BACKGROUND: One of the main contributors to maladaptive cardiac remodeling is fibrosis. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a matricellular protein that is secreted into the cardiac extracellular matrix by both cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts, is often …

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Adenosine has been proposed to exert anti-hypertrophic effects. However, the precise regulation and the role of the different adenosine receptor subtypes in the heart and their effects on hypertrophic signalling are largely …

Stem cell therapy for myocardial infarction (MI) has been shown to improve cardiac function and reduce infarct size. Exercise training, in the form of cardiac rehabilitation, is an essential part of patient care post-MI. Hence, we tested the effects of …

Myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) functions in muscle-specific and/or growth factor-related tran- scription and is involved in cell growth, survival, and apoptosis. To evaluate the role of this transcription factor in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in …

Sheng-Mai-San (SMS), a we l l -k n o wn Chinese m edicin al p lant formula, is widely used for the treatment of cardiac diseases characterized by deficiency of Qi and Yin syndrome. A mouse chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) model was established to mimic …

The Janus kinase (JAK) system is involved in numerous cell signaling processes and is highly expressed in cardiac tissue. The JAK isoforms JAK2 is activated by numerous factors known to influence cardiac function and pathologic conditions. However, …

Increased production of reactive oxygen species and failure of the antioxidant defense system are considered to play a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. The transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) …

Inflammation is central to heart failure progression. Innate immune signaling increases expression of the transmembrane proteoglycan syndecan-4 in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts, followed by shedding of its ectodomain. Circulating shed syndecan-4 is …

Background/objectives: 14-3-3η protein, a dimeric phosphoserine-binding protein, provides protection against adverse cardiac remodeling during pressure-overload induced heart failure in mice. To identify its role in myocardial infarction (MI), we have …

Context: Astragaloside IV (ASI) is a major and active saponin derivative of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bge. The anti-inflammatory properties of ASI are important for its cardioprotective effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of the protective …