GENES UP-REGULATED IN HYPERTROPHIED VENTRICLE

We isolated 8 genes whose expression is modulated during cardiac devel opment. The expressions of 6 of these eight genes were modulated durin g the development of cardiac hypertrophy and/or during the transition to heart failure. In particular, the expression levels of the pro alph a-1 collagen, tissue type II transglutaminase, and vimentin genes were markedly increased during the transition to heart failure. Up-regulat ion of the pro alpha-1 collagen and vimentin genes may reflect activat ion of interstitial cells during the transition to heart failure. Up-r egulation of the tissue type II transglutaminase gene during the trans ition to heart failure is intriguing, since this enzyme has been sugge sted to be involved in the activation of latent TGF-beta. (C) 1995 Aca demic Press, Inc.