Birc6 in ischemic heart failure

Congestive heart disease is a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Encompassing the ischemic, hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathic diseases of cardiac muscle, heart disease progresses from cardiac dysfunction associated with the continual programmed cell death (apoptosis) of cardiac cells to heart failure. Due to continuing loss of contractile cells during disease development, cardiomyopathy patients often do not respond to current therapeutic regimes which necessitates heart transplantation. Targeting cardiac cell apoptosis may therefore represent a novel strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiomyopathy patients. In targeted screening, we have identified that Birc6 (Apollon) gene and protein cardiac expression is significantly reduced in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Birc6 belongs to the family of apoptosis inhibitor proteins and interacts with pro-apoptotic molecules to prevent apoptosis. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which Birc6 prevents apoptosis in cardiac cells and to analyze the pro-apoptotic signalling pathways underlying Birc6 abolishment in cardiomyopathy. The anticipated results should serve to develop a novel approach to the treatment of cell loss in heart failure.