Therapies for cardiomyopathy

A method of identifying a therapeutic agent capable of preventing or treating cardiomyopathy comprising testing the ability of possible therapeutic agents to modify expression and/or action of one or more of the following genes involved in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:

• MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2, TNNI3, TPM 1, MYL2, MYL3, ACTC1, CSRP3, TTN, ACTN2, MYH6, TCAP, TNNC1, ACTA1.

An agent capable of reducing the expression of, silencing or degrading HIF protein or HIF mRNA for use in the prevention or treatment of cardimyopathy or myocardial fibrosis.

A method of identifying a therapeutic agent capable of preventing or treating cardiomyopathy or fibrosis comprising:

• testing the ability of putative therapeutic agents to reduce the expression of, degrade or silence HIF protein or HIF mRNA;
• and/or
• testing the ability of putative therapeutic agents to prevent HIF protein from binding to hypoxia responsive elements within the promoter regions of DNA methyltransferase genes.

A method of preventing or treating cardiomyopathy or myocardial fibrosis comprising the use of a hypomethylating agent.

A method of preventing or treating cardiac hypertrophy or myocardial fibrosis comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an agent capable of reducing the expression of, silencing or degrading HIF protein or HIF mRNA, or an agent capable of preventing HIF protein from binding to hypoxia responsive elements within the promoter regions of DNA methyltransferase genes.