Effects of atorvastatin on calciumregulating prot

Authors: Lei Yao GuoPing Chen Xian Lu LiangRong Zheng Yun Mou ShenJiang Hu

Publish Date: 2008/10/03

Volume: 104, Issue: 3, Pages: 258-268

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Abstract

Previous clinical and experimental studies have demonstrated that statins the inhibitors of 3hydroxy3methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase can improve left ventricular function in damaged hearts Also the normal expression of Ca2+ 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 Ca2+ 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 Ca2+adenosine triphosphatase SERCA2a phospholamban PLB and its phosphorylated form phosphorylated PLB all of which are Ca2+ 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 agematched Wistar Kyoto rats WKYs Furthermore we showed that in SHRs atorvastatin preserved cardiac dysfunction accompanied by positive alterations in calcium regulatory proteins with upregulation 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 ratsWe express our sincere gratitude to Dr Iain C Bruce for revising this manuscript This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant No 30470715 the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China No 20040335118 and the Research Fund of the Health Agency of Zhejiang Province No 2007A078 and was supported in part by the EInstitute of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission of China No E04010

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