Modulation of PTEN by hexarelin attenuates coronary artery ligation-induced heart failure in rats

Agbo E, Liu D, Liu D, Li M, Saahene RO, Chen L, Zhao L, Wang Y, Tian G

Turkish journal of medical sciences18 Jun 2019Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID31091855PMCIDPMC7018219DOI10.3906/sag-1812-49PepBankPUB-31091855

Summary

Background/aimHexarelin is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide that exerts cardioprotective effects. However, its cardioprotective effect against heart failure (HF) is yet to be explained. This study investigated the therapeutic role of hexarelin and the mechanisms underlying its cardioprotective effects against coronary artery ligation (CAL)-induced HF in rats.Materials and methodsRats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF). The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 μg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days. Left ventricular (LV) function, oxidative stress, apoptosis, molecular analyses, and cardiac structural and pathological changes in rats were assessed.ResultsThe treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress.ConclusionThese findings indicate that hexarelin attenuates CAL-induced HF in rats by ameliorating myocardial remodeling, LV dysfunction, and oxidative stress via the upmodulation of PTEN signaling and downregulation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with coronary ligation-induced heart failure, hexarelin significantly upregulated PTEN expression.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart failure, hexarelin increased PTEN, a signaling protein, compared with saline.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreasePTEN expression
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Coronary artery ligation-induced heart failure
Comparator
Saline (HF group)
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
100 μg/kg · subcutaneous · 30 daysAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF).
Summary · context
The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 μg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3109185501
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with coronary ligation-induced heart failure, hexarelin inhibited phosphorylation of Akt.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart failure, hexarelin reduced activation of Akt compared with saline.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseAkt phosphorylation
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Coronary artery ligation-induced heart failure
Comparator
Saline (HF group)
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
100 μg/kg · subcutaneous · 30 daysAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF).
Summary · context
The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 μg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3109185502
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with coronary ligation-induced heart failure, hexarelin inhibited phosphorylation of mTOR.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart failure, hexarelin reduced activation of mTOR compared with saline.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreasemTOR phosphorylation
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Coronary artery ligation-induced heart failure
Comparator
Saline (HF group)
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
100 μg/kg · subcutaneous · 30 daysAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF).
Summary · context
The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 μg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3109185503
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with coronary ligation-induced heart failure, hexarelin significantly improved left ventricular function.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart failure, hexarelin improved heart pumping function compared with saline.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreaseLeft ventricular function
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Coronary artery ligation-induced heart failure
Comparator
Saline (HF group)
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
100 μg/kg · subcutaneous · 30 daysAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF).
Summary · context
The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 μg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3109185504
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with coronary ligation-induced heart failure, hexarelin ameliorated myocardial remodeling.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart failure, hexarelin reduced harmful changes in heart structure compared with saline.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseMyocardial remodeling
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Coronary artery ligation-induced heart failure
Comparator
Saline (HF group)
Outcome group
Heart function · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
100 μg/kg · subcutaneous · 30 daysAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF).
Summary · context
The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 μg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3109185505
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with coronary ligation-induced heart failure, hexarelin reduced oxidative stress.
In plain wordsIn rats with heart failure, hexarelin lowered oxidative stress in the heart compared with saline.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseOxidative stress
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Coronary artery ligation-induced heart failure
Comparator
Saline (HF group)
Outcome group
Inflammation markers · Cardiovascular
Studied dose
100 μg/kg · subcutaneous · 30 daysAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
The treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Rats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF).
Summary · context
The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 μg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3109185506

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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