Cannabinoid receptor 1 inhibition improves cardiac function and remodelling after myocardial infarction and in experimental metabolic syndrome

Svetlana Slavic, Dilyara Lauer, Manuela Sommerfeld, Ulrich Rudolf Kemnitz, Aleksandra Grzesiak, Manuela Trappiel, Christa Thoene-Reineke, Johannes Baulmann, Ludovit Paulis, Kai Kappert, Ulrich Kintscher, Thomas Unger, Elena Kaschina*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, are expressed in the heart, but their role under pathological conditions remains controversial. This study examined the effect of CB1 receptor blockade on cardiovascular functions after experimental MI and in experimental metabolic syndrome. MI was induced in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. Treatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (10 mg/kg i.p. daily) started 7 days before or 6 h after MI and continued for 6 weeks. Haemodynamic parameters were measured via echocardiography and intracardiac Samba catheter. CB1 blockade improved systolic and diastolic heart function, decreased cardiac collagen and hydroxyproline content and down-regulated TGF-beta 1. Additionally, rimonabant decreased arterial stiffness, normalised QRS complex duration and reduced brain natriuretic peptide levels in serum. In primary cardiac fibroblasts, rimonabant decreased MMP-9 activity and TGF-beta 1 expression. Furthermore, rimonabant improved depressed systolic function of spontaneously hypertensive obese rats and reduced weight gain. Blocking of CB1 receptor with rimonabant improves cardiac functions in the early and late stages after MI, decreases arterial stiffness and reduces cardiac remodelling. Rimonabant also has cardioprotective actions in rats characterised by the metabolic syndrome. Inhibition of proteolysis and TGF-beta 1 expression and reduced collagen content by rimonabant may attenuate destruction of the extracellular matrix and decrease fibrosis after MI.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)811-823
JournalJournal of Molecular Medicine
Volume91
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2013

Keywords

  • Cannabinoid receptor
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Fibrosis
  • Arterial stiffness
  • Rimonabant

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