Exosomes and cardioprotection - A critical analysis

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles released by numerous cell types that appear to have diverse beneficial effects on the injured heart. Studies using exosomes from stem cells or from the blood have indicated that they are able to protect the heart both in models of acute ischaemia and reperfusion, and during chronic ischaemia. In addition to decreasing initial infarct size, they are able to stimulate angiogenesis, reduce fibrosis and remodelling, alter immune cell function and improve long-term cardiac contractile function. However, since the technology and techniques used for the study of exosomes is relatively immature and continually evolving, there remain many important caveats to the interpretation of studies. This review presents a critical analysis of the field of exosomes and cardioprotection. We analyse the effects of exosomes from all types of stem cells investigated to date, summarize the major effects observed and their potential mechanism, and offer our perspective on the major outstanding issues

Does remote ischaemic conditioning reduce inflammation? A focus on innate immunity and cytokine response

The benefits of remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) have been difficult to translate to humans, when considering traditional outcome measures, such as mortality and heart failure. This paper reviews the recent literature of the anti-inflammatory effects of RIC, with a particular focus on the innate immune response and cytokine inhibition. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, the inflammatory hypothesis of cardiac protection is an attractive target on which to re-purpose such novel therapies. A PubMed/MEDLINE™ search was performed on July 13th 2020, for the key terms RIC, cytokines, the innate immune system and inflammation. Data suggest that RIC attenuates inflammation in animals by immune conditioning, cytokine inhibition, cell survival and the release of anti-inflammatory exosomes. It is proposed that RIC inhibits cytokine release via a reduction in nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB)-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome production. In vivo, RIC attenuates pro-inflammatory cytokine release in myocardial/cerebral infarction and LPS models of endotoxaemia. In the latter group, cytokine inhibition is associated with a profound survival benefit. Further clinical trials should establish whether the benefits of RIC in inflammation can be observed in humans. Moreover, we must consider whether uncomplicated MI and elective surgery are the most suitable clinical conditions in which to test this hypothesis

Mouse models of atherosclerosis and their suitability for the study of myocardial infarction

Atherosclerotic plaques impair vascular function and can lead to arterial obstruction and tissue ischaemia. Rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque within a coronary artery can result in an acute myocardial infarction, which is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Prompt reperfusion can salvage some of the ischaemic territory, but ischaemia and reperfusion (IR) still causes substantial injury and is, therefore, a therapeutic target for further infarct limitation. Numerous cardioprotective strategies have been identified that can limit IR injury in animal models, but none have yet been translated effectively to patients. This disconnect prompts an urgent re-examination of the experimental models used to study IR. Since coronary atherosclerosis is the most prevalent morbidity in this patient population, and impairs coronary vessel function, it is potentially a major confounder in cardioprotective studies. Surprisingly, most studies suggest that atherosclerosis does not have a major impact on cardioprotection in mouse models. However, a major limitation of atherosclerotic animal models is that the plaques usually manifest in the aorta and proximal great vessels, and rarely in the coronary vessels. In this review, we examine the commonly used mouse models of atherosclerosis and their effect on coronary artery function and infarct size. We conclude that none of the commonly used strains of mice are ideal for this purpose; however, more recently developed mouse models of atherosclerosis fulfil the requirement for coronary artery lesions, plaque rupture and lipoprotein patterns resembling the human profile, and may enable the identification of therapeutic interventions more applicable in the clinical setting

Exosomes and Cardiovascular Protection

Most, if not all, cells of the cardiovascular system secrete small, lipid bilayer vesicles called exosomes. Despite technical challenges in their purification and analysis, exosomes from various sources have been shown to be powerfully cardioprotective. Indeed, it is possible that much of the so-called "paracrine" benefit in cardiovascular function obtained by stem cell therapy can be replicated by the injection of exosomes produced by stem cells. However, exosomes purified from plasma appear to be just as capable of activating cardioprotective pathways. We discuss the potential roles of endogenous exosomes in the cardiovascular system, how this is perturbed in cardiovascular disease, and evaluate their potential as therapeutic agents to protect the heart

The Role of Extracellular DNA and Histones in Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury of the Myocardium

Despite an increase in the rates of survival in patients suffering myocardial infarction, as yet there is no therapy specifically targeting ischaemia and reperfusion injury of the myocardium. With a greater understanding of immune activation during infarction, more potential treatment targets are now being identified. The innate immune system is believed to play an important role in the myocardium after ischaemia-driven cardiomyocyte death. The release of intracellular contents including DNA into the extracellular space during necrosis and cell rupture is now believed to create a pro-inflammatory milieu which propagates the inflammatory process. DNA and DNA fragments have been shown to activate the innate immune system by acting as Danger-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs), which act as ligands on toll-like receptors (TLRs). Stimulation of TLRs, in turn, can activate intracellular cell death pathways such as pyroptosis. Here, we review the role of DNA fragments during ischaemia and reperfusion, and assess their potential as a target in the quest to preserve cardiomyocyte viability following myocardial infarction

The importance of clinically relevant background therapy in cardioprotective studies

