Increased p53 protein expression in human failing myocardium

Background: The p53 gene is a tumor-suppressor gene which involves apoptosi s and cell-cycle arrest under certain stress stimulate. However, the status of the p53 gene expression in human myocardium in congestive heart failure (CHF) remains unclear. Therefore, the current study was designed to invest igate the expression of the p53 protein in human myocardium in normal subje cts and in patients with severe CHF. Methods: Human ventricular cardiac tissue was obtained from 7 normal subjec ts and 7 end-stage CHF patients during cardiac transplantation. The express ion of p53 protein was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The card iac apoptosis was determined by TUNEL staining. Results: The p53 protein was minimally stained in normal human ventricular cardiomyocytes. In contrast, the staining density and positive stained nucl ear (%) of p53 was significantly increased in ventricular cardiomyocytes of patients with severe CHF. Apoptosis in CHF human myocardium also markedly increased. Conclusions: The significantly increased expression of p53 in CHF human car diomyocytes suggests that p53 may play an important pathophysiological role in the process of CHF through mechanisms involving myocardial apoptosis.