ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of CD147/MMP-9 pathway on early left ventricular remodeling Methods 30 healthy eight-week male SHR were divided into 3 groups (n = 10 for each group). SHR group received tail vein injections of normal saline weekly; CD147 group received CD147 of 600 ng·kg-1 weekly; and CD147+DOX group received CD147 of 600 ng/kg weekly and intragastric administration of DOX ( doxycycline ) of 30 mg/kg daily . 10 healthy eight-week male Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY group) were treated as SHR group. Echocardiography, myocardial sections microscopy examination (HE and VG stain), and Western blot (for assessing levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1, CD147, and collagen I and Ⅲin myocardial tissues) were performed on day 56. Left ventricular weight index (LVWI)was measured and calculated. Collagen volume fractions (CVF) were obtained by image analysis. Results As compared with WKY group , levels of CD147 , MMP-9 , and MMP-9/TIMP-1 were lower but TIMP-1 and collagenⅠand Ⅲ were significantly higher in SHR group. The abundance of CD147 and MMP-9 protein and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 were obviously increased in CD147 group than in SHR group (P < 0.05). Levels of CD147, MMP-9, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 did no differ between CD147+DOX group and CD147 group. LVWI and contents of collagenⅠand Ⅲ were obviously declined in CD147 group as compare with SHR group. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy , partial myocardial fibre rupture , myocyte dissolution and fuzzy myocardial fibre boundaries , more abundant of collagen fibers, and higher CVF were found in SHR group. Cardiac fibrosis was significantly improved after CD147 intervention, but the action was suppressed as DOX was administrated simultaneously. Conclusions Early ventricular remodeling may be involved in the inhibition of CD147/MMP-9 pathway in SHR. Input of CD147 to upregulate the pathway can improve the remodeling.