Clock Genes in the Heart

Abstract

—We investigated whether the heart, like other mammalian organs, possesses internal clocks, and, if so, whether pressure overload–induced hypertrophy alters the clock mechanism. Clock genes are intrinsically maintained, as shown by rhythmic changes even in single cells. Clocks are believed to confer a selective advantage by priming the cell for the expected environmental stimulus. In this way, clocks allow anticipation, thereby synchronizing responsiveness of the cell with the timing of the stimulus. We have found that in rat heart all mammalian homologues of known Drosophila clock genes (bmal1, clock, cry1, cry2, per1, per2, per3, dbp, hlf, and tef) show circadian patterns of expression and that the induction of clock output genes (the PAR [rich in proline and acidic amino acid residues] transcription factors dbp, hlf, and tef) is attenuated in the pressure-overloaded hypertrophied heart. The results expose a new dynamic regulatory system in the heart, which is partially lost with hypertrophy. Although the target genes of these PAR transcription factors are not known in the heart, the results provide evidence for a diminished ability of the hypertrophied heart to anticipate and subsequently adapt to physiological alterations during the day.