Inhibition of Pyk2 Improves Cx43 Intercalated Disc Localization, Infarct Size, and Cardiac Function in Rats With Heart Failure.

Background: Heart failure causes changes in Cx43 (Connexin43) regulation that are associated with arrhythmic heart disease. Pyk2 (proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2) is activated in cardiomyopathies and phosphorylates Cx43 to decrease intercellular communication. This study was designed to determine if Pyk2 inhibition improves cardiac function in a myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure model in rats.