Overexpression of hUSP5 restored levels of the autophagy marker p62 (Fig. 9, J and K) and normalized the LC3I/II ratio (Fig. 9, L and M), indicating that overexpression of USP5 in CMs alleviates protein aggregation and various aspects of PQC in desminopathy, before the onset of DCM. This evidence concerns the gene USP5 and Desminopathy.