Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in a subject, comprising administering a gene therapy construct comprising a connexin 43 sequence, wherein as a result of the administration, connexin 43 levels in at least a portion of the heart are increased.

Abstract: In alternative embodiments, the invention provides methods for predicting or diagnosing a heart disease or a defect in cardiac muscle contractility in an individual, or a defect in rate of cardiac muscle twitch relaxation and/or ventricular torsion, or detecting a cardiac trauma, in an individual or in a cardiac cell, or (by testing) a serum or a blood sample. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides methods for screening for a composition that can treat, ameliorate, prevent or reverse a heart disease or a congestive heart failure in an individual, or a defect in cardiac muscle contractility, or a defect in rate of cardiac muscle twitch relaxation and/or ventricular torsion in an individual or a cardiac muscle cell.