Which role do seven transmembrane receptors have in healthy and broken heart?

The G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), also termed seven-transmembrane receptors (7TM-Rs) are a conserved family of transmembrane receptors, which are essential not only in the healthy heart and blood vessels but also for treatment of cardiovascular disease and failure. Heart failure is a leading global cause of morbidity and death and as such understanding 7TM-Rs, their functions, structures and potential for therapy essential. This review summarizes the roles of 7TM-Rs in the healthy functioning cardiovascular system and cardiac disorders with an emphasis in cardiomyopathy. It also discusses the significance of autoantibodies against the 7TM-Rs in cardiomyopathy.

Authors: Valentina Kubale, Ewelina Prozorowska, Kristýna Glocová, Lucy Slater, Catrin Sian Rutland

The full article is published in IntechOpen.