Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase attenuates left ventricular dysfunction by mediating pro-inflammatory cardiac cytokine levels in a mouse model of diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effect of SB 203580, a pharmacological inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), on cardiac inflammation, cardiac fibrosis, and left ventricular function using an animal model of diabetic cardiomyopathy.


METHODS
Diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin (50 mg/kg i.p. for 5 days) in 20 C57/BL6J mice. Diabetic mice were treated daily with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB 203580 (1 mg/kg daily, n=10) or with placebo (n=10) and were compared to non-diabetic controls. Left ventricular function was measured by pressure-volume loops after 8 weeks of diabetes mellitus. The parameters for systolic function were the end systolic pressure-volume relationship (ESPVR) and the left ventricular end systolic pressure. The parameters for diastolic function were the left ventricular end diastolic pressure and the end diastolic pressure-volume relationship (EDPVR). Cardiac tissue was analysed by ELISA for the protein content of the cytokines TNF-alpha, IL6, IL1-beta, and TGF-beta1. Phosphorylation of MAPK p38 was analysed by western blot, and the total cardiac collagen content was analysed by Sirius red staining.


RESULTS
Left ventricular dysfunction was documented by impaired ESPVR and EDPVR. Cardiac cytokine levels and cardiac fibrosis were increased in diabetic animals compared to controls. Treatment with the p38 inhibitor normalised cardiac cytokine levels and improved systolic function, but did not change cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction compared to placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK prevents cardiac inflammation and attenuates left ventricular dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Westermann
D
D
Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Charité University Hospital, Benjamin Franklin Campus, Berlin, Germany.
Rutschow
S
S
Van Linthout
S
S
Linderer
A
A
Bücker-Gärtner
C
C
Sobirey
M
M
Riad
A
A
Pauschinger
M
M
Schultheiss
H-P
HP
Tschöpe
C
C
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580