Balsam LB, Mokhtari GK, Jones S, Peterson S, Hoyt EG, Kofidis T, Tanaka M, Cooke DT, Robbins RC. Early Inhibition of Caspase-3 Activity Lessens the Development of Graft Coronary Artery Disease.
J Heart Lung Transplant 2005;
24:827-32. [PMID:
15982609 DOI:
10.1016/j.healun.2004.05.015]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2004] [Revised: 04/25/2004] [Accepted: 05/09/2004] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The role of apoptosis in the development of graft coronary artery disease (GCAD) is poorly understood. We have previously shown that early overexpression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 lessens the development of GCAD. We hypothesized that early inhibition of apoptosis with a caspase-3 inhibitor would also lessen the development of GCAD.
METHODS
Heterotopic heart transplantation was performed in 4 groups of rats. Donor hearts were pretreated with 50 microg DEVD-CHO, a cell-permeable caspase-3 inhibitor, or vehicle. Recipient animals were pretreated with 1.7 mg/kg intraperitoneal DEVD-CHO or vehicle. Animals were treated with 7.5 mg/kg/d cyclosporine for 10 days to prevent acute rejection. On post-operative day 90, the animals were sacrificed and the transplanted hearts were assessed morphometrically for evidence of GCAD.
RESULTS
At 90 days, intimal proliferation was significantly higher in vehicle treated animals than in inhibitor treated animals. Moreover, the percentage of vessels with high-grade occlusion (>50%) was also lower in inhibitor treated animals.
CONCLUSIONS
Early inhibition of caspase-3 activity with cell-permeable DEVD-CHO lessens the development of GCAD. Caspase-3 inhibition may be a useful strategy for prevention of GCAD in clinical transplantation.
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