Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
 630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The Enterovirus may be the most common agent responsible for viral myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. Very little of the literature is available concerning the follow-up of patients who underwent transplantation with enteroviral positivity in native hearts. In the present study, 45 explanted hearts from patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplant at University of Padova were studied by reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR): 27 patients had dilated cardiomyopathy (DC), 12 had ischemic cardiopathy (IC), 2 had valvular disease (VD), 2 had arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), 1 had giant cell myocarditis (GCM), and 1 had lymphocytic myocarditis (LM). Two sets of PCR primers from the highly conserved region of Enterovirus and Rhinovirus were used. Samples of both ventricles and septum were analyzed in every patients. The RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing of amplicons were also performed on all post-transplantation follow-up biopsies in patients with Enterovirus positivity in the native heart. The viral genome was detectable in only 1 of 27 patients with DC (3%) and in 1 patient with LM. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the amplified product showed differences in nucleotide sequence of PCR samples compared with the sequence of the coxsackievirus B3 used in the current study. The patient with Enterovirus-positive DC showed a higher index of severe rejection (>3A) in the first 6 months, compared with the other patients tested. The patient with Enterovirus-positive LM died of disease recurrence 2 months after transplantation. The present study reveals a scarce presence of Enterovirus in the myocardium of patients with chronic myocardial disease. Because Enterovirus infection was predictive of a poor prognosis in these two patients, molecular studies are useful in excluding viral involvement in native hearts of transplanted patients.
Diagn Mol Pathol 1999 Mar
PMID:Enteroviral genome in native hearts may influence outcome of patients who undergo cardiac transplantation. 1040 92

The spontaneous up-regulation of utrophin, observed in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle fibers, may decrease the susceptibility of such fibers to necrosis. It has been reported that the utrophin-rescued double-mutant mdx mouse always develops a lethal cardiomyopathy. We report two patients with severe dilated cardiomyopathy due to dystrophin gene mutations: the first was a manifesting Duchenne muscular dystrophy carrier and the second a patient affected with moderate Becker muscular dystrophy. We studied their explanted heart specimen and/or endoImyocardial biopsies by immunohistochemistry and Western blot for both dystrophin and utrophin. Utrophin was found to be over-expressed in these specimens. Our results suggest that in these patients the up-regulation of utrophin in dystrophin-deficient cardiomyocytes was unable to prevent the development of life-threatening myocardial dysfunction. These findings seem to dampen the enthusiasm raised by the prospect of DMD treatment by utrophin rescue in skeletal muscle fibers, as the myocardium would still remain severely affected.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 1999 Aug
PMID:Could utrophin rescue the myocardium of patients with dystrophin gene mutations? 1042 48

The myocardium contains a collagen matrix composed primarily of collagen and fibronectin, which are major determinants of the myocardial architecture, structural integrity and mechanical properties. The present study was undertaken to determine the age-related changes of the accumulation and degradation of the collagen matrix in Syrian myopathic hamsters, of the Bio 14.6 and Bio 53.58 strains. Those hamsters were used as models for hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy, respectively. The heart to body weight ratio in the Bio 14.6 strains was higher (P<0.05) than that in the age-matched F1b strains. In the Bio 53.58 strains, the heart to body weight ratio was higher at 8 and 42 weeks of age than that in the F1b strains. The collagen content increased from 22 weeks of age in both Bio hamsters compared with age-matched F1b hamsters (P<0.05). In both cardiomyopathic hamsters, the mRNA expressions for type I and type III collagen and fibronectin all increased with aging; however, the fibronectin expression in the Bio 14.6 strains increased more at 22 weeks of age than at 42 weeks of age. The left ventricular MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in Bio 53.58 strains increased with aging. However, in the Bio 14.6 strains, although MMP-1 activities increased with aging, MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities decreased at 42 weeks of age in comparison to those at 22 weeks of age. Thus, the MMP activation differed between two cardiomyopathic models at the stage of heart failure, although the collagen synthesis was elevated in both models. In conclusion, it would seem that the relative balance between the synthesis and the removal of collagen may contribute to the changes in the left ventricular geometry in two different types of cardiomyopathy.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 1999 Sep
PMID:Extracellular matrix regulation in the development of Syrian cardiomyopathic Bio 14.6 and Bio 53.58 hamsters. 1047 45

