Intercalated disks (ICDs) are highly organized cell-cell adhesion structures, which connect
cardiomyocytes to one another. They are composed of three major complexes:
desmosomes, fascia adherens, and gap junctions. Desmosomes and fascia adherens
junction are necessary for mechanically coupling and reinforcing cardiomyocytes, whereas
gap junctions are essential for rapid electrical transmission between cells. Because human
genetics and mouse models have revealed that mutations and/or deficiencies in various ICD …