Opposing roles of Akt and STAT3 in the protection of the maternal heart from peripartum stress
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Raymond
Postpartum Akt activation is detrimental for the peripartum heart as it lowers anti-oxidative defence and in combination with low STAT3 conditions, accelerate cardiac inflammation and fibrosis. PRL and its cleaved 16 kDa form are central for Akt-induced PPCM as indicated by the protection from the disease by PRL blockade.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy in previously healthy women. Mice with a cardiomyocyte-restricted deletion of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3, CKO) develop PPCM. PI3K-Akt signalling is thought to promote cardiac hypertrophy and protection during pregnancy.We evaluated the role of activated Akt signalling in the maternal heart postpartum.