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Corin and Left Atrial Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Arrhythmia, and Fibrosis
Hagit Baris Feldman1, Chofit Chai Gadot1, David Zahler1
1From the Genetics Institute and Genomics Center (H.B.F., C.C.G., A.M., E.E., Y.A., A.K.), the Departments of Cardiology (D.Z.), Radiology (G.A.), Nephrology (E.E.), Clinical Laboratories (G.S., I.G.), and Internal Medicine H (J.N.A.) and the Institute of Rheumatology (J.N.A.), Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and the Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University (H.B.F., D.Z., G.A., I.G., Y.A., J.N.A.) - all in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Insights
Corin enzyme deficiency in siblings caused severe cardiovascular issues, including cardiomyopathy and hypertension. This highlights corin's critical role in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) activation and maintaining heart health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is crucial for cardiovascular homeostasis.
- The enzyme corin is responsible for activating ANP.
Observation:
- Two siblings presented with severe cardiovascular conditions: cardiomyopathy, hypertension, arrhythmia, and left atrial fibrosis.
- Genetic analysis revealed homozygous null variants in the CORIN gene in both siblings.
Findings:
- Plasma analysis showed undetectable corin and N-terminal pro-ANP, but elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and fibrosis markers.
- These results indicate BNP cannot fully compensate for the lack of ANP activation due to corin deficiency.
Implications:
- Corin is essential for normal ANP activity and function.
- Corin deficiency severely impacts left atrial function and overall cardiovascular homeostasis.
- Understanding corin's role opens new avenues for treating related cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract:
Two siblings presented with cardiomyopathy, hypertension, arrhythmia, and fibrosis of the left atrium. Each had a homozygous null variant in CORIN, the gene encoding atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-converting enzyme. A plasma sample obtained from one of the siblings had no detectable levels of corin or N-terminal pro-ANP but had elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and one of the two protein markers of fibrosis that we tested. These and other findings support the hypothesis that BNP cannot fully compensate for a lack of activation of the ANP pathway and that corin is critical to normal ANP activity, left atrial function, and cardiovascular homeostasis.
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