title: The role of Epac in the heart.
abstract: As one of the most important second messengers, 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) mediates various extracellular signals including hormones and neurotransmitters, and induces appropriate responses in diverse types of cells. Since cAMP was formerly believed to transmit signals through only two direct target molecules, protein kinase A and the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel, the sensational discovery in 1998 of another novel direct effecter of cAMP [exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac)] attracted a great deal of scientific interest in cAMP signaling. Numerous studies on Epac have since disclosed its important functions in various tissues in the body. Recently, observations of genetically manipulated mice in various pathogenic models have begun to reveal the in vivo significance of previous in vitro or cellular-level findings. Here, we focused on the function of Epac in the heart. Accumulating evidence has revealed that both Epac1 and Epac2 play important roles in the structure and function of the heart under physiological and pathological conditions. Accordingly, developing the ability to regulate cAMP-mediated signaling through Epac may lead to remarkable new therapies for the treatment of cardiac diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. fujitaka@yokohama-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6391-6126
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Utako
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.|Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. yishikaw@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; C116122:RAPGEF3 protein, human; C442864:RAPGEF4 protein, human; D000242:Cyclic AMP
keywords: Catecholamine; Epac; Heart; Heart disease; cAMP