[Cardiac hypertrophy and calcium signaling].

Numerous studies have implicated intracellular Ca(2+) as a signal for cardiac hypertrophy. It has recently been reported that the calcium-dependent phosphatase calcineurin plays a critical role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. It is also reported that cyclosporin A and FK506, calcineurin inhibitors, inhibit the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Inhibiting the calcineurin activity may be of potential benefit for prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.