Imatinib attenuates end-organ damage in hypertensive homozygous TGR(mRen2)27 rats.

Imatinib specifically inhibits receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and is clinically used to treat leukemia. Receptor tyrosine kinases not only mediate tumor growth but also initiate adverse signaling in heart failure. We investigated whether imatinib, by inhibiting the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRbeta), prevents cardiac and renal damage in TGR(mRen2)27 (Ren2) rats.