Eid RA, Alkhateeb MA, Al-Shraim M, Eleawa SM, Shatoor AS, El-Kott AF, Zaki MSA, Shatoor KA, Bin-Jaliah I, Al-Hashem FH. Ghrelin prevents cardiac cell apoptosis during cardiac remodelling post experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats via activation of Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling.
Arch Physiol Biochem 2019;
125:93-103. [PMID:
29447000 DOI:
10.1080/13813455.2018.1437751]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT
Mechanisms by which ghrelin affords its cardioprotection in mammals remained unclear.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if ghrelin confers cardio-protection during cardiac remodelling post-MI by modulating the RAF-1-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling pathway.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Rats were divided into control, sham, sham + ghrelin, myocardial infarction (MI), and MI + ghrelin groups. Ghrelin (100 µg/kg) was administered for 21 days, starting one-day post-MI.
RESULTS
Ghrelin enhanced cardiac contractility and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, lowered serum levels of enzyme markers of cardiac dysfunction, and lowered inflammatory mediator levels. Ghrelin increased levels of phospho-Raf-1 (Ser338), phospho-MEK1/2 (Ser217/221), phospho-ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204), and of their downstream target p-BAD (Ser112) and inhibited the cleavage of caspase-3. Concomitantly, ghrelin prevented the increases in the levels of fibrotic markers, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), metalloproteinase-9 (MPP-9), and type III collagen.
CONCLUSION
Post-MI in rats, ghrelin stimulated Raf-1-MEK1/2-ERK1/2-BAD signalling in the LV infarct areas, accounting for its anti-apoptotic effect, enhancing cardiac function, and inhibiting cardiac fibrosis during cardiac remodelling.
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