Effects of Ac-SDKP on angiotensin II-induced collagen synthesis in vascular adventitial fibroblasts

Objective: To investigate the effect of an anti-fibrotic tetra peptide Ac-SDKP on vascular fibrosis by regulating extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) activity through Ang II.

Methods: Rat vascular adventitial fibroblasts were cultured in vitro. They were randomly divided into control group, Ang II (10(-6) mmol/L) group, Ang II and Ac-SDKP joint action group, PD98059 group. Type I, III collagen contents in adventitia fibroblasts were measured by RT-PCR and the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) were determined by Western blot.

Results: Ac-SDKP could reduced Ang II-induced expression of type I, III collagen secretion and TGF-beta1 at mRNA,and increase MMP-2 expression, PD98059 could inhibit the above effect.

Conclusions: The results suggested that Ac-SDKP could inhibit the formation and development of vascular fibrosis through blocking ERK1/2 pathway mediated by Ang II. Ac-SDKP therefore served as an antifibrotic factor in vascular fibrosis.