Myocardial protection by pioglitazone, atorvastatin, and their combination: Mechanisms and possible interactions

Yumei Ye, Yu Lin, Shaul Atar, Ming He Huang, Jose R. Perez-Polo, Barry F. Uretsky, Yochai Birnbaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

73 Scopus citations

Abstract

We assessed 1) whether pretreatment before ischemia with pioglitazone (Pio) limits infarct size (IS) and whether this protective effect is due to nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and/or prostaglandin production, as has been shown for atorvastatin (ATV); and 2) whether Pio and ATV have synergistic effects on myocardial protection. Sprague-Dawley rats received oral ATV (10 mg·kg-1·day-1), Pio (10 mg·kg -1·day-1), their combination (Pio + ATV), or water alone for 3 days. Additional rats received Pio (10 mg·kg -1·day-1) for 3 days and intravenous SC-58125 [a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor] or SC-560 (a COX-1 inhibitor) 15 min before ischemia. Rats underwent 30 min of myocardial ischemia and 4 h of reperfusion, or hearts were harvested for analysis. IS in the Pio and in the ATV groups was significantly smaller than in the sham-treated group. IS in the Pio + ATV group was smaller than in all other groups (P < 0.001 vs. each group). The protective effect of Pio was abrogated by SC-58125 but not by SC-560. Pio, ATV, and Pio + ATV increased the expression and activity of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and COX-2. ATV increased phosphorylated-Akt, phosphorylated-endothelial NOS (P-eNOS), inducible NOS, and COX-2 levels. In contrast, Pio caused an insignificant increase in myocardial levels of phosphorylated-Akt but did not change P-eNOS and iNOS expression. In conclusion, the IS-limiting effects of Pio and ATV involve COX-2. However, the upstream steps differ. ATV induced eNOS phosphorylation and iNOS, cPLA2, and COX-2 expression, whereas Pio induced mainly the expression and activity of cPLA2. The effects of Pio and ATV were additive.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)H1158-H1169
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume291
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

Keywords

  • Cyclooxygenase-2
  • Cytosolic phospholipase A
  • Infarct size
  • Nitric oxide synthase
  • Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10, anti-Src homology 2-containing inositol phosphatase-2
  • Protein kinase Akt
  • Statins
  • Thiazolidinediones

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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