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Cardiac Muscle and the Troponins

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Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy of Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

The cardiac troponins (cTns) are structural proteins of the cardiac myocyte contractile apparatus. When measured in circulating blood, the cardiac troponins are sensitive and specific indicators of cardiac myocyte necrosis. The elevation of cardiac troponins without necrosis remains controversial. Understanding of the troponins now includes recognition of the role of posttranslational modifications of troponin T and troponin I in the modulation of cardiac muscle contraction and overall physiology. The assays currently available for detection of troponins in the circulation are immunologically based, using antibodies to a number of epitopes of troponin I and T. Posttranslational modifications, proteolysis, and single nucleotide polymorphisms may affect the ability of the assay antibodies to recognize epitopes on the circulating troponins. The focus of this chapter is an overview of the biology of the cTns, their role in cardiac muscle contraction, and the detection of cardiac troponins with commercially available assays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), US Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Building 22, Room 4168, Silver Spring, MD, 20993-0002, USA

    Elizabeth A. Hausner DVM, DABT, DABVT

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  1. Elizabeth A. Hausner DVM, DABT, DABVT
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Correspondence to Elizabeth A. Hausner DVM, DABT, DABVT .

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  1. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

    Gowraganahalli Jagadeesh

  2. Pharmacology Unit, AIMST University, Bedong, Malaysia

    Pitchai Balakumar

  3. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

    Khin Maung-U

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Hausner, E.A. (2015). Cardiac Muscle and the Troponins. In: Jagadeesh, G., Balakumar, P., Maung-U, K. (eds) Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy of Cardiovascular Disease. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15961-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15961-4_10

  • Publisher Name: Adis, Cham

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