Growth Hormone (GH) and the Cardiovascular System: Studies in Bovine GH
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Growth Hormone (GH) and the Cardiovascular System: Studies in Bovine GH Transgenic and Inducible, Cardiac-Specific GH Receptor Gene Disrupted Mice A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Adam Jara May 2014 © 2014 Adam Jara. All Rights Reserved. 2 This dissertation titled Growth Hormone (GH) and the Cardiovascular System: Studies in Bovine GH Transgenic and Inducible, Cardiac-Specific GH Receptor Gene Disrupted Mice by ADAM JARA has been approved for the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences by John J. Kopchick Distinguished Professor of Molecular Biology and Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar Robert Frank Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT JARA, ADAM, Ph.D., May 2014, Biological Sciences Growth Hormone (GH) and the Cardiovascular System: Studies in Bovine GH Transgenic and Inducible, Cardiac-Specific GH Receptor Gene Disrupted Mice Director of Dissertation: John J. Kopchick Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are thought to play key roles in the development and maintenance of the heart. Evidence of the profound effect GH has on the heart can be found in patients with diseases that disrupt GH action. In pathological states of acromegaly (caused by oversecretion of GH), GH deficiency, and Laron Syndrome (a disease caused by mutations in the GH receptor resulting in systemic lack of GH induced action), patients exhibit unique cardiovascular phenotypes of altered structure and function. Despite these observations, the exact role of GH in the cardiovascular system is not well characterized. To better understand the effects that GH action has on the cardiovascular system, we studied the well-established bovine GH (bGH) transgenic mouse and developed a novel tamoxifen-inducible, cardiac-specific GH receptor (GHR) gene disrupted mouse (iC-GHRKO). We find that the bGH mice exhibit an age-dependent elevation of systolic blood pressure that is correlated with changes in both the brain natriuretic peptide and renin angiotensin systems. Our initial characterization of the iC-GHRKO mice surprisingly reveals that cardiac GH signaling is not necessary for maintainance of baseline cardiac function, but does appear to be required for normal glucose homeostasis in older mice. These studies take us a step closer 4 to understanding the role of GH in the cardiovascular system and imply complex hormonal regulation of both cardiovascular function and whole body metabolism. 5 DEDICATION This work is dedicated to all of the aspiring young scientists who face significant socioeconomic challenges on their way to achieving their dreams. It is possible. 6 PREFACE The work described in this dissertation has been organized in manuscript format. Chapters 1, 3, 4, and 5 represent standalone bodies of work. Chapter 2 explains the Specific Aims of our studies. Chapter 6 is a summary of the work presented in the preceeding chapters and focuses on plans for future experimental studies. Please note that “Chapter 3: Elevated Systolic Blood Pressure in male GH transgenic mice is age- dependent” was previously published in the monthly periodical Endocrinology. Permission for reproducing this chapter can be found in Appendix A. Appendix B contains a copy of the slides used in the Oral Dissertation Presentation on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Appendices C and D contain supplemental materials for Chapters 3 and 4, respectively. Appendix E contains a complete immunoblot procedure guide with recepies and protocols. Appendix F contains information on a side-project regarding automated statistics in the R programming environment. 7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the senior members of our laboratory group (John Kopchick, Darelene Berryman, Nick Okada, Ed List, and Bruce Kelder) at Edison Biotechnology Institute for being great mentors through this experience. I would like to thank John for taking me under his wing as a graduate student and teaching me endocrinology. The shift from working in the computational chemistry field was drastic, but well worth the effort. The environment in John’s laboratory is one of productivity, collaboration, and partying. It is unique and is something I will miss after I graduate. I would like to thank Darlene for demonstrating to me that it is entirely possible to balance life, work, and play. Even during the most stressful of times she somehow manages to keep a smile and an upbeat attitude. Going forward I hope I can emulate this in my own career. I want to Thank Bruce for his help in setting up cell culture experiments and teaching me the “old ways” of science. I want to thank Nick for all of the discussions concerning computers and electronics—they are always welcomed respites from my lab work. Indeed it has been great having someone who can appreciate the increased hashing power of CUDA! I want to thank Ed for being a great listener and his encouragement. I can’t recall how many times we had discussions in his office about half-witted science projects and life. I am also thankful for the experimental and planning support of professors outside of Ohio Univeristy: Richard Klabunde, Shawn Bender, and Jason Kim. I am grateful to the graduate students (Elahu Gosney, Juan Ding, and Lucila Sackmann-Sala) and post- docs (Diana Cruz-Topete and Riia Junnila) who trained me as a beginning graduate 8 student. Many of the techniques and general laboratory “know-how” presented in this document are a result of their teaching. I am grateful to the staff at the Edison Biotechnology Institute: Missey Standley and Lori Abdella for their daily efforts to ensure our labs are stocked, funded, and inhabitable; Kevin Funk and Lara Householder for their help in collecting data and designing experiments; and Ed, Darla, and Tammy for their daily efforts to ensure our animals are well maintained. One of the most challenging, yet most satisfying parts of completing this dissertation was the opportunity to mentor students. I want to thank Chance Benner for sharing his enthusiasm for life and health—it is addicting and has helped keep me excited about science even when our experiments didn’t work for weeks on end. I would like to thank Don Sim for taking on several research projects beyond the requirements of his degree program and always providing timely and honest feedback. I would like to thank Xingbo Liu for always asking questions and ensuring that I am up to date with my science knowledge. I would also like to thank her for her PCR and pipetting skills which were indispensable in finishing these projects. I would also like to thank my mother Trudi, my sister Emily, my brother Alex, and my late step father Rob for supporting me through such an arduous process and always encouraging me to go the extra mile. Finally I would like to thank my partner Lauren Volpe for her continued companionship, her impeccable editing skills, and her uncanny ability to keep me 9 grounded. Her love, encouragement, and support have made, and will continue to make, my life meaningful. 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Dedication ........................................................................................................................... 5 Preface ................................................................................................................................. 6 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 7 List of tables ...................................................................................................................... 12 List of figures .................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 1: Alterations in growth hormone’s action and its effect on the cardiovascular system: A focus on mouse models .................................................................................... 14 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 14 Physiology of growth hormone ..................................................................................... 14 GH receptor induced signaling ..................................................................................... 22 GH-related diseases and the human heart ..................................................................... 23 Mouse models of GH action and the cardiovascular system ........................................ 31 Future perspectives ....................................................................................................... 43 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 2: Specific aims .................................................................................................. 45 Chapter 3: Elevated systolic blood pressure in male GH transgenic mice is age-dependent ........................................................................................................................................... 48 Abstract ......................................................................................................................... 48 Introduction ..................................................................................................................