Tbx20 transcription factor is a downstream mediator for bone morphogenetic protein-10 in regulating cardiac ventricular wall development and function

J Biol Chem. 2011 Oct 21;286(42):36820-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.279679. Epub 2011 Sep 2.

Abstract

Bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) belongs to the TGFβ-superfamily. Previously, we had demonstrated that BMP10 is a key regulator for ventricular chamber formation, growth, and maturation. Ablation of BMP10 leads to hypoplastic ventricular wall formation, and elevated levels of BMP10 are associated with abnormal ventricular trabeculation/compaction and wall maturation. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which BMP10 regulates ventricle wall growth and maturation is still largely unknown. In this study, we sought to identify the specific transcriptional network that is potentially mediated by BMP10. We analyzed and compared the gene expression profiles between α-myosin heavy chain (αMHC)-BMP10 transgenic hearts and nontransgenic littermate controls using Affymetrix mouse exon arrays. T-box 20 (Tbx20), a cardiac transcription factor, was significantly up-regulated in αMHC-BMP10 transgenic hearts, which was validated by quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. Ablation of BMP10 reduced Tbx20 expression specifically in the BMP10-expressing region of the developing ventricle. In vitro promoter analysis demonstrated that BMP10 was able to induce Tbx20 promoter activity through a conserved Smad binding site in the Tbx20 promoter proximal region. Furthermore, overexpression of Tbx20 in myocardium led to dilated cardiomyopathy that exhibited ventricular hypertrabeculation and an abnormal muscular septum, which phenocopied genetically modified mice with elevated BMP10 levels. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the BMP10-Tbx20 signaling cascade is important for ventricular wall development and maturation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / embryology
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / genetics
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology*
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / embryology
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / genetics
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / pathology
  • Heart Ventricles / embryology*
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / metabolism
  • Response Elements / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ventricular Myosins / genetics
  • Ventricular Myosins / metabolism
  • Ventricular Septum / embryology
  • Ventricular Septum / pathology

Substances

  • Bmp10 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Tbx20 protein, mouse
  • Ventricular Myosins
  • Myosin Heavy Chains