title: Cardiotrophin-1: a novel cytokine and its effects in the heart and other tissues.
abstract: Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) originally was discovered as a factor that 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 noncardiac, cells including the ability to stimulate the survival of both cardiac and neuronal cells. Like other members of the interleukin-6 family of cytokines, CT-1 stimulates both the p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the Janus-activated kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway. Interestingly, whilst activation of the p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein 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 Janus-activated kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 pathway. CT-1, therefore, may be of use as a novel cardioprotective agent, particularly if its hypertrophic effect can be specifically inhibited.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK. d.latchman@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D016207:Cytokines; C092073:cardiotrophin 1