Nuclear Lamins in Cardiac Development and Disease

Nuclear lamins organize the structural and regulatory architecture of the nucleus, integrating nuclear mechanics, chromatin organization, and genome regulation. During cardiac development, lamin composition undergoes a coordinated transition that parallels the shift from proliferative embryonic cardiomyocytes to mechanically active postnatal cells. Recent findings reveal that B-type lamins support early nuclear plasticity and proliferative capacity, whereas Lamin A/C stabilizes nuclear architecture and transcriptional programs in mature cardiomyocytes. Beyond their structural roles, lamins participate in multiple layers of nuclear regulation, including lamina-associated chromatin organization, nucleo-cytoskeletal mechanotransduction, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and regulation of mitotic progression and cell-cycle exit. Through these interconnected functions, the nuclear lamina coordinates cardiomyocyte proliferation, maturation, and mechanical stress adaptation during heart development. Mutations in lamin genes cause a diverse group of disorders collectively known as laminopathies, many of which prominently affect the cardiovascular system. In this review, we first examine how B-type and A-type lamins are developmentally deployed to regulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and maturation in the heart. We then discuss the mechanistic pathways through which lamins organize nuclear architecture, chromatin dynamics, and nucleo-cytoskeletal signaling to coordinate cardiac cellular function. Finally, we consider how disruption of these lamin-dependent regulatory networks contributes to cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular aging, and the loss of regenerative capacity in the adult mammalian heart.