TY - JOUR AB - Cardiac fibrosis is a core process in the development of heart failure. However, the underlying mechanism of cardiac fibrosis remains unclear. Recently, a study found that in an isoproterenol (ISO)‑induced cardiac fibrosis animal model, there is high expression of latent‑transforming growth factor β‑binding protein 2 (LTBP2) in cardiac fibroblasts. Whether LTBP2 serves a role in cardiac fibrosis is currently unknown. In the present study, mouse cardiac fibroblasts (MCFs) were treated with 100 µM/l ISO for 24, 48, or 72 h, and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were used to knockdown LTBP2. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to determine gene and protein expression levels, respectively. Caspase‑3 serves a key role in cell apoptosis and is related to cardiac fibrosis‑induced heart failure. Caspase‑3 activity was therefore determined using a caspase‑3 assay kit, CCK8 was used to determine the rate of cell proliferation and apoptosis rates were quantified using a cell death detection ELISA kit. The present study demonstrated that cell apoptosis and LTBP2 expression increased in MCFs treated with 100 µM/l ISO in a time‑dependent manner. Expression and activity of caspase‑3 also increased in MCFs treated with 100 µM/l ISO for 48 h compared with the control group. In addition, ISO stimulation‑induced MCF apoptosis, along with the increased expression of caspase‑3 were partly abolished when LTBP2 was knocked down. In conclusion, LTBP2 expression increased in ISO‑treated MCFs and accelerated mouse cardiac fibroblast apoptosis by enhancing the expression and activity of caspase‑3. LTBP2 may therefore be a potential therapeutic target for treating patients with cardiac fibrosis. AD - Cardiovascular Department, Jinqiu Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China AU - Shi,Chunlai AU - Li,Xuan AU - Hong,Fei AU - Wang,Xueyan AU - Jiang,Tingting AU - Sun,Bingbing AU - Li,Shuang DA - 2021/10/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.10580 IS - 4 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - myocardial remodeling latent‑transforming growth factor β‑binding protein 2 mouse cardiac fibroblasts caspase‑3 apoptosis PY - 2021 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 1146 ST - Latent‑transforming growth factor β‑binding protein 2 accelerates cardiac fibroblast apoptosis by regulating the expression and activity of caspase‑3 T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Latent‑transforming growth factor β‑binding protein 2 accelerates cardiac fibroblast apoptosis by regulating the expression and activity of caspase‑3 UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10580 VL - 22 ER -