Fibroblast-Specific Protein-Protein Interactions for Myocardial Fibrosis from MetaCore Network.

Myocardial fibrosis is a major pathologic disorder associated with a multitude of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The pathogenesis is complex and encompasses multiple molecular pathways. Integration of fibrosis-associated genes into the global MetaCore network of protein-protein interactions (PPI) offers opportunities to identify PPI with functional and therapeutic significance.

Galanin Coordinates Macrophage-Associated Fibro-Inflammatory Response and Mitochondrial Integrity in Myocardial Infarction Reperfusion Injury.

Myocardial infarction activates an intense fibro-inflammatory reaction that is essential for cardiac remodeling and heart failure (HF). Bioactive peptide galanin plays a critical role in regulating cardiovascular homeostasis; however, its specific functional relevance in post-infarction fibro-inflammatory reprogramming remains obscure. Here, we show that galanin coordinates the fibro-inflammatory trajectory and mitochondrial integrity in post-infarction reperfusion injury.

Role of Perilipins in Oxidative Stress-Implications for Cardiovascular Disease.

Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in a cell. In the heart, oxidative stress may deteriorate calcium handling, cause arrhythmia, and enhance maladaptive cardiac remodeling by the induction of hypertrophic and apoptotic signaling pathways. Consequently, dysregulated ROS production and oxidative stress have been implicated in numerous cardiac diseases, including heart failure, cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury, cardiac hypertrophy, and diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Age-Related Shift in Cardiac and Metabolic Phenotyping Linked to Inflammatory Cytokines and Antioxidant Status in Mice.

Age-related alterations in cardiac function, metabolic, inflammatory and antioxidant profiles are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Here, we examined cardiac and metabolic phenotypes in relation to inflammatory status and antioxidant capacity in young, middle-aged and old mice. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions were performed on myocardium and immunoassays on plasma.