Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41652012›Full record

ArticleCommunications medicine2026

Integrative genomic and literature assessment of desmoglein 2-related arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy with Italian cohort validation.

Serena Pinci, Rudy Celeghin, Marika Martini, Monica De Gaspari, Maria Bueno Marinas, Giulia Tosato, Francesca Dalla Zanna, Marco Cason, Ilaria Rigato, Gaetano Thiene and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Serena Pinci *Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7730-1730
Rudy Celeghin *Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Marika MartiniDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Monica De GaspariDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9528-4883
Maria Bueno MarinasDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9601-3671
Giulia TosatoDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-2519-9709
Francesca Dalla ZannaDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-1577-1443
Marco CasonDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3051-8065
Ilaria RigatoCardiology Unit, Azienda Ospedale-Università Padova, Padua, Italy.
Gaetano ThieneDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-2577
Stefania RizzoDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Domenico CorradoDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Cristina BassoDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0195-9753
Barbara BauceDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Kalliopi PilichouDepartment of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. kalliopi.pilichou@unipd.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3646-0669

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDesmoglein-2 (DSG2) is an essential cardiac desmosomal cadherin, and its alteration underlies a broad spectrum of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Yet, the clinical significance of many DSG2 variants remains uncertain. This study aimed to systematically characterize the spectrum, structural impact, and clinical relevance of DSG2 variants by integrating large-scale genomic evidence, published data, and a deeply phenotyped validation cohort.

methodsWe conducted a systematic literature review (115 studies; 145 curated variants) and analyzed population-scale datasets (3570 variants in gnomAD; 1847 in ClinVar). All variants were uniformly reclassified following ACMG/ClinGen criteria. A validation cohort of 95 Italian DSG2-carriers underwent detailed phenotyping. Structural modeling via AlphaFold, supported protein modeling, calcium-binding site prediction, and DynaMut stability analysis were performed to evaluate the functional consequences of key variants.

resultsLiterature and database integration reveal domain-specific variant clustering, with high-impact missense variants enriched in calcium-binding extracellular domains, the furin cleavage site, and the intracellular PKP2-binding region. In the validation cohort, penetrance among genotype-positive relatives is 42%, while 13% of definite ACM cases experience major ventricular arrhythmias; transplantation and mortality each occur in 3%. Biallelic and digenic variants are associated with earlier onset and more severe biventricular involvement. Structural modeling confirms that pathogenic missense substitutions destabilize DSG2 architecture or impair calcium-dependent adhesion.

conclusionsThis study refines the classification of DSG2 variants and highlights the importance of domain-level and multilocus interpretation in ACM. These findings support comprehensive genetic screening, structural modeling for variant assessment, and lifelong follow-up of DSG2 carriers to improve diagnosis and risk stratification.

Identifiers

PMID41652012
PMCPMC12987970

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.