Role of Sirtuins in Regulating Pathophysiology of the Heart

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are expanding at an alarming rate and people's propensity to develop them increases with age. Growing evidence indicates that sirtuins play a pivotal role in regulating a multitude of age-related diseases. Sirtuins are versatile molecules conserved from archaea to mammals. They are regulated by various metabolic and environmental stimuli. Seven sirtuin homologs (SIRT1-7) are present in mammals, with diverse cellular locations. Recent studies have delineated roles of sirtuins in regulating cardiac pathophysiological conditions under various stressors. SIRT1 is the most extensively studied sirtuin, while the role of other sirtuins in maintaining cardiac growth and function is still emerging. In this review we discuss the present understanding of the role of sirtuins in regulating pathophysiological conditions of the heart.