Nature Communications (Oct 2023)

MYH10 activation rescues contractile defects in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM)

  • Nieves García-Quintáns,
  • Silvia Sacristán,
  • Cristina Márquez-López,
  • Cristina Sánchez-Ramos,
  • Fernando Martinez-de-Benito,
  • David Siniscalco,
  • Andrés González-Guerra,
  • Emilio Camafeita,
  • Marta Roche-Molina,
  • Mariya Lytvyn,
  • David Morera,
  • María I. Guillen,
  • María A. Sanguino,
  • David Sanz-Rosa,
  • Daniel Martín-Pérez,
  • Ricardo Garcia,
  • Juan A. Bernal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41981-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 20

Abstract

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Abstract The most prevalent genetic form of inherited arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is caused by mutations in desmosomal plakophilin-2 (PKP2). By studying pathogenic deletion mutations in the desmosomal protein PKP2, here we identify a general mechanism by which PKP2 delocalization restricts actomyosin network organization and cardiac sarcomeric contraction in this untreatable disease. Computational modeling of PKP2 variants reveals that the carboxy-terminal (CT) domain is required for N-terminal domain stabilization, which determines PKP2 cortical localization and function. In mutant PKP2 cells the expression of the interacting protein MYH10 rescues actomyosin disorganization. Conversely, dominant-negative MYH10 mutant expression mimics the pathogenic CT–deletion PKP2 mutant causing actin network abnormalities and right ventricle systolic dysfunction. A chemical activator of non-muscle myosins, 4-hydroxyacetophenone (4-HAP), also restores normal contractility. Our findings demonstrate that activation of MYH10 corrects the deleterious effect of PKP2 mutant over systolic cardiac contraction, with potential implications for ACM therapy.