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Orgil BO, Purevjav E. Molecular Pathways and Animal Models of Cardiomyopathies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1441:991-1019. [PMID: 38884766 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-44087-8_64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders of the heart muscle that ultimately result in congestive heart failure. Rapid progress in genetics, molecular and cellular biology with breakthrough innovative genetic-engineering techniques, such as next-generation sequencing and multiomics platforms, stem cell reprogramming, as well as novel groundbreaking gene-editing systems over the past 25 years has greatly improved the understanding of pathogenic signaling pathways in inherited cardiomyopathies. This chapter will focus on intracellular and intercellular molecular signaling pathways that are activated by a genetic insult in cardiomyocytes to maintain tissue and organ level regulation and resultant cardiac remodeling in certain forms of cardiomyopathies. In addition, animal models of different clinical forms of human cardiomyopathies with their summaries of triggered key molecules and signaling pathways will be described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buyan-Ochir Orgil
- Department of Pediatrics, The Heart Institute, Division of Cardiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Enkhsaikhan Purevjav
- Department of Pediatrics, The Heart Institute, Division of Cardiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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2
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Zhang K, Wang S, Li X, Cui H, Lai Y. Mechanism of Ion Channel Impairment in the Occurrence of Arrhythmia in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Cardiol Rev 2023:00045415-990000000-00161. [PMID: 37812010 DOI: 10.1097/crd.0000000000000612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Sudden cardiac death is the most unpredictable and devastating consequence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, most often caused by persistent ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Although myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and microvascular disorders are the main mechanisms of persistent reentrant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with advanced hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the cardiomyocyte mechanism based on ion channel abnormalities may play an important role in the early stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Zhang
- From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
- The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Shengwei Wang
- From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
- The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Cui
- From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
- The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yongqiang Lai
- From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
- The Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, Beijing, China
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3
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Hou Y, Zhang X, Sun X, Qin Q, Chen D, Jia M, Chen Y. Genetically modified rabbit models for cardiovascular medicine. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 922:174890. [PMID: 35300995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Genetically modified (GM) rabbits are outstanding animal models for studying human genetic and acquired diseases. As such, GM rabbits that express human genes have been extensively used as models of cardiovascular disease. Rabbits are genetically modified via prokaryotic microinjection. Through this process, genes are randomly integrated into the rabbit genome. Moreover, gene targeting in embryonic stem (ES) cells is a powerful tool for understanding gene function. However, rabbits lack stable ES cell lines. Therefore, ES-dependent gene targeting is not possible in rabbits. Nevertheless, the RNA interference technique is rapidly becoming a useful experimental tool that enables researchers to knock down specific gene expression, which leads to the genetic modification of rabbits. Recently, with the emergence of new genetic technology, such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), major breakthroughs have been made in rabbit gene targeting. Using these novel genetic techniques, researchers have successfully modified knockout (KO) rabbit models. In this paper, we aimed to review the recent advances in GM technology in rabbits and highlight their application as models for cardiovascular medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hou
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Xia Sun
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China; School of Basic and Medical Sciences, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Qiaohong Qin
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Di Chen
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China; School of Basic and Medical Sciences, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Min Jia
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China
| | - Yulong Chen
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710021, China.
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Coppini R, Santini L, Olivotto I, Ackerman MJ, Cerbai E. Abnormalities in sodium current and calcium homoeostasis as drivers of arrhythmogenesis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 116:1585-1599. [PMID: 32365196 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited monogenic disease with a prevalence of 1/500 in the general population, representing an important cause of arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (SCD), heart failure, and atrial fibrillation in the young. HCM is a global condition, diagnosed in >50 countries and in all continents. HCM affects people of both sexes and various ethnic and racial origins, with similar clinical course and phenotypic expression. The most unpredictable and devastating consequence of HCM is represented by arrhythmic SCD, most commonly caused by sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Indeed, HCM represents one of the main causes of arrhythmic SCD in the young, with a marked preference for children and adults <30 years. SCD is most prevalent in patients with paediatric onset of HCM but may occur at any age. However, risk is substantially lower after 60 years, suggesting that the potential for ventricular tachyarrhythmias is mitigated by ageing. SCD had been linked originally to sports and vigorous activity in HCM patients. However, it is increasingly clear that the majority of events occurs at rest or during routine daily occupations, suggesting that triggers are far from consistent. In general, the pathophysiology of SCD in HCM remains unresolved. While the pathologic and physiologic substrates abound and have been described in detail, specific factors precipitating ventricular tachyarrhythmias are still unknown. SCD is a rare phenomenon in HCM cohorts (<1%/year) and attempts to identify patients at risk, while generating clinically useful algorithms for primary prevention, remain very inaccurate on an individual basis. One of the reasons for our limited understanding of these phenomena is that limited translational research exists in the field, while most efforts have focused on clinical markers of risk derived from pathology, instrumental patient evaluation, and imaging. Specifically, few studies conducted in animal models and human samples have focused on targeting the cellular mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis in HCM, despite potential implications for therapeutic innovation and SCD prevention. These studies found that altered intracellular Ca2+ homoeostasis and increased late Na+ current, leading to an increased likelihood of early and delayed after-depolarizations, contribute to generate arrhythmic events in diseased cardiomyocytes. As an array of novel experimental opportunities have emerged to investigate these mechanisms, including novel 'disease-in-the-dish' cellular models with patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, important gaps in knowledge remain. Accordingly, the aim of the present review is to provide a contemporary reappraisal of the cellular basis of SCD-predisposing arrhythmias in patients with HCM and discuss the implications for risk stratification and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Coppini
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry, Drug Research and Child Health (NeuroFarBa), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Santini
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry, Drug Research and Child Health (NeuroFarBa), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Iacopo Olivotto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3 - 50134 Florence, Italy.,Cardiomyopathy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN, USA.,Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN, USA.,Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Elisabetta Cerbai
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry, Drug Research and Child Health (NeuroFarBa), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Laboratory of Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
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5
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Marian AJ, Asatryan B, Wehrens XHT. Genetic basis and molecular biology of cardiac arrhythmias in cardiomyopathies. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 116:1600-1619. [PMID: 32348453 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias are common, often the first, and sometimes the life-threatening manifestations of hereditary cardiomyopathies. Pathogenic variants in several genes known to cause hereditary cardiac arrhythmias have also been identified in the sporadic cases and small families with cardiomyopathies. These findings suggest a shared genetic aetiology of a subset of hereditary cardiomyopathies and cardiac arrhythmias. The concept of a shared genetic aetiology is in accord with the complex and exquisite interplays that exist between the ion currents and cardiac mechanical function. However, neither the causal role of cardiac arrhythmias genes in cardiomyopathies is well established nor the causal role of cardiomyopathy genes in arrhythmias. On the contrary, secondary changes in ion currents, such as post-translational modifications, are common and contributors to the pathogenesis of arrhythmias in cardiomyopathies through altering biophysical and functional properties of the ion channels. Moreover, structural changes, such as cardiac hypertrophy, dilatation, and fibrosis provide a pro-arrhythmic substrate in hereditary cardiomyopathies. Genetic basis and molecular biology of cardiac arrhythmias in hereditary cardiomyopathies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali J Marian
- Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, 6770 Bertner Street, Suite C900A, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Babken Asatryan
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Xander H T Wehrens
- Department of Biophysics and Molecular Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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6
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Odening KE, Gomez AM, Dobrev D, Fabritz L, Heinzel FR, Mangoni ME, Molina CE, Sacconi L, Smith G, Stengl M, Thomas D, Zaza A, Remme CA, Heijman J. ESC working group on cardiac cellular electrophysiology position paper: relevance, opportunities, and limitations of experimental models for cardiac electrophysiology research. Europace 2021; 23:1795-1814. [PMID: 34313298 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euab142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias are a major cause of death and disability. A large number of experimental cell and animal models have been developed to study arrhythmogenic diseases. These models have provided important insights into the underlying arrhythmia mechanisms and translational options for their therapeutic management. This position paper from the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology provides an overview of (i) currently available in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo electrophysiological research methodologies, (ii) the most commonly used experimental (cellular and animal) models for cardiac arrhythmias including relevant species differences, (iii) the use of human cardiac tissue, induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived and in silico models to study cardiac arrhythmias, and (iv) the availability, relevance, limitations, and opportunities of these cellular and animal models to recapitulate specific acquired and inherited arrhythmogenic diseases, including atrial fibrillation, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, sinus node, and conduction disorders and channelopathies. By promoting a better understanding of these models and their limitations, this position paper aims to improve the quality of basic research in cardiac electrophysiology, with the ultimate goal to facilitate the clinical translation and application of basic electrophysiological research findings on arrhythmia mechanisms and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja E Odening
