Effect of carvedilol on attenuating the acute myocardial infarction-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats

Carvedilol,nonselective β-adrenoreceptor antagonist,was showed protective effects against acute myocardial infarction(AMI)-induced myocardial injury,however,the mechanisms underlying the antifibrosis effect of carvedilol has not been well known.The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential mechanism for the anti-fibrosis effect of carvedilol against AMI-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats.Methods Male SD rats were randomized into the sham group,LAD surgery-AMI model group,AMI plus low dose of carvedilol treatment group(1 mg /kg per day,CAR-L),AMI plus medium dose of carvedilol treatment group(5 mg /kg per day,CAR-M) and AMI plus high dose of carvedilol treatment group(10 mg /kg per day,CAR-H).The passage 3 neonatal SD rat cardiac fibroblasts were used for hypoxia /normoxia(2 h /4 h) treatment in the presence of carvedilol(0,1,2 and 4 μM).Results Cardiac remodeling and impaired heart function were observed after 14-week LAD surgery treatment,however,and the cardiac remodeling and decreased ejection fraction(EF%) and fractional shortening(FS%) were efficiently rescued in the CAR-M and CAR-H groups.The up-regulated expressions of Col1a1,Col3a1 and α-SMA at mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in the CAR-M and CAR-H groups.The in vitro study showed that Col1a1,Col3a1 and αSMA expressions at both mRNA and protein levels were down-regulated by carvedilol in rat cardiac fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner.Smad3 inhibitors,SIS-3 and naringenin,could efficiently decrease Col1a1,Col3a1 and α-SMA expressions in rat cardiac fibroblasts.Smad3 was shown significantly inactivated in carvedilol-treated rat cardiac fibroblasts.Conclusion Carvedilol negatively regulates Smad3 signal pathway and inhibits extracellular matrix related Col1a1,Col3a1 and α-SMA expressions,contributing to the anti-fibrosis effect of carvedilol against AMI-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats.