Pioglitazone Protected against Cardiac Hypertrophy via Inhibiting AKT/GSK3β and MAPK Signaling Pathways.
Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has been closely involved in the process of cardiovascular diseases. This study was to investigate whether pioglitazone (PIO), a PPARγ agonist, could protect against pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Mice were orally given PIO (2.5 mg/kg) from 1 week after aortic banding and continuing for 7 weeks. The morphological examination and biochemical analysis were used to evaluate the effects of PIO. Neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes were also used to verify the protection of PIO against hypertrophy in vitro. The results in our study demonstrated that PIO remarkably inhibited hypertrophic response induced by aortic banding in vivo. Besides, PIO also suppressed cardiac fibrosis in vivo. PIO treatment also inhibited the activation of protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the heart. In addition, PIO alleviated angiotensin II-induced hypertrophic response in vitro. In conclusion, PIO could inhibit cardiac hypertrophy via attenuation of AKT/GSK3β and MAPK pathways.
Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China.
Wen-Ying
WY
Wei
Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China.
Zhen-Guo
ZG
Ma
Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China.
Si-Chi
SC
Xu
Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China.
Ning
N
Zhang
Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Jiefang Road 238, Wuhan 430060, China.
Qi-Zhu
QZ
Tang