Regulation of MEF2 by p38 MAPK and its implication in cardiomyocyte biology.

Myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2), transcription factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 are regulators of cardiac development and various pathophysiologic processes. The recent finding that p38 can directly regulate MEF2 transcription factors suggests a novel mechanism for reprogramming cardiac gene expression in response to neuroendocrine and/or stress stimulation. This review weighs the accumulating evidence for a p38 MAPK-MEF2 signal transduction cascade and discusses its role in cardiac myocyte biology.