Patent ID: 6201165
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: A01K,A61K,A61P,C12N,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of screening for substances potentially useful in treating cardiac hypertrophy:(a) contacting a first substantially isolated cardiomyocyte with a substance, said first cardiomyocyte comprising a transgene selected from the group consisting of a calcineurin transgene, a calcium calmodulin dependent kinase IV (CaMKIV) transgene, a calcium calmodulin dependent kinase II alpha (A and B) (CaMKII.alpha.) transgene, a p38 transgene, a MKK6 transgene, and a transgene encoding a functional fragment of calcineurin, CaMKIV, CaMKIIa, p38, or MKK6;(b) measuring a cardiac hypertrophy parameter of the first cardiomyocyte in the presence of the substance; and(c) providing a control by measuring the cardiac hypertrophy parameter in a second substantially isolated cardiomyocyte not contacted with the substance, said second cardiomyocyte comprising the same transgene as said first cardiomyocyte,wherein modulation of the cardiac hypertrophy parameter by the substance as compared to the control indicates that the substance is potentially useful in treating cardiac hypertrophy.