Over-expression of calpastatin inhibits calpain activation and attenuates myocardial dysfunction during endotoxaemia

AimsLipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces cardiomyocyte caspase-3 activation and proinflammatory factors, in particular tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production, both of which contribute to myocardial dysfunction during sepsis. The present study was to investigate the roles of calpain/calpastatin system in cardiomyocyte caspase-3 activation, TNF-α expression, and myocardial dysfunction during LPS stimulation.