Title
A novel conditional mouse model for Nkx2-5 reveals transcriptional regulation of cardiac ion channels.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2016
JAX Source
Differentiation 2016 Jan-Mar; 91(1-3):29-41.
PMID
26897459
Abstract
Nkx2-5 is one of the master regulators of cardiac development, homeostasis and disease. This transcription factor has been previously associated with a suite of cardiac congenital malformations and impairment of electrical activity. When disease causative mutations in transcription factors are considered, NKX2-5 gene dysfunction is the most common abnormality found in patients. Here we describe a novel mouse model and subsequent implications of Nkx2-5 loss for aspects of myocardial electrical activity. In this work we have engineered a new Nkx2-5 conditional knockout mouse in which flox sites flank the entire Nkx2-5 locus, and validated this line for the study of heart development, differentiation and disease using a full deletion strategy. While our homozygous knockout mice show typical embryonic malformations previously described for the lack of the Nkx2-5 gene, hearts of heterozygous adult mice show moderate morphological and functional abnormalities that are sufficient to sustain blood supply demands under homeostatic conditions. This study further reveals intriguing aspects of Nkx2-5 function in the control of cardiac electrical activity. Using a combination of mouse genetics, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, we demonstrate that Nkx2-5 regulates the gene encoding Kcnh2 channel and others, shedding light on potential mechanisms generating electrical abnormalities observed in patients bearing NKX2-5 dysfunction and opening opportunities to the study of novel therapeutic targets for anti-arrhythmogenic therapies. Differentiation 2016 Jan-Mar; 91(1-3):29-41.
Recommended Citation
Furtado, Milena B; Wilmanns, Julia C; Chandran, Anjana; Tonta, Mary; Biben, Christine; Eichenlaub, Michael; Coleman, Harold A; Berger, Silke; Bouveret, Romaric; Singh, Reena; Harvey, Richard P; Ramialison, Mirana; Pearson, James T; Parkington, Helena C; Rosenthal, Nadia A.; and Costa, Mauro W, "A novel conditional mouse model for Nkx2-5 reveals transcriptional regulation of cardiac ion channels." (2016). Faculty Research 2016. 68.
https://mouseion.jax.org/stfb2016/68