Preventing heart failure by protecting the protein MKK7

A new mechanism underlying hypertrophic progression to heart failure: The role of Ras-association domain family protein isoform 7 (RASSF7)

Manchester-based researchers are searching for ways to boost a natural heart-protecting protein to prevent or halt heart failure. Heart failure is a devastating condition, affecting hundreds of thousands of people in the UK. In heart failure, the heart is unable to pump strongly enough to meet the demands of the body. This can cause distressing symptoms – such as swelling and breathlessness – and has a poor prognosis. Current medicines aren’t sufficient, so we need research to find better ways to prevent and treat this disease. Dr Wang and colleagues at the University of Manchester have demonstrated that when a protein known as MKK7 is absent from the hearts of mice, they are much more vulnerable to heart failure. This suggests that MKK7 is involved in a heart protection system. We may be able to harness this in humans. The team have also demonstrated that a protein in the body known as RASSF7 is able to weaken MKK7. This leads them to believe that blocking RASSF7 could allow MKK7 to better carry out its task of protecting heart cells. The current project will help them to identify if targeting RASSF7 could help create new medicines that can prevent or slow the progression of heart failure.