Molecular Mechanisms in Cardiac Hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy is when heart muscle cells grow larger, often due to stress from high blood pressure or increased workload. This growth involves complex molecular pathways, including signals from hormones and stress-related proteins. Key players are proteins called growth factors, which promote cell growth, and molecules that activate genes responsible for muscle development. While this adaptation can initially help the heart cope, excessive hypertrophy may lead to heart malfunction, as the enlarged cells can become stiff and less effective, ultimately risking heart failure. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing treatments to prevent heart-related diseases.