1. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart disease and has been shown to strongly induce the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). It remains unknown whether 14-3-3 proteins, which are associated the regulation of signal transduction, affect IGF-I-induced CF proliferation. 2. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 14-3-3 proteins on CF proliferation in response to IGF-I. Proliferation of CFs was determined by cell counting and a bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay. Phosphorylation of signalling molecules was evaluated by western blottling. Activity of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) was examined using a dual luciferase reporter gene assay and immunofluorescence. 3. It was found that adenovirus-mediated transfection of YFP-R18 peptide (AdR18), a known inhibitor of 14-3-3, significantly enhanced IGF-I-induced CF proliferation. This potentiation arose from an increase in phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and AKT (protein kinase B), inactivation of glycogen synthesis kinase (GSK) 3beta and increased NFAT activity. 4. Collectively, the results of the present study suggest that 14-3-3 proteins inhibit IGF-I-induced CF proliferation via a PI3-K-dependent NFAT signalling pathway. This finding may contribute to our understanding of the function of 14-3-3 proteins in the heart.