Cardiotrophin-1: A multifaceted cytokine.

Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a member of the gp130 family of cytokines that have pleiotropic functions on different tissues and cell types. Although many effects of CT-1 have been described on the heart, there is an extensive research showing important protective effects in other organs such as liver, kidney or nervous system. Recently, several studies have pointed out that CT-1 might also play a key role in the regulation of body weight and intermediate metabolism. This paper will review many aspects of CT-1 physiological role in several organs and discuss data for consideration in therapeutic approaches.