A comprehensive understanding of the role of a non-neuronal cholinergic system in the pathology of myocardial infarction

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461059
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cardiovascular medicine
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: ARIKAWA MIKIHIKO 高知大学, 教育研究部自然科学系, 准教授 (20432817)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 生体機能利用 / 心機能保護 / アセチルコリン / 非神経性コリン作動系 / 心筋梗塞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cardiac fibroblasts (cFb) play an important role in structural and functional remodeling of the heart after myocardial infarction (MI). In the present study, we investigated the hypothesis that cFb possess the cholinergic system by which the cFb contribute to the cardioprotection through the release of acetylcholine (ACh). In vitro study showed that the cultured cFb isolated from adult mouse heart express ACh synthesis and degradation enzymes, ACh transporters, and various types of ACh receptors. In vivo immunohistochemical study showed that ChAT signals were co-localized with cFb markers, indicating that cFb express ChAT in the heart. Moreover, westernblot analysis showed that the expression of cFb ChAT was increased in only infarcted myocardium after the MI, resulted in the increase of cardiac ACh content. In conclusion, cFb produce ACh in infarcted myocardium after the MI, which may contribute to the cardioprotection during the post infarct cardiac remodeling process.

Free Research Field

医歯薬学