USP38 and cardiac hypertrophy: After Ang II stimulation, the protein levels of ANP, β-MHC and USP38 in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were markedly increased, while no such phenomenon was observed in the USP38 protein expression of neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) (Figure 1D and 1E). These results indicate that the upregulation of USP38 may be associated with the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy.