Cyclosporine A up-regulates expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in rat heart

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is the first immunosuppressant universally used in allotransplantation. However, it has been demonstrated that this drug produces side effects in several organs, particularly in the kidney and in the heart. Since the immunosuppressive therapy induces myocardial toxicity, the aim of this study was to evaluate in the myocardium of CsA-treated rats the expression variations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), to verify if: VEGF increased, VEGF increase was associated with MMP2 increase and they could be considered as repair proteins. The study was carried out on 28 Wistar rats divided into two groups. The group I animals served as control and so they were subcutaneously injected daily with castor oil for 21 days; group II: animals were subcutaneously injected daily with CsA (Sandimmun, Sandoz) at the therapeutic dose (15 mg/kg) for 21 days. The group I animals (control) showed normal heart architecture and low levels of MMP2 and VEGF. The group II animals (CsA-treated) showed structural degenerative changes with myocardial fibrosis and a clear increase both in MMP2 and VEGF. These data show that the immunosuppressant therapy induces a high increase in both the proteins and that VEGF variations are associated with MMP2 variations. These findings suggest that these proteins are involved in the endogenous emergency cell mechanisms induced by stress conditions, probably playing a role against myocardial injury as repair proteins.