Effects of atorvastatin on calcium-regulating proteins: a possible mechanism to repair cardiac dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Previous clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that statins, the inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, can improve left ventricular function in damaged hearts. Also, the normal expression of Ca(2+) regulatory proteins is critical for efficient myocardial function. However, it is still unclear whether the beneficial effect of statins on cardiac function is associated with alterations of Ca(2+) regulatory proteins. In this study, we investigated the effect of atorvastatin on cardiac function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), focusing in particular on its impact on the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA2a), phospholamban (PLB) and its phosphorylated form (phosphorylated PLB), all of which are Ca(2+) regulatory proteins in myocardium. SHRs showed decreases in gene expression of SERCA2a and phosphorylated PLB, and reduction in SERCA activity in the left ventricular myocardium, as well as reduced cardiac function, compared to age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs). Furthermore, we showed that in SHRs atorvastatin preserved cardiac dysfunction accompanied by positive alterations in calcium regulatory proteins, with up-regulation in expression of SERCA2a and phosphorylated PLB, and with improvement of SERCA activity. Thus, atorvastatin has positive effects on calcium regulatory proteins, which may be one of the mechanisms of the beneficial effect of statins on cardiac function in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Institute of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
Lei
L
Yao
Guo-Ping
GP
Chen
Xian
X
Lu
Liang-Rong
LR
Zheng
Yun
Y
Mou
Shen-Jiang
SJ
Hu
D017311:Amlodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects; D000099211:Phospholamban
D017311:Amlodipine; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D016207:Cytokines; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D053498:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D000099211:Phospholamban