Cited by 510Acute Myocardial Infarction ResearchCardiac Imaging and DiagnosticsTakotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Associated Phenomena

Cardiac troponins: from myocardial infarction to chronic disease

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Park, Kyung Chan, Gaze, David C, Collinson, Paul O, Marber, Michael S·2017·Cardiovascular Research

Abstract

Elucidation of the physiologically distinct subunits of troponin in 1973 greatly facilitated our understanding of cardiac contraction. Although troponins are expressed in both skeletal and cardiac muscle, there are isoforms of troponin I/T expressed selectively in the heart. By exploiting cardiac-restricted epitopes within these proteins, one of the most successful diagnostic tests to date has been developed: cardiac troponin (cTn) assays. For the past decade, cTn has been regarded as the gold-standard marker for acute myocardial necrosis: the pathological hallmark of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Whilst cTn is the cornerstone for ruling-out AMI in patients presenting with a suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS), elevated cTn is frequently observed in those without clinical signs indicative of AMI, often reflecting myocardial injury of 'unknown origin'. cTn is commonly elevated in acute non-ACS conditions, as well as in chronic diseases. It is unclear why these elevations occur; yet they cannot be ignored as cTn levels in chronically unwell patients are directly correlated to prognosis. Paradoxically, improvements in assay sensitivity have meant more differential diagnoses have to be considered due to decreased specificity, since cTn is now more easily detected in these non-ACS conditions. It is important to be aware cTn is highly specific for myocardial injury, which could be attributable to a myriad of underlying causes, emphasizing the notion that cTn is an organ-specific, not disease-specific biomarker. Furthermore, the ability to detect increased cTn using high-sensitivity assays following extreme exercise is disconcerting. It has been suggested troponin release can occur without cardiomyocyte necrosis, contradicting conventional dogma, emphasizing a need to understand the mechanisms of such release. This review discusses basic troponin biology, the physiology behind its detection in serum, its use in the diagnosis of AMI, and some key concepts and experimental evidence as to why cTn can be elevated in chronic diseases.

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  1. [24]Alpert JS, Thygesen K, Antman EM, Bassand JP. Myocardial infarction redefined - A consensus document of The Joint ESC/ACC Committee for the redefinition of myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J 2000; 21: 1502– 1513. 10973764
  2. [43]Vasile VC, Jaffe AS. The biological basis of troponin in heart disease: possible uses for troponin fragmentology. Heart Metab 2009; 43: 5– 8.

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Authors
Park, K. C., Gaze, D. C., Collinson, P. O., & Marber, M. S.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • St George's, University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Marber, Michael S
Venue
Cardiovascular Research
Published
2017-09-14
Volume
113
Issue
14
Pages
1708-1718
ISSN
  • 0008-6363 (ISSN-L)
  • 1755-3245
OpenAlex
W2755269296
Cited by
510
References
105
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 49 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 2
FWCI
5.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cardiovascular Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • St George's Online Research Archive (St George's University of London) (acceptedVersion)
  • WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council (G1000737)
  • British Heart Foundation (TG/15/1/31518 and FS/15/13/31320)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Acute Myocardial Infarction Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Cardiac Imaging and Diagnostics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Associated Phenomena
Keywords
cardiac troponin, troponin I, troponin T, acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, myocardial injury, high-sensitivity troponin assays, chronic disease, cardiac contraction
MeSH terms
Animals, Chronic Disease, Humans, Myocardial Infarction, Myocardium, Biomarkers, Troponin T, Acute Coronary Syndrome

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