Novel PTP inhibitors with potent cardioprotective efficacy

Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and heart failure through opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). At present PTP inhibition is achieved only by means of drugs (e.g. cyclosporine A, CsA) targeting cyclophilin D, which is a regulator but not a component of the PTP. This might explain conflicting results on the cardioprotective efficacy afforded by PTP inhibition with CsA. Here, we aimed at investigating the protective effects of new inhibitors of the PTP against I/R injury.