Pioglitazone Alleviates Cardiac Fibrosis and Inhibits Endothelial to Mesenchymal Transition Induced by Pressure Overload
Background/Aims: Cardiac fibrosis, characterized by an unbalanced production and degradation of extracellular matrix components, is a common pathophysiology of multiple cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies suggested that endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) could be a source of activated...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/486220 |
| Summary: | Background/Aims: Cardiac fibrosis, characterized by an unbalanced production and degradation of extracellular matrix components, is a common pathophysiology of multiple cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies suggested that endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) could be a source of activated fibroblasts and contribute to cardiac fibrosis. Here, the role of pioglitazone (PIO) in cardiac fibrosis and EndMT was elaborated. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to aortic banding (AB), which was used to construct a model of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. PIO and GW9662 was given for 4 weeks to detect the effects of PIO on EndMT. Results: Our results showed PIO treatment attenuated cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction and fibrosis response to pressure overload. Mechanistically, PIO suppressed the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway activated by 4-week AB surgery. Moreover, PIO dramatically inhibited EndMT in vivo and in vitro stimulated by pressure overload or TGF-β. A selective antagonist of PPAR-γ, GW9662, neutralized the anti-fibrotic effect and abolished the inhibitory effect of EndMT during the treatment of PIO. Conclusion: Our data implied that PIO exerts an alleviative effect on cardiac fibrosis via inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and EndMT by activating PPAR-γ. |
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| ISSN: | 1015-8987 1421-9778 |