Protective effects of atorvastatin in rat models of acute pulmonary embolism: Involvement of matrix metalloproteinase-9*

Abstract

These results suggest that pretreatment with atorvastatin attenuates APE-induced pulmonary hypertension and increases 24-hr survival rate by mechanisms that result in attenuated increases in lung activated MMP-9 after APE.

Rosuvastatin and vascular dysfunction markers in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a placebo-controlled study

“…Beneficial effects of statins have been reported in experimental pulmonary hypertension, particularly in hypoxic conditions (23)(24)(25). These effects may be related, in part, to protection of endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase (26), but changes in the expression of several genes associated with inflammation, cell proliferation and apoptosis have been reported (18,19).…”

Targeting RV failure and cardiomyocyte injury in acute pulmonary thromboembolism

“…8 The relevance of MMP activation during APT, and the attenuation of haemo dynamic changes and cardiomyocyte injury with MMP inhibitors, might justify the use of MMP inhibitors in this critical condition. Although other agents, such as atorvastatin 9 and l-arginine 10 can also interrupt this critical pathophysiological mechanism, clinical trials are necessary to validate experimental findings indicating that MMP inhibition is a valid pharmacological strategy in the m anagement of RV failure associated with APT. …”

Evaluation of oxygen sensitivity of hyperpolarized helium imaging for the detection of pulmonary ischemia

“…However, hyperpolarized (HP) gas MR imaging of the lungs can overcome many of the limitations inherent to conventional pulmonary imaging (4,5). By mapping the signal decay of HP 3 He during an extended breathhold, we can obtain information about the initial partial pressure of oxygen (p O ) and the subsequent rate of oxygen depletion (R) (6,7). These variables provide information about how efficiently oxygen is being transferred from the airspaces to the blood.…”

“…These variables provide information about how efficiently oxygen is being transferred from the airspaces to the blood. HP gas MRI can be used to measure ischemia because oxygen is a paramagnetic species, and thus shortens the T1 relaxation time of HP 3 He. Therefore, the decay rate over time of the HP signal is inversely proportional to the concentration of oxygen gas.…”