Background: Tenascin-C (TN-C), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, is of diagnostic and prognostic value in different heart diseases. One such dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with conduction disturbances is one of the most serious manifestations in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). Herein we therefore detail work to evaluate the potential significance of circulating TN-C in patients with EDMD, speculating that it may define the cardiac dysfunction, especially in patients who may be cardiac asymptomatic, but still be at risk of sudden death.
Material and method: Serum levels of TN-C were quantified by sandwich immunoassay ELISA in 25 EDMD patients (10 with laminopathy-AD-EDMD and 15 with emerinopathy-X-EDMD), 8 X-EDMD carriers, 9 disease controls (patients with dystrophinopathy), and 15 age-matched healthy controls. Fourteen of the EDMD patients had repeated TN-C examinations after 3 to 7 years.
Results: The levels of circulating TN-C were elevated in AD-EDMD and X-EDMD patients, as well as in some X-EDMD carriers, and patients with dystrophinopathy. The correlation between the TN-C level and left end-systolic ventricle diameter (LVDD) was significant in X-EDMD, while those with left atrium diameter (LAD) and the ejection fraction (EF) were not. In "follow-up" studies TN-C levels were not found to change over time in AD-EDMD, while rising in X-EDMD.
Conclusions: The presented results indicate that assessments of circulating TN-C levels may help to identify EDMD patients at risk of dilated cardiomyopathy. TN-C might therefore be considered a candidate for a new biomarker, useful in detecting of cardiomyopathy and in further monitoring of the DCM therapy in patients with EDMD.
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