Clues to cardiomyopathy's origins revealed in mice

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare, progressive condition that causes diseased heart muscle and impairs cardiac function. In many cases, ARVC leads to fatigue, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), and, potentially, heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

In a previous study, Towbin and colleagues first identified mutations in the desmoplakin gene, which encodes a protein in the connecting junction between heart cells. In this study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the authors implanted a mutant human desmoplakin gene into mice, which resulted in the mice's cardiac integrity being compromised, leading to dilation of the right ventricle, buildup of scar and fatty tissue, and arrhythmia - all symptomatic of ARVC.

Towbin calls ARVC "underrecognized" in the United States primarily because of its relative newness and difficulty evaluating the right ventricle technically, which can lead to misdiagnosis and improper treatment. Statistics of its prevalence in the United States have yet to be determined, but in Italy the disease is known to be the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in otherwise healthy young adults.

The new findings will help pediatric and adult cardiology experts better understand the root cause of ARVC and advance the care of patients with this specific abnormality, Towbin said.

Towbin's coauthors include first author Dr. Zhao Yang, of BCM, as well as contributors from Johns Hopkins University, University of Arizona, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Padua in Italy

Message posted by: Simon Chandler