Analyses of Contractile Protein Phosphorylation in Ductus Arteriosus and Pulmonary Artery

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461656
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Tokyo Women's Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Takeuchi Daiji 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (40328456)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MAKANISHI Toshio 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 研究生 (90120013)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HAYAMA Emiko 東京女子医科大学, 医学部, 非常勤講師 (00349698)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 動脈管 / リン酸化 / 筋収縮蛋白質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The ductus arteriosus (DA) ejects blood from the right ventricle to bypass the pulmonary artery. At birth, functional closure of the DA is initiated by circulatory increase in pO2. HSP27 was expressed to a relatively higher extent in the DA than in the adjacent aorta (Ao) and pulmonary arteries (PA).
Phosphorylation level of HSP27 was higher in the fetal PA than in fetal DA. Interestingly, phosphorylation of HSP27 was lesser in newborn PA but not in the DA. Since phosphorylation of HSP27 promotes contraction of smooth muscles, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, which regulates phosphorylation of HSP27, might regulate constriction/dilation of fetal and newborn PA. In this study, distinct phosphorylation status of HSP27 and myosin regulatory light chain proteins was found in fetal and newborn rabbit DA and PA, suggesting a diverse mechanism regulating the vascular tone of the DA and PA.

Free Research Field

循環器小児科学