- Translational Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.,Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ana-Maria Gomez
- Signaling and cardiovascular pathophysiology-UMR-S 1180, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, 92296 Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Frank R Heinzel
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matteo E Mangoni
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Cristina E Molina
- Institute of Experimental Cardiovascular Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site, Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Germany
| | - Leonardo Sacconi
- National Institute of Optics and European Laboratory for Non Linear Spectroscopy, Italy.,Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Freiburg, Germany
| | - Godfrey Smith
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Milan Stengl
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Dierk Thomas
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders (HCR), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site, Heidelberg/Mannheim, Germany
| | - Antonio Zaza
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Carol Ann Remme
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jordi Heijman
- Department of Cardiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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7
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Hornyik T, Rieder M, Castiglione A, Major P, Baczko I, Brunner M, Koren G, Odening KE. Transgenic rabbit models for cardiac disease research. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 179:938-957. [PMID: 33822374 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To study the pathophysiology of human cardiac diseases and to develop novel treatment strategies, complex interactions of cardiac cells on cellular, tissue and on level of the whole heart need to be considered. As in vitro cell-based models do not depict the complexity of the human heart, animal models are used to obtain insights that can be translated to human diseases. Mice are the most commonly used animals in cardiac research. However, differences in electrophysiological and mechanical cardiac function and a different composition of electrical and contractile proteins limit the transferability of the knowledge gained. Moreover, the small heart size and fast heart rate are major disadvantages. In contrast to rodents, electrophysiological, mechanical and structural cardiac characteristics of rabbits resemble the human heart more closely, making them particularly suitable as an animal model for cardiac disease research. In this review, various methodological approaches for the generation of transgenic rabbits for cardiac disease research, such as pronuclear microinjection, the sleeping beauty transposon system and novel genome-editing methods (ZFN and CRISPR/Cas9)will be discussed. In the second section, we will introduce the different currently available transgenic rabbit models for monogenic cardiac diseases (such as long QT syndrome, short-QT syndrome and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) in detail, especially in regard to their utility to increase the understanding of pathophysiological disease mechanisms and novel treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Hornyik
- Translational Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, University Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marina Rieder
- Translational Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Castiglione
- Translational Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Major
- Institute for Genetics and Biotechnology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Istvan Baczko
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Michael Brunner
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, University Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Department of Cardiology and Medical Intensive Care, St. Josefskrankenhaus, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gideon Koren
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Division of Cardiology, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Katja E Odening
- Translational Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, University Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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8
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Abstract
Transgenic rabbits have contributed to the progress of biomedical science as human disease models because of their unique features, such as the lipid metabolism system similar to humans and medium body size that facilitates handling and experimental manipulation. In fact, many useful transgenic rabbits have been generated and used in research fields such as lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, cardiac failure, immunology, and oncogenesis. However, there have been long-term problems, namely that the transgenic efficiency when using pronuclear microinjection is low compared with transgenic mice and production of knockout rabbits is impossible owing to the lack of embryonic stem cells for gene targeting in rabbits. Despite these limitations, the emergence of novel genome editing technology has changed the production of genetically modified animals including the rabbit. We are finally able to produce both transgenic and knockout rabbit models to analyze gain- and loss-of-functions of specific genes. It is expected that the use of genetically modified rabbits will extend to various research fields. In this review, we describe the unique features of rabbits as laboratory animals, the current status of their development and use, and future perspectives of transgenic rabbit models for human diseases.
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9
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Santini L, Palandri C, Nediani C, Cerbai E, Coppini R. Modelling genetic diseases for drug development: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Pharmacol Res 2020; 160:105176. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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10
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Gannon MP, Link MS. Phenotypic variation and targeted therapy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using genetic animal models. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2019; 31:20-31. [PMID: 31862214 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2019.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has a variable clinical presentation due to the diversity of causative genetic mutations. Animal models allow in vivo study of genotypic expression through non-invasive imaging, pathologic sampling, and force analysis. This review focuses on the spontaneous and induced mutations in various animal models affecting mainly sarcomere proteins. The sarcomere is comprised of thick (myosin) filaments and related proteins including myosin heavy chain and myosin binding protein-C; thin (actin) filament proteins and their associated regulators including tropomyosin, troponin I, troponin C, and troponin T. The regulatory milieu including transcription factors and cell signaling also play a significant role. Animal models provide a layered approach of understanding beginning with the causative mutation as a foundation. The functional consequences of protein energy utilization and calcium sensitivity in vivo and ex vivo can be studied. Beyond pathophysiologic disruption of sarcomere function, these models demonstrate the clinical sequalae of diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and arrhythmogenic death. Through this cascade of understanding the mutation followed by their functional significance, targeted therapies have been developed and are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Gannon
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Bldg 10, Rm B1D416, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Mark S Link
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA
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11
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Tse G, Du Y, Hao G, Li KHC, Chan FYW, Liu T, Li G, Bazoukis G, Letsas KP, Wu WKK, Cheng SH, Wong WT. Quantification of Beat-To-Beat Variability of Action Potential Durations in Langendorff-Perfused Mouse Hearts. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1578. [PMID: 30538638 PMCID: PMC6277547 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Beat-to-beat variability in action potential duration (APD) is an intrinsic property of cardiac tissue and is altered in pro-arrhythmic states. However, it has never been examined in mice. Methods: Left atrial or ventricular monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were recorded from Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts during regular 8 Hz pacing. Time-domain, frequency-domain and non-linear analyses were used to quantify APD variability. Results: Mean atrial APD (90% repolarization) was 23.5 ± 6.3 ms and standard deviation (SD) was 0.9 ± 0.5 ms (n = 6 hearts). Coefficient of variation (CoV) was 4.0 ± 1.9% and root mean square (RMS) of successive differences in APDs was 0.3 ± 0.2 ms. The peaks for low- and high-frequency were 0.7 ± 0.5 and 2.7 ± 0.9 Hz, respectively, with percentage powers of 39.0 ± 20.5 and 59.3 ± 22.9%. Poincaré plots of APDn+1 against APDn revealed ellipsoid shapes. The ratio of the SD along the line-of-identity (SD2) to the SD perpendicular to the line-of-identity (SD1) was 8.28 ± 4.78. Approximate and sample entropy were 0.57 ± 0.12 and 0.57 ± 0.15, respectively. Detrended fluctuation analysis revealed short- and long-term fluctuation slopes of 1.80 ± 0.15 and 0.85 ± 0.29, respectively. When compared to atrial APDs, ventricular APDs were longer (ANOVA, P < 0.05), showed lower mean SD and CoV but similar RMS of successive differences in APDs and showed lower SD2 (P < 0.05). No difference in the remaining parameters was observed. Conclusion: Beat-to-beat variability in APD is observed in mouse hearts during regular pacing. Atrial MAPs showed greater degree of variability than ventricular MAPs. Non-linear techniques offer further insights on short-term and long-term variability and signal complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Tse
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yimei Du
- Research Center of Ion Channelopathy, Institute of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoliang Hao
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Fiona Yin Wah Chan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tong Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangping Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - George Bazoukis
- Laboratory of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Second Department of Cardiology, Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos P Letsas
- Laboratory of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Second Department of Cardiology, Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - William K K Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Department of anesthesia and Intensive Care, LKS Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuk Han Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution at City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing Tak Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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12
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy R403Q mutation in rabbit β-myosin reduces contractile function at the molecular and myofibrillar levels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:11238-11243. [PMID: 30322937 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1802967115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1990, the Seidmans showed that a single point mutation, R403Q, in the human β-myosin heavy chain (MHC) of heart muscle caused a particularly malignant form of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) [Geisterfer-Lowrance AA, et al. (1990) Cell 62:999-1006.]. Since then, more than 300 mutations in the β-MHC have been reported, and yet there remains a poor understanding of how a single missense mutation in the MYH7 gene can lead to heart disease. Previous studies with a transgenic mouse model showed that the myosin phenotype depended on whether the mutation was in an α- or β-MHC backbone. This led to the generation of a transgenic rabbit model with the R403Q mutation in a β-MHC backbone. We find that the in vitro motility of heterodimeric R403Q myosin is markedly reduced, whereas the actin-activated ATPase activity of R403Q subfragment-1 is about the same as myosin from a nontransgenic littermate. Single myofibrils isolated from the ventricles of R403Q transgenic rabbits and analyzed by atomic force microscopy showed reduced rates of force development and relaxation, and achieved a significantly lower steady-state level of isometric force compared with nontransgenic myofibrils. Myofibrils isolated from the soleus gave similar results. The force-velocity relationship determined for R403Q ventricular myofibrils showed a decrease in the velocity of shortening under load, resulting in a diminished power output. We conclude that independent of whether experiments are performed with isolated molecules or with ordered molecules in the native thick filament of a myofibril, there is a loss-of-function induced by the R403Q mutation in β-cardiac myosin.
