CXADR and viral myocarditis: However, CAR protein has a long-recognized role as viral receptor in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis,[44] a physiologic role for the receptor in localization of connexin 45 at the intercalated disks of the cardiomyocytes in the atrioventricular node, and a role in conduction of the cardiac impulse [17,45,46].