Costameric proteins: from benchside to future translational cardiovascular research.

ABSTRACT

Costameres encircle the myocyte perpendicular to its long axis, and comprise two protein complexes the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) and the vinculin-talin-integrin system. They participate in signaling functions and protect muscle cells from damage induced by workload. The behaviour of those proteins has been a focus of study starting from skeletal and smooth muscle cells to cardiomyocytes, and still represents a topical subject for cardiovascular translational research. This review summarizes the past and present novel approaches of our and other groups of work on this subject of research.