Distinct Gene Expression Profiles in Adult Mouse Heart Following Targeted MAP Kinase Activation

Three major MAP kinase signaling cascades, ERK, p38 and JNK, play significant roles in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in response to external stress and neural/hormonal stimuli. In order to study the specific function of each MAP kinase branch in adult heart, we have generated three transgenic mouse models with cardiac specific and temporally regulated expression of activated mutants of Ras, MKK3 and MKK7, which are selective upstream activators for ERK, p38 and JNK, respectively. Gene expression profiles in transgenic adult hearts were determined using cDNA microarrays at both early (4-7 days) and late (2-4 weeks) time points following transgene induction. From this study, we revealed common changes in gene expression among the three models, particularly involving extracellular matrix remodeling. However, distinct expression patterns characteristic for each pathway were also identified in cell signaling, growth and physiology. In addition, genes with dynamic expression differences between early vs. late stages illustrated primary vs. secondary changes upon MAP kinase activation in adult hearts. These results provide an overview to both short term and long term effects of MAP kinase activation in heart and support some common as well as unique roles for each MAP kinase cascade in the development of heart failure.

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Mitchell S, Ota A, Foster W, Zhang B, Fang Z, Patel S, Nelson SF, Horvath S, Wang Y