Cardiotrophin-1 Factor
Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a cardiac hypertrophic factor with cardiac myocyte protective properties. CT-1 belongs to the interleukin-6 cytokine family and acts through LIF receptor ß/glycoprotein 130 (gp130)-coupled signaling pathways.
CT-1 intracellular signaling pathways enlist kinases (ERK, MAP, JAK) but also STAT and PI3-kinase/Akt systems.
Cardiac CT-1 expression is increased by hypoxia, where it protects cardiac myocytes from ischemic injury and apoptosis.