Cytokines and their receptors in cardiovascular diseases--role of gp130 signalling pathway in cardiac myocyte growth and maintenance.

Abstract

Interleukin (IL)-6-related cytokines share gp130 as the signal-transducing protein. Cardiac myocytes produce various kinds of cytokines including IL-6 and cardiotrophin-1. Activation of gp130 transduces hypertrophic and cytoprotective signals in cardiac myocytes via JAK/STAT, MAP kinase and PI-3 kinase pathways. Besides various well-established mechanisms by which cardiac growth and myocardial remodeling are regulated, gp130 signalling may be a newly discovered mechanism that regulates these events in association with cytoprotective effect in myocardial diseases.