Membrane and Muscle Repair Can Affect Heart

07/06/07 Nutrition & Exercise, Clinical Trials, Research, General

A team of researchers from the University of Iowa studied the heart's repair mechanism and identified dysferlin as a specific protein that aids in rebuilding or resealing the membranes of the heart's cells. If low levels of that protein are present, the heart cannot repair itself effectively, resulting in cardiomyopathy, or heart damage.

As with all contracting muscles in the body, the heart must be able to repair the inevitable tears in the muscle. Such tears are normal and are more prevalent after accelerated beating that comes with vigorous exercise.

However, repairing muscle tears in the heart can be more difficult if the body does not have enough dysferlin, the protein that University of Iowa researchers identified as critical to the process. Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator Kevin Campbell, Ph.D., led the research. Four year ago, he and his colleagues identified three types of muscular dystrophy caused by a dysferlin deficiency. Narrowing his research to focus on the heart, he found that the same deficiency can produce cardiomyopathy.

Hughes and his team bread mice to exhibit a dysferlin deficiency. Young mice with the deficiency did not show signs of heart damage. However, as mice reached middle age, damage appeared. The damage was also aggravated by exercise.

A dysferlin deficiency is caused by a genetic mutation. Exercise is still an effective way to prevent heart disease and improve overall health. The research was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Sources:
ScienceDaily
The University of Iowa