Chymase inhibition and cardiovascular protection.

Human chymase, an angiotensin II-forming chymotrypsin-like serine proteinase, posses various biological actions mediating through local angiotensin II formation in the tissue level of many cardiovascular organs. Our previous experimental data have shown that chymase inhibitor increased a survival rate of the hamster post-myocardial infarction model with concomitant improvements of the cardiac function and hypertrophy, decreased hamster aortic atherosclerotic lesion induced by a high fat diet and improved hamster diabetic nephropathy decreasing the proteinuria and increased renal antiotensin II levels. Although chymase inhibitor has not yet been applied for clinical use, clinical cardiovascular diseases above mentioned appear to be the target of chymase inhibitor. The related basal and clinical circumstances are discussed in this review article for chymase inhibitor.