Hormones and growth factors regulate cell growth via the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade. Here we examine the actions of the hormone somatostatin on the MAP kinase cascade through one of its two major receptor subtypes, the somatostatin receptor 1 (SSTR1) stably expressed in CHO-K1 cells. Somatostatin antagonizes the proliferative effects of fibroblast growth factor in CHO-SSTR1 ...

BACKGROUND Cardiac fibroblasts play important functional and pathophysiological roles. Intracellular ("intracrine") angiotensin-II (Ang-II) signaling regulates intercellular communication, excitability, and gene expression in cardiomyocytes; however, the existence and role of intracrine Ang-II signaling in cardiac fibroblasts is unstudied. Here, we evaluated the localization of Ang-II receptors...

Rationale: Cardiac ECM (extracellular matrix) comprises a dynamic molecular network providing structural support to heart tissue function. Understanding the impact of remodeling on cardiac cells during failure (HF) is essential prevent adverse ventricular and restore organ functionality in affected patients. Objectives: We aimed (1) identify consistent modifications structure mechanics that con...

Recent studies have revealed that in G protein-coupled receptor signalings switching between G protein- and beta-arrestin (betaArr)-dependent pathways occurs. In the case of opioid receptors, the signal is switched from the initial inhibition of adenylyl cyclase (AC) to an increase in AC activity (AC activation) during prolonged agonist treatment. The mechanism of such AC activation has been su...