Effect of inhibitors of signal transduction on IGF-1-induced protein synthesis associated with hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes

IGF-1 increased 2-fold protein synthesis in cardiac myocytes. Genistein, whether added during preincubation or with IGF-I at the start of incubation, significantly inhibited the IGF-1-induced stimulation of protein synthesis, autophosphorylation of the beta-subunit of IGF-1 receptor and inhibition of ERK. When added 1 or 6 h after IGF-I, however, genistein was without effect. IGF-l-stimulated protein synthesis was also significantly inhibited by PD-098059, staurosporine, and rapamycin, but not by wortmannin, in cardiac myocytes. Some inhibitors produced a reduction in cell size. Activation of the ERK cascade by IGF-1 mag be responsible for some of the features associated with cardiac myocyte hypertrophy. (C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.