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13
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Priksz D, Bombicz M, Varga B, Kurucz A, Gesztelyi R, Balla J, Toth A, Papp Z, Szilvassy Z, Juhasz B. Upregulation of Myocardial and Vascular Phosphodiesterase 9A in A Model of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19102882. [PMID: 30249014 PMCID: PMC6213954 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19102882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is strongly associated with cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Besides microvascular dysfunction and diminishment of the cardiac nitric oxide-Protein Kinase G (NO-PKG) pathway, recent evidence suggests that phosphodiesterase 9A (PDE9A) enzyme has an unfavorable role in pathological changes. Here, we characterized a rabbit model that shows cardiac dysfunction as a result of an atherogenic diet, and examined the myocardial PDE9A signaling. Rabbits were divided into Control (normal diet) and HC (atherogenic diet) groups. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. Vascular function was assessed, along with serum biomarkers. Histological stains were conducted, expression of selected proteins and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels were determined. Signs of diastolic dysfunction were shown in HC animals, along with concentric hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Endothelial function was diminished in HC rabbits, along with marked reduction in the aortic lumen, and increased left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT) pressures. A significant increase was shown in myocardial PDE9A levels in HC animals with unchanged vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation and cGMP levels. Upregulation of PDE9A may be associated with early stage of cardiac dysfunction in atherosclerotic conditions. Since PDE9A is involved in cGMP degradation and in deactivation of the cardioprotective PKG signaling pathway, it may become an encouraging target for future investigations in atherosclerotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Priksz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Mariann Bombicz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Balazs Varga
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Andrea Kurucz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Rudolf Gesztelyi
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Jozsef Balla
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Attila Toth
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Zoltan Papp
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Zoltan Szilvassy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Bela Juhasz
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary.
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Ueda Y, Stern JA. A One Health Approach to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2017; 90:433-448. [PMID: 28955182 PMCID: PMC5612186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disease in humans and results in significant morbidity and mortality. Research over the past 25 years has contributed enormous insight into this inherited disease particularly in the areas of genetics, molecular mechanisms, and pathophysiology. Our understanding continues to be limited by the heterogeneity of clinical presentations with various genetic mutations associated with HCM. Transgenic mouse models have been utilized especially studying the genotypic and phenotypic interactions. However, mice possess intrinsic cardiac and hemodynamic differences compared to humans and have limitations preventing their direct translation. Other animal models of HCM have been studied or generated in part to overcome these limitations. HCM in cats shows strikingly similar molecular, histopathological, and genetic similarities to human HCM, and offers an important translational opportunity for the study of this disease. Recently, inherited left ventricular hypertrophy in rhesus macaques was identified and collaborative investigations have been conducted to begin to develop a non-human primate HCM model. These naturally-occurring large-animal models may aid in advancing our understanding of HCM and developing novel therapeutic approaches to this disease. This review will highlight the features of HCM in humans and the relevant available and developing animal models of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ueda
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Joshua A. Stern
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA,California National Primate Research Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA,To whom all correspondence should be addressed: Joshua A. Stern, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, Tel: 530-752-2475, .
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15
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Sukhacheva TV, Chudinovskikh YA, Eremeeva MV, Serov RA, Bockeria LA. Proliferative Potential of Cardiomyocytes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Correlation with Myocardial Remodeling. Bull Exp Biol Med 2016; 162:160-169. [PMID: 27882462 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-016-3566-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T V Sukhacheva
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Yu A Chudinovskikh
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - M V Eremeeva
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - R A Serov
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - L A Bockeria
- A. N. Bakulev Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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16
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The potential impact of new generation transgenic methods on creating rabbit models of cardiac diseases. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 121:123-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2016.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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17
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Odening KE, Kohl P. Follow the white rabbit. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 121:75-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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18
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Martins AS, Parvatiyar MS, Feng HZ, Bos JM, Gonzalez-Martinez D, Vukmirovic M, Turna RS, Sanchez-Gonzalez MA, Badger CD, Zorio DAR, Singh RK, Wang Y, Jin JP, Ackerman MJ, Pinto JR. In Vivo Analysis of Troponin C Knock-In (A8V) Mice: Evidence that TNNC1 Is a Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Susceptibility Gene. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 8:653-664. [PMID: 26304555 DOI: 10.1161/circgenetics.114.000957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in thin-filament proteins have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but it has never been demonstrated that variants identified in the TNNC1 (gene encoding troponin C) can evoke cardiac remodeling in vivo. The goal of this study was to determine whether TNNC1 can be categorized as an hypertrophic cardiomyopathy susceptibility gene, such that a mouse model can recapitulate the clinical presentation of the proband. METHODS AND RESULTS The TNNC1-A8V proband diagnosed with severe obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at 34 years of age exhibited mild-to-moderate thickening in left and right ventricular walls, decreased left ventricular dimensions, left atrial enlargement, and hyperdynamic left ventricular systolic function. Genetically engineered knock-in (KI) mice containing the A8V mutation (heterozygote=KI-TnC-A8V(+/-); homozygote=KI-TnC-A8V(+/+)) were characterized by echocardiography and pressure-volume studies. Three-month-old KI-TnC-A8V(+/+) mice displayed decreased ventricular dimensions, mild diastolic dysfunction, and enhanced systolic function, whereas KI-TnC-A8V(+/-) mice displayed cardiac restriction at 14 months of age. KI hearts exhibited atrial enlargement, papillary muscle hypertrophy, and fibrosis. Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to determine incorporation of mutant cardiac troponin C (≈ 21%) into the KI-TnC-A8V(+/-) cardiac myofilament. Reduced diastolic sarcomeric length, increased shortening, and prolonged Ca(2+) and contractile transients were recorded in intact KI-TnC-A8V(+/-) and KI-TnC-A8V(+/+) cardiomyocytes. Ca(2+) sensitivity of contraction in skinned fibers increased with mutant gene dose: KI-TnC-A8V(+/+)>KI-TnC-A8V(+/-)>wild-type, whereas KI-TnC-A8V(+/+) relaxed more slowly on flash photolysis of diazo-2. CONCLUSIONS The TNNC1-A8V mutant increases the Ca(2+)-binding affinity of the thin filament and elicits changes in Ca(2+) homeostasis and cellular remodeling, which leads to diastolic dysfunction. These in vivo alterations further implicate the role of TNNC1 mutations in the development of cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano S Martins
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Michelle S Parvatiyar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Han-Zhong Feng
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - J Martijn Bos
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - David Gonzalez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Milica Vukmirovic
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Rajdeep S Turna
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Marcos A Sanchez-Gonzalez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Larkin Health Sciences Institute, South Miami, FL
| | - Crystal-Dawn Badger
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Diego A R Zorio
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Rakesh K Singh
- Translational Science Laboratory, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
| | - Yingcai Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - J-P Jin
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.,Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.,Department of Pediatrics/Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Jose R Pinto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee
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19
