Understanding gene regulatory mechanisms during cardiac neural crest cell development

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16143
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44020:Developmental biology-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuhana Saori 神戸大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (70767251)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 心臓神経堤細胞 / 心臓発生 / MafB / 遺伝子発現制御機構

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cardiac neural crest cells arise in the caudal hindbrain and then migrate to the heart through the pharyngeal arches. These cells contribute to the formation of the heart, including septum of the outflow tract, and are unique to this neural crest population. MafB is a transcription factor expressed specifically in early migrating cardiac neural crest cells as well as in rhombomeres (r) 5 and 6.
In this study to clarify the molecular basis for cardiac neural crest-specific MafB expression, we identified the regulatory region in the chicken genome controlling the expression of endogenous MafB transcripts. A reporter driven by this regulatory region was employed to trace the migration of these cells into the pharyngeal arches.

Free Research Field

分子生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

心臓神経堤細胞の欠損や分化異常は先天性心疾患を引き起こすことが報告されており、心臓神経堤細胞は心臓循環器形成・維持において重要な細胞群である。本研究では、ニワトリゲノムにおいて心臓神経堤細胞特異的に発現するMafB遺伝子の発現調節領域を同定した。この領域は、レポーター遺伝子として利用することで心臓神経堤細胞の追跡・分布を明らかにするだけでなく、心臓神経堤細胞除去実験に応用することができ、心疾患発症機序を再現するモデル胚作成の有用なツールとなる。心臓神経堤細胞に関連した先天性心疾患を引き起こす作用機序の解明やその治療法の確立に貢献できる。