Decreased left ventricular ejection fraction in transgenic mice expressing mutant cardiac troponin T-Q(92), responsible for human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The causality of mutant sarcomeric proteins in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is well established. The current emphasis is to elucidate the pathogenesis of HCM in transgenic animal models. We determined the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in transgenic mice expressing mutant cardiac troponin T (cTnT)-Q(92), known to cause HCM in humans. Transgenes were constructed by placing wild-type (R(92)) or mutant (Q(92)) full-length human cTnT cDNAs 3' into a 5.5-kb murine [alpha -myosin heavy chain (MyHC)] promoter injected into fertilized zygotes. Three wild-type and six mutant lines were produced. Transgene mRNA and proteins, detected using transgene-specific probes were expressed at high levels in all wild-type and three mutant lines. The total cTnT mRNA pool was increased by up to five-fold in transgenic mice, but the total cTnT protein remained unchanged. The mean values of LVEF, determined by(178)Ta radionuclide angiography, were 57.8+/-6% (n=4) in non-transgenic littermate (NLM), 53.3+/-10 (n=6) in wild-type and 39. 4+/-6 (n=5) in mutant transgenic mice (P=0.009). The heart/body weight ratios and the number of cells stained with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated nick end-labeling were similar among the groups. Three mutant mice had myocyte disarray and excess interstitial collagen and two had normal myocardial structure despite having reduced LVEF. Thus, in vivo expression of the mutant cTnT-Q(92)protein, responsible for human HCM, impaired global cardiac systolic function in transgenic mice, which also occurred in the absence of myocyte disarray and increased interstitial collagen.

Dominant-negative effect of a mutant cardiac troponin T on cardiac structure and function in transgenic mice

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease of sarcomeric proteins. The mechanism by which mutant sarcomeric proteins cause HCM is unknown. The leading hypothesis proposes that mutant sarcomeric proteins exert a dominant-negative effect on myocyte structure and function. To test this, we produced transgenic mice expressing low levels of normal or mutant human cardiac troponin T (cTnT). We constructed normal (cTnT-Arg92) and mutant (cTnT-Gln92) transgenes, driven by a murine cTnT promoter, and produced three normal and five mutant transgenic lines, which were identified by PCR and Southern blotting. Expression levels of the transgene proteins, detected using a specific antibody, ranged from 1 to 10% of the total cTnT pool. M-mode and Doppler echocardiography showed normal left ventricular dimensions and systolic function, but diastolic dysfunction in the mutant mice evidenced by a 50% reduction in the E/A ratio of mitral inflow velocities. Histological examination showed cardiac myocyte disarray in the mutant mice, which amounted to 1-15% of the total myocardium, and a twofold increase in the myocardial interstitial collagen content. Thus, the mutant cTnT-Gln92, responsible for human HCM, exerted a dominant-negative effect on cardiac structure and function leading to disarray, increased collagen synthesis, and diastolic dysfunction in transgenic mice.