[Association between cardiac troponin I phosphorylation/degradation and cardiomyopathies].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between cTnI phosphorylation/degradation and cardiomyopathies in extransplanted myocardium. METHODS: cTnI phosphorylation and degradation as well as PKC (beta1, beta2) expressions were determined in extransplanted hearts from patients with cardiomyopathies (n = 8) and from traffic accidents (n = 6) by Western blot. RESULTS: The cTnI bands were observed in LV myocardium of cardiomyopathy patients and normal myocardium while and cTnI degradation bands were only detected in LV myocardium from patients with cardiomyopathies. The phosphorylated cTnI bands were significantly upregulated in LV myocardium of cardiomyopathy patients compared to normal myocardium (P < 0.05). There was no myocardial PKCbeta1, PKCbeta2 expression in all examined hearts. CONCLUSION: The cTnI degradation products and increased phosphorylated cTnI expression are likely involved in the pathogenesis and development of cardiomyopathy.