Abstract: The present invention relates to systems, kits, and methods for treating a subject that has cardiovascular disease or Systemic Sclerosis with at least one of the following: a) IgG3 ?1-Adrenergic Receptor antibodies (IgG3 ?1AR antibodies), or antigen-binding portion thereof; b) an antigenic protein that elicits the production of IgG3 ?1AR antibodies in the subject; or c) a vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the antigenic protein or IgG3 ?1AR antibodies. In certain embodiments, the subject has dilated cardiomyopathy. In some embodiments, the subject is also administered a beta-blocker.

Abstract: A method for assessing heart disease in a subject includes generating an expression profile of at least two or more miRNAs in a sample from the subject. The miRNAs can be selected from the group consisting of hsa-miRNA-1, hsa-miRNA-7, hsa-miRNA-29b, has-miRNA-125b, hsa-miRNA145, hsa-miRNA-181b, hsa-miRNA-214, hsa-miRNA-342, hsa-miRNA-378 and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds that alter GPCR internalization and new methods for their identification. Compounds of this invention include modified phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), modified HEAT domain, modified &bgr;-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (&bgr;ARK1), as well as other peptides or small molecules that alter GPCR internalization. The present invention also includes the use of such compounds to treat GPCR-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, asthma, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, or hypertension.