Nat commun: a new genetic pathway for heart rate control revealed in the study of human multi-functional stem cells

July 24, 2018 / bioin / - A Study on the development of human heart reveals the way of contraction of cardiac myocytes Source: the correct heartbeat of Murdoch children's Research Institute is essential for the physical development of the fetus during pregnancy and can help identify heart defects, the most common birth defects Using human stem cells, a team from the Murdoch children's Institute in Australia found a gene called Nkx2-5 that mediates heart rhythm and cardiomyocyte development The study was recently published in nature communications Dr David Elliott, the lead author of the study, said that mutations in the gene can cause the "circuit system" of the human heart to fail, so patients with Nkx2-5 mutations often need to be implanted with a pacemaker Nkx2-5 was previously known to control the switching of other genes The researchers also found that Nkx2-5 controls cardiomyocyte development by directly controlling another gene called HEY2 HEY2 mutations cause brugeda syndrome, a disorder that disrupts the normal rhythm of the heart "Although researchers have studied the function of Nkx2-5 in mouse models for more than 20 years, they have not found this relationship between the two genes This emphasizes the importance of using human cells to study human diseases " Elliott said This breakthrough work has broadened our understanding of gene control of cardiac development, and also found a genetic pathway controlling cardiac conductance system The research may help develop new ways to treat heart disease by targeting genetic factors that cause it Reference: David Elliott et al Nkx2-5 regulations human cardiomyogenesis via a HEY2 dependent transcription network Nature communications.doihttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03714-x