TY - JOUR
T1 - Heterogeneous myocyte enhancer factor-2 (Mef2) activation in myocytes predicts focal scarring in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
AU - Konno, Tetsuo
AU - Chen, Dan
AU - Wang, Libin
AU - Wakimoto, Hiroko
AU - Teekakirikul, Polakit
AU - Nayor, Matthew
AU - Kawana, Masataka
AU - Eminaga, Seda
AU - Gorham, Joshua M.
AU - Pandya, Kumar
AU - Smithies, Oliver
AU - Naya, Francisco J.
AU - Olson, Eric N.
AU - Seidman, J. G.
AU - Seidman, Christine E.
PY - 2010/10/19
Y1 - 2010/10/19
N2 - Unknown molecular responses to sarcomere protein gene mutations account for pathologic remodeling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), producing myocyte growth and increased cardiac fibrosis. To determine if hypertrophic signals activated myocyte enhancer factor-2 (Mef2), we studied mice carrying the HCM mutation, myosin heavy-chain Arg403Gln, (MHC403/+) and an Mef2-dependent β-galactosidase reporter transgene. In young, prehypertrophic MHC403/+ mice the reporter was not activated. In hypertrophic hearts, activation of the Mef2-dependent reporter was remarkably heterogeneous and was observed consistently in myocytes that bordered fibrotic foci with necrotic cells, MHC403/+ myocytes with Mef2-dependent reporter activation reexpressed the fetal myosin isoform (βMHC), a molecular marker of hypertrophy, although MHC403/+ myocytes with or without βMHC expression were comparably enlarged over WT myocytes. To consider Mef2 roles in severe HCM, we studied homozygous MHC403/403 mice, which have accelerated remodeling, widespread myocyte necrosis, and neonatal lethality. Levels of phosphorylated class II histone deacetylases that activate Mef2 were substantially increased in MHC403/403 hearts, but Mef2-dependent reporter activation was patchy. Sequential analyses showed myocytes increased Mef2-dependent reporter activity before death. Our data dissociate myocyte hypertrophy, a consistent response in HCM, from heterogeneous Mef2 activation and reexpression of a fetal gene program. The temporal and spatial relationship of Mef2-dependent gene activation with myocyte necrosis and fibrosis in MHC403/+ and MHC403/403 hearts defines Mef2 activation as a molecular signature of stressed HCM myocytes that are poised to die.
AB - Unknown molecular responses to sarcomere protein gene mutations account for pathologic remodeling in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), producing myocyte growth and increased cardiac fibrosis. To determine if hypertrophic signals activated myocyte enhancer factor-2 (Mef2), we studied mice carrying the HCM mutation, myosin heavy-chain Arg403Gln, (MHC403/+) and an Mef2-dependent β-galactosidase reporter transgene. In young, prehypertrophic MHC403/+ mice the reporter was not activated. In hypertrophic hearts, activation of the Mef2-dependent reporter was remarkably heterogeneous and was observed consistently in myocytes that bordered fibrotic foci with necrotic cells, MHC403/+ myocytes with Mef2-dependent reporter activation reexpressed the fetal myosin isoform (βMHC), a molecular marker of hypertrophy, although MHC403/+ myocytes with or without βMHC expression were comparably enlarged over WT myocytes. To consider Mef2 roles in severe HCM, we studied homozygous MHC403/403 mice, which have accelerated remodeling, widespread myocyte necrosis, and neonatal lethality. Levels of phosphorylated class II histone deacetylases that activate Mef2 were substantially increased in MHC403/403 hearts, but Mef2-dependent reporter activation was patchy. Sequential analyses showed myocytes increased Mef2-dependent reporter activity before death. Our data dissociate myocyte hypertrophy, a consistent response in HCM, from heterogeneous Mef2 activation and reexpression of a fetal gene program. The temporal and spatial relationship of Mef2-dependent gene activation with myocyte necrosis and fibrosis in MHC403/+ and MHC403/403 hearts defines Mef2 activation as a molecular signature of stressed HCM myocytes that are poised to die.
KW - Fibrosis
KW - Hypertrophy
KW - Sarcomere protein gene mutation
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U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1012826107
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1012826107
M3 - Article
C2 - 20923879
AN - SCOPUS:78149242336
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 107
SP - 18097
EP - 18102
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 42
ER -