Cardiotrophin-1

CT-1 is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines which also includes LIF, CNTF, OSM (Oncostatin M), IL-11, IL-6 and possibly NT-1/ BSF-3. CT-1 is a pleiotrophic cytokine which is expressed in various tissues including the adult heart, skeletal muscle, ovary, colon, prostate and fetal lung and signals through the LIF receptor and the gp130 receptor subunit. CT-1 has the ability to induce cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, and enhances the survival of cardiomyocyte and different neuronal populations. Biologically active human CT-1 is synthesized as a 201 amino acid polypeptide lacking a hydrophobic N-terminal secretion signal sequence. Recombinant Human Cardiotrophin-1 is a 21.5 kDa protein consisting of 201 amino acid residues.