title: Connective tissue growth factor and cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction.
abstract: The temporal and spatial expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was assessed in the left ventricle of a myocardial infarction (MI) model of injury with and without angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Coronary artery ligated rats were killed 1, 3, 7, 28, and 180 days after MI. TGF-beta(1), CTGF, and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA were localized by in situ hybridization, and TGF-beta(1) and CTGF protein levels by immunohistochemistry. Collagen protein was measured using picrosirius red staining. In a separate group, rats were treated for 6 months with an ACE inhibitor. There were temporal and regional differences in the expression of TGF-beta(1), CTGF, and collagen after MI. Procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression increased in the border zone and scar peaking 1 week after MI, whereas collagen protein increased in all areas of the heart over the 180 days. Expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA and protein showed major increases in the border zone and scar peaking 1 week after MI. The major increases in CTGF mRNA and protein occurred in the viable myocardium at 180 days after MI. Long-term ACE inhibition reduced left ventricular mass and decreased fibrosis in the viable myocardium, but had no effect on cardiac TGF-beta(1) or CTGF. TGF-beta(1) is involved in the initial, acute phase of inflammation and repair after MI, whereas CTGF is involved in the ongoing fibrosis of the heart. The antifibrotic benefits of captopril are not mediated through a reduction in CTGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. rdean@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Rachael G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.forename: Leanne C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Balding
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Candido
authors.forename: Wendy C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Zemin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Twigg
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Burrell
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D005355:Fibrosis; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; C526316:CCN2 protein, rat; D024042:Collagen Type I; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D002216:Captopril