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Al-Attas OS, Hussain T, Ahmed M, Al-Daghri N, Mohammed AA, De Rosas E, Gambhir D, Sumague TS. Ultrastructural changes, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered cardiac hypertrophic gene expressions in heart tissues of rats exposed to incense smoke. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:10083-93. [PMID: 25687613 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4212-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Incense smoke exposure has recently been linked to cardiovascular disease risk, heart rate variability, and endothelial dysfunction. To test the possible underlying mechanisms, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers, gene expressions of cardiac hypertrophic and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and ultrastructural changes were measured, respectively, using standard, ELISA-based, real-time PCR, and transmission electron microscope procedures in heart tissues of Wistar rats after chronically exposing to Arabian incense. Malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis alpha (TNF)-α, and IL-4 levels were significantly increased, while catalase and glutathione levels were significantly declined in incense smoke-exposed rats. Incense smoke exposure also resulted in a significant increase in atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, β-myosin heavy chain, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Rats exposed to incense smoke displayed marked ultrastructural changes in heart muscle with distinct cardiac hypertrophy, which correlated with the augmented hypertrophic gene expression as well as markers of cardiac damage including creatine kinase-myocardial bound (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Increased oxidative stress, inflammation, altered cardiac hypertrophic gene expression, tissue damage, and architectural changes in the heart may collectively contribute to increased cardiovascular disease risk in individuals exposed to incense smoke. Increased gene expressions of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 may be instrumental in the incense smoke-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, incense smoke can be considered as a potential environmental pollutant and its long-term exposure may negatively impact human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar S Al-Attas
- Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research, College of Science, King Saud University, AB3, Building 5, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Duncker DJ, Bakkers J, Brundel BJ, Robbins J, Tardiff JC, Carrier L. Animal and in silico models for the study of sarcomeric cardiomyopathies. Cardiovasc Res 2015; 105:439-48. [PMID: 25600962 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvv006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, our understanding of cardiomyopathies has improved dramatically, due to improvements in screening and detection of gene defects in the human genome as well as a variety of novel animal models (mouse, zebrafish, and drosophila) and in silico computational models. These novel experimental tools have created a platform that is highly complementary to the naturally occurring cardiomyopathies in cats and dogs that had been available for some time. A fully integrative approach, which incorporates all these modalities, is likely required for significant steps forward in understanding the molecular underpinnings and pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies. Finally, novel technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, which have already been proved to work in zebrafish, are currently being employed to engineer sarcomeric cardiomyopathy in larger animals, including pigs and non-human primates. In the mouse, the increased speed with which these techniques can be employed to engineer precise 'knock-in' models that previously took years to make via multiple rounds of homologous recombination-based gene targeting promises multiple and precise models of human cardiac disease for future study. Such novel genetically engineered animal models recapitulating human sarcomeric protein defects will help bridging the gap to translate therapeutic targets from small animal and in silico models to the human patient with sarcomeric cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk J Duncker
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Bakkers
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca J Brundel
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeff Robbins
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jil C Tardiff
- Department of Medicine and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lucie Carrier
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
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21
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Nowland MH, Brammer DW, Garcia A, Rush HG. Biology and Diseases of Rabbits. LABORATORY ANIMAL MEDICINE 2015. [PMCID: PMC7150064 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-409527-4.00010-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Beginning in 1931, an inbred rabbit colony was developed at the Phipps Institute for the Study, Treatment and Prevention of Tuberculosis at the University of Pennsylvania. This colony was used to study natural resistance to infection with tuberculosis (Robertson et al., 1966). Other inbred colonies or well-defined breeding colonies were also developed at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Center for Genetics, the Laboratories of the International Health Division of The Rockefeller Foundation, the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, and Jackson Laboratories. These colonies were moved or closed in the years to follow. Since 1973, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported the total number of certain species of animals used by registered research facilities (1997). In 1973, 447,570 rabbits were used in research. There has been an overall decrease in numbers of rabbits used. This decreasing trend started in the mid-1990s. In 2010, 210,172 rabbits were used in research. Despite the overall drop in the number used in research, the rabbit is still a valuable model and tool for many disciplines.
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22
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Kessler EL, Boulaksil M, van Rijen HVM, Vos MA, van Veen TAB. Passive ventricular remodeling in cardiac disease: focus on heterogeneity. Front Physiol 2014; 5:482. [PMID: 25566084 PMCID: PMC4273631 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Passive ventricular remodeling is defined by the process of molecular ventricular adaptation to different forms of cardiac pathophysiology. It includes changes in tissue architecture, such as hypertrophy, fiber disarray, alterations in cell size and fibrosis. Besides that, it also includes molecular remodeling of gap junctions, especially those composed by Connexin43 proteins (Cx43) in the ventricles that affect cell-to-cell propagation of the electrical impulse, and changes in the sodium channels that modify excitability. All those alterations appear mainly in a heterogeneous manner, creating irregular and inhomogeneous electrical and mechanical coupling throughout the heart. This can predispose to reentry arrhythmias and adds to a further deterioration into heart failure. In this review, passive ventricular remodeling is described in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (ICM), and Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ACM), with a main focus on the heterogeneity of those alterations mentioned above.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise L Kessler
- Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Mohamed Boulaksil
- Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands ; Department of Cardiology, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Harold V M van Rijen
- Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marc A Vos
- Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Toon A B van Veen
- Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, Netherlands
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Milani-Nejad N, Janssen PML. Small and large animal models in cardiac contraction research: advantages and disadvantages. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 141:235-49. [PMID: 24140081 PMCID: PMC3947198 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 308] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The mammalian heart is responsible for not only pumping blood throughout the body but also adjusting this pumping activity quickly depending upon sudden changes in the metabolic demands of the body. For the most part, the human heart is capable of performing its duties without complications; however, throughout many decades of use, at some point this system encounters problems. Research into the heart's activities during healthy states and during adverse impacts that occur in disease states is necessary in order to strategize novel treatment options to ultimately prolong and improve patients' lives. Animal models are an important aspect of cardiac research where a variety of cardiac processes and therapeutic targets can be studied. However, there are differences between the heart of a human being and an animal and depending on the specific animal, these differences can become more pronounced and in certain cases limiting. There is no ideal animal model available for cardiac research, the use of each animal model is accompanied with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this review, we will discuss these advantages and disadvantages of commonly used laboratory animals including mouse, rat, rabbit, canine, swine, and sheep. Since the goal of cardiac research is to enhance our understanding of human health and disease and help improve clinical outcomes, we will also discuss the role of human cardiac tissue in cardiac research. This review will focus on the cardiac ventricular contractile and relaxation kinetics of humans and animal models in order to illustrate these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Milani-Nejad
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology and D. Davis Heart Lung Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, OH, USA
| | - Paul M L Janssen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology and D. Davis Heart Lung Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, OH, USA.
