Project description:Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate cardiomyocyte growth and apoptosis in response to extracellular stimulation, but the downstream effectors that mediate their pathophysiological effects remain poorly understood. We determined the targets and role of p38 MAPK in the heart in vivo by using local adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of constitutively active upstream kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3b (MKK3bE) and wild-type p38α in rats. DNA microarray analysis of animals with cardiac-specific overexpression of p38 MAPK revealed that 264 genes were upregulated more than 2-fold including multiple genes controlling cell division, cell signaling, inflammation, adhesion and transcription. Several previously unknown p38 target genes were found. Using gel mobility shift assays we identified several cardiac transcription factors that were directly activated by p38 MAPK. Finally, we determined the functional significance of the altered cardiac gene expression profile by histological analysis and echocardiographic measurements, which indicated that p38 MAPK overexpression induced gene expression results in cell proliferation, myocardial inflammation and fibrosis. In conclusion, we defined the novel target genes and transcription factors as well as the functional effects of p38 MAPK in the heart. Expression profiling of p38 MAPK overexpression identified cell cycle regulatory and inflammatory genes critical for pathological processes in the adult heart. Keywords: Gene transfer
Project description:Analysis of ventricular derived mRNA from cardiac specific Cdk8 overexpressing mice. Results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
Project description:Analysis of ventricular derived mRNA from cardiac specific Cdk8 overexpressing mice. Results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
Project description:The ventricular wall of the heart is composed of trabeculated and compactlayers, which are separated by yet unknown processes during embryonic development. Notch signaling plays important roles in cardiac development. Mutations in Notch signaling components are related to human congenital heart diseases Two homologues, Numb and Numblike (Numbl), are expressed in mammals, which also act as inhibitors of Notch signaling. Here we investigate the role of Notch2 and Numb/Numblike during myocardial trabeculation and compaction. The aim of the experiment is to analyze whether Numb/Numblike are involved in inhibition of Notch activity in the developing heart. Since Overexpression of N2ICD phenocoped Numb/Numblike mutants, we performed micoarray using total RNA from aMHC-Cre-mediated overexpression of N2ICD.
