Protein aggregates and novel presenilin gene variants in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

D Gianni, A Li, G Tesco, KM McKay, J Moore… - Circulation, 2010 - Am Heart Assoc
D Gianni, A Li, G Tesco, KM McKay, J Moore, K Raygor, M Rota, JK Gwathmey, GW Dec…
Circulation, 2010Am Heart Assoc
Background—Heart failure is a debilitating condition resulting in severe disability and death.
In a subset of cases, clustered as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (iDCM), the origin of
heart failure is unknown. In the brain of patients with dementia, proteinaceous aggregates
and abnormal oligomeric assemblies of β-amyloid impair cell function and lead to cell death.
Methods and Results—We have similarly characterized fibrillar and oligomeric assemblies
in the hearts of iDCM patients, pointing to abnormal protein aggregation as a determinant of …
Background— Heart failure is a debilitating condition resulting in severe disability and death. In a subset of cases, clustered as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (iDCM), the origin of heart failure is unknown. In the brain of patients with dementia, proteinaceous aggregates and abnormal oligomeric assemblies of β-amyloid impair cell function and lead to cell death.
Methods and Results— We have similarly characterized fibrillar and oligomeric assemblies in the hearts of iDCM patients, pointing to abnormal protein aggregation as a determinant of iDCM. We also showed that oligomers alter myocyte Ca2+ homeostasis. Additionally, we have identified 2 new sequence variants in the presenilin-1 (PSEN1) gene promoter leading to reduced gene and protein expression. We also show that presenilin-1 coimmunoprecipitates with SERCA2a.
Conclusions— On the basis of these findings, we propose that 2 mechanisms may link protein aggregation and cardiac function: oligomer-induced changes on Ca2+ handling and a direct effect of PSEN1 sequence variants on excitation-contraction coupling protein function.
Am Heart Assoc