Effects of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase on collagen expression and proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts

AIM: To investigate the effect of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) on collagen expression and proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and to explore the relationship between SCAD and cardiac fibrosis. METHODS: The model of proliferation and collagen expression of rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II was established. After treatment with siRNA-1186, the expression of SCAD at mRNA and protein levels, fatty acids beta oxidation rate, ATP, the enzyme activity of SCAD and free fatty acids in the rat cardiac fibroblasts were determined. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression of SCAD was decreased in the rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II compared with the control cells, and the expression of collagen I and collagen III was significantly upregulated. Compared with negative control group, SCAD expression and activity, fatty acid beta-oxidation rate and ATP significantly decreased in siRNA-1186 group, but the content of free fatty acids were obviously increased in the rat cardiac fibroblasts, and the expression of collagen I and collagen III was significantly up-regulated. CONCLUSION: The expression and synthesis disorder of collagen may be triggered by down-regulation of SCAD. SCAD may be a promising therapeutic target for myocardial fibrosis.