Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase Blocker Ibandronate Reduces Thoracic Aortic Fibrosis in Diabetic Rats.
BACKGROUND
This study assessed the effect of ibandronate (IBN), a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) inhibitor, on vascular remodeling in diabetic rats.


METHODS
A rat model of diabetes was induced by a high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with a small dose of streptozotocin. The diabetic rats received 5 µg/kg of ibandronate solution or normal saline subcutaneously every morning for 16 weeks. The morphology of the thoracic aorta was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining techniques. Gene expression levels of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and FPPS were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. CTGF and FPPS protein levels were determined by Western blotting analysis.


RESULTS
Rats with diabetes mellitus showed moderate hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and thoracic aortic fibrosis. FPPS was significantly upregulated in the thoracic aorta from diabetic animals. Interestingly, IBN treatment for 16 weeks alleviated the diabetes-induced histopathologic changes in the thoracic aortic wall and reduced CTGF protein and mRNA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provided evidence that FPPS is involved in thoracic aortic fibrosis in diabetic rats. Meanwhile, IBN could alleviate vascular remodeling in diabetic animals.
['Liu|Xiao-Wei|XW|', 'Jin|Hong-Feng|HF|', 'Du|Chang-Qing|CQ|', 'Tang|Li-Jiang|LJ|']
D000818:Animals D001013:Aorta, Thoracic D001018:Aortic Diseases D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental D005355:Fibrosis D051228:Geranyltranstransferase D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents D000077557:Ibandronic Acid D008297:Male D051381:Rats D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase Ibandronate Diabetic rats Vascular remodeling