Subsequent research by the same group demonstrated that Areg promotes phosphorylation of Cx43 which results in the proper formation of gap junctions among CMs, and enhances cardiac conduction [66], thus, the depletion of cardiac-resident macrophages or Areg not only blunts the hypertrophic response after pulmonary artery banding but also leads to fatal cardiac arrhythmias development [66,93]. This evidence concerns the gene AREG and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.