Losartana diminui a fibrose do músculo cardíaco e dos músculos esqueléticos e aumenta a função cardíaca de camundongos com distrofia muscular

USA - A losartana é uma droga utilizada para tratamento da hipertensão arterial; estudos prévios em camundongos e cães já tinham demonstrado seu efeito em reduzir a fibrose dos músculos com distrofia muscular. Este estudo confirma que a droga losartana reduz a fibrose do músculo cardíaco e dos músculos esqueléticos e além disso aumenta a função cardíaca dos camundongos com distrofia muscular.

O resumo em inglês pode ser lido abaixo:

(Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Mar 2011; 16: 87 - 95) Losartan Decreases Cardiac Muscle Fibrosis and Improves Cardiac Function in Dystrophin-Deficient Mdx Mice

Christopher F. Spurney, Arpana Sali, Alfredo D. Guerron, Micaela Iantorno, Qing Yu, Heather Gordish-Dressman, Sree Rayavarapu, Jack van der Meulen, Eric P. Hoffman, and Kanneboyina Nagaraju - USA

Recent studies showed that chronic administration of losartan, an angiotensin II type I receptor antagonist, improved skeletal muscle function in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice. In this study, C57BL/10ScSn-Dmdmdx/J female mice were either untreated or treated with losartan (n = 15) in the drinking water at a dose of 600 mg/L over a 6-month period. Cardiac function was assessed via in vivo high frequency echocardiography and skeletal muscle function was assessed using grip strength testing, Digiscan monitoring, Rotarod timing, and in vitro force testing. Fibrosis was assessed using picrosirius red staining and Image J analysis. Gene expression was evaluated using real-time polymerized chain reaction (RT-PCR). Percentage shortening fraction was significantly decreased in untreated (26.9% ± 3.5%) mice compared to losartan-treated (32.2% ± 4.2%; P < .01) mice. Systolic blood pressure was significantly reduced in losartan-treated mice (56 ± 6 vs 69 ± 7 mm Hg; P < .0005). Percentage cardiac fibrosis was significantly reduced in losartan-treated hearts (P < .05) along with diaphragm (P < .01), extensor digitorum longus (P < .05), and gastrocnemius (P < .05) muscles compared to untreated mdx mice. There were no significant differences in skeletal muscle function between treated and untreated groups. Chronic treatment with losartan decreases cardiac and skeletal muscle fibrosis and improves cardiac systolic function in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice.

Fonte: http://distrofiamuscular.net/noticias.htm