Genes and Cardiovascular Function

A. Genes and the Heart

1. Johann Gregor Mendel "Father of modern genetics"

P. Braveny

2. Gene therapy: hopes and problems

V. Vonka

B. Development and Gender

3. VEGFs, FGFs and PDGF coordinate embryonic coronary vascularization

R.J. Tomanek, L.P. Christensen

4. The E2F pathway in cardiac development and disease

J. Rueger, B.S. Tuana

5. Cardiac sodium-calcium exchanger expression

C. Hurtado, T.G. Maddaford, G.N. Pierce

6. Scleraxis: a new regulator of extracellular matrix formation

R.A. Bagchi, M.P. Czubryt

7. Gender impact on pathophysiology of the heart

J-L. Samuel, C. Delcayre, B. Swynghedauw

C. Mitochondrial Diseases

8. Mitochondrial DNA and heart disease

C. Shikata, M. Nemoto, T. Ebisawa, A. Nishiyama, N. Takeda

9. A novel algorithm from personal genome to the pathogenic mutant causing mitochondrial cardiomyopathy

T. Toyo-oka, T. Tanaka, L. Toyo-oka, K. Tokunaga

10. MELAS Syndrome: mediated by impaired taurinomethyluridine synthesis

S. Schaffer, C. Ju Jong

D. Ischemic Heart Disease

11. Genetics of myocardial infarction

R. Poledne, J.A. Hubacek

12. Genetic background of myocardial infarction

K. Ozaki, T. Tanaka

13. I/D ACE polymorphism and cardiovascular risk: disclosed story

A. Vasku, J. Blahak, D. Baumgartner, J. B. Vasku

14. PPARs and myocardial response to ischemia in normal and diseased heart

T. Ravingerova, A. Adameova, S. Carnicka, T. Kelly, M. Nemcekova, J. Matejikova,

A. Lazou

15. Genes and plasma lipids in Czech Slavic population

J.A. Hubacek, R. Poledne

E. Hypertension and Arrhythmias

16. Genetic basis of salt-sensitive hypertension in humans

F.H.H Leenen, Md.S. Amin, A.F.R. Stewart, F. Tesson

17. Gene-environment interactions: their role in hypertension development

J. Kunes, M. Kadlecova, J. Zicha

18. Phenotypic overlap of lethal arrhythmias associated with cardiac sodium mutations: Individual-specific or mutation-specific?

N. Makita

F. Hypertrophy and Failure

19. CLP-1 mediated transcriptional control of hypertrophic gene programs underlying cardiac hypertrophy

M.A.Q. Siddiqui, M. Wagner, J. Espinoza-Derout, F. Huang, D. Beckles, E. Mascareno

20. Molecular mechanisms of subcellular remodeling in congestive heart failure

A.P. Babick, A.L. Müller, N.S. Dhalla

21. Cardiomyopathy, sarcomeropathy and Z-discopathy

A. Kimura

22. Left ventricular assist device: morphological, molecular and genetic changes after mechanical support

H.A. Baba, A. Takeda, N. Takeda, J. Wohlschlaeger

23. Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a good experimental model is needed for development of treatment strategies

W. Briest, M.I. Talan

24. Multi-scale, multi-physics heart simulator as a tool to link bench and bedside

S. Sugiura, T. Washio, J. Okada, H. Watanabe, T. Hisada

Rapid advances in molecular medicine have led to pronounced new developments in experimental and clinical cardiology. In the embrace of modern molecular biology and bridging the gap between the clinical and the genomic, cardiovascular medicine has seen major strides in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression. The ability to rapidly identify candidate human genes for cardiovascular diseases lends itself to the development of diverse strategies for disease treatment and management. The wide variety of gene expressions proffers excellent targets for novel therapeutics. Gene therapy is steadily increasing in viability and represents a fascinating arena of research and clinical focus.

This book is based on two international Mendel symposia on Genes and the Heart, joint meetings of the Japanese and European sections of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. Highlighting selected symposia contributions, this book explores the role of molecular biology and genetics in the basic knowledge, genesis, and clinical interventions of cardiovascular diseases.