| First Author | Hilfiker-Kleiner D | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Circ Res | Volume | 95 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 187-95 |
| PubMed ID | 15192020 | Mgi Jnum | J:99961 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3584302 | Doi | 10.1161/01.RES.0000134921.50377.61 |
| Citation | Hilfiker-Kleiner D, et al. (2004) Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is required for myocardial capillary growth, control of interstitial matrix deposition, and heart protection from ischemic injury. Circ Res 95(2):187-95 |
| abstractText | The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) participates in a wide variety of physiological processes and directs seemingly contradictory responses such as proliferation and apoptosis. To elucidate its role in the heart, we generated mice harboring a cardiomyocyte-restricted knockout of STAT3 using Cre/loxP-mediated recombination. STAT3-deficient mice developed reduced myocardial capillary density and increased interstitial fibrosis within the first 4 postnatal months, followed by dilated cardiomyopathy with impaired cardiac function and premature death. Conditioned medium from STAT3-deficient cardiomyocytes inhibited endothelial cell proliferation and increased fibroblast proliferation, suggesting the presence of paracrine factors attenuating angiogenesis and promoting fibrosis in vitro. STAT3-deficient mice showed enhanced susceptibility to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and infarction with increased cardiac apoptosis, increased infarct sizes, and reduced cardiac function and survival. Our study establishes a novel role for STAT3 in controlling paracrine circuits in the heart essential for postnatal capillary vasculature maintenance, interstitial matrix deposition balance, and protection from ischemic injury and heart failure. |
