Exogenous TGFβ1 and its mimic HpTGM attenuate the heart’s inflammatory response to ischaemic injury and improve long term cardiac outcomes

Abstract

RationaleSuccessful and timely coronary reperfusion following acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is standard therapy to salvage transiently ischaemic heart muscle. However, the subsequent inflammatory response within the infarct can lead to further loss of viable myocardium. Robust interventions are required in the acute MI setting to minimise cardiac injury and reduce risk of further detrimental progression.ObjectiveTGFβ1 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine released endogenously in response to infection or tissue injury. The goal of this study was to investigate its protective effects when given exogenously following myocardial infarction.Methods and ResultsTGFβ1 is found at increased levels in the blood of STEMI patients immediately following myocardial infarction. We observe a significant correlation (p=0.003) between higher circulating TGFβ1 levels at 24h post MI and a reduction in infarct size over the following 3 months, suggesting that an early increase in circulating TGFβ1 is protective in these patients. Using a mouse model of cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion we demonstrate that additional exogenous TGFβ1 delivered in the acute setting has multiple beneficial outcomes. At 24 hours post-reperfusion It leads to a significantly smaller infarct size (30% reduction, p=0.025), reduced inflammatory infiltrate (28% reduction, p=0.015), lower intra-cardiac expression of inflammatory cytokines IL1β and CCL2 (>50 % reduction, p=0.038 and 0.0004, respectively) and reduced scar size at 4 weeks (21% reduction, p=0.015). Furthermore exogenous delivery of an equivalent dose of HpTGM, a recently described low-fibrogenic mimic of TGFβ1, secreted by a helminth parasite to evade immune rejection, has an almost identical protective effect on injured mouse hearts. Furthermore using a genetic approach we show the benefit is mediated by the vascular endothelium.ConclusionsThis work reveals the potential of exogenous TGFβ1 and HpTGM delivered in the acute MI setting to provide protective anti-inflammatory effects and reduce infarct size, leading to a smaller scar and reduced detrimental progression.