Desmin and α-actinin were increased in hearts with diastolic dysfunction but not hearts with systolic dysfunction.
The increased desmin and α-actinin are mainly in myofibrils at the Z-disks.
TAC induced desmin and α-actinin in occult diastolic heart failure but not in wild type or mildly systolic dysfunction heart.
The data demonstrate an early response specifically to diastolic heart failure, indicating a function of the Z-disk.