title: Neuregulin-1/ErbB signaling is impaired in the rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCP) is one of the leading causes of increased morbidity and mortality in the diabetic population. The neuregulin-1(NRG1)/ErbB signal system plays a critical role in maintenance of adult heart function. But little is known about the changes of NRG1/ErbB signal system in DCP. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of the NRG1/ErbB signal system in DCP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of DCP was established using a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Cardiac function was assessed using echocardiography. The left ventricle fibrosis was evaluated using Masson's trichrome staining. The mRNA expression profiles of ErbB2 and ErbB4 receptors were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression of NRG1 and the phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB4 receptors were assessed using Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed dramatic left ventricle fibrosis and impaired left ventricle systolic function at 12 weeks after STZ-induced diabetes. This study also showed that ErbB2 and ErbB4 mRNA expression and NRG1 protein expression in the left ventricular myocardium were significantly decreased. In addition, we observed decreased phosphorylation of the ErbB2 and ErbB4 receptors at 12 weeks after the induction of diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that NRG1/ErbB signaling is impaired in DCP, which may play some roles in the pathogenesis of DCP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning Guangxi, People's Republic of China. Gui_chun@126.com
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Liguang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Qicheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D020868:Gene Silencing; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D015398:Signal Transduction; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020890:Neuregulin-1; C490580:Nrg1 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C483803:Egfr protein, rat; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C587691:Erbb4 protein, rat; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4