Dystroglycan Matrix Receptor Function in Cardiac Myocytes Is Important for Limiting Activity-Induced Myocardial Damage

Abstract

Our findings suggest dystroglycan function as an extracellular matrix receptor in cardiac myocytes plays a primary role in limiting myocardial damage from spreading to neighboring cardiac myocytes, and loss of dystroglycan matrix receptor function in cardiac muscle cells is likely important in the development of cardiomyopathy in glycosylation-deficient muscular dystrophies.