Cardiomyocytes in Young Infants With Congenital Heart Disease: a Three-Month Window of Proliferation

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 15:6:23188. doi: 10.1038/srep23188.

Abstract

Perinatal reduction in cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity is well established in animal models and humans. However, cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) is unknown, and may provide important information to improve treatment. Human right atrial specimens were obtained from infants during routine surgery to repair ventricular septal defects. The specimens were divided into three groups: group A (age 1-3 months); group B (age, 4-6 months); and group C (age 7-12 months). A dramatic fall in the number of Ki67-positive CHD cardiac myocytes occurred after three months. When cultured in vitro, young CHD myocytes (≤ 3 months) showed more abundant Ki67-positive cardiomyocytes and greater incorporation of EdU, indicating enhanced proliferation. YAP1 and NICD-important transcript factors in cardiomyocyte development and proliferation-decreased with age and β-catenin increased with age. Compared with those of older infants, cardiomyocytes of young CHD infants (≤ 3 months) have a higher proliferating capacity in vivo and in vitro. From the perspective of cardiac muscle regeneration, CHD treatment at a younger age (≤ 3 months) may be more optimal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Age Factors
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / metabolism
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Male
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Protein Domains
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • NOTCH1 protein, human
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Transcription Factors
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • beta Catenin