Review
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Cardiol. May 26, 2014; 6(5): 304-313
Published online May 26, 2014. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v6.i5.304
Alterations in cell adhesion proteins and cardiomyopathy
Jifen Li
Jifen Li, Center for Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
Author contributions: Li J solely contributed to this article.
Supported by American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant, No. N2080068; and W.W. Smith Charitable Trust Foundation Grant (H1204)
Correspondence to: Jifen Li, MD, PhD, Center for Translational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Jeff Alumni Hall Suite 543, 1020 Locus St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States. jifen.li@jefferson.edu
Telephone: +1-215-5038262 Fax: +1-215-5035731
Received: January 8, 2014
Revised: February 27, 2014
Accepted: March 13, 2014
Published online: May 26, 2014
Abstract

Cell adhesive junction is specialized intercellular structure composed of cell adhesion proteins. They are essential to connect adjacent heart muscle cell and make heart contraction effectively and properly. Clinical and genetic studies have revealed close relationship between cell adhesive proteins and the occurrence of various cardiomyopathies. Here we will review recent development on the disease phenotype, potential cellular and molecular mechanism related to cell adhesion molecules, with particular disease pathogenesis learned from genetic manipulated murine models.

Keywords: Cardiomyopathy, Adherens junction, Desmosome, Intercalated disc, Arrhythmia

Core tip: Cell adhesive junction is a specialized intercellular structure in the heart, and essential to maintain heart contractile function. Alterations in adhesive proteins have been found to lead to various forms of cardiomyopathy. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying heart muscle dysfunction caused by those cell adhesive molecules have not been completely understood. This review provides most recent development on cellular composition of the cell adhesion proteins and their related gene mutations, disease phenotypes, potential mechanisms involved in cardiomyopathies.