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Mosaic inactivation of the serum response factor gene in the myocardium induces focal lesions and heart failure
Author(s) -
GaryBobo Guillaume,
Parlakian Ara,
Escoubet Brigitte,
Franco Claudio Areias,
Clément Sophie,
Bruneval Patrick,
Tuil David,
Daegelen Dominique,
Paulin Denise,
Li Zhenlin,
Mericskay Mathias
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2008.04.014
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , mosaic , cardiology , gene , genetics , biology , archaeology , history
Background and aims: Regional alterations in ventricular mechanical functions are a primary determinant for the risk of myocardial injuries in various cardiomyopathies. The serum response factor (SRF) is a transcription factor regulating contractile and cytoskeletal genes and may play an important role in the remodelling of myocardium at the cellular level. Methods: Using Desmin‐Cre transgenic mice, we generated a model of mosaic inactivation of a floxed‐Srf allele in the heart to analyze the consequence of regional alterations of SRF‐mediated functions in the myocardium. Results: Two types of cardiomyocytes co‐existed in the Desmin‐Cre:Sf/Sf mice. Cardiomyocytes lacking SRF became thin and elongated while cardiomyocytes containing SRF became hypertrophic. Several physiological contractile genes were down‐regulated while skeletal α‐actin was induced in SRF positive area only. Mutants developed heart failure associated with the presence of focal lesions in the myocardium, and died before month 11. Conclusions: Juxtaposition of functional SRF wild‐type and failing SRF mutant cardiomyocytes generates deleterious heterogeneity in the myocardium. Our results show that SRF contributes to the capacity of cardiomyocytes to remodel their shape and contractile functions in response to their local environment; suggesting that it may play a role in pathologies involving regional alterations of ventricular mechanics in the heart.