Keywords

cigarette smoke, echocardiography, ventricular remodelling, mitogen-activated protein kinases

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effects of cigarette smoke (CS) exposure on the expression/activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK1/2], p38-kinase [p38] and c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase [JNK]), norepinephrine (NE) levels and myocardial structure and function.

Methods: Rats were randomised to two groups: CS-exposed (n=12) or room air (CON) (n=10). After 5 weeks, the animals underwent echocardiography with pulse-wave Doppler flow measurements. Hearts were removed for microscopy and Western blot analysis.

Results: CS exposure was associated with significant increases in NE urinary levels and larger ventricular dimensions (mm) (CON=left ventricular end diastolic dimension [LVEDD] 7.99±0.10, LVend systolic dimension [LVESD] 4.55±0.20, CS=LVEDD 8.3±0.10, LVESD 5.3±0.09, p=0.026, p=0.003). There was also evidence of systolic dysfunction in the CS-exposed group compared to the CON group (fractional shortening %, CON=43±2, CS=36±.09, p=0.010). In CS-exposed hearts, significant increases in phosphorylated p38/total p38 (0.975±0.05) and phosphorylated ERK1/2/totalERK1/2 (1.919±0.050) were found compared to CON hearts (0.464±0.008, 0.459±0.050, respectively). No significant differences were found in JNK levels between the groups.

Conclusions: Increased NE levels and MAPK activation are associated with CS-related left ventricular remodelling. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.

Original Citation

Gu, L., Pandey, V., Geenen, D. L., Chowdhury, S. A. K., & Piano, M. R. (2008). Cigarette smoke-induced left ventricular remodelling is associated with activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. European Journal of Heart Failure, 10(11), 1057–1064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejheart.2008.08.009

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