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HCN4 mutation as a molecular explanation on patients with bradycardia and non-compaction cardiomyopathy
Gilles Millat1, Alexandre Janin1, Olivier de Tauriac2
1Laboratoire de Cardiogénétique Moléculaire, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; NGS Sequencing Platform for Molecular Diagnosis, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; Université de Lyon, Lyon F-69003, France.
Insights
Genetic mutations in the HCN4 gene are linked to sinus bradycardia and non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM). This study confirms HCN4 mutations as a cause for this combined cardiac phenotype.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Genetics
- Molecular Cardiology
Background:
- Sinus bradycardia and non-compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) are distinct cardiac conditions.
- Recent research suggested a potential link between HCN4 gene mutations and these phenotypes.
Observation:
- A French family with three sisters presented with concurrent sinus bradycardia and NCCM.
- Systematic cardiovascular and molecular investigations were performed on the affected individuals.
Findings:
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) identified a single likely pathogenic variant, p.Gly482Arg, in the HCN4 gene.
- This finding provides strong genetic evidence for HCN4 mutations in patients with the combined bradycardia-NCCM phenotype.
Implications:
- HCN4 gene mutations should be suspected in individuals presenting with the combined phenotype of sinus bradycardia and NCCM.
- This study reinforces the role of HCN4 in cardiac development and function.
Abstract:
A very recent study suggested that HCN4 mutations could be associated with sinusal bradycardia and myocardial non compaction. A French family with 3 affected sisters presenting the same clinical phenotype (sinus bradycardia in combination with non compaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM)) have benefited both from a systematic cardiovascular exploration and molecular investigations. The molecular analysis, performed by NGS sequencing, led to identify only one likely-disease causing variation: p.Gly482Arg on HCN4 gene. Our results confirm the genetic evidence for the involvement of the HCN4 mutations in the combined bradycardia-NCCM phenotype and illustrates that, in front of this combined clinical phenotype, HCN4 mutations has to be suspected.
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