| abstract |
(57) Abstract The present invention relates to various genes abnormally expressed in heart tissue, and fragments of such genes. Assessment of the expression levels of these genes can be used to test mammals, preferably humans, for a predisposition to heart disease or to the acute state of such a disease. Preferred diseases according to the invention are congestive heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. The present invention further relates to a method for identifying a compound capable of normalizing the expression level of the gene and a further gene affected by abnormal expression. The identified compounds can be used to form a composition, preferably a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of a disease. They have high potency, longer half-life, low toxicity, etc. and can also be used as lead compounds for the development of drugs to be used in the treatment of heart disease. The invention also includes a method of gene therapy that affects somatic cells, comprising introducing at least one functional copy of any of the above genes into appropriate cells. Finally, the present invention relates to non-human transgenic animals comprising in their germline at least one of said genes. The transgenic animal of the present invention can be used for the development of a medicament for treating heart disease. |