PPARGC1A and familial dilated cardiomyopathy: PGC-1α could also be implied in DCM as PGC-1α KO mice showed inability to increase heart rate in response to dobutamine, had markedly depressed levels of ATP in cardiac muscle and showed ventricle dilation and reduced fractional shortening upon aging (7–8 months), indicating PGC-1α deficiency can induce a DCM-like phenotype (Arany et al., 2005).