Meloxicam Prevents Load-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice

Background: Although COX-2 inhibitors are known to have adverse effects on myocardial ischemia, the effects of COX-2 inhibitors on cardiovascular diseases are still controversial. Thus, we hypothesized that COX-2 inhibitors affect pressure overloaded myocardial hypertrophy. Methods and Results: To clarify the role, we used meloxicam in a murine transversal aortic banding (TAC) model. Meloxicam (0.5mg/kg) was given orally twice a day and the mice were sacrificed on day 28 (n=10) after TAC. The drugfree vehicle was used as control (n=7). Echocardiogram revealed that left ventricular (LV) wall thickness was significantly decreased in the meloxicam-treated group compared with the control group. Heart per body weight ratio of the meloxicam-treated group was substantially less than that of the non-treated group. Pathologically, hearts in the meloxicam- treated group showed significantly less LV wall thickness and area of myocardium than those in the control group. RT-PCR showed that COX-2 mRNA levels in hearts increased in the non-treated group, while meloxicam treatment suppressed the levels. Conclusion: Meloxicam may be useful for preventing pressure overloaded myocardial hypertrophy.