May 19, 2026Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Cardiocyte cytoskeleton in patients with left ventricular pressure overload hypertrophy
Key result
Higher microtubule protein correlates with reduced LV fractional shortening in aortic stenosis.
- n=99
Why the study?
It was unknown whether the cardiocyte microtubule network densification seen in animal models of severe pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy also occurs in human patients.
Comparison
Patients with symptomatic AS vs control patients without AS
Design
Observational cross-sectional study
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
May link microtubule densification to LV dysfunction in aortic stenosis; leaves open causal role and therapeutic implications.
Key Points
- The aim is to assess if microtubule network densification seen in animal models of pressure overload occurs in human patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.
- Thirteen patients with aortic stenosis and two control patients were studied.
- Left ventricular function was assessed using echocardiography and cardiac catheterization before valve replacement.
- Biopsies were analyzed to separate free and polymerized tubulin fractions.
- Four patients had normal LV function and microtubule concentration, while six exhibited decreased LV function and increased microtubule levels.
- An inverse relationship was found between midwall LV fractional shortening and microtubule protein concentration.
- These findings suggest that increased microtubules contribute to myocardial dysfunction in aortic stenosis patients.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=99)
Structured PICO
P
Population
13 patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (aortic valve area = 0.6 +/- 0.1 cm2) without aortic insufficiency, significant coronary artery disease, or abnormal segmental LV wall motion, along with 2 control patients without AS and a reference group of 84 normal patients.
O
Outcome
Relationship between midwall left ventricular fractional shortening and microtubule protein concentrationsurrogate
Increased microtubule density is associated with myocardial dysfunction in patients with severe left ventricular pressure overload hypertrophy from aortic stenosis, translating previous animal model findings to humans.
Cite This Study
Zile et al. (2001) conducted an observational in Symptomatic aortic stenosis (n=99). Among 13 patients with aortic stenosis, 6 had decreased LV function and increased microtubule protein, demonstrating an inverse relationship between LV fractional shortening and microtubule protein.