Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors attenuated the expression of G-protein coupled receptor kinases in heart failure patients.

BACKGROUND There are few biological markers, which strictly show the severity of congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS Lymphocyte G-protein coupled receptor kinase (GRK) mRNA expression was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 15 CHF patients: 5 patients classified as New York Heart Association class-II treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) (IIA), 5 patients in class-II without ACEI (IIC), and 5 patients in class-III treated with ACEI (IIIA). GRK mRNA level in IIIA was significantly higher than those in IIA (p<0.05). GRK mRNA level in IIA were significantly lower than those in IIC (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The expression level of lymphocyte GRK might show the severity of CHF, and ACEI treatment could reduce the level of GRK in CHF patients.