Pathogenic roles of cardiac autoantibodies in dilated cardiomyopathy

Trends Mol Med. 2005 Jul;11(7):322-6. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2005.05.001.

Abstract

Whether autoimmunity could cause dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was disputed for more than half a century. Autoantibodies against various cardiac antigens have been found in the sera of patients with DCM but none of these autoantibodies has been shown to have a substantial role in the development of DCM. It was recently reported that the injection of autoantibodies against cardiac troponin I (cTnI) can induce DCM in normal mice. This observation showed that autoantibodies can cause DCM and put an end to the controversy. Clinical trials of immunoglobulin-adsorption therapy for DCM have already started in Germany and the results seem promising. Here, we discuss the recent findings and possibilities of immunoglobulin-adsorption therapy for this deadly disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Autoantibodies / physiology*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / immunology*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / physiopathology
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
  • Myocardium / immunology
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Troponin I / immunology
  • Troponin I / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Autoantibodies
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Pdcd1 protein, mouse
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Troponin I
  • Calcium