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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Canadian Journal of ...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
Article . 2012 . Peer-reviewed
License: CSP TDM
Data sources: Crossref
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Electrical field stimulation induces cardiac fibroblast proliferation through the calcineurin–NFAT pathway

Authors: Wei-Zhong Zhu; Jing Wang; Yun-Jian Bao; Xiang-Fan Chen; Wei Zhang; Qing-Qing Chen;

Electrical field stimulation induces cardiac fibroblast proliferation through the calcineurin–NFAT pathway

Abstract

Most cardiac diseases are associated with fibrosis. Calcineurin (CaN) is regulated by Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM). The CaN–NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cell) pathway is involved in the process of cardiac diseases, such as cardiac hypertrophy, but its effect on myocardial fibrosis remains unclear. The present study investigates whether the CaN–NFAT pathway is involved in cardiac fibroblast (CF) proliferation induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS), which recently became a popular treatment for heart failure and cardiac tissue engineering. CF proliferation was evaluated by a cell survival assay (MTT) and cell counts. Myocardial fibrosis was assessed by collagen I and collagen III protein expression. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged NFAT was used to detect NFAT nuclear translocation. CF proliferation, myocardial fibrosis, CaN activity, and NFAT nuclear translocation were enhanced by EFS. More importantly, these effects were abolished by CaN inhibitors, dominant negative CaN (DN-CaN), and CaN gene silenced with siRNA. Furthermore, buffering intracellular Ca2+ with BAPTA-AM and blocking Ca2+ influx with nifedipine suppressed EFS-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ and CF proliferation. These results suggested that the CaN–NFAT pathway mediates CF proliferation, and that the CaN–NFAT pathway might be a possible therapeutic target for EFS-induced myocardial fibrosis and cardiac tissue engineering.

Related Organizations
Keywords

Cell Nucleus, NFATC Transcription Factors, Cell Survival, Calcineurin, Cell Growth Processes, Fibroblasts, Endomyocardial Fibrosis, Collagen Type I, Electric Stimulation, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Protein Transport, Collagen Type III, Animals, Calcium, Myocytes, Cardiac, Cells, Cultured, Signal Transduction

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    citations
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    18
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
18
Top 10%
Average
Top 10%