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Lu QW, Wu XY, Morimoto S. Inherited cardiomyopathies caused by troponin mutations. JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC CARDIOLOGY : JGC 2013; 10:91-101. [PMID: 23610579 PMCID: PMC3627712 DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-5411.2013.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2012] [Revised: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Genetic investigations of cardiomyopathy in the recent two decades have revealed a large number of mutations in the genes encoding sarcomeric proteins as a cause of inherited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), or restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). Most functional analyses of the effects of mutations on cardiac muscle contraction have revealed significant changes in the Ca(2+)-regulatory mechanism, in which cardiac troponin (cTn) plays important structural and functional roles as a key regulatory protein. Over a hundred mutations have been identified in all three subunits of cTn, i.e., cardiac troponins T, I, and C. Recent studies on cTn mutations have provided plenty of evidence that HCM- and RCM-linked mutations increase cardiac myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity, while DCM-linked mutations decrease it. This review focuses on the functional consequences of mutations found in cTn in terms of cardiac myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity, ATPase activity, force generation, and cardiac troponin I phosphorylation, to understand potential molecular and cellular pathogenic mechanisms of the three types of inherited cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun-Wei Lu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Center for Human Genome Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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25
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Jung B, Odening KE, Dall’Armellina E, Föll D, Menza M, Markl M, Schneider JE. A quantitative comparison of regional myocardial motion in mice, rabbits and humans using in-vivo phase contrast CMR. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2012; 14:87. [PMID: 23270566 PMCID: PMC3579745 DOI: 10.1186/1532-429x-14-87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2012] [Accepted: 12/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetically manipulated animals like mice or rabbits play an important role in the exploration of human cardiovascular diseases. It is therefore important to identify animal models that closely mimic physiological and pathological human cardiac function. METHODS In-vivo phase contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was used to measure regional three-directional left ventricular myocardial motion with high temporal resolution in mice (N=18), rabbits (N=8), and humans (N=20). Radial, long-axis, and rotational myocardial velocities were acquired in left ventricular basal, mid-ventricular, and apical short-axis locations. RESULTS Regional analysis revealed different patterns of motion: 1) In humans and rabbits, the apex showed slower radial velocities compared to the base. 2) Significant differences within species were seen in the pattern of long-axis motion. Long-axis velocities during systole were fairly homogeneously distributed in mice, whereas humans showed a dominant component in the lateral wall and rabbits in the base. 3) Rotational velocities and twist showed the most distinct patterns in both temporal evolution and relative contribution of base, mid-ventricle and apex, respectively. Interestingly, a marked difference in rotational behavior during early-systole was found in mice, which exhibited clockwise rotation in all slice locations compared to counter-clockwise rotation in rabbits and humans. CONCLUSIONS Phase contrast CMR revealed subtle, but significantly different regional myocardial motion patterns in mice, rabbits and humans. This finding has to be considered when investigating myocardial motion pattern in small animal models of heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Jung
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katja E Odening
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Daniela Föll
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marius Menza
- Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Markl
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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26
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Davis J, Maillet M, Miano JM, Molkentin JD. Lost in transgenesis: a user's guide for genetically manipulating the mouse in cardiac research. Circ Res 2012; 111:761-77. [PMID: 22935533 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.111.262717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The advent of modern mouse genetics has benefited many fields of diseased-based research over the past 20 years, none perhaps more profoundly than cardiac biology. Indeed, the heart is now arguably one of the easiest tissues to genetically manipulate, given the availability of an ever-growing tool chest of molecular reagents/promoters and "facilitator" mouse lines. It is now possible to modify the expression of essentially any gene or partial gene product in the mouse heart at any time, either gain or loss of function. This review is designed as a handbook for the nonmouse geneticist and/or junior investigator to permit the successful manipulation of any gene or RNA product in the heart, while avoiding artifacts. In the present review, guidelines, pitfalls, and limitations are presented so that rigorous and appropriate examination of cardiac genotype-phenotype relationships can be performed. This review uses examples from the field to illustrate the vast spectrum of experimental and design details that must be considered when using genetically modified mouse models to study cardiac biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 240 Albert Sabin Way, S4.409, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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27
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Davis J, Yasuda S, Palpant NJ, Martindale J, Stevenson T, Converso K, Metzger JM. Diastolic dysfunction and thin filament dysregulation resulting from excitation-contraction uncoupling in a mouse model of restrictive cardiomyopathy. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2012; 53:446-57. [PMID: 22683325 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2012.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2012] [Revised: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) has been linked to mutations in the thin filament regulatory protein cardiac troponin I (cTnI). As the pathogenesis of RCM from genotype to clinical phenotype is not fully understood, transgenic (Tg) mice were generated with cardiac specific expression of an RCM-linked missense mutation (R193H) in cTnI. R193H Tg mouse hearts with 15% stoichiometric replacement had smaller hearts and significantly elevated end diastolic pressures (EDP) in vivo. Using a unique carbon microfiber-based assay, membrane intact R193H adult cardiac myocytes generated higher passive tensions across a range of physiologic sarcomere lengths resulting in significant Ca(2+) independent cellular diastolic tone that was manifest in vivo as elevated organ-level EDP. Sarcomere relaxation and Ca(2+) decay was uncoupled in isolated R193H Tg adult myocytes due to the increase in myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity of tension, decreased passive compliance of the sarcomere, and adaptive in vivo changes in which phospholamban (PLN) content was decreased. Further evidence of Ca(2+) and mechanical uncoupling in R193H Tg myocytes was demonstrated by the biphasic response of relaxation to increased pacing frequency versus the negative staircase seen with Ca(2+) decay. In comparison, non-transgenic myocyte relaxation closely paralleled the accelerated Ca(2+) decay. Ca(2+) transient amplitude was also significantly blunted in R193H Tg myocytes despite normal mechanical shortening resulting in myocyte hypercontractility when compared to non-transgenics. These results identify for the first time that a single point mutation in cTnI, R193H, directly causes elevated EDP due to a myocyte intrinsic loss of compliance independent of Ca(2+) cycling or altered cardiac morphology. The compound influence of impaired relaxation and elevated EDP represents a clinically severe form of diastolic dysfunction similar to the hemodynamic state documented in RCM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Davis
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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28
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Duranthon V, Beaujean N, Brunner M, Odening KE, Santos AN, Kacskovics I, Hiripi L, Weinstein EJ, Bosze Z. On the emerging role of rabbit as human disease model and the instrumental role of novel transgenic tools. Transgenic Res 2012; 21:699-713. [PMID: 22382461 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-012-9599-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2012] [Accepted: 02/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The laboratory rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is widely used as a model for human diseases, because of its size, which permits non-lethal monitoring of physiological changes and similar disease characteristics. Novel transgenic tools such as, the zinc finger nuclease method and the sleeping beauty transposon mediated or BAC transgenesis were recently adapted to the laboratory rabbit and opened new opportunities in precise tissue and developmental stage specific gene expression/silencing, coupled with increased transgenic efficiencies. Many facets of human development and diseases cannot be investigated in rodents. This is especially true for early prenatal development, its long-lasting effects on health and complex disorders, and some economically important diseases such as atherosclerosis or cardiovascular diseases. The first transgenic rabbits models of arrhythmogenesis mimic human cardiac diseases much better than transgenic mice and hereby underline the importance of non-mouse models. Another emerging field is epigenetic reprogramming and pathogenic mechanisms in diabetic pregnancy, where rabbit models are indispensable. Beyond that rabbit is used for decades as major source of polyclonal antibodies and recently in monoclonal antibody production. Alteration of its genome to increase the efficiency and value of the antibodies by humanization of the immunoglobulin genes, or by increasing the expression of a special receptor (Fc receptor) that augments humoral immune response is a current demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Duranthon
- INRA, UMR 1198 Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France
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Richard C, Ghibu S, Delemasure-Chalumeau S, Guilland JC, Des Rosiers C, Zeller M, Cottin Y, Rochette L, Vergely C. Oxidative Stress and Myocardial Gene Alterations Associated with Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats Persist for 2 Months after Treatment Cessation. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2011; 339:807-14. [DOI: 10.1124/jpet.111.185892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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30
