Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 promotes the myocardial homing of mesenchymal stem cells in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common form of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are under active investigation currently as a potential therapy for DCM. However, little information is available about the therapeutic potential of intravenous administration of MSCs for DCM.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor promotes atherosclerosis in high-fat diet rabbits.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been reported to improve the function of infarcted heart, but its effects on atherosclerosis are unclear. Here we examined the effects and the potential mechanisms in the high-fat diet rabbit model. Six-month-old male New Zealand white rabbits, fed a high-cholesterol diet or a normal diet for 10 weeks, were treated with vehicle or G-CSF.

Qiliqiangxin inhibits the development of cardiac hypertrophy, remodeling, and dysfunction during 4 weeks of pressure overload in mice.

Qiliqiangxin (QL), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used in the treatment of chronic heart failure. However, whether QL can benefit cardiac remodeling in the hypertensive state is unknown. We here examined the effects of QL on the development of cardiac hypertrophy through comparing those of losartan in C57BL/6 mice underlying transverse aorta constriction for 4 weeks.

Ryanodine receptor type 2 is required for the development of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR-2) mediates Ca(2+) release from sarcoplasmic reticulum and contributes to myocardial contractile function. However, the role of RyR-2 in the development of cardiac hypertrophy is not completely understood. Here, mice with or without reduction of RyR-2 gene (RyR-2(+/-) and wild-type, respectively) were analyzed.

Heat shock transcription factor 1 protects heart after pressure overload through promoting myocardial angiogenesis in male mice.

Heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) plays an important role not only in excise-induced cardiac hypertrophy but also in protection against pressure overload-induced cardiac dysfunction. However, the mechanism is not completely understood. We here elucidate the potential mechanisms by which HSF1 protects against pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction.