Abstract
Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2), transcription factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 are regulators of cardiac development and various pathophysiologic processes. The recent finding that p38 can directly regulate MEF2 transcription factors suggests a novel mechanism for reprogramming cardiac gene expression in response to neuroendocrine and/or stress stimulation. This review weighs the accumulating evidence for a p38 MAPK-MEF2 signal transduction cascade and discusses its role in cardiac myocyte biology.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cardiomegaly / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Heart / physiology*
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Humans
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MEF2 Transcription Factors
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
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Myocardium / cytology*
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Myocardium / metabolism*
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Myogenic Regulatory Factors
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Phosphorylation
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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MEF2 Transcription Factors
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Myogenic Regulatory Factors
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Transcription Factors
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases