The Cerebral Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor (CDNF) promotes cardioprotection via activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway and plasma membrane KDEL receptor

Ischemic heart disease is the biggest cause of death in the world. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the treatment of these diseases. Cardiomyokines are a group of promising proteins with paracrine and endocrine roles and have shown high cardioprotective potential. The neurotrophic factors (NF) MANF (Mesencephalic Astrocyte derived Neurotrophic Factor) and CDNF (Cerebral Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor) form a new family of NF. Recently, MANF has been described as a new cardiomyokine. However, little is known about the role of CDNF in the cardiac context.