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Fontes MSC, van Veen TAB, de Bakker JMT, van Rijen HVM. Functional consequences of abnormal Cx43 expression in the heart. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2011; 1818:2020-9. [PMID: 21839722 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2011.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2011] [Revised: 07/23/2011] [Accepted: 07/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The major gap junction protein expressed in the heart, connexin43 (Cx43), is highly remodeled in the diseased heart. Usually, Cx43 is down-regulated and heterogeneously redistributed to the lateral sides of cardiomyocytes. Reverse remodeling of the impaired Cx43 expression could restore normal cardiac function and normalize electrical stability. In this review, the reduced and heterogeneous Cx43 expression in the heart will be addressed in hypertrophic, dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy together with its functional consequences of conduction velocity slowing, dispersed impulse conduction, its interaction with fibrosis and propensity to generate arrhythmias. Finally, different therapies are discussed. Treatments aimed to improve the Cx43 expression levels show new potentially anti-arrhythmic therapies during heart failure, but those in the context of acute ischemia can be anti-arrhythmogenic at the cost of larger infarct sizes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Communicating junctions, composition, structure and characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda S C Fontes
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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31
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CMV promoter is inadequate for expression of mutant human RyR2 in transgenic rabbits. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2011; 63:180-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2010.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2010] [Revised: 09/19/2010] [Accepted: 09/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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32
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Zhao S, Wei K, Yu Q, Li Y, Cheng F, Wang Y, Yang P, Fan J, Liu E. General topic: applications of transgenic rabbits in biomedical research - based on literature search. WORLD RABBIT SCIENCE 2010. [DOI: 10.4995/wrs.2010.7279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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33
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Williams R. Jeffrey Robbins. Circ Res 2010; 107:318-20. [DOI: 10.1161/res.0b013e3181efec3e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Huke S, Knollmann BC. Increased myofilament Ca2+-sensitivity and arrhythmia susceptibility. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2010; 48:824-33. [PMID: 20097204 PMCID: PMC2854218 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2010.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2009] [Revised: 01/12/2010] [Accepted: 01/12/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Increased myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity is a common attribute of many inherited and acquired cardiomyopathies that are associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Accumulating evidence supports the concept that increased myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity is an independent risk factor for arrhythmias. This review describes and discusses potential underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms how myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity affects cardiac excitation and leads to the generation of arrhythmias. Emphasized are downstream effects of increased myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity: altered Ca(2+) buffering/handling, impaired energy metabolism and increased mechanical stretch, and how they may contribute to arrhythmogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Huke
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-0575, USA
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Rokutan H, Anker SD, Springer J. In vivomodels of cardiac diseases: application to drug development and screening. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2009; 5:65-78. [DOI: 10.1517/17460440903460299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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36
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Shephard R, Semsarian C. Role of animal models in HCM research. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2009; 2:471-82. [PMID: 20560005 DOI: 10.1007/s12265-009-9120-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2009] [Accepted: 07/17/2009] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex cardiovascular genetic disorder characterized by marked clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Major advances have been made in the clinical characterization of patients with HCM and in identifying causative gene mutations. However, many questions remain regarding the underlying disease mechanisms. Furthermore, in a disease where no pharmacological treatments currently exists which can either prevent or cause regression of disease, processes to identify novel therapies are the crucial next steps. Animal models of HCM have already proved to be universally useful in confirming gene causation and dissecting out key molecular pathways involved in the development of HCM and its sequelae, including heart failure and sudden death. These findings have led to studies in animal models investigating novel therapeutic approaches in HCM, specifically targeting the development and progression of cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and heart failure. This review will provide a brief summary of some of the key animal models of HCM and how these models have been utilized to understand disease mechanisms and to investigate new potential therapies. Ongoing studies using animal models of HCM will lead to a greater understanding of disease pathogenesis and will facilitate the translation of these findings to improved clinical outcomes in HCM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhian Shephard
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute, Locked Bag 6, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, 2042, Australia
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37
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Sanbe A, Daicho T, Mizutani R, Endo T, Miyauchi N, Yamauchi J, Tanonaka K, Glabe C, Tanoue A. Protective effect of geranylgeranylacetone via enhancement of HSPB8 induction in desmin-related cardiomyopathy. PLoS One 2009; 4:e5351. [PMID: 19399179 PMCID: PMC2670514 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2009] [Accepted: 03/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background An arg120gly (R120G) missense mutation in HSPB5 (α-β-crystallin ), which belongs to the small heat shock protein (HSP) family, causes desmin-related cardiomyopathy (DRM), a muscle disease that is characterized by the formation of inclusion bodies, which can contain pre-amyloid oligomer intermediates (amyloid oligomer). While we have shown that small HSPs can directly interrupt amyloid oligomer formation, the in vivo protective effects of the small HSPs on the development of DRM is still uncertain. Methodology/Principal Findings In order to extend the previous in vitro findings to in vivo, we used geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), a potent HSP inducer. Oral administration of GGA resulted not only in up-regulation of the expression level of HSPB8 and HSPB1 in the heart of HSPB5 R120G transgenic (R120G TG) mice, but also reduced amyloid oligomer levels and aggregates. Furthermore, R120G TG mice treated with GGA exhibited decreased heart size and less interstitial fibrosis, as well as improved cardiac function and survival compared to untreated R120G TG mice. To address possible mechanism(s) for these beneficial effects, cardiac-specific transgenic mice expressing HSPB8 were generated. Overexpression of HSPB8 led to a reduction in amyloid oligomer and aggregate formation, resulting in improved cardiac function and survival. Treatment with GGA as well as the overexpression of HSPB8 also inhibited cytochrome c release from mitochondria, activation of caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cardiomyocyte death in the R120G TG mice. Conclusions/Significance Expression of small HSPs such as HSPB8 and HSPB1 by GGA may be a new therapeutic strategy for patients with DRM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Sanbe
- Department of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
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38
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Abstract
Human heart disease is a major cause of death and disability. A variety of animal models of cardiac disease have been developed to better understand the etiology, cellular and molecular mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction and novel therapeutic strategies. The animal models have included large animals (e.g. pig and dog) and small rodents (e.g. mouse and rat) and the advantages of genetic manipulation in mice have appropriately encouraged the development of novel mouse models of cardiac disease. However, there are major differences between rodent and human hearts that raise cautions about the extrapolation of results from mouse to human. The rabbit is a medium-sized animal that has many cellular and molecular characteristics very much like human, and is a practical alternative to larger mammals. Numerous rabbit models of cardiac disease are discussed, including pressure or volume overload, ischemia, rapid-pacing, doxorubicin, drug-induced arrhythmias, transgenesis and infection. These models also lead to the assessment of therapeutic strategies which may become beneficial in human cardiac disease. Ju Chen – University of California, San Diego, Department of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA Robert Ross – University of California, San Diego, Cardiology Section, San Diego, CA, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Pogwizd
- Departments of Medicine, Physiology, and Biophysics & Bioengineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Donald M Bers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Genome Building 3513, Davis, CA 95616-8636, United States
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Davis J, Westfall MV, Townsend D, Blankinship M, Herron TJ, Guerrero-Serna G, Wang W, Devaney E, Metzger JM. Designing heart performance by gene transfer. Physiol Rev 2008; 88:1567-651. [PMID: 18923190 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00039.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The birth of molecular cardiology can be traced to the development and implementation of high-fidelity genetic approaches for manipulating the heart. Recombinant viral vector-based technology offers a highly effective approach to genetically engineer cardiac muscle in vitro and in vivo. This review highlights discoveries made in cardiac muscle physiology through the use of targeted viral-mediated genetic modification. Here the history of cardiac gene transfer technology and the strengths and limitations of viral and nonviral vectors for gene delivery are reviewed. A comprehensive account is given of the application of gene transfer technology for studying key cardiac muscle targets including Ca(2+) handling, the sarcomere, the cytoskeleton, and signaling molecules and their posttranslational modifications. The primary objective of this review is to provide a thorough analysis of gene transfer studies for understanding cardiac physiology in health and disease. By comparing results obtained from gene transfer with those obtained from transgenesis and biophysical and biochemical methodologies, this review provides a global view of cardiac structure-function with an eye towards future areas of research. The data presented here serve as a basis for discovery of new therapeutic targets for remediation of acquired and inherited cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Davis
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
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40
