title: Heart failure: molecular, genetic and epigenetic features of the disease.
abstract: Factors that compete to establish heart failure (HF) are not completely known. In the last years the several technological improvements allowed us to deeply study the molecular and genetic aspects of this complex syndrome. This new approach to HF based on molecular biology new discoveries shows us more clearly the pathophysiological bases of this disease, and a future scenery where the genetics may be useful in the clinical practice, as screening of high risk populations, as well as in the diagnosis and therapy of underlying myocardial diseases. The purpose of this review was to analyse the molecular, genetic and epigenetic factors of HF. We described the molecular anatomy of the sarcomere and the pathogenesis of the heart muscle diseases, abandoning the previous monogenic theory for the concept of a polygenic disease. Different actors play a role to cause the illness by themselves, modifying the expression of the disease and, eventually, the prognosis of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roselli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iannaccone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capogrosso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masarone
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ziello
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fimiani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pacileo
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Limongelli
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maddaloni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calabrò
mesh_terms: D003896:Desmosomes / Q000235:genetics; D057890:Epigenomics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009200:Myocardial Contraction