Left ventricular dilation in toll-like receptor 2 deficient mice after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion through defective scar formation

Basic Res Cardiol. 2011 Jan;106(1):89-98. doi: 10.1007/s00395-010-0127-y. Epub 2010 Oct 22.

Abstract

Restoration of myocardial blood flow after ischemia triggers an inflammatory response involving toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLR2(-/-)-mice show short-term advantages upon reperfusion injury as compared with WT controls. Accordingly, it has been shown that transient TLR2-blockade prior to reperfusion is associated with improved left-ventricular performance after myocardial scar formation. We present here adverse myocardial remodeling due to a chronic lack of TLR2 expression. Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) was surgically induced in C3HeN-mice by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 20 min, followed by 24 h or 28 days of reperfusion. TLR2(-/-)-mice and TLR2-Ab treated (T2.5) WT-mice displayed a reduction of infarct size, plasma troponin T concentrations, and leukocyte infiltration as compared with untreated controls after 24 h of reperfusion. After 28 days, however, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a marked left ventricular dilation in TLR2(-/-)-animals, which was associated with pronounced matrix remodeling characterized by reduced collagen and decorin density in the infarct scar. Our data show adverse effects on myocardial remodeling in TLR2(-/-)-mice. Although interception with TLR2 signaling is a promising concept for the prevention of reperfusion injury after myocardial ischemia, these data give cause for serious concern with respect to the time-point and duration of the potential treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biglycan / metabolism
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Decorin / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / etiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / complications
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / metabolism*
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / pathology
  • Myocarditis / etiology
  • Myocarditis / metabolism
  • Myocarditis / pathology
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism*
  • Ventricular Remodeling
  • Wound Healing*

Substances

  • Biglycan
  • Decorin
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Collagen