Hypoxia – as a Possible Regulator of the Activity of Epicardial Mesothelial Cells After Myocardial Infarction

Aim      To study the effect of hypoxia on the activity of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epicardial cells, which provides formation of a specialized microenvironment.

Material and methods   This study used a model of experimental myocardial infarction created by ligation of the anterior descendent coronary artery. The activity of epicardial cells after a hypoxic exposure was studied with the hypoxia marker, pimonidazole, bromodeoxyuridine, immunofluorescent staining of heart cryosections, and in vitro mesothelial cell culture.

Results The undamaged heart maintained the quiescent condition of mesothelial cells and low levels of their proliferation, extracellular matrix protein production, and of the EMT activity. Acute ischemic injury induced moderate hypoxia in the epicardial/subepicardial region. This caused a global rearrangement of this region due to the initiation of EMT in cells, changes in the cell composition, and accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. We found that the initiation of EMT in mesothelial cells may result in the formation of smooth muscle cell precursors, fibroblasts, and a population of Sca-1+ cardiac progenitor cells, which may both participate in construction of new blood vessels and serve as a mesenchymal link for the paracrine support of microenvironmental cells. In in vitro experiments, we showed that 72‑h hypoxia facilitated activation of EMT regulatory genes, induced dissembling of intercellular contacts, cell uncoupling, and increased cell plasticity.

Conclusion      The epicardium of an adult heart serves as a “reparative reserve” that can be reactivated by a hypoxic exposure. This creates a basis for an approach to influence the epicardium to modulate its activity for regulating reparative processes.

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