Osteopontin-null mice were used in a number of HF models, including angiotensin-II (Ang-II) infusion [59], aldosterone infusion [67], transverse aortic constriction (TAC) [68], desmin-deficient model of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) [69], streptozotocin-induced model of diabetic cardiomyopathy [70], left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation as a model of myocardial infarction (MI) [71] and a brief, repetitive LAD-occlusion model of ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced myocardial injury [72]. The gene discussed is DES; the disease is familial dilated cardiomyopathy.