title: The role of calpains in myocardial remodelling and heart failure.
abstract: Calpains are cytosolic calcium-activated cysteine proteases. Recently, they have been proposed to influence signal transduction processes leading to myocardial remodelling and heart failure. In this review, we will first describe some of these molecular mechanisms. Calpains may contribute to myocardial hypertrophy and inflammation, mainly through the activation of transcription factors such as NF-κB. They play an important role in the fibrosis process partly by activating transforming growth factor β. They are also implicated in cell death as they cause the breakdown of sarcolemma and sarcomeres. Nevertheless, a key to understanding the molecular basis of calpain-mediated myocardial remodelling likely lies in the identification of mechanisms involved in calpain secretion, since cytosolic and extracellular proteases would have different functions. Finally, we will provide an overview of the available evidence that calpains are indeed actively involved in the common causes of heart failure, including hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, ischaemia-reperfusion, atrial fibrillation, congestive failure, and mechanical unloading.
authors.affiliation: UMR_S702, INSERM,  Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris6, Paris,  France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Letavernier
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zafrani
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Letavernier
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Haymann
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002154:Calpain / Q000502:physiology*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000201:enzymology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009336:Necrosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors; D002154:Calpain