Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Suppression of Pro-fibrotic Signaling Potentiates Factor-mediated Reprogramming of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts into Induced Cardiomyocytes
Published on: June 3, 2018
Cardiac hormones activate ERK 1/2 kinases in human fibroblasts
Y Sun1, E J Eichelbaum, H Wang
1Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, James A. Haley Veterans Medical Center and University of South Florida Cardiac Hormone Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA.
Abstract:
Two cardiac hormones, vessel dilator and kaliuretic peptide, localize to fibroblasts with immunohistochemistry. Vessel dilator and kaliuretic peptide were investigated in dose-response and time-sequenced experiments for their cell signaling of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 in human fibroblasts to test the hypothesis that these two cardiovascular hormones contribute to fibroblast proliferation by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2. Vessel dilator at 10 pM (physiological range) enhanced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 by 188+/-9% (p<0.001) in 10 min and, maximally, by 200+/-10% in 15 min (p<0.001). Vessel dilator at 10 nM enhanced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 by 107+/-5% (p<0.01) in 10 min. Kaliuretic peptide at 10 pM enhanced the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 by 389+/-19% in 10 min (p<0.001). Kaliuretic peptide at 10 nM enhanced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 by 82+/-4% (p<0.01). Our results show that both cardiac hormones activate extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 in human fibroblasts, suggesting that they may have a role in enhancing fibroblast proliferation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Pathways
MAPK Signaling Cascades
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Secondary Messengers in Hormone Action
Many hormones bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that connect to regulatory G proteins. These G proteins can then activate enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase C. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP, activating...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...

