Valproic Acid for Cardiac Remodeling

Taipei, Taiwan -

Valproic acid is a clinically used anti-convulsant administered for bipolar disorder and epilepsy. It also expands stem cells in vitro. In a recent paper (Lee et al. Inhibition of Histone Deacetylase on Ventricular Remodeling in Infarcted Rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2007 Mar 30) it was demonstrated that this agent inhibits pathological cardiac remodeling.

In a rat infart model (LAD ligation) it was demonstrated that administration of valproic acid caused a reduced hypertrophy and ventricular expansion. This effect was also seen by administration of another histone deacetylase inhibitor called tributyrin. Since the effect was abolished by administration of thyophylline, an agent the blocks inhibition of histone deacetylation, it appears that the effect was mediated by epigenetic remodelling.