Association between ACR1 gene product expression and cardiomyopathy in children

Cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous heart disease. Although morbidity of pediatric cardiomyopathy has been on the increase, effective treatments have not been identified. The aim of the study was to examine the expression of ACR1 gene products in association with cardiomyopathy in children. In total, 73 patients and 76 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study, from April, 2013 to April, 2015. The relative expression of ACR1 mRNA and protein were quantified in all cases, using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), ELISA and western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to stain cardiac tissue samples to reveal differences between the patients and the control group. The results showed that the level of ACR1 mRNA by RT-qPCR was not different between the two study groups. However, ELISA and western blot analysis showed a significant difference, with patients expressing lower levels of ACR1. Additionally, immunohistochemistry revealed the levels of ACR1 were reduced in patients as the time course of disease increased. Thus, there is an association between the inhibition of ACR1 expression and the development of the disease. These findings are useful in the elucidation of the pathogenesis of pediatric cardiomyopathy, a severe disease with few effective treatment options available.