TGF-β1 affects cell-cell adhesion in the heart in an NCAM1-dependent mechanism.

ABSTRACT: The contractile property of the myocardium is maintained by cell-cell junctions enabling cardiomyocytes to work as a syncytium. Alterations in cell-cell junctions are observed in heart failure, a disease characterized by the activation of Transforming Growth Factor beta 1 (TGFβ1). While TGFβ1 has been implicated in diverse biologic responses, its molecular function in controlling cell-cell adhesion in the heart has never been investigated. Cardiac-specific transgenic mice expressing active TGFβ1 were generated to model the observed increase in activity in the failing heart. Activation of TGFβ1 in the heart was sufficient to drive ventricular dysfunction. To begin to understand the function of this important molecule we undertook an extensive structural analysis of the myocardium by electro

SUBMITTER: Ackermann MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5647243 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature