Troponin T

Troponin T (shortened TnT or TropT) is a part of the troponin complex, which are proteins integral to the contraction of skeletal and heart muscles. They are expressed in skeletal and cardiac myocytes. Troponin T binds to tropomyosin and helps position it on actin, and together with the rest of the troponin complex, modulates contraction of striated muscle. The cardiac subtype of troponin T is especially useful in the laboratory diagnosis of heart attack because it is released into the blood-stream when damage to heart muscle occurs. It was discovered by the German physician Hugo A. Katus at the University of Heidelberg, who also developed the troponin T assay.

Subtypes

• Slow skeletal troponin T1, TNNT1 (19q13.4, 191041)
• Cardiac troponin T2, TNNT2 (1q32, 191045)
• Fast skeletal troponin T3, TNNT3 (11p15.5, 600692)

Reference values

The 99th percentile cutoff for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is 0.01 ng/mL. The reference range for the high sensitivity troponin T is a normal < 14 ng/L, borderline of 14-52 ng/L, and elevated of >52 ng/L.

Background

The troponin complex is responsible for coupling the sarcomere contraction cycle to variations in intracellular calcium concentration. Increased troponin T levels after an episode of chest pain indicates myocardial infarction. It was discovered by the German physician Hugo A. Katus at the University of Heidelberg. He also developed the troponin T assay. In patients with non-severe asymptomatic aortic valve stenosis and no overt coronary artery disease, the increased troponin T (above 14 pg/mL) was found associated with an increased 5-year event rate of ischemic cardiac events (myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass surgery). In patients with stable coronary artery disease, the troponin T concentration has long been found to be significantly associated with the incidence of cardiovascular death and heart failure, but it was 2014 before it began to be accepted as a predictor of who would later suffer acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

See also

• Troponin C
• Troponin I
• Calcium-binding protein
• Sliding filament model

References

External links

• Troponin+T at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

1. Troponin
2. Troponin I
3. Troponin C
4. Cardiac marker
5. TNNT2
6. Troponin C type 1
7. Unstable angina
8. TNNT3
9. Pulmonary embolism
10. TNNT1
11. T (disambiguation)
12. Coronary artery disease
13. Diagnosis of myocardial infarction
14. TNNI3
15. Heart-type fatty acid binding protein
16. TNNI2
17. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
18. Dilated cardiomyopathy
19. Liver function tests
20. Acute coronary syndrome