Inhibition of protein kinase C reduces left ventricular fibrosis and dysfunction following myocardial infarction

Abstract

Despite current therapies, chronic heart failure (CHF) remains a major complication of myocardial infarction (MI). The pathological changes that follow MI extend to regions remote from the site of infarction (non-infarct zone, NIZ) where fibrosis is a prominent finding. Although the mechanisms underling this adverse remodeling are incompletely understood, activation of protein kinase C has recently been implicated in its pathogenesis. MI was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. One week post-MI, animals were randomized to receive the PKC-inhibitor, ruboxistaurin (LY333531) for 4 weeks, or no treatment. When compared with sham-operated an..