URB597 attenuates stress-induced ventricular structural remodeling by modulating cytokines, NF-κB, and JAK2/STAT3 pathways in female and male rats

Abstract

Endocannabinoids act as a stress response system; simultaneously, the modulation of this system has emerged a novel approach for the therapy of cardiovascular disorders. We investigated the protective effects of the chronic administration of the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB597 on morphology, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine, the cytoplasm-nuclear distribution of JAK2/STAT3, and NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in the left ventricle of female and male rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress. Our results show that URB597 treatment exhibits an antidepressant-like effect, decreases the heart/body weight ratio, prevents the hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, and reduces the increased level of IL-6 in the wall of the left ventricle of stressed female and male rats. The phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 in the ventricle of male rats treated with URB597 were declined, whereas in female rats the decrease of STAT3 was observed. In addition, URB597 reduced increased NF-κB in both females and males and increased the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 protein in the cytosol of male rats, whereas did not affect their levels in females. Cardioprotective effects of URB597 could be linked to the ability to inhibit the JAK2 in males and the STAT3 inflammatory signaling pathways in both females and males.