Abstract

Background: The sodium/potassium- adenosine- triphosphatase (Na+/K+-ATPase) is an important mediator in vasculature tone and contractility, and its abnormal regulation has been implicated in many diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and hypertension. Decreased Na+/K+-ATPase abundance and its altered isoform expression induce cardiomyocytes death and cardiac dysfunction, possibly leading to the development of myocardial dilation and heart failure. Therefore, the regulation of Na+/K+-ATPase activity/expression could be important in treatment and possible prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases. A number of hormones and environmental factors regulate the function of Na+/K+-ATPase in response to changing cellular requirements. Estradiol and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are among potent hormones that positively regulate Na+/K+- ATPase activity or de novo synthesis of α - and β - subunits. Both estradiol and IGF-1 have a huge therapeutic potential in treatment of vasculopathy in cardio-metabolic diseases.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and PUBMED databases for all English and non-English articles with an English abstract from April 1978 to May 2016. The main data search terms were: Na+/K+-ATPase; estradiol and Na+/K+-ATPase; estradiol, Na+/K+-ATPase and CVS; estradiol, Na+/K+-ATPase and CVD; estradiol, Na+/K+- ATPase and obesity; estradiol, Na+/K+-ATPase and diabetes; estradiol, Na+/K+-ATPase and hypertension; IGF-1; IGF-1 and Na+/K+-ATPase; IGF-1, Na+/K+-ATPase and CVS; IGF-1, Na+/K+-ATPase and CVD; IGF-1, Na+/K+- ATPase and obesity; IGF-1, Na+/K+-ATPase and diabetes; IGF-1, Na+/K+-ATPase and hypertension.

Results: The present review discusses the latest data from animal and human studies which focus on the effects of estradiol and IGF-1 on Na+/K+-ATPase regulation in physiological and pathophysiological conditions in cardiovascular system.

Conclusion: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of estradiol and IGF-1 action on Na+/K+-ATPase in humans, may help resolving outstanding issues and developing new strategies for the protection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Sodium potassium adenosine-triphosphatase, estradiol, insulin like growth factor-1, cardio-metabolic diseases.