Novel Mechanisms of Valsartan on the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction Through Inhibition of the Antiadhesion Molecule Periostin

Our previous study demonstrated that periostin, an extracellular matrix protein, plays an important role in left ventricular remodeling through the inhibition of cell–cell interactions. Because the gene regulation of periostin has not yet been examined, we focused on the effects of angiotensin (Ang) II and mechanical stretch, because Ang II and mechanical stretch are related to cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction. First, we examined the effects of Ang II on periostin in myocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. Ang II significantly increased periostin through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 pathways in myocytes and fibroblasts (P