Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 regulate the balance between eccentric and concentric cardiac growth.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

An increase in cardiac afterload typically produces concentric hypertrophy characterized by an increase in cardiomyocyte width, whereas volume overload or exercise results in eccentric growth characterized by cellular elongation and addition of sarcomeres in series. The signaling pathways that control eccentric versus concentric heart growth are not well understood.

Objective

To determine the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in regulating the cardiac hypertrophic response.

Methods and results

Here, we used mice lacking all ERK1/2 protein in the heart (Erk1(-/-) Erk2(fl/fl-Cre)) and mice expressing activated mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (Mek)1 in the heart to induce ERK1/2 signaling, as well as mechanistic experiments

SUBMITTER: Kehat I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3032171 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature