Beneficial effects of Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition on left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction.

Objectives The extent of adverse myocardial remodeling contributes essentially to the prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI). In this study we investigated whether inhibition of “mammalian target of rapamycin” (mTOR) attenuates left ventricular (LV) remodeling after MI. Background Therapeutic strategies to inhibit remodeling are currently limited to inhibition of neurohumoral activation. The mTOR-dependent signaling mechanisms are centrally involved in remodeling processes and provide new therapeutic opportunities. Methods Everolimus (RAD) treatment was initiated on the day after or 3 days after induction of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Results After 28 days, RAD-treated animals had reduced post-MI remodeling, with improved LV function and smaller LV end-diastolic diameters (8.9 ± 0.3 mm vs. 11.4 ± 0.2 mm, p Conclusions Inhibition of mTOR is a potential therapeutic strategy to limit infarct size and to attenuate adverse LV remodeling after MI.