MODULATION OF CARDIAC INTERMEDIATE FILAMENT PROTEINS IN THE CHICK HEART BY FIBRIC ACID-DERIVATIVES

The effects of different fibrates (bezafibrate, fenofibrate and gemfib rozil) on intermediate filaments were studied in cultured chick embryo heart cells after treatment for 6 or 24 h. Treatment led to alteratio ns in total protein levels, as well as changes in protein levels, in t he cytoplasmic and cytoskeletal fractions of cultured cells. Desmin wa s increased in the cytoskeletal fraction of all cultures after 6 h of treatment regardless of the drug tested, whereas vimentin was decrease d in the cytoskeletal fraction only in cells treated with fenofibrate. These findings suggest that the alterations caused by fibrates in des min and vimentin protein content may be related with the secondary eff ects that these drugs have on the cardiovascular system in patients tr eated with fibrates.