TRPV2 is critical for the maintenance of cardiac structure and function
May 29, 2014
The research group of Okayama University Graduate School for Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences has revealed mechanisms for the maintenance of cardiac structure and function.
The findings were published online on May 29, 2014 in the journal Nature Communications.
http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140529/ncomms4932/full/ncomms4932.html
The heart has a major role in pumping blood to all parts of the body and a dynamic compensatory mechanism for haemodynamic stress. However, the molecular details of the mechanism are unclear.
The heart is a functional syncytium composed of terminally differentiated myocytes specialized for excitation-contraction coupling. Individual cardiomyocytes are electrically and mechanically coupled at their termini, where highly organized cell-cell junctions known as intercalated discs are located. The structure of intercalated discs is known to be remodeled in response to haemodynamic stress.
Y. Katanosaka, K. Naruse and their group has shown that the elimination of TRPV2 (Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 2) from a mouse heart resulted in severe cardiac dysfunction within a few days. The result suggests that TRPV2 localized at intercalated discs has a critical role for the maintenance of cardiac structure and function in mice. In addition, the group has shown that the TRPV2 activation-dependent IGF-1 secretion of cardiomyocytes controlling the equilibrium balance of intracellular IGF-1 receptor/P13K/Akt signals in response to haemodynamic stress is one of the mechanisms used in the maintenance of cardiac structure and function.
The findings are expected to lead to the elucidation of the development mechanisms for cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Contact Information:
Mototaka Senda, Ph.D.
US Representative
Intellectual Property Office, Organization for Research Promotion and Collaboration, Okayama University
Fremont, California USA
TEL: 1-510-797-0907
Email: takasenda@okayama-u.ac.jp
Keiji Naruse, M.D. Ph.D.
Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan