S100A8∕A9 is a valuable biomarker and treatment target to detect and modulate neutrophil involvement in myocardial infarction

Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2023 Apr-Jun;64(2):151-158. doi: 10.47162/RJME.64.2.04.

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) leads to irreversible ischemic damage of the heart muscle and is the leading cause of heart failure. The ischemic cardiac injury triggers a potent local and systemic immune response. In the acute phase post-MI, neutrophils infiltrate the myocardium in large numbers and induce further cardiomyocyte death, expanding the infarcted area. The alarmin S100A8∕A9 is a proinflammatory mediator primarily produced by myeloid cells, with an emerging role in MI. We previously demonstrated that short-term inhibition of S100A8∕A9 during the inflammatory phase of the immune response to MI improves long-term cardiac function. In the present study, we investigated the effects of S100A8∕A9 blockade on myocardial inflammation and post-ischemic myocardial injury in a mouse model of coronary artery ligation. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining revealed that the presence of S100A9 is strongly correlated with neutrophil infiltration in the myocardium on days 1 and 3 post-MI. A 3-day treatment with the S100A8∕A9 blocker ABR-238901 starting immediately after MI decreased the number of neutrophils and S100A9 presence in the myocardium and had a positive impact on cardiac damage, reducing infarction size. These findings promote S100A9 as an IHC biomarker of neutrophil infiltration and a promising immunomodulatory target to regulate neutrophil recruitment, reduce ischemic injury and promote long-term beneficial cardiac recovery after MI.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocardial Infarction*
  • Myocardium
  • Neutrophils*

Substances

  • ABR-238901
  • Biomarkers