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Li D, Chiang AY, Clawson CA, Main BW, Leishman DJ. Heartbeat dynamics in adrenergic blocker treated conscious beagle dogs. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2008; 58:118-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2008.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2008] [Accepted: 05/02/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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41
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Wen Y, Pinto JR, Gomes AV, Xu Y, Wang Y, Wang Y, Potter JD, Kerrick WGL. Functional consequences of the human cardiac troponin I hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutation R145G in transgenic mice. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:20484-94. [PMID: 18430738 PMCID: PMC2459290 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m801661200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2008] [Revised: 04/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we addressed the functional consequences of the human cardiac troponin I (hcTnI) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy R145G mutation in transgenic mice. Simultaneous measurements of ATPase activity and force in skinned papillary fibers from hcTnI R145G transgenic mice (Tg-R145G) versus hcTnI wild type transgenic mice (Tg-WT) showed a significant decrease in the maximal Ca(2+)-activated force without changes in the maximal ATPase activity and an increase in the Ca(2+) sensitivity of both ATPase and force development. No difference in the cross-bridge turnover rate was observed at the same level of cross-bridge attachment (activation state), showing that changes in Ca(2+) sensitivity were not due to changes in cross-bridge kinetics. Energy cost calculations demonstrated higher energy consumption in Tg-R145G fibers compared with Tg-WT fibers. The addition of 3 mm 2,3-butanedione monoxime at pCa 9.0 showed that there was approximately 2-4% of force generating cross-bridges attached in Tg-R145G fibers compared with less than 1.0% in Tg-WT fibers, suggesting that the mutation impairs the ability of the cardiac troponin complex to fully inhibit cross-bridge attachment under relaxing conditions. Prolonged force and intracellular [Ca(2+)] transients in electrically stimulated intact papillary muscles were observed in Tg-R145G compared with Tg-WT. These results suggest that the phenotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is most likely caused by the compensatory mechanisms in the cardiovascular system that are activated by 1) higher energy cost in the heart resulting from a significant decrease in average force per cross-bridge, 2) slowed relaxation (diastolic dysfunction) caused by prolonged [Ca(2+)] and force transients, and 3) an inability of the cardiac TnI to completely inhibit activation in the absence of Ca(2+) in Tg-R145G mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Wen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics and Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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42
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Davis J, Wen H, Edwards T, Metzger JM. Allele and species dependent contractile defects by restrictive and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-linked troponin I mutants. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2008; 44:891-904. [PMID: 18423659 PMCID: PMC2443058 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2008.02.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2007] [Revised: 02/13/2008] [Accepted: 02/16/2008] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a debilitating disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling, reduced ventricular volumes, and severe diastolic dysfunction. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by ventricular hypertrophy and heightened risk of premature sudden cardiac death. These cardiomyopathies can result from mutations in the same gene that encodes for cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Acute genetic engineering of adult rat cardiac myocytes was used to ascertain whether primary physiologic outcomes could distinguish between RCM and HCM alleles at the cellular level. Co-transduction of cardiac myocytes with wild-type (WT) cTnI and RCM/HCM linked mutants in cTnI's inhibitory region (IR) demonstrated that WT cTnI preferentially incorporated into the sarcomere over IR mutants. The cTnI IR mutants exhibited minor effects in single myocyte Ca(2+)-activated tension assays yet prolonged relaxation and Ca(2+) decay. In comparison RCM cTnI mutants in the helix-4/C-terminal region demonstrated a) hyper-sensitivity to Ca(2+) under loaded conditions, b) slowed myocyte mechanical relaxation and Ca(2+) transient decay, c) frequency-dependent Ca(2+)-independent diastolic tone, d) heightened myofilament incorporation and e) irreversible cellular contractile defects with acute diltiazem administration. For species comparison, a subset of cTnI mutants were tested in isolated adult rabbit cardiac myocytes. Here, RCM and HCM mutant cTnIs exerted similar effects of slowed myocyte relaxation and Ca(2+) transient decay but did not show variable phenotypes by cTnI region. This study highlights cellular contractile defects by cardiomyopathy mutant cTnIs that are allele and species dependent. The species dependent results in particular raise important issues toward elucidating a unifying mechanistic pathway underlying the inherited cardiomyopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Davis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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43
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Du J, Liu J, Feng HZ, Hossain MM, Gobara N, Zhang C, Li Y, Jean-Charles PY, Jin JP, Huang XP. Impaired relaxation is the main manifestation in transgenic mice expressing a restrictive cardiomyopathy mutation, R193H, in cardiac TnI. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2008; 294:H2604-13. [PMID: 18408133 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.91506.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic mice were generated to express a restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) human cardiac troponin I (cTnI) R192H mutation in the heart (cTnI(193His) mice). The objective of this study was to assess cardiac function during the development of diastolic dysfunction and to gain insight into the pathophysiological impact of the RCM cTnI mutation. Cardiac function and pathophysiological changes were monitored in cTnI193His mice and wild-type littermates for a period of 12 mo. It progressed gradually from abnormal relaxation to diastolic dysfunction characterized with high-resolution echocardiography by a reversed E-to-A ratio, increased deceleration time, and prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time. At the age of 12 mo, cardiac output in cTnI(193His) mice was significantly declined, and some transgenic mice showed congestive heart failure. The negative impact of cTnI193His on ventricular contraction and relaxation was further demonstrated in isolated mouse working heart preparations. The main morphological change in cTnI193His myocytes was shortened cell length. Dobutamine stimulation increased heart rate in cTnI193His mice but did not improve CO. The cTnI193His mice had a phenotype similar to that in human RCM patients carrying the cTnI mutation characterized morphologically by enlarged atria and restricted ventricles and functionally by diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure. The results demonstrate a critical role of the COOH-terminal domain of cTnI in the diastolic function of cardiac muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Du
- Department of Biomedical Science and Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Boca Regional Campus, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
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Tsoutsman T, Kelly M, Ng DCH, Tan JE, Tu E, Lam L, Bogoyevitch MA, Seidman CE, Seidman JG, Semsarian C. Severe heart failure and early mortality in a double-mutation mouse model of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circulation 2008; 117:1820-31. [PMID: 18362229 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.107.755777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) is characterized by genetic and clinical heterogeneity. Five percent of FHC families have 2 FHC-causing mutations, which results in earlier disease onset, increased cardiac dysfunction, and a higher incidence of sudden death events. These observations suggest a relationship between the number of gene mutations and phenotype severity in FHC. METHODS AND RESULTS We sought to develop, characterize, and investigate the pathogenic mechanisms in a double-mutant murine model of FHC. This model (designated TnI-203/MHC-403) was generated by crossbreeding mice with the Gly203Ser cardiac troponin I (TnI-203) and Arg403Gln alpha-myosin heavy chain (MHC-403) FHC-causing mutations. The mortality rate in TnI-203/MHC-403 mice was 100% by age 21 days. At age 14 days, TnI-203/MHC-403 mice developed a significantly increased ratio of heart weight to body weight, marked interstitial myocardial fibrosis, and increased expression of atrial natriuretic factor and brain natriuretic peptide compared with nontransgenic, TnI-203, and MHC-403 littermates. By age 16 to 18 days, TnI-203/MHC-403 mice rapidly developed a severe dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure, with inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias, which led to death by 21 days. Downregulation of mRNA levels of key regulators of Ca(2+) homeostasis in TnI-203/MHC-403 mice was observed. Increased levels of phosphorylated STAT3 were observed in TnI-203/MHC-403 mice and corresponded with the onset of disease, which suggests a possible cardioprotective response. CONCLUSIONS TnI-203/MHC-403 double-mutant mice develop a severe cardiac phenotype characterized by heart failure and early death. The presence of 2 disease-causing mutations may predispose individuals to a greater risk of developing severe heart failure than human FHC caused by a single gene mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Tsoutsman
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute, Locked Bag 6, Newtown, NSW 2042, Australia
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46
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Chang AN, Parvatiyar MS, Potter JD. Troponin and cardiomyopathy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 369:74-81. [PMID: 18157941 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.12.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2007] [Accepted: 12/11/2007] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The troponin complex was discovered over thirty years ago and since then much insight has been gained into how this complex senses fluctuating levels of Ca(2+) and transmits this signal to the myofilament. Advances in genetics methods have allowed identification of mutations that lead to the phenotypically distinct cardiomyopathies: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This review serves to highlight key in vivo studies of mutation effects that have followed many years of functional studies and discusses how these mutations alter energetics and promote the characteristic remodeling associated with cardiomyopathic diseases. Studies have been performed that examine alterations in signaling and genomic methods have been employed to isolate upregulated proteins, however these processes are complex as there are multiple roads to hypertrophy or dilation associated with genetic cardiomyopathies. This review suggests future directions to explore in the troponin field that would heighten our understanding of the complex regulation of cardiac muscle contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey N Chang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Room 6085A RMSB,1600 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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47
