The involvement of N-G,N-G-dimethyarginine dimethylhydrolase 1 in the proliferative effect of Astragali radix on cardiac cells.

Aim Of The Study: Astragali radix (AR) is a widely used traditional medicine in oriental countries for treating various diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the effects of AR extracts on rat cardiomyocytes and H9C2 cardiac cells as well as identified many target genes that mediate the effect of AR.

Materials And Methods: The effect of AR extracts on cell proliferation was assessed and cDNA microarray technique was used to analyse the differential gene expressions upon AR treatment in cardiac cells.

Calcyclin binding protein promotes DNA synthesis and differentiation in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes.

During cardiac muscle development, most cardiomyocytes permanently withdraw from the cell cycle. Previously, by suppressive subtractive hybridization, we identified calcyclin-binding protein/Siah-interacting protein (CacyBP/SIP) as one of the candidates being upregulated in the hyperplastic to hypertrophic switch, suggesting an important role of CacyBP/SIP in cardiac development. To show the importance of CacyBP/SIP during myoblast differentiation, we report here that CacyBP/SIP is developmentally regulated in postnatal rat hearts.