title: LMNA E82K mutation activates FAS and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis in heart tissue specific transgenic mice.
abstract: The lamin A/C (LMNA), nuclear intermediate filament proteins, is a basic component of the nuclear lamina. Mutations in LMNA are associated with a broad range of laminopathies, congenital diseases affecting tissue regeneration and homeostasis. Heart tissue specific transgenic mice of human LMNA E82K, a mutation causing dilated cardiomyopathy, were generated. Lmna(E82K) transgenic mouse lines exhibited thin-walled, dilated left and right ventricles, a progressive decrease of contractile function assessed by echocardiography. Abnormalities of the conduction system, myocytes disarray, collagen accumulation and increased levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), procollagen type III α1 (Col3α1) and skeletal muscle actin α1 (Actα1) were detected in the hearts of Lmna(E82K) transgenic mice. The LMNA E82K mutation caused mislocation of LMNA in the nucleus and swollen mitochondria with loss of critae, together with the loss of nuclear envelope integrity. Most interestingly, we found that the level of apoptosis was 8.5-fold higher in the Lmna(E82K) transgenic mice than that of non-transgenic (NTG) mice. In the presence of the LMNA E82K, both of FAS and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis were activated consistent with the increase of FAS expression, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol and activation of caspase-8, -9 and -3. Our results suggested that the apoptosis, at least for the LMNA E82K or the mutations in the rod region of Lamin A/C, might be an important mechanism causing continuous loss of myocytes and lead to myocardial dysfunction. It could be a potential therapeutic means to suppress and/or prevent inappropriate cardiac cell death in patients carrying LMNA mutation.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Ministry of Health, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Comparative Medical Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Lianfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D034904:Lamin Type A / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: C494847:LMNA protein, human; D034904:Lamin Type A; D019014:fas Receptor; D003094:Collagen; D020169:Caspases