[Effect of nifedipine on organ protection: potential application in patients with aortic aneurysm].
Useful drug therapy for inhibiting the extension of an aortic aneurysm or promoting its involution has not yet been established. Hypertension is a known risk factor for extension of an aortic aneurysm. However, on a cellular level it is believed that activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is involved in the extension of an aortic aneurysm. Nifedipine has been evaluated in a rat model of aortic aneurysm and it was found to inhibit activation of MMP and extension of the aortic aneurysm. Nifedipine also inhibited activation of NF-kappaB and these effects were independent of the antihypertensive effect of the drug. With antihypertensive and vasculoprotective effects and inhibitory actions on activation of NF-kappaB and MMP, nifedipine has potential to be a useful option in the drug treatment of patients with aortic aneurysm.
Morishita
Ryuichi
R
Division of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Tomita
Naruya
N
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D009543:Nifedipine