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Published on: November 11, 2016
Linking the cardiomyocyte circadian clock to myocardial metabolism
David J Durgan1, Martin E Young
1Department of Pediatrics, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Insights
The heart
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Chronobiology
Background:
- The heart's energetic demands fluctuate daily.
- The heart must adapt its metabolism to diurnal changes.
- Metabolic dysfunction can lead to heart contractile problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of the circadian clock in heart metabolism.
- To explore how the cardiomyocyte circadian clock influences myocardial metabolic rhythms.
- To highlight mechanisms regulating energy stores and metabolic gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Literature review
- Analysis of existing research on circadian clock mechanisms
- Synthesis of data on cardiomyocyte metabolism
Main Results:
- The circadian clock regulates myocardial metabolic rhythms.
- Circadian clock mechanisms control endogenous energy stores in the heart.
- Specific pathways orchestrate daily rhythms in cardiac metabolic gene expression.
Conclusions:
- The circadian clock is integral to heart metabolic adaptation.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the cardiac circadian clock's function.
- Elucidating these molecular mechanisms is crucial for cardiac health.
Introduction:
The energetic demands imposed upon the heart vary dramatically over the course of the day. In the face of equally commanding oscillations in the neurohumoral mileu, the heart must respond both rapidly and appropriately to its diurnal environment, for the survival of the organism. A major response of the heart to alterations in workload, nutrients, and various neurohumoral stimuli is at the level of metabolism. Failure of the heart to achieve adequate metabolic adaptation results in contractile dysfunction.
Discussion:
Substantial evidence is accumulating which suggests that a transcriptionally based timekeeping mechanism known as the circadian clock plays a role in mediating myocardial metabolic rhythms. Here, we provide an overview of our current knowledge regarding the interplay between the circadian clock within the cardiomyocyte and myocardial metabolism. This includes a particular focus on circadian clock mediated regulation of endogenous energy stores, as well as those mechanisms orchestrating circadian rhythms in metabolic gene expression.
Conclusion:
An essential need to elucidate fully the functions of this molecular mechanism in the heart remains.
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