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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Viral Transgene Expression in Rodent Hearts and the Assessment of Cardiac Arrhythmia Risk
Published on: July 27, 2022
The Epac1 Protein: Pharmacological Modulators, Cardiac Signalosome and Pathophysiology
Marion Bouvet1,2, Jean-Paul Blondeau3, Frank Lezoualc'h1,2
1INSERM UMR-1048, Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires, 31432 Toulouse, France.
Abstract:
The second messenger 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is one of the most important signalling molecules in the heart as it regulates many physiological and pathophysiological processes. In addition to the classical protein kinase A (PKA) signalling route, the exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac) mediate the intracellular functions of cAMP and are now emerging as a new key cAMP effector in cardiac pathophysiology. In this review, we provide a perspective on recent advances in the discovery of new chemical entities targeting the Epac1 isoform and illustrate their use to study the Epac1 signalosome and functional characterisation in cardiac cells. We summarize the role of Epac1 in different subcompartments of the cardiomyocyte and discuss how cAMP-Epac1 specific signalling networks may contribute to the development of cardiac diseases. We also highlight ongoing work on the therapeutic potential of Epac1-selective small molecules for the treatment of cardiac disorders.
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