Aims In this article, we determined the influence of chronic high glucose concentration on human cardiac fibroblasts functions and the effects of 606A and imidaprilat in these responses.

Methods Human cardiac fibroblasts were long-time exposure in normal or high glucose media in the absence or presence of 606A or imidaprilat. MMP-2 activities were determined by using in-gel zymography. Collagen χ synthesis was evaluated by ELISA.

Results show that chronic high glucose concentration inhibits the activity of MMP-2 and accelerates collagen χ synthesis. When Equimolar mannitol was used as an osmotic control, the activity inhidition of MMP-2 were also observed. Inhibition of MMP-2 activity and enhancement of collagen χ synthesis were reserved incompletely by 606A. But complete reservation of MMP-2 activity and collagen χ synthesis was observed by using imidaprilat in cultured media in the experiments.

Conclusions Chronic high glucose inhibits the activity of MMP-2 and increases collagen χ synthesis by means of regulating MMP-2 mRNA expression in human cardiac fibroblasts through osmotic and non-osmotic pathways. Inhibition of MMP-2 activity and enhancement of collagen χ synthesis were reserved incompletely by 606A. But complete reservation of MMP-2 activity and collagen χ synthesis was observed by using imidaprilat in cultured media in the experiments.