Role of Desmosome in Arrythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

The cardiac desmosome and proposed roles of the desmosome in (A) supporting structural stability through cell-cell adhesion, (B) regulating transcription of genes involved in adipogenesis and apoptosis, and maintaining proper electrical conductivity through regulation of (C) gap junctions and (D) calcium homeostasis.

Dsc2 indicates desmocollin-2; Dsg2, desmoglein-2; Dsp, desmoplakin; Pkg; plakoglobin; Pkp2, plakophilin-2; and PM, plasma membrane.

Reprinted from Marcus FI et al, Diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia: proposed modification of the task force criteria, Circulation, 2010, Vol 121, Issue 13, Pages 1533–41, with permission from American Heart Association, Inc.