C1q-TNF-Related Protein-9 Promotes Cardiac Hypertrophy and Failure.

Rationale: Myocardial endothelial cells promote cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, possibly through the release of growth factors. The identity of these factors, however, remains largely unknown, and we hypothesized here that the secreted CTRP9 (C1q-tumor necrosis factor-related protein-9) might act as endothelial-derived protein to modulate heart remodeling in response to pressure overload.

Objective: To examine the source of cardiac CTRP9 and its function during pressure overload.