A new strategy for cardiac protection: It may be possible to treat cardiac hypertrophy and injury by using drugs that inhibit a protein called SIRT2.

A new study published in eLife suggests that inhibiting a protein called SIRT2 may be a potential strategy for treating cardiac hypertrophy and injury. Cardiac hypertrophy is a medical condition where heart muscle cells increase in size due to pressure overload, leading to heart diseases such as ischemic heart disease and heart failure. The researchers found that SIRT2 is involved in the regulation of a transcription factor called NRF2, which activates genes that protect the heart against hypertrophy and injury. Deletion of the SIRT2 gene in mice improved cardiac function and reduced markers of heart failure. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy and suggests a potential therapeutic approach through the inhibition of SIRT2. [Extracted from the article]