Thioredoxin and ventricular remodeling

Increasing bodies of evidence indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by mitochondria and other sources play an essential role in mediating ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction and the development of heart failure. Antioxidants scavenge ROS, thereby maintaining the reduced environment of cells and inhibiting ventricular remodeling in the heart. Thioredoxin not only functions as a major antioxidant in the heart but also interacts with important signaling molecules and transcription factors, thereby modulating various cellular functions. The activity of thioredoxin is regulated by a variety of mechanisms, such as transcription, localization, protein-protein interaction, and post-translational modification. In this review, we will summarize the cardiac effects of thioredoxin and the mechanisms by which thioredoxin mediates inhibition of ventricular remodeling. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.