title: Role of nuclear Lamin A/C in cardiomyocyte functions.
abstract: Lamin A/C is a structural protein of the nuclear envelope (NE) and cardiac involvement in Lamin A/C mutations was one of the first phenotypes to be reported in humans, suggesting a crucial role of this protein in the cardiomyocytes function. Mutations in LMNA gene cause a class of pathologies generically named 'Lamanopathies' mainly involving heart and skeletal muscles. Moreover, the well-known disease called Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome due to extensive mutations in LMNA gene, in addition to the systemic phenotype of premature aging, is characterised by the death of patients at around 13 typically for a heart attack or stroke, suggesting again the heart as the main site sensitive to Lamin A/C disfunction. Indeed, the identification of the roles of the Lamin A/C in cardiomyocytes function is a key area of exploration. One of the primary biological roles recently conferred to Lamin A/C is to affect contractile cells lineage determination and senescence. Then, in differentiated adult cardiomyocytes both the 'structural' and 'gene expression hypothesis' could explain the role of Lamin A in the function of cardiomyocytes. In fact, recent advances in the field propose that the structural weakness/stiffness of the NE, regulated by Lamin A/C amount in NE, can 'consequently' alter gene expression.
authors: Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Carmosino
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Torretta
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Procino
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Gerbino
authors: Cinzia
authors: C
authors: Forleo
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Favale
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Svelto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D034904:Lamin Type A / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011371:Progeria / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D034904:Lamin Type A
keywords: Aging/senescence; Cardiomyocytes; Cellular differentiation; Nuclear membrane; Skeletal/cardiac muscle