Regulatory T lymphocytes attenuate myocardial infarction-induced ventricular remodeling in mice

Abstract

Downregulation of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) has been found in local atherosclerotic lesions and in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). However, the roles of Treg in MI and the following inflammatory response have not yet been well elucidated. Therefore, we hypothesized that adoptive transfer of Treg could attenuate the postinfarction inflammatory response protecting from adverse remodeling, and we attempted to elucidate the mechanism of delayed heart failure after MI. To clarify the role of Treg in MI, we used a murine MI model and administered a single intravenous injection of Treg (1 × 10 5) (treatment, n = 6) or saline (control, n = 7) and sacrificed the mice on day 14. Echocardiograms revealed that Treg improved LV contraction after MI. Histopathology also showed that Treg negated MI-induced LV remodeling. RT-PCR demonstrated that the mRNA levels of IFN-gamma in hearts were lower and Foxp3 in spleens were higher in the treatment group than in the control group. We observed that adoptive Treg transfer could attenuate MI-induced cardiac remodeling through the IFN-gamma and Foxp3 alteration.