Heart neurons use clock genes to control myocyte proliferation

Emmanouil Tampakakis, Harshi Gangrade, Stephanie Glavaris, Myo Htet, Sean Murphy, Brian Leei Lin, Ting Liu, Amir Saberi, Matthew Miyamoto, William Kowalski, Yoh Suke Mukouyama, Gabsang Lee, Liliana Minichiello, Chulan Kwon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Neurons can regulate the development, pathogenesis, and regeneration of target organs. However, the role of neurons during heart development and regeneration remains unclear. We genetically inhibited sympathetic innervation in vivo, which resulted in heart enlargement with an increase in cardiomyocyte number. Transcriptomic and protein analysis showed down-regulation of the two clock gene homologs Period1/Period2 (Per1/Per2) accompanied by up-regulation of cell cycle genes. Per1/Per2 deletion increased heart size and cardiomyocyte proliferation, recapitulating sympathetic neuron–deficient hearts. Conversely, increasing sympathetic activity by norepinephrine treatment induced Per1/Per2 and suppressed cardiomyocyte proliferation. We further found that the two clock genes negatively regulate myocyte mitosis entry through the Wee1 kinase pathway. Our findings demonstrate a previously unknown link between cardiac neurons and clock genes in regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart size and provide mechanistic insights for developing neuromodulation strategies for cardiac regen5eration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereabh4181
JournalScience Advances
Volume7
Issue number49
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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