Ouabain prevents pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure through activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase α in mouse

Abstract

Our results show that (a) safe doses of ouabain prevent or delay cardiac remodeling of pressure overloaded mouse heart; and (b) these prophylactic effects are due to ouabain binding to α2-isoform resulting in the selective activation of PI3Kα. Our findings also suggest that potential prophylactic use of digitalis for prevention of heart failure in man deserves serious consideration.