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Cardiac PPARalpha expression in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
Michael Schupp1, Ulrich Kintscher, Jens Fielitz
1Center for Cardiovascular Research, CCR, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CCM, Hessischestr. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
European Journal of Heart Failure
|November 26, 2005
Summary
In dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), cardiac fatty acid metabolism is altered. PPARalpha and CPT-1 expression increase, suggesting a unique metabolic adaptation in the failing human heart.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Molecular Biology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a key regulator of myocardial fatty acid metabolism.
- Dysregulated fatty acid metabolism is implicated in heart failure pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate PPARalpha regulation in human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
- To assess cardiac expression of PPARalpha, carnitine palmitoyl-transferase I (CPT-1), and glucose transporter GLUT-4 in DCM patients.
Main Methods:
- Left ventricular biopsies from DCM patients (n=16) and controls (n=15).
- Quantification of mRNA and protein expression using real-time PCR and Western immunoblotting.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated PPARalpha mRNA in DCM hearts (136% vs. control, p<0.01).
- Significantly increased cardiac CPT-1 mRNA in DCM patients (147% vs. control, p<0.05).
- Similar cardiac GLUT-4 expression between DCM and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Elevated cardiac PPARalpha and induced CPT-1 expression in DCM suggest enhanced fatty acid metabolism for energy production.
- This indicates a distinct cardiac metabolic program in human DCM.
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