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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats
Published on: February 16, 2011
The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway--a potential target for intervention in infarction, hypertrophy, and
Michael S Marber1, Beth Rose, Yibin Wang
1King's College London BHF Centre, Cardiovascular Division, The Rayne Institute, St. Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom. mike.marber@kcl.ac.uk
Abstract:
The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38s) are stress-activated Ser/Thr kinases. Their activation has been associated with various pathological stressors in the heart. Activated p38 is implicated in a wide spectrum of cardiac pathologies, including hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, as well as systolic and diastolic heart failure. In this review, the specific contribution of different isoforms of p38 kinases to cardiac diseases as well as TAB-1-mediated non-canonical activation pathway are discussed as a rationale for inhibiting p38 activity to treat cardiac hypertrophy, ischemic injury, and heart failure. Finally, a summary of current clinical trials targeting p38 kinases in cardiovascular diseases is provided to highlight the potential promise as well as existing challenges of this therapeutic approach. This article is part of a special issue entitled "Key Signaling Molecules in Hypertrophy and Heart Failure."
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