Parvalbumin: Targeting calcium handling in cardiac diastolic dysfunction

Diastolic heart failure (DHF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by depressed myocardial relaxation performance and poor ventricular refilling. Defective intracellular calcium (Ca2+) handling underlies one of the fundamental mechanisms of DHF. Manipulating the content and function of Ca2+ handling proteins in the heart has been the focus of intense study to develop effective therapies for DHF patients. Parvalbumin (Parv), a skeletal muscle Ca2+ binding protein, has been shown to facilitate myocardial relaxation both in vitro and in vivo. Parv acts as a unique "delayed" Ca2+ buffer and facilitates Ca2+ sequestration from cytosol. Here, we summarize studies employing gene transfer of Parv in cultured adult cardiac myocytes and in vivo to redress depressed diastolic function. By targeting defects in cardiac Ca2+ handling, Parv represents a promising therapeutic candidate for alleviating diastolic dysfunction in DHF.