Perlecan is critical for heart stability

Aims Perlecan is a heparansulfate proteoglycan found in basement membranes, cartilage, and several mesenchymal tissues that form during development, tumour growth, and tissue repair. Loss-of-function mutations in the perlecan gene in mice are associated with embryonic lethality caused primarily by cardiac abnormalities probably due to hemopericards. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the early embryonic lethality and the pathophysiological relevance of perlecan for heart function. Methods and results Perlecan-deficient murine embryonic stem cells were used to investigate the myofibrillar network and the electrophysiological properties of single cardiomy…