Annexin A1 attenuates cardiac diastolic dysfunction in mice with inflammatory arthritis

J.M. Chen*, L.V. Norling, J.G. Mesa, M.D. Silva, S.E. Burton, C. Reutelingsperger, M. Perretti, D. Cooper*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) carries a twofold increased incidence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, accompanied by diastolic dysfunction, which can lead to death. The causes of diastolic dysfunction are unknown, and there are currently no well-characterized animal models for studying these mechanisms. Current medications for RA do not have marked beneficial cardio-protective effects. K/BxN F1 progeny and KRN control mice were analyzed over time for arthritis development, monitoring left ventricular diastolic and systolic function using echocardiography. Excised hearts were analyzed by flow cytometry, qPCR, and histology. In pharmacological experiments, K/BxN F1 mice were treated with human recombinant AnxA1 (hrAnxA1, 1 mu g/mouse) or vehicle daily. K/BxN F1 mice exhibited fully developed arthritis with normal cardiac function at 4 wk; however, by week 8, all mice displayed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction with preserved ejection fraction. This dysfunction was associated with cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, and inflammatory markers. Daily treatment of K/BxN F1 mice with hrAnxA1 from weeks 4 to 8 halted progression of the diastolic dysfunction. The treatment reduced cardiac transcripts of proinflammatory cytokines and profibrotic markers. At the cellular level, hrAnxA1 decreased activated T cells and increased MHC IIlow macrophage infiltration in K/BxN F1 hearts. Similar effects were obtained when hrAnxA1 was administered from week 8 to week 15. We describe an animal model of inflammatory arthritis that recapitulates the cardiomyopathy of RA. Treatment with hrAnxA1 after disease onset corrected the diastolic dysfunction through modulation of both fibroblast and inflammatory cell phenotype within the heart.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2020385118
Number of pages12
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume118
Issue number38
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Sept 2021

Keywords

  • ACTIVATION
  • CONGESTIVE-HEART-FAILURE
  • DISEASE
  • FIBROBLASTS
  • FORMYL-PEPTIDE RECEPTOR
  • HFpEF
  • MACROPHAGES
  • MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION
  • RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS
  • RISK
  • T-CELLS
  • annexin A1
  • arthritis
  • cardiomyopathy
  • diastolic dysfunction

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