Tgαq*44 mice display three distinct phases of metabolic/structural changes during hypertrophy and progression to HF, with relatively short period of increase in FA metabolism, highlighting a narrow metabolic changes associated with transition to overt heart failure in Tgaq*44 mice that have therapeutic significance.

Among the viruses studied, CMV and CVB were the most frequently found. Nine out of 42 patients achieved the predefined study end point. No statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of a persistent viral genome and study end point. No statistically significant relationship between viral genomes studied and immunohistology results was detected. Conclusions: High prevalence of a viral genome in the myocardium of patients with DCM did not have an influence on their long-term clinical outcome.

Abstract. Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH)is characterized by smooth muscle cell, endothelial cell, and fibroblast hypertrophy and an increase in extracellular matrix volume in pulmonary precapillary arterioles. These features lead to a gradual increase of pulmonary vascular resistance, right-heart failure, and premature death. Bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR-2) gene mutations have been identified to cause IPAH. BMPR-2 receptor mutation results in BMP signalling pathway termination and leads to disturbed growth and differentiation of pulmonary circulation cells. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 inhibits the migration and proliferation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and stimulates their differentiation, thus it has antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, inhibiting vascular remodeling and is responsible for extracellular matrix production. The aim of this study was to analyse the profile of TGF-ß1 and the expression of its receptor (TßR I, TßR II and TßR III-betaglycan) genes in IPAH and in secondary forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension [Eisenmenger's syndrome (ES) patients]. Twenty-one patients with IPAH (2 men), 12 ES patients, and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. QRT-PCR analysis of the transcriptive activity of TGF-ß1 and its receptor genes was performed with each patient. There were differences in receptor gene expression among the patient groups. The highest expression was observed in Eisenmenger syndrome patients (approximately 5-to 8-fold increase). There was a negative correlation between the gene expression of TGF-ß1 and that of its receptors, and a positive correlation between TßR II and TßR III in healthy controls. In IPAH patients a positive correlation between TGF-ß1 and TßR I was found. There was a difference in expression of TGF-ß1/receptor gene ratios and expression of receptor gene ratios between the examined groups. The differences in expression between IPAH and ES patients might suggest the role of these cytokines in IPAH pathogenesis. A disturbed proportion of expression of TGF-ß1 and receptor genes in IPAH patients might be one of the pathogenetic factors of the disease.

This study aimed to define relationship between PPARα expression and metabolic-structural characteristics during HF progression in hearts with DCM phenotype. Tissue endomyocardial biopsy samples divided into three groups according to LVEF ((I) 45–50%, n = 10; (II) 30–40%, n = 15; (III) <30%, n = 15; and control (donor hearts, >60%, n = 6)) were investigated. The PPARα mRNA expression in the failing hearts was low in Group (I), high in Group (II), and comparable to that of the control in Group (III). There were analogous changes in the expression of FAT/CD36 and CPT-1 mRNA in contrast to continuous overexpression of GLUT-4 mRNA and significant increase of PDK-4 mRNA in Group (II). In addition, significant structural changes of cardiomyocytes with glycogen accumulation were accompanied by increased expression of PPARα. For the entire study population with HF levels of FAT/CD36 mRNA showed a strong tendency of negative correlation with LVEF. In conclusion, PPARα elevated levels may be a direct cause of adverse remodeling, both metabolic and structural. Thus, there is limited time window for therapy modulating cardiac metabolism and protecting cardiomyocyte structure in failing heart.

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