Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS), as a key branchpoint of the
mevalonate pathway, catalyzes the synthesis of
isoprenoid intermediates. The
isoprenoid intermediates are needed for protein isoprenylation to participate in cardiac remodeling. We have previously demonstrated that both knockdown of FPPS with
small interfering RNA and inhibition of FPPS by
alendronate could prevent Ang II-induced
hypertrophy in cultured cardiomyocytes. In this study, we evaluated the effects of FPPS inhibition in Ang II-mediated
cardiac hypertrophy and
fibrosis in vivo. Wild type mice were separately treated with saline, Ang II (2.88 mg/kg per day), FPPS inhibitor
alendronate (0.1 mg/kg per day), or the combination of Ang II (2.88 mg/kg per day) and
alendronate (0.1 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks. The results showed that Ang II increased FPPS expression, and the increases of Ang II-induced synthesis of the
isoprenoid intermediates, FPP and GGPP, were significantly inhibited by FPPS inhibitor. In the meantime, FPPS inhibition attenuated Ang II-mediated
cardiac hypertrophy and
fibrosis as indexed by the heart weight to
body weight ratio, echocardiographic parameters, histological examinations and expression of
ANP and BNP
mRNA. Furthermore, it was also found that FPPS inhibitor attenuated Ang II-induced increases of RhoA activity and p-38 MAPK phosphorylation and TGF-β1
mRNA expression. In conclusion, FPPS might play an important role in Ang II-induced
cardiac hypertrophy and
fibrosis in vivo, at least in part through RhoA, p-38 MAPK and TGF-β1.