Chronic Psychological Stress Induces Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy Through Corticosterone‐Glucocorticoid Receptor‐LAMA5 Axis

Abstract Chronic psychological stress is closely related to myocardial diseases, but the pathological processes and related mechanisms are not yet clear. In this study, 5 batches of animal experiments are conducted to reveal the pathological process of chronic psychological stress on the heart, and found that cardiomyocyte hypertrophy is an early manifestation of cardiac damage. Furthermore, it is discovered that corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) play an important role in mediating this phenomenon. Additionally, a new direct target gene of GR, Lama5 , is identified and confirmed in vivo and in vitro that the corticosterone‐GR‐LAMA5 axis is a significant pathway mediating chronic psychological stress‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Moreover, the potential of LAMA5 is validated as a biomarker for myocardial hypertrophy and impaired cardiac function in patients with depression. In summary, a novel hypertrophy‐related gene, Lama5 has been identified, that may play an important role in chronic psychological stress‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.