PEDF and PEDF-derived peptide 44mer stimulate cardiac triglyceride degradation via ATGL

Background Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a 50-kDa secreted glycoprotein that is highly expressed in cardiomyocytes. A variety of peptides derived from PEDF exerts diverse physiological activities including anti-angiogenesis, antivasopermeability, and neurotrophic activities. Recent studies demonstrated that segmental functional peptides of PEDF, 44mer peptide (Val78–Thr121), show similar neurotrophic and cytoprotective effect to that of the holoprotein. We found that PEDF can reduce infarct size and protect cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the effects of PEDF on cardiac triglyceride (TG) accumulation after AMI remain unknown. The present study was performed to demonstrate the influence of PEDF and its functional peptides 44mer on TG degradation in AMI.