ORGANIZERS:

David Lichtstein, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Haim Rosen, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

 

Cardiac Steroids (CS) is a family of compounds that has been used in western and eastern medicines for hundreds of years. These steroids, originally extracted from plants, have been identified in animal and human tissues and are considered as hormones implicated in the regulating numerous physiological functions. The only identified receptor for these steroids is the plasma membrane Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, an enzyme responsible for the transport of sodium and potassium across the cell membrane. The interaction of CS with the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and its consequences is a major issue with tremendous implications in basic biology as well as in physiology and pharmacology.

This conference will bring together world-leading scientists in this field to enable fruitful discussions on the following major topics: the CS as a new family of hormones; the molecular interactions of CS with the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase; the effect of CS on intracellular signal transduction pathways; the physiological activities of CS in mammals; the involvement of CS^- Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase interaction in diseases; the molecular mechanisms underlining the pharmacological activities of CS.