Amelioration of angiotensin II-induced cardiac injury by a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 104; no. 5; pp. 576 - 581
• Main Authors: DECHEND, Ralf, FIEBELER, Anette, HALLER, Hermann, PARK, Joon-Keun, MULLER, Dominik N, THEUER, Juergen, MERVAALA, Eero, BIERINGER, Markus, GULBA, Dietrich, DIETZ, Rainer, LUFT, Friedrich C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 31.07.2001
• Subjects: Angiotensin II - metabolism; Angiotensinogen - genetics; Angiotensinogen - metabolism; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Cardiovascular Diseases - mortality; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cardiovascular system; CD4 Antigens - analysis; CD8 Antigens - analysis; Collagen - analysis; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 - genetics; Fibronectins - analysis; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Heart - drug effects; Heart - physiopathology; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Immunohistochemistry; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Myocardium - chemistry; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocardium - pathology; NF-kappa B - drug effects; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Oligonucleotides - metabolism; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Protein Binding; Pyridines - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Renin - genetics; Renin - metabolism; RNA, Messenger - drug effects; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Survival Analysis; Survival Rate; Transcription Factor AP-1 - drug effects; Transcription Factor AP-1 - metabolism; Heart; Rat; Transgenic animal; Cardiovascular disease; Cerivastatin; Prevention; Vascular remodeling; Renin; Heart disease; Angiotensinogen; Complication; Aspartic endopeptidases; Transcription factor; Mechanism of action; Hypertension; Enzyme; Treatment efficiency; Cardioprotective agent; Rodentia; Enzyme inhibitor; Exploration; Statin derivative; Peptidases; Vertebrata; Chemotherapy; Mammalia; Treatment; Fibrosis; Hydrolases; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase; Oxidoreductases; Hypertrophy
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/hc3001.092039

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) have effects that extend beyond cholesterol reduction. We used an angiotensin (Ang) II-dependent model to test the hypothesis that cerivastatin ameliorates cardiac injury. We treated rats transgenic for human renin and angiotensinogen (dTGR) chronically from weeks 4 to 7 with cerivastatin (0.5 mg/kg by gavage). We used immunohistochemistry, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction techniques. Compared with control dTGR, dTGR treated with cerivastatin had reduced mortality, blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, macrophage infiltration, and collagen I, laminin, and fibronectin deposition. Basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA and protein expression were markedly reduced, as was interleukin-6 expression. The transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1 were substantially less activated, although plasma cholesterol was not decreased. These results suggest that statins ameliorate Ang II-induced hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and remodeling independently of cholesterol reduction. Although the clinical significance remains uncertain, the results suggest that statins interfere with Ang II-induced signaling and transcription factor activation, thereby ameliorating end-organ damage.