normal heart towards heart failure (HF). Whether epigenetic modifications are involved in these processes is currently under investigation. Here we hypothesized that histone chromatin modifications may underlie changes in the gene expression program during pressure overload-induced HF. We evaluated chromatin marks at the promoter regions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ATPase (SERCA-2A) and β-myosin-heavy chain (β-MHC) genes (Atp2a2 and Myh7, respectively) in murine hearts after one or eight weeks of pressure overload induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). As expected, all TAC hearts displayed a significant reduction in SERCA-2A and a significant induction of β-MHC mRNA levels. Interestingly, opposite histone H3 modifications were identified in the promoter regions of these genes after TAC, including H3 dimethylation (me2) at lysine (K) 4 (H3K4me2) and K9 (H3K9me2), H3 trimethylation (me3) at K27 (H3K27me3) and dimethylation (me2) at K36 (H3K36me2). Consistently, a significant reduction of lysine-specific demethylase KDM2A could be found after eight weeks of TAC at the Atp2a2 promoter. Moreover, opposite changes in the recruitment of DNA methylation machinery components (DNA methyltransferases DNMT1 and DNMT3b, and methyl CpG binding protein 2 MeCp2) were found at the Atp2a2 or Myh7 promoters after TAC. Taken together, these results suggest that epigenetic modifications may underlie gene expression reprogramming in the adult murine heart under conditions of pressure overload, and might be involved in the progression of the normal heart towards HF.     

AAV-Mediated Gene Therapy for Choroideremia: Preclinical Studies in Personalized Models

Choroideremia (CHM) is an X- linked retinal degeneration that is symptomatic in the 1^st or 2^nd decade of life causing nyctalopia and loss of peripheral vision. The disease progresses through mid-life, when most patients become blind. CHM is a favorable target for gene augmentation therapy, as the disease is due to loss of function of a protein necessary for retinal cell health, Rab Escort Protein 1 (REP1).The CHM cDNA can be packaged in recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV), which has an established track record in human gene therapy studies, and, in addition, there are sensitive and quantitative assays to document REP1 activity. An animal model that accurately reflects the human condition is not available. In this study, we tested the ability to restore REP1 function in personalized in vitro models of CHM: lymphoblasts and induced pluripotent stems cells (iPSCs) from human patients. The initial step of evaluating safety of the treatment was carried out by evaluating for acute retinal histopathologic effects in normal-sighted mice and no obvious toxicity was identified. Delivery of the CHM cDNA to affected cells restores REP1 enzymatic activity and also restores proper protein trafficking. The gene transfer is efficient and the preliminary safety data are encouraging. These studies pave the way for a human clinical trial of gene therapy for CHM.     

快速起搏致心力衰竭猪模型的研究进展

制作心力衰竭动物模型的方法较多,而持续快速心脏起搏诱发的心衰在血流动力学、神经激素变化及病理改变等方面均与人的慢性心衰极相似,因此是一种较为理想的心衰动物模型。尤其是快速起搏诱导的猪心衰模型,更由于猪在生理功能、解剖结构上与人的相似而更具有应用价值。     

应用体细胞基因转移技术建立的遗传性极度高血脂小鼠模型

目的　利用体细胞脂蛋白脂酶 (lipoproteinlipase ,LPL)有益变异体基因转移方法 ,救治原本在出生后两天内全部死亡的LPL基因敲除纯合子小鼠。方法　以腺病毒为载体 ,在初生小鼠肌肉内表达LPL基因有益突变体 ,观察救治存活后成年动物的表型变化。结果　本法救治纯合子小鼠的成功率达到 75 % ,大大高于以野生型LPL基因救治的国外研究。存活的成年纯合子小鼠表现为极度高脂血症。结论　利用LPL基因突变体进行体细胞基因转移可成功救治LPL基因敲除纯合子小鼠 ,并建立了极度高脂血症动物模型。     

Xenotransplantation of Human Cardiomyocyte Progenitor Cells Does Not Improve Cardiac Function in a Porcine Model of Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure. Results from a Randomized,Blinded, Placebo Controlled Trial

Background

Recently cardiomyocyte progenitor cells (CMPCs) were successfully isolated from fetal and adult human hearts. Direct intramyocardial injection of human CMPCs (hCMPCs) in experimental mouse models of acute myocardial infarction significantly improved cardiac function compared to controls.

Aim

Here, our aim was to investigate whether xenotransplantation via intracoronary infusion of fetal hCMPCs in a pig model of chronic myocardial infarction is safe and efficacious, in view of translation purposes.

Methods & Results

We performed a randomized, blinded, placebo controlled trial. Four weeks after ischemia/reperfusion injury by 90 minutes of percutaneous left anterior descending artery occlusion, pigs (n = 16, 68.5 ± 5.4 kg) received intracoronary infusion of 10 million fetal hCMPCs or placebo. All animals were immunosuppressed by cyclosporin (CsA). Four weeks after infusion, endpoint analysis by MRI displayed no difference in left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end diastolic and left ventricular end systolic volumes between both groups. Serial pressure volume (PV-)loop and echocardiography showed no differences in functional parameters between groups at any timepoint. Infarct size at follow-up, measured by late gadolinium enhancement MRI showed no difference between groups. Intracoronary pressure and flow measurements showed no signs of coronary obstruction 30 minutes after cell infusion. No premature death occurred in cell treated animals.

Conclusion

Xenotransplantation via intracoronary infusion of hCMPCs is feasible and safe, but not associated with improved left ventricular performance and infarct size compared to placebo in a porcine model of chronic myocardial infarction.