Augmentation of autophagy by mTOR-inhibition in myocardial infarction: When size matters

Autophagy. 2010 Feb;6(2):304-6. doi: 10.4161/auto.6.2.11135. Epub 2010 Feb 6.

Abstract

The extent of adverse myocardial remodeling contributes essentially to the prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI). Currently, therapeutic strategies that inhibit remodeling are limited to inhibition of neurohumoral activation. mTOR-dependent signaling mechanisms are centrally involved in the myocardial remodeling process. There exists a controversy as to whether autophagy is beneficial in the setting of myocardial infarction. We now provide evidence that induction of autophagy by inhibition of mTOR with everolimus (RAD) prevents adverse left ventricular remodeling and limits infarct size following myocardial infarction. mTOR inhibition increases autophagy and concomitantly decreases proteasome activity especially in the border zone of the infarcted myocardium. The induction of autophagy via mTOR inhibition is a novel potential therapeutic approach to limit infarct size and to attenuate adverse left ventricular remodeling following MI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy* / drug effects
  • Everolimus
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy
  • Myocardial Infarction / metabolism*
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology*
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Sirolimus / analogs & derivatives
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ventricular Remodeling / drug effects

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ubiquitin
  • Everolimus
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Sirolimus