A substantial body of evidence suggests involvement of the human beta1-adrenoceptor (beta1-AR) gene in the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe heart disease of significant public health impact. Beta1-AR-mediated signal transduction is dramatically altered due to downregulation, resulting in an impairment of myocardial response. The important role of genetic factors in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) recently recognized, we analyzed this prime candidate gene for genetic variation in carefully selected patients and controls. In this preliminary study, 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed, 17 of which were located in the N-terminal and C-terminal region of the coding exon, resulting in 7 amino acid exchanges: Ser-49-Gly, Ala-59-Ser, Gly-389-Arg, Arg-399-Cys, His-402-Arg, Thr-404-Ala, and Pro-418-Ala. These mutations resulted in 11 different beta1-AR genotypes. Importantly, the genotypes carrying the Ser-49-Gly mutation in the N-terminus of the molecule in a heterozygous or homozygous form were observed significantly more frequently in the group of IDCM patients. The present results may provide a clue on the molecular mechanisms involved in IDCM, and add moreover interesting information on nature, distribution, and evolutionary aspects of sequence variation in human adrenergic receptor genes.
J Mol Med (Berl) 2000
PMID:Beta1-adrenoceptor gene variations: a role in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy? 1079 44

It is now well established that immune effector mechanisms contribute to cardiac dysfunction in several heart diseases, including myocarditis and the associated dilated cardiomyopathy, heart transplant rejection and Chagas' disease. These and other pathologies, in which cellular immunity plays an important role, contribute to morbidity and mortality world-wide. As a result of numerous studies performed in this exciting field, two major mechanisms of lymphocytotoxicity have been proposed: a secretory mechanism in which perforin and granzymes are key players, and a non-secretory mechanism involving Fas/FasL activation. While the common notion is that CTL-myocyte interaction, perforin- or Fas-based, inevitably results in target cell apoptotic death, the objective of this review is to consider the concept of non-apoptotic consequences of CTL-target cell interaction. It is proposed that depending on the myocyte status as well as on the fine balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic factors, CTL-myocyte interaction may result in a non-apoptotic, potentially reversible sustained damage to the myocytes, thus contributing to immune-mediated cardiac dysfunction.
Int J Mol Med 2000 Jul
PMID:Immune effector mechanisms in myocardial pathologies. 1085 Dec 60

Doxorubicin (Dox), an anthracyclin antineoplastic agent, causes dilated cardiomyopathy. CARP has been identified as a nuclear protein whose mRNA levels are exquisitely sensitive to Dox. In this study we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the repression of CARP expression by Dox in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Dox (1 micromol/l)-mediated decrease in CARP mRNA levels was strongly correlated with BNP but not with ANP mRNA levels. Hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase (1 mg/ml) but not hydroxyl radical scavengers dimethylthiourea (10 mmol/l) or mannitol (10 mmol/l) blunted the Dox-mediated decrease in CARP and BNP expression. Superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamic acid (10 mmol/l), which inhibits the generation of hydrogen peroxide from superoxide metabolism, attenuated the repression. PD98059 (MEK1 inhibitor, 50 micromol/l), SB203580 (p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, 10 micromol/l), calphostin C (protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, 1 micromol/l), non-selective protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein (50 micromol/l) or herbimycin A (1 micromol/l) failed to abrogate the downregulation of CARP and BNP expression by Dox. In contrast, H7 (30 micromol/l), a potent inhibitor of serine/threonine kinase, significantly blocked Dox-mediated downregulation of CARP and BNP expression. Transient transfection of a series of 5'-deletion and site-specific mutation constructs revealed that M-CAT element located at -37 of the human CARP promoter mediates Dox-induced repression of CARP promoter activity. These results suggest that a genetic response to Dox is mediated through the generation of hydrogen peroxide, which is selectively linked to the activation of H7-sensitive serine/threonine kinase distinct from PKC and well characterized mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (ERK and p38MAP kinase). Furthermore, our data implicated M-CAT element as a Dox-response element within the CARP promoter in cardiac myocytes.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 2000 Aug
PMID:Doxorubicin represses CARP gene transcription through the generation of oxidative stress in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes: possible role of serine/threonine kinase-dependent pathways. 1090 Jan 67

Mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The sarcomeric protein actin plays a central, dual role in cardiac myocytes, generating contractile force by interacting with myosin and also transmitting force within and between cells. Two missense mutations in the cardiac actin gene (ACTC), postulated to impair force transmission, have been associated with familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Recently, a missense mutation in ACTC was found to cosegregate with familial HCM. To further test the hypothesis that mutations within functionally distinct domains of ACTC cause either DCM or HCM, we performed mutational analyses in 368 unrelated patients with familial or sporadic HCM. Single strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analyses of genomic DNA were performed. De novo mutations in ACTC were identified in two patients with sporadic HCM who presented with syncope in early childhood. Patients were heterozygous for missense mutations resulting in Pro164Ala and Ala331Pro amino acid substitutions, adjacent to regions of actin-actin and actin-myosin interaction, respectively. A mutation that cosegregated with familial HCM was also found, causing a Glu99Lys substitution in a weak actomyosin binding domain. The cardiac phenotype in many affected patients was characterized by an apical form of HCM. These findings support the hypothesis that a single amino acid substitution in actin causes either congestive heart failure or maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy, depending on its effect on actin structure and function.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 2000 Sep
PMID:Inherited and de novo mutations in the cardiac actin gene cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 1096 31

