Functional analysis of Polycomb-group genes in regulating mechanisms for self-reneual and differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24591595
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pediatrics
• Research Institution: National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: SHIRAI Manabu 独立行政法人国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 室長 (70294121)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MORISKI Takayuki 国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 部長 (30174410) ; MORISKI Hiroko 国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 室長 (40311451) ; HONDA Takehiko 国立循環器病研究センター, 研究所, 室員 (10455545)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ポリコーム遺伝子群 / 心臓発生 / 心不全

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand whether the Polycomb group (PcG) protein, Pcgf5, is implicated in maintaining balance between self-renewal and differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells, we generated Pcgf5 deficient mice. Homozygous mice were smaller than wild type. They were, however, fertile, and did not show any obvious developmental abnormalities. At around 1 year old, only homozygotes died with cardiac dysfunction. Pcgf5 deficient cardiomyocytes were hypertrophic and disorganized, however, no significant difference of cell proliferation and death between controls and homozygotes. Since 6 months old, Pcgf5 deficient males showed decrease of left ventricular ejection fraction, enlargement of the heart and upregulation of expression of Nppa/ANP, Acta1/αSK and Myh7/βMhc, known to be upregulated by cardiac overloading. These findings indicate that Pcgf5 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the cardiac function in aged mice.

Free Research Field

循環器発生学