title: Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1): a novel hypertrophic and cardioprotective agent.
abstract: Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines which was originally discovered as a factor which can induce hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes both in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, CT-1 has been shown to have a wide variety of different effects on cardiac and non cardiac cells including the ability to stimulate the survival of both cardiac and neuronal cells. Interestingly, whilst activation of the p42/p44 MAP kinase pathway is necessary for the survival promoting effects of CT-1 in cardiac cells, it is not required for its hypertrophic effect which is likely to involve activation of the Jak/STAT-3 pathway. CT-1 may therefore be of use as a novel cardio-protective agent, particularly if its hypertrophic effect can be specifically inhibited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C092073:cardiotrophin 1