Abbreviation	Meaning
BCA	Bicinchoninic acid assay
BNP	B-type natriuretic peptide
CTGF	Connective tissue growth factor
DAPI	4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole
ECM	Extracellular matrix
EDTA	Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
ELISA	Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
ERKs	Extracellular signal-regulated kinases
ET-1	Endothelin-1
GDF-15	Growth differentiation factor-15
HF	Heart failure
HRP	Horseradish peroxidase
HSD	Honestly significant difference
IDL	Interactive data language
IHC	Immunohistochemistry
JNKs	c-Jun Nh2-terminal kinases
LV	Left ventricular
MAPK	Mitogen-activated protein kinase
MEK	Mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase
mM	Millimolar
MMP	Matrix metalloproteinases
NIH	National Institutes of Health
PAI-1	Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1
PBS	Phosphate-buffered saline
RAAS	Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Raf	Rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma
Ras	Rat sarcoma protein
SEM	Standard error of the mean
Smad	Suppressor of mother against decapentaplegic
SNKs	Stress-activated protein kinases
TGF-β	Transforming growth factor-beta
TIMP	Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases
WB	Western blot