[Molecular biology in cardiovascular medicine]

Molecular biology has given a strong impact on cardiovascular medicine, not only clinical but also laboratory medicine. cDNA cloning and analysis of gene structures encoding functional proteins or peptides in the cardiovascular system provided insight into molecular mechanisms underlying heart diseases or atherosclerosis. Nucleotide or amino acid sequences for these molecules are useful information for manufacturing bioactive peptides or developing immunoassays. These cDNA clones or genes are useful molecular tools diagnosing patients with high risks for cardiovascular diseases. Recent advances in this field have been made in identification of point mutations of many genes important for cardiovascular functions, including LDL receptors in familial hyperlipidemia, cardiac myosin heavy chain genes in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, mitochondrial DNA in mitochondria cardiomyopathy, or dystrophin genes in secondary cardiomyopathy. Molecular probes are further used in detection of microorganisms causing myocarditis. These progresses that have been made in laboratories of basic researchers will be introduced into clinical medicine and expand the field the laboratory medicine is involved.