Abstract 409: Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 Inhibition is Protective in a Pressure Overload Model of Heart Failure

Abstract

Heart failure (HF), the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, is characterized by pathologic remodeling, fibrosis and deteriorating cardiac function. Cardiac fibrosis occurs due to imbalanced production and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are largely responsible for the secretion of ECM proteins in the heart, and upon injury, transition to a migratory and proliferative myofibroblast (MF) phenotype, leading to excess ECM deposition. Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), proteolytic enzymes responsible for degradation of the ECM, is common in HF. Specifically, MMP13 is known to be upregulated in human HF patients. Therefore, we hypothesized that MMP13 plays an important role in pathologic cardiac remodeling, and that inhibition of MMP13 would prevent the development of HF in a pressure overload model, transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Mice were subjected to TAC and treated with the MMP13 inhibitor, WAY170523 (WAY), or vehicle 4 weeks post-TAC until 12 weeks post-TAC. Mice treated with WAY display decreased cardiac hypertrophy and preserved cardiac function compared to vehicle treated mice. WAY treatment may also attenuate interstitial and perivascular fibrosis as well as expression of pro-fibrotic genes. To determine the effect of MMP13 inhibition in cardiac cells, CF and MF were isolated from healthy mice or mice 5 days post-ischemia/reperfusion injury, respectively, and treated with WAY. MMP13 inhibition led to decreased CF invasion but did not affect migration, proliferation or adhesion. Interestingly, inhibition of MMP13 in MF attenuated migration, proliferation and invasion. Moreover, WAY treatment reduced collagen and fibronectin deposition in the ECM of MF. MMP13 inhibition also appeared to decrease Angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy in ventricular cardiomyocytes (CM). These data suggest a role for MMP13 in pressure overload-induced HF, CM hypertrophy and CF behavior. MMP13 inhibition after injury may attenuate cardiac hypertrophy as well as the CF to MF transition, leading to decreased cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac function. Further understanding of the role of MMP13 could lead to a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of HF.