
Maria Gomez
Professor

Nuclear factor of activated T-cells transcription factors in the vasculature: the good guys or the bad guys?
Author
Summary, in English
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) proteins are a family of Ca/calcineurin-dependent transcription factors that were first characterized in T-lymphocytes as inducers of cytokine gene expression. Since then, NFAT proteins have been shown to play varied roles outside of the immune system, including in the cardiovascular system. Cells in the vessel wall display a diverse array of Ca signaling modalities, which are subject to change during disease. The fact that NFAT proteins are able to decode and translate these signals into changes in gene expression makes them potential regulators of vascular pathogenesis. RECENT FINDINGS: It is now clear that NFAT signaling is required for normal vascular patterning during embryogenesis and for vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis. The overall role of NFAT signaling in the vasculature, however, is less clear during adult life. This review aims to give an update on mechanisms that regulate NFAT activation in vascular cells, with an emphasis on the role of mitochondria and of upstream activators such as lipids and glucose. It also addresses recent work implicating NFAT proteins as mediators of vascular disease. SUMMARY: A better understanding of the NFAT-signaling pathway in the vasculature may open up an unexplored area for the development of new therapeutic approaches for treating vascular disease.
Department/s
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö
- Diabetic Complications
- Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis
Publishing year
2008
Language
English
Pages
483-490
Publication/Series
Current Opinion in Lipidology
Volume
19
Issue
5
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Topic
- Clinical Medicine
Status
Published
Research group
- Diabetic Complications
- Cardiovascular Research - Immunity and Atherosclerosis
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1473-6535