Mayo Clinic researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding dilated cardiomyopathy, a common cause of heart failure.
Published in Circulation Research, their genome-wide association study reveals the critical role of the CDCP1 gene in heart function, offering new avenues for drug therapy treatments.
Dilated cardiomyopathy impairs the heart’s left ventricle, making it difficult to pump blood effectively. This condition accounts for 30-40% of heart failure cases and is a leading cause for heart transplants.
Lead author Naveen Pereira, M.D., a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, and his team discovered genetic variation in the CDCP1 gene, previously unknown in cardiology, and its impact on heart function improvement in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Key Findings: Genetic Variation and Cardiac Fibrosis
Genetic Variation in CDCP1: Variations in the CDCP1 gene affect the protein’s structure, influencing susceptibility to diseases and response to therapies.
CDCP1 and Heart Improvement: The gene is linked to the better functioning of the heart’s left ventricle in dilated cardiomyopathy patients.
Fibrosis and Heart Failure: CDCP1 is variably expressed in cardiac connective tissue, playing a role in fibrosis, a key factor in heart failure prognosis.
Implications for Heart Failure Treatment
The study suggests targeting the CDCP1 gene could decrease cardiac fibrosis and improve heart function. This finding opens new potential for drug therapies for dilated cardiomyopathy and other fibrosis-affected conditions.
The American Heart Association reports that heart failure diagnoses are increasing, with projections of over 8 million affected people by 2030. Understanding and mitigating heart failure’s adverse effects are vital for improving patient outcomes.
Based on these findings, Mayo Clinic researchers are conducting animal studies to further understand CDCP1’s effect on heart failure. They aim to develop therapeutic molecules to treat dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
Dr. Pereira emphasizes the study’s trajectory—from human populations to molecular and animal laboratories—and its potential to bring new treatments back to humans. The ultimate goal is to enhance survival rates and the quality of life for patients with heart failure.
Conclusion: A Step Forward in Heart Failure Management
This groundbreaking research marks a significant step in understanding and treating heart failure.
By focusing on the CDCP1 gene, researchers at Mayo Clinic are paving the way for innovative treatments that could transform care for millions of people with dilated cardiomyopathy and other heart-related ailments.
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The research findings can be found in Circulation Research.
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