Simvastatin attenuates the c-Raf/Erk and calcineurin-NFATc2 pathways via inhibition of Hsp90 activity during the development of heart failure.

Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone that contributes to the activation and stabilization of client proteins. In our previous studies, we found that inhibition of Hsp90 delayed cardiac remodeling during the development of chronic heart failure in animal models. Simvastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, has been shown to inhibit Hsp90.