Unanticipated signaling events associated with cardiac adenylyl cyclase gene transfer.

The published papers on the effects of increased cardiac expression of adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6) are reviewed. These include the effects of AC on normal and failing left ventricle in several pathophysiological models in mice and pigs. In addition, the effects of increased expression of AC6 in cultured neonatal and adult rat cardiac myocytes are discussed in the context of attempting to establish mechanisms for the unanticipated beneficial effects of AC6 on the failing heart. This article is part of a Special Section entitled "Special Section: Cardiovascular Gene Therapy".