Genetic deficiency of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex causes hereditary
dilated cardiomyopathy. Enteroviruses can also cause cardiomyopathy and we
have recently described a potential molecular mechanism for enterovirus-in
duced dilated cardiomyopathy. The coxsackieviral protease 2A proteolyticall
y cleaves and functionally impairs dystrophin. Additionally, during infecti
on with coxsackievirus B3, the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex becomes disr
upted and the sarcolemmal integrity is lost.
This review article discusses the importance of the dystrophin cleavage for
the development of increased sarcolemmal permeability and potential pathwa
ys for mechanisms by which the dystrophin cleavage during coxsackieviral in
fection may contribute to dilated cardiomyopathy.