Novel actions of cardiac ankyrin repeat protein

Gene expression profiling of mouse skin wounds has led to the discovery of numerous target genes that may have therapeutic or diagnostic value. Cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP, ankrd1) expression is markedly and persistently elevated in cutaneous wounds. This article provides a summary and perspective on CARP with particular reference to tissue repair. CARP plays a role as a nuclear transcription co-factor in many cell types including vascular endothelium. It is also a structural component of the sarcomere. CARP transcription is active in cardiogenesis and muscle injury, and in the latter context, ankrd1 is under complex regulation by cytokines, hypoxia, doxorubicin and other forms of stress. We have investigated the pharmacology of CARP in wounds by adenoviral gene transfer. Overexpression of CARP leads to a high vascular density, consistent with multiple effects on endothelial behavior. The activity of CARP makes it a novel candidate gene in tissue repair.