Altered gene expression in heart failure

Heart tissue from patients with heart failure exhibits increased levels of Cdk8 protein. Mimicking this increased Cdk8 expression in transgenic mouse hearts alters gene expression in a way that promotes heart failure. When researchers examined the mouse heart cells before a decrease in heart function was detectable, they found over 3,400 genes already expressed with a profile similar to that of human heart muscle cells with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.