Modulation of growth factors in experimental cardiomyopathy

Different types of cardiomyopathies are associated with variable hypertrophic response. A number of growth factors are thought to play a role in pathologic cardiac remodeling. We compared the modulation of the TGF- superfamily and IGF-1 signaling pathways and their target genes, the cell cycle regulatory proteins in tachycardia-induced dilated cardiomyopathy, a model with no detectable hypertrophy and in ischemic cardiomyopathy, a model with a marked hypertrophic reaction. Tachycardiomyopathy was characterized by chambers dilation with no identifiable hypertrophy. Ischemic cardiomyopathy was characterized by eccentric hypertrophy.