Nicorandil regulates the macrophage skewing and ameliorates myofibroblasts by inhibition of RhoA/Rho-kinase signalling in infarcted rats.

ABSTRACT: We have demonstrated that ATP-sensitive potassium (K_ATP ) channel agonists attenuated fibrosis; however, the mechanism remained unclear. Since RhoA has been identified as a mediator of cardiac fibrosis, we sought to determine whether the anti-fibrotic effects of K_ATP channel agonists were mediated via regulating macrophage phenotype and fibroblast differentiation by a RhoA/RhoA-kinase-dependent pathway. Wistar male rats after induction of myocardial infarction were randomized to either vehicle, nicorandil, an antagonist of K_ATP channel glibenclamide, an antagonist of ROCK fasudil, or a combination of nicorandil and glibenclamide or fasudil and glibenclamide starting 24 hrs after infarction. There were similar infarct sizes among the infarcted groups. At day

SUBMITTER: Lee TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5783972 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature