Role of homeodomain-only protein in the cardiac conduction system

Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2006 Aug;16(6):193-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2006.03.009.

Abstract

Diseases of the cardiac conduction system (CCS) are a significant health issue in adult patients where few therapeutic options exist outside of expensive, device-based procedures. An evolving paradigm pointing toward several key transcription factors required for CCS development and maintenance may be a group of potential targets for reversing or treating degenerative conduction system disease. Recently, a small homeodomain-only protein (Hop) involved with regulating cardiac development has been identified, which is highly expressed in the adult murine CCS. Targeted disruption of the Hop locus leads to infra-nodal conduction defects with downregulation of connexin40 expression within the confines of the CCS. Loss of Hop does not appear to affect the size or distribution of the mature murine CCS and further studies will be required to determine whether Hop is associated with conduction system disease in humans.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Connexins / drug effects
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Gap Junction alpha-5 Protein
  • Heart Conduction System / drug effects*
  • Heart Conduction System / metabolism
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology
  • Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Connexins
  • HOPX protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins