Manipulating histone modification to induce cardiac proliferation and heart regeneration

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17070
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 53020:Cardiology-related
• Research Institution: Asahikawa Medical College
• Principal Investigator: Hirofuji Aina 旭川医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (70847516)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 心筋再生 / ヒストン修飾 / H3K9me3

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mammalian hearts are unable to regenerate because their cardiomyocytes do not have sufficient capacity to divide. In this study, to investigate whether histone modification H3K9me3 is involved in the inhibition of cardiomyocyte division, we depleted H3K9me3 from adult mouse cardiomyocytes using an adeno-associated virus vector. Deletion of H3K9me3 in mature cardiomyocytes increased the expression of some cell cycle genes, suggesting that H3K9me3 is involved in the control of cardiomyocyte division. In this study, we revealed the involvement of H3K9me3 as part of the mechanism controlling cardiomyocyte division.

Free Research Field

心筋再生

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

心臓は再生しない臓器であるため、心不全の治療は機能の維持を目的とした保存的治療法のみである。心筋細胞の分裂は心筋を再生する可能性を秘めており、心筋細胞分裂がどのように制御されているかを解明していくことで、心不全の根本的治療法の開発に繋がる。