Overexpression of the transcription factor Hand1 causes predisposition towards arrhythmia in mice

J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2009 Jul;47(1):133-41. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.04.007. Epub 2009 Apr 17.

Abstract

Elevated levels of the cardiac transcription factor Hand1 have been reported in several adult cardiac diseases but it is unclear whether this change is itself maladaptive with respect to heart function. To test this possibility, we have developed a novel, inducible transgenic system, and used it to overexpress Hand1 in adult mouse hearts. Overexpression of Hand1 in the adult mouse heart leads to mild cardiac hypertrophy and a reduction in life expectancy. Treated mice show no significant fibrosis, myocyte disarray or congestive heart failure, but have a greatly reduced threshold for induced ventricular tachycardia, indicating a predisposition to cardiac arrhythmia. Within 48 h, they show a significant loss of connexin43 protein from cardiac intercalated discs, with increased intercalated disc beta-catenin expression at protein and RNA levels. These changes are sustained during prolonged Hand1 overexpression. We propose that cardiac overexpression of Hand1 offers a useful mouse model of arrhythmogenesis and elevated HAND1 may provide one of the molecular links between the failing heart and arrhythmia.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / genetics*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Cardiomegaly / genetics
  • Cardiomegaly / metabolism
  • Electrophysiology
  • Heart Failure / genetics
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Hand1 protein, mouse
  • helix-loop-helix protein, eHAND