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01-07-2016 | Original Article

Decreased mRNA levels of cardiac Cx43 and ZO1 in sudden cardiac death related to coronary atherosclerosis: a pilot study

Authors: Ye Xue, Rui Zhao, Si-Hao Du, Dong Zhao, Dong-Ri Li, Jing-Tao Xu, Xiao-Li Xie, Qi Wang

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 4/2016

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most frequent cause of sudden unexplained death in forensic practice. The most common cause of SCD is coronary artery disease related to coronary atherosclerosis. Previous study suggested the possible application of connexin 43 (Cx43) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO1) immunostaining in the early diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. However, there appears to be insufficient data with regard to their mRNA levels. The present study investigated the cardiac mRNA levels of Cx43 and ZO1, using forensic autopsy materials consisting of 41 control cases without any disease or structural abnormality of the heart (group 1), 32 deaths due to acute ischemic heart disease related to coronary atherosclerosis without apparent myocardial necrosis (group 2), and 29 traumatic deaths with coronary atherosclerosis (group 3). Ten candidate reference genes were evaluated in the left ventricles of 10 forensic autopsy cases. EEF1A1, PPIA, TPT1, and RPL13A were identified as the most stable reference genes. Using these validated reference genes, mRNA levels of Cx43 and ZO1 were examined in the bilateral ventricles and atria of the heart. Relative mRNA quantification demonstrated decreased calibrated normalized relative quantity (CNRQ) values of Cx43 and ZO1 in bilateral ventricles of group 2. When using one conventional reference gene (GAPDH or ACTB) for normalization, nearly no difference was detected among the three groups. These findings indicate that ventricular gap junction remodeling may be a key contributor to rhythm disturbances. Analysis of cardiac Cx43 and ZO1 using real-time PCR is useful in diagnosis of SCD, and validation of reference genes is crucial.

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Title: Decreased mRNA levels of cardiac Cx43 and ZO1 in sudden cardiac death related to coronary atherosclerosis: a pilot study
Authors: Ye Xue
Rui Zhao
Si-Hao Du
Dong Zhao
Dong-Ri Li
Jing-Tao Xu
Xiao-Li Xie
Qi Wang
Publication date: 01-07-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1353-0

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Decreased mRNA levels of cardiac Cx43 and ZO1 in sudden cardiac death related to coronary atherosclerosis: a pilot study

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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