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Sadayappan S, Finley N, Howarth JW, Osinska H, Klevitsky R, Lorenz JN, Rosevear PR, Robbins J. Role of the acidic N' region of cardiac troponin I in regulating myocardial function. FASEB J 2007; 22:1246-57. [PMID: 17984178 DOI: 10.1096/fj.07-9458com] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) phosphorylation modulates myocardial contractility and relaxation during beta-adrenergic stimulation. cTnI differs from the skeletal isoform in that it has a cardiac specific N' extension of 32 residues (N' extension). The role of the acidic N' region in modulating cardiac contractility has not been fully defined. To test the hypothesis that the acidic N' region of cTnI helps regulate myocardial function, we generated cardiac-specific transgenic mice in which residues 2-11 (cTnI(Delta2-11)) were deleted. The hearts displayed significantly decreased contraction and relaxation under basal and beta-adrenergic stress compared to nontransgenic hearts, with a reduction in maximal Ca(2+)-dependent force and maximal Ca(2+)-activated Mg(2+)-ATPase activity. However, Ca(2+) sensitivity of force development and cTnI-Ser(23/24) phosphorylation were not affected. Chemical shift mapping shows that both cTnI and cTnI(Delta2-11) interact with the N lobe of cardiac troponin C (cTnC) and that phosphorylation at Ser(23/24) weakens these interactions. These observations suggest that residues 2-11 of cTnI, comprising the acidic N' region, do not play a direct role in the calcium-induced transition in the cardiac regulatory or N lobe of cTnC. We hypothesized that phosphorylation at Ser(23/24) induces a large conformational change positioning the conserved acidic N region to compete with actin for the inhibitory region of cTnI. Consistent with this hypothesis, deletion of the conserved acidic N' region results in a decrease in myocardial contractility in the cTnI(Delta2-11) mice demonstrating the importance of acidic N' region in regulating myocardial contractility and mediating the response of the heart to beta-AR stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakthivel Sadayappan
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA
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48
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Ripplinger CM, Li W, Hadley J, Chen J, Rothenberg F, Lombardi R, Wickline SA, Marian AJ, Efimov IR. Enhanced transmural fiber rotation and connexin 43 heterogeneity are associated with an increased upper limit of vulnerability in a transgenic rabbit model of human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circ Res 2007; 101:1049-57. [PMID: 17885214 PMCID: PMC2366809 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.107.161240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, characterized by cardiac hypertrophy and myocyte disarray, is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in the young. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often caused by mutations in sarcomeric genes. We sought to determine arrhythmia propensity and underlying mechanisms contributing to arrhythmia in a transgenic (TG) rabbit model (beta-myosin heavy chain-Q403) of human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Langendorff-perfused hearts from TG (n=6) and wild-type (WT) rabbits (n=6) were optically mapped. The upper and lower limits of vulnerability, action potential duration (APD) restitution, and conduction velocity were measured. The transmural fiber angle shift was determined using diffusion tensor MRI. The transmural distribution of connexin 43 was quantified with immunohistochemistry. The upper limit of vulnerability was significantly increased in TG versus WT hearts (13.3+/-2.1 versus 7.4+/-2.3 V/cm; P=3.2e(-5)), whereas the lower limits of vulnerability were similar. APD restitution, conduction velocities, and anisotropy were also similar. Left ventricular transmural fiber rotation was significantly higher in TG versus WT hearts (95.6+/-10.9 degrees versus 79.2+/-7.8 degrees; P=0.039). The connexin 43 density was significantly increased in the mid-myocardium of TG hearts compared with WT (5.46+/-2.44% versus 2.68+/-0.77%; P=0.024), and similar densities were observed in the endo- and epicardium. Because a nearly 2-fold increase in upper limit of vulnerability was observed in the TG hearts without significant changes in APD restitution, conduction velocity, or the anisotropy ratio, we conclude that structural remodeling may underlie the elevated upper limit of vulnerability in human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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MESH Headings
- Action Potentials/physiology
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac/diagnostic imaging
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac/pathology
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac/physiopathology
- Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnostic imaging
- Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/pathology
- Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/physiopathology
- Connexin 43/genetics
- Connexin 43/metabolism
- Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Disease Models, Animal
- Echocardiography
- Female
- Genetic Heterogeneity
- Immunohistochemistry
- Male
- Myocardial Contraction/physiology
- Myocardium/metabolism
- Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology
- Myocytes, Cardiac/physiology
- Rabbits
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal M Ripplinger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA
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49
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Pattison JS, Waggoner JR, James J, Martin L, Gulick J, Osinska H, Klevitsky R, Kranias EG, Robbins J. Phospholamban overexpression in transgenic rabbits. Transgenic Res 2007; 17:157-70. [PMID: 17882530 PMCID: PMC2366038 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-007-9139-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2007] [Accepted: 08/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
There has been considerable interest in pursuing phospholamban as a putative therapeutic target for overcoming depressed calcium handling in human heart failure. Studies predominantly done in mice have shown that phospholamban is a key regulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium cycling and cardiac function. However, mice differ significantly from humans in how they regulate calcium, whereas rabbits better recapitulate human cardiac function and calcium handling. To investigate phospholamban's role in the rabbit heart, transgenic rabbits that overexpressed wild-type phospholamban in the ventricular cardiomyocytes and slow-twitch skeletal muscles were generated. Rabbits expressing high levels of phospholamban were not viable due to severe skeletal muscle wasting, the onset of cardiac pathology and early death. A viable transgenic line exhibited a 30% increase in PLN protein levels in the heart. These animals showed isolated foci of cardiac pathology, but cardiac function as well as the response to beta-adrenergic stimulation were normal. SR-calcium uptake measurements showed that the transgenic hearts had the expected reduced affinity for calcium. The data show that phospholamban-overexpressing transgenic rabbits differ markedly in phenotype from analogous transgenic mice in that rabbits are quite sensitive to alterations in phospholamban levels. Exceeding a relatively narrow window of phospholamban expression results in significant morbidity and early death.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Scott Pattison
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- *Correspondence to Jeffrey Robbins, PhD, Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039. Fax #: 513-636-5958, Phone #: 513-636-8098, E-mail
| | - Jason R. Waggoner
- Department of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeanne James
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Lisa Martin
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - James Gulick
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Hanna Osinska
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Raisa Klevitsky
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Evangelia G. Kranias
- Department of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffrey Robbins
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- *Correspondence to Jeffrey Robbins, PhD, Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039. Fax #: 513-636-5958, Phone #: 513-636-8098, E-mail
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50
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Liu J, Du J, Zhang C, Walker JW, Huang X. Progressive troponin I loss impairs cardiac relaxation and causes heart failure in mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2007; 293:H1273-81. [PMID: 17526646 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.01379.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac troponin I (TnI) knockout mice exhibit a phenotype of sudden death at 17–18 days after birth due to a progressive loss of TnI. The objective of this study was to gain insight into the physiological consequences of TnI depletion and the cause of death in these mice. Cardiac function was monitored serially between 12 and 17 days of age by using high-resolution ultrasonic imaging and Doppler echocardiography. Two-dimensional B-mode and anatomical M-mode imaging and Doppler echocardiography were performed using a high-frequency (∼20–45 MHz) ultrasound imaging system on homozygous cardiac TnI mutant mice (cTnI−/−) and wild-type littermates. On day 12, cTnI−/−mice were indistinguishable from wild-type mice in terms of heart rate, atrial and LV (LV) chamber dimensions, LV posterior wall thickness, and body weight. By days 16 through 17, wild-type mice showed up to a 40% increase in chamber dimensions due to normal growth, whereas cTnI−/−mice showed increases in atrial dimensions of up to 97% but decreases in ventricular dimensions of up to 70%. Mitral Doppler analysis revealed prolonged isovolumic relaxation time and pronounced inversion of the mitral E/A ratio (early ventricular filling wave-to-late atrial contraction filling wave) only in cTnI−/−mice indicative of impaired LV relaxation. cTnI−/−mouse hearts showed clear signs of failure on day 17, characterized by >50% declines in cardiac output, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. B-mode echocardiography showed a profoundly narrowed tube-like LV and enlarged atria at this time. Our data are consistent with TnI deficiency causing impaired LV relaxation, which leads to diastolic heart failure in this model.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cardiac Output
- Cardiac Output, Low/diagnostic imaging
- Cardiac Output, Low/etiology
- Cardiac Output, Low/genetics
- Cardiac Output, Low/physiopathology
- Disease Progression
- Echocardiography, Doppler
- Electrocardiography
- Genotype
- Heart Atria/diagnostic imaging
- Heart Atria/embryology
- Heart Atria/physiopathology
- Heart Ventricles/diagnostic imaging
- Heart Ventricles/metabolism
- Heart Ventricles/physiopathology
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Myocardial Contraction/genetics
- Phenotype
- Time Factors
- Troponin I/deficiency
- Troponin I/genetics
- Troponin I/metabolism
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/complications
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/diagnostic imaging
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/genetics
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/metabolism
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/physiopathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Science and Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
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