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Desmin expression in human cardiomyocytes and selected clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with
Agnieszka Pawlak1, Robert J Gil, Ewa Walczak
1Department of Invasive Cardiology, Central Hospital of Internal Affairs and Administration Ministry, Warsaw, Poland. a.pawlak1@wp.pl
Insights
Desmin expression in heart muscle may indicate left ventricle status. Abnormal desmin levels in cardiomyocytes correlate with worse heart function and larger left ventricle size in heart failure patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Desmin is a muscular-specific structural protein implicated in heart failure (HF) progression.
- Its precise role in cardiomyocytes, including mechanical, structural, and regulatory functions, remains under investigation.
- Abnormal desmin accumulation may disrupt myofibril function, sarcolemma tension, organelle distribution, and cell communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate desmin expression in right ventricular myocardium samples obtained via endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).
- To assess the correlation between desmin expression levels and left ventricular function in patients with heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Conducted immunohistochemical analysis of desmin in 3-4 right ventricular myocardial samples from 135 HF patients (LVEF < 45%).
- Classified patients into three groups based on desmin expression: normal, increased/accumulated, and low.
- Analyzed differences in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular (LV) diameter, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class across groups.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher LVEF and lower LV diameter were observed in patients with normal desmin expression compared to those with increased or low expression.
- Patients with normal desmin expression exhibited the worst functional status (NYHA class) compared to the other groups.
- These findings indicate a statistically significant relationship between desmin expression patterns and indicators of cardiac health.
Conclusions:
- Desmin distribution in right ventricular myocardium can serve as an objective marker for assessing left ventricle status.
- This evaluation method may aid in understanding the role of desmin in heart failure pathophysiology.
- Further research into desmin's regulatory functions could offer new therapeutic targets for HF.
Background:
Desmin, one of the basic muscular-specific structural proteins, is believed to play an important role in the progression of heart failure (HF). The function of desmin in cardiomyocytes is still unclear. Mechanical, structural and regulatory functions are postulated. Regulatory function of desmin seems the most interesting. Desmin might be involved in the regulation of gene expression, myofibrillogenesis and intercellular signalling, and be responsible for shape and tension of the cell membrane and other organelles. Abnormal accumulation of desmin may disturb the function of myofibrils, lead to unusual tension of sarcolemma and atypical distribution of organelles (nucleus), and impair intra- and intercellular communication.
Aim:
Evaluation of desmin expression in specimens derived from right ventricular myocardium during endomyocardial biopsy (EMB).
Methods:
The study population consisted of 135 patients (86.7% males, mean age 49.4 +/- 14.1 years) presenting with clinical symptoms of HF and LVEF < 45%. During EMB 3-4 samples were taken from the right ventricular myocardium. The immunohistochemical studies of the endomyocardial specimens included immunostaining with desmin-specific antibodies. The study population was divided into three groups: I - 48 patients with normal expression of desmin, II - 54 patients with increased expression and accumulation of desmin and III - 33 patients with low expression of desmin in cardiomyocytes.
Results:
The LVEF was significantly higher in group I than in groups II and III. The LV diameter was significantly lower in group I than in groups II and III. Functional status according to NYHA class was the worst in group I compared to group II and III. These differences were statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Evaluation of desmin distribution in specimens derived from the right ventricular myocardium may be useful as an objective tool in the assessment of left ventricle status.
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