Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, protects against excessive endurance exercise training-induced cardiac hypertrophy, apoptosis and fibrosis in rats

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2012 Aug;112(8):2943-55. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-2270-z. Epub 2011 Dec 9.

Abstract

Excessive endurance exercise training (EEET) is accompanied by cardiac remodeling, changes in ventricular function and increased heart failure risk. Fasudil, a potent Rho-kinase inhibitor, has been demonstrated to blunt cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, cardiac remodeling, and heart failure progression in pre-clinical trials and has been approved for clinical use in Japan. We examined the in vivo bioefficacy of fasudil against EEET-induced cardiac remodeling and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sedentary control (SC), EEET, and EEET with fasudil treatment (EEET-F). Rats in EEET and EEET-F groups ran on a motorized treadmill for 12 weeks. The results revealed that EEET increased myocardial hypertrophy (LV weight/tibial length), myocyte cross-sectional area, hypertrophy-related pathways (IL6/STAT3-MEK5-ERK5, calcineurin-NFATc3, p38 and JNK MAPK), hypertrophic markers (ANP/BNP), pro-apoptotic molecules (cytochrome C, cleaved caspase-3 and PARP), and fibrosis-related pathways (FGF-2-ERK1/2) and fibrosis markers (uPA, MMP-9 and -2). These pathways were then expressed lower in the EEET-F group when compared with the EEET group. The cardiac hypertrophic level, apoptotic pathway and fibrosis signaling were further inhibited in the fasudil-treated group. We systematically investigated the possible signaling pathways leading to EEET-induced cardiac hypertrophy, apoptosis and fibrosis. We also provide evidence for the novel function of fasudil in suppressing EEET-induced cardiac remodeling and impairment by multiple mechanisms, which suggests that the RhoA signaling pathway contributes to EEET-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cardiomegaly / enzymology
  • Cardiomegaly / etiology
  • Cardiomegaly / pathology
  • Cardiomegaly / prevention & control*
  • Fibrosis
  • Male
  • Myocardium / enzymology*
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Physical Endurance*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Remodeling / drug effects
  • rho-Associated Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Biomarkers
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • 1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • fasudil