After being introduced to the molecular cardiology laboratories at the University of Chicago, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to pursue both my clinical and my research training at an institution which values the role of the physician scientist. As I progressed through internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship, I saw the dramatic impact that physician scientists had, not only in the care of the patient, but in the understanding of the diseases they studied. I consider myself truly fortunate to have identified several key mentors who have invested so much time and effort in my development. As my clinical training comes to a close and I begin the learning that comes with being a junior faculty member, I am acutely aware of the importance of experienced mentorship as I transition to become an independent investigator. The University of Chicago not only provides the resources and clinicians to develop me as a physician-scientist, it provides the precious resources, support, and mentors at this critical time in my career. With so many aspects of acquired heart diseases recapitulating many of the molecular pathways regulating cardiogenesis, I was drawn into the cardiac development laboratory of Dr. Eric Svensson. There I began studying key transcription factors controlling coronary vessel and cardiomyocyte development. My research interests then turned to the relatively new field microRNAs, an emerging class of regulatory molecules with key roles in development and disease. Despite the broad range of biologic processes which they regulate, only a few microRNAs have been studied thoroughly. We have found that one particular microRNA, microRNA-130a, is highly expressed in the developing mouse heart and targets a key transcriptional regulator of cardiac development, FOG-2, and likely many more. Given the complex signaling requirements and protein dosage sensitivity in cardiac development, I hypothesize that the levels of microRNA-130a may also be important for normal heart development through its action on other key targets. To study this, I have proposed to pursue to following aims: 1) Validate the predicted targets of miR-130a relevant to cardiac development using a transgenic mouse model over expressing microRNA-130a. 2) Determine the mechanism of ventricular wall hypoplasia and embryonic lethality in the 2MHC-miR-130a mice through serial histological staining and assessment of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and proliferation. 3) Elucidate the regulatory elements controlling microRNA-130a expression by defining the temporal-spatial pattern of microRNA-130a expression as well as performing both in vitro and in vivo functional promoter assays. With the emerging understanding of microRNAs in the regulation of gene expression, their role in heart development and congenital heart disease merits further investigation. MicroRNA-130a, through its interaction with key transcriptional regulators of cardiac development, may play a significant role in normal heart development, as well as being important in acquired heart disease in the adult.

Public Health Relevance

The field of microRNAs is rapidly growing and changing our fundamental understanding of cardiovascular biology, but despite the broad range of functions, which these small molecules regulate, only a handful have been studied. MicroRNA-130a, through its potential targeting of several regulators of cardiac development, may play a key role in normal cardiac formation and the development of congenital heart diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08HL098565-04
Application #
8460574
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-U (O1))
Program Officer
Scott, Jane
Project Start
2010-08-18
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$124,200
Indirect Cost
$9,200
Name
University of Chicago
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005421136
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60637
Calway, Tyler; Kim, Gene H (2015) Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of MicroRNAs for Cardiovascular Disease. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther 20:131-43
Fahrenbach, John P; Stoller, Douglas; Kim, Gene et al. (2014) Abcc9 is required for the transition to oxidative metabolism in the newborn heart. FASEB J 28:2804-15
Osbourne, Appledene; Calway, Tyler; Broman, Michael et al. (2014) Downregulation of connexin43 by microRNA-130a in cardiomyocytes results in cardiac arrhythmias. J Mol Cell Cardiol 74:53-63
Yan, Ling; Bjork, Per; Butuc, Radu et al. (2013) Beneficial effects of quinoline-3-carboxamide (ABR-215757) on atherosclerotic plaque morphology in S100A12 transgenic ApoE null mice. Atherosclerosis 228:69-79
Kim, Gene H (2013) Murine fetal echocardiography. J Vis Exp :
Kim, Gene H (2013) MicroRNA regulation of cardiac conduction and arrhythmias. Transl Res 161:381-92
Kim, Gene H; Ryan, John J; Archer, Stephen L (2013) The role of redox signaling in epigenetics and cardiovascular disease. Antioxid Redox Signal 18:1920-36
Arnolds, David E; Liu, Fang; Fahrenbach, John P et al. (2012) TBX5 drives Scn5a expression to regulate cardiac conduction system function. J Clin Invest 122:2509-18
Kim, Gene H; Ryan, John J; Marsboom, Glenn et al. (2011) Epigenetic mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension. Pulm Circ 1:347-56
Hofmann Bowman, Marion A; Gawdzik, Joseph; Bukhari, Usama et al. (2011) S100A12 in vascular smooth muscle accelerates vascular calcification in apolipoprotein E-null mice by activating an osteogenic gene regulatory program. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 31:337-44

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