To the heart of the problem. mIGF-1: local effort for global impact.

A primed immune system can constitute an hormetic advantage for responding to a potential cardiac tissue damage. In this context, further studies should better address the causes of hypertension, taking into consideration epigenetic phenomena and environmental factors. This would help to better define whether essential hypertension could be replaced by other terms with precise pathophysiological characteristics. Together, these observations support hypothesis that the mIGF-1/SIRT1 pathway maintains the "youth heart" and renders the cardiac muscle more responsive and resistant to different pathologic stimuli.