Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy Model in Adult Zebrafish
08:09

A Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy Model in Adult Zebrafish

Published on: June 7, 2018

ErbB2 is essential in the prevention of dilated cardiomyopathy

Steven A Crone1, You-Yang Zhao, Lian Fan

  • 1The Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, USA.

Nature Medicine
|May 2, 2002
PubMed

Insights

ErbB2 (Her2/neu) signaling is vital for preventing heart failure. Deleting this gene in adult mouse hearts caused dilated cardiomyopathy, demonstrating ErbB2

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • ErbB2 (Her2/neu) amplification drives breast cancer progression.
  • Herceptin (trastuzumab) therapy improves survival but can cause cardiomyopathy.
  • This suggests ErbB2 signaling modulates heart failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological role of ErbB2 signaling in the adult heart.
  • To determine if ErbB2 is essential for preventing cardiac dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Generated mice with ventricular-restricted deletion of the Erbb2 gene.
  • Conducted physiological analyses on ErbB2-deficient conditional mutant mice.
  • Isolated cardiomyocytes for toxicity assessments.

Main Results:

  • ErbB2-deficient mice exhibited dilated cardiomyopathy, including chamber dilation, wall thinning, and reduced contractility.
  • Isolated cardiomyocytes from these mutants showed increased susceptibility to anthracycline toxicity.
  • No overt phenotype was observed in viable ErbB2-deficient mice without physiological stress.

Conclusions:

  • ErbB2 signaling in cardiomyocytes is essential for preventing dilated cardiomyopathy.
  • Targeting ErbB2 in cancer therapy requires careful consideration of cardiac side effects.
  • ErbB2 plays a critical protective role in adult heart function.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Endocardial and Coronary Endothelial Cells from the Ventricular Free Wall of the Rat Heart08:22

Isolation of Endocardial and Coronary Endothelial Cells from the Ventricular Free Wall of the Rat Heart

Published on: April 15, 2020

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo05:14

A Doxorubicin-Induced Murine Model of Dilated Cardiomyopathy In Vivo

Published on: May 16, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy01:30

Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by ventricular chamber dilation and contractile dysfunction.EtiologyVarious factors can cause DCM, including hypertension and heavy alcohol intake, which contribute to the weakening and enlargement of the heart muscle. Viral infections, such as Coxsackievirus B, adenoviruses, and influenza, can lead to DCM by causing inflammation and damage to heart tissue. Certain chemotherapeutic agents, including daunorubicin,...
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care01:29

Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care

Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...