Although primary genetic defects have been identified for some forms of inherited cardiomyopathy, it is not well understood how secondary abnormalities actually lead to muscle cell destruction. Since cardiomyopathies significantly influence morbidity and mortality rates world-wide, it is important to improve the differential diagnosis of these disorders and develop potential treatments for inherited diseases of the heart. Elucidation of the secondary molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac cell necrosis might help linking a specific mutation in a cardiac gene to acute heart failure. As disturbed Ca2+-homeostasis may contribute to heart failure, we have investigated the relative abundance and oligomeric status of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and phospholamban in various cardiomyopathies. These two proteins represent important factors in cardiac relaxation. The SERCA2 isoform of the Ca2+-ATPase represents a major Ca2+-removal system in cardiac muscle fibres and phospholamban is a regulator of Ca2+-pump activity. Although Ca2+-ATPase expression did not seem to be markedly altered, the comparative immunoblot analysis presented here clearly shows that phospholamban expression is increased in dilated cardiomyopathy, possibly explaining the decreased Ca2+-uptake in the disease. In contrast to the normal enzyme, the Ca2+-pump was demonstrated to exhibit an impairment of crosslinker-stabilized oligomerization in dilated cardiomyopathy. Since Ca2+-ATPase oligomerization is important for co-operative kinetics and protection against proteolytic degradation, the monomeric Ca2+-ATPase may trigger an abnormal contraction-relaxation cycle in dilated cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure.
Int J Mol Med 2000 Nov
PMID:Impaired Ca2+-ATPase oligomerization and increased phospholamban expression in dilated cardiomyopathy. 1102 19

L-Carnitine plays a role in the utilization of fatty acids and glucose in the myocardium. Previous studies have indicated carnitine deficiency in patients with congestive heart failure. However, the extent of altered carnitine metabolism and left ventricular function is not fully determined. This study is designed to determine if plasma L-carnitine levels can serve as a marker for impaired left ventricular function in patients with congestive heart failure. To test this hypothesis, plasma and urinary levels of L-carnitine were measured in 30 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and in 10 control subjects. CHF was due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Cardiac functions such as percentage of fractional shortening (%FS), ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), were determined by echocardiography. All patients and control subjects had normal renal functions. Plasma carnitine was significantly higher in patients with DCM (37.05+/-7.62, p < 0.0001) and with RHD (47.2+/-8.04, p < 0.0001) vs. the control subjects (14.4+/-5.30 mg/L). Urinary carnitine was significantly higher in DCM (49.13+/-14.11, p < 0.0001) and in RHD 43.53+/-15.5, p < 0.0001), than the control (25.1+/-5.78 mg/L). Plasma carnitine level correlated significantly with impaired left ventricular systolic functions in these patients: % FS < 25 % (r = -0.38 and p = 0.038), EF < 0.55 (r = -0.502 and p = 0.005) and LMVI > 124 gm/m2 (r = 0.436, and p = 0.016). These data suggest that elevated plasma and urinary carnitine levels in patients with CHF could serve as a marker for myocardial damage and impaired left ventricular functions.
Mol Cell Biochem 2000 Oct
PMID:Plasma carnitine levels as a marker of impaired left ventricular functions. 1112 56

Excitation-contraction coupling is the process by which depolarisation of the myocardial surface membrane leads to the release of Ca2+-ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, inducing cardiac muscle contraction. This process is made possible by an elaborate system of ion-release, uptake and sequestration that controls the contraction and relaxation cycle of heart muscle fibres. The free intracellular Ca2+-concentration determines the contractile state of the myocardium, and the sequestration of Ca2+-ions into the lumen of the sarcoplasmic reticulum by the Ca2+-ATPase pump units represents a critical step towards the maintenance of normal Ca2+-cycling. The Ca2+-ATPase pump activity is regulated by phospholamban, a small 52-amino acid protein whose phosphorylation state dictates its inhibitory action on the pump. A large body of evidence points to the central role of abnormal Ca2+-ATPase-phospholamban interactions in pathophysiological heart conditions, thereby compromising the contractile state of the cardiac muscle cell. It has been shown that alterations in the oligomeric status of the Ca2+-ATPase and modified interactions between the Ca2+-pump and its regulatory subunit phospholamban underlie the contractile dysfunction that characterises certain forms of dilated cardiomyopathy. Hence, elucidation of interactions within physiological Ca2+-ATPase pump units in normal and diseased myocardium is a vital link in the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for dealing with this elusive condition.
Int J Mol Med 2001 Feb
PMID:Impaired Ca2+-sequestration in dilated cardiomyopathy (review). 1117 15


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