Treatment of acute myocardial infarct patients (AMI) includes rapid restoration of coronary blood flow and pharmacological therapy aimed to prevent pain and maintain vessel patency. Many interventions have been investigated to offer additional protection. One such intervention is remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) involving short-episodes of ischaemia of the arm with a blood pressure cuff, followed by reperfusion to protect the heart organs from subsequent severe ischaemia. However, the recent CONDI2-ERIC-PPCI multicentre study of RIC in STEMI showed no benefit in clinical outcome in low risk patients. It could also be argued that these patients were already in a partially protected state, highlighting the disconnect between animal- and clinical-based outcome studies. To improve potential translatability, we developed an animal model using pharmacological agents similar to those given to patients presenting with an AMI, prior to PPCI. Rats underwent MI on a combined background of an opioid agonist, heparin and a platelet-inhibitor thereby allowing us to assess whether additional cardioprotective strategies had any effect over and above this “cocktail”. We demonstrated that the “background drugs” were protective in their own right, reducing MI from 57.5 ± 3.7% to 37.3 ± 2.9% (n = 11, p < 0.001). On this background of drugs, RIC did not add any further protection (38.0 ± 3.4%). However, using a caspase inhibitor, which acts via a different mechanistic pathway to RIC, we were able to demonstrate additional protection (20.6 ± 3.3%). This concept provides initial evidence to develop models which can be used to evaluate future animal-to-clinical translation in cardioprotective studies

The cytokine storm of COVID-19: a spotlight on prevention and protection

INTRODUCTION: The cytokine release syndrome (CRS) of COVID-19 is associated with the development of critical illness requiring multi-organ support. Further research is required to halt progression of multi-organ injury induced by hyper-inflammation. AREAS COVERED: PubMed/MEDLINETM databases were accessed between May 9th-June 9th, 2020, to review the latest perspectives on the treatment and pathogenesis of CRS. EXPERT OPINION: Over-activity of chemotaxis triggers a macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) resulting in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. IL-6 and TNF- α are at the forefront of hyper-inflammation. The inflammatory cascade induces endothelial activation and capillary leak, leading to circulatory collapse and shock. As endothelial dysfunction persists, there is activation of the clotting cascade and microvascular obstruction. Continued endothelial activation results in multi-organ failure, regardless of pulmonary tissue damage. We propose that targeting the endothelium may interrupt this cycle. Immuno-modulating therapies have been suggested, however, further data is necessary to confirm that they do not jeopardize adaptive immunity. Inhibition of IL-6 and the Janus Kinase, signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins pathway (JAK/STAT), are favorable targets. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) reduces the inflammation of sepsis in animal models and should be considered as a low risk intervention, in combination with cardiovascular protection

Targeting myocardial ischaemic injury in the absence of reperfusion

Sudden myocardial ischaemia causes an acute coronary syndrome. In the case of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), this is usually caused by the acute rupture of atherosclerotic plaque and obstruction of a coronary artery. Timely restoration of blood flow can reduce infarct size, but ischaemic regions of myocardium remain in up to two-thirds of patients due to microvascular obstruction (MVO). Experimentally, cardioprotective strategies can limit infarct size, but these are primarily intended to target reperfusion injury. Here, we address the question of whether it is possible to specifically prevent ischaemic injury, for example in models of chronic coronary artery occlusion. Two main types of intervention are identified: those that preserve ATP levels by reducing myocardial oxygen consumption, (e.g. hypothermia; cardiac unloading; a reduction in heart rate or contractility; or ischaemic preconditioning), and those that increase myocardial oxygen/blood supply (e.g. collateral vessel dilation). An important consideration in these studies is the method used to assess infarct size, which is not straightforward in the absence of reperfusion. After several hours, most of the ischaemic area is likely to become infarcted, unless it is supplied by pre-formed collateral vessels. Therefore, therapies that stimulate the formation of new collaterals can potentially limit injury during subsequent exposure to ischaemia. After a prolonged period of ischaemia, the heart undergoes a remodelling process. Interventions, such as those targeting inflammation, may prevent adverse remodelling. Finally, harnessing of the endogenous process of myocardial regeneration has the potential to restore cardiomyocytes lost during infarction

Role of PI3K in myocardial ischaemic preconditioning: mapping pro-survival cascades at the trigger phase and at reperfusion

The Reperfusion Injury Salvage Kinase (RISK) pathway is considered the main pro-survival kinase cascade mediating the ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) cardioprotective effect. To assess the role of PI3K-Akt, its negative regulator PTEN and other pro-survival proteins such as ERK and STAT3 in the context of IPC, C57BL/6 mouse hearts were retrogradely perfused in a Langendorff system and subjected to 4 cycles of 5 min. ischaemia and 5 min. reperfusion prior to 35 min. of global ischaemia and 120 min. of reperfusion. Wortmannin, a PI3K inhibitor, was administered either at the stabilization period or during reperfusion. Infarct size was assessed using triphenyl tetrazolium staining, and phosphorylation levels of Akt, PTEN, ERK, GSK3β and STAT3 were evaluated using Western blot analyses. IPC reduced infarct size in hearts subjected to lethal ischaemia and reperfusion, but this effect was lost in the presence of Wortmannin, whether it was present only during preconditioning or only during early reperfusion. IPC increased the levels of Akt phosphorylation during both phases and this effect was fully abrogated by PI3K, whilst its downstream GSK3β was phosphorylated only during the trigger phase after IPC. Both PTEN and STAT3 were phosphorylated during both phases after IPC, but this was PI3K independent. IPC increases ERK phosphorylation during both phases, being only PI3K-dependent during the IPC phase. In conclusion, PI3K-Akt plays a major role in IPC-induced cardioprotection. However, PTEN, ERK and STAT3 are also phosphorylated by IPC through a PI3K-independent pathway, suggesting that cardioprotection is mediated through more than one cell signalling cascade