Galectin-3 is essential for the early wound healing and ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction in mice

GONZÁLEZ GE; CASSAGLIA P; NOLLY-TRUANT S; FERNANDEZ MM; WILENSKY L; VOLBERG V; MALCHIODI EL; MORALES C; GELPI RJ

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 176 p. 1423 - 1425

0167-5273

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a β-galactoside-binding lectin widely expressed in the immune system. However, whether Gal-3 contributes to the healing process after myocardial infarction (MI) is unknown. The aim was to study the role of genetic deletion of Gal-3 on early post-MI healing process, ventricular remodeling and function in mice. Adult male C57 and Gal-3KO mice underwent to permanent coronary artery ligature or Sham. Four experimental groups were performed: 1) C57 Sham; 2) Gal-3 KO Sham; 3) C57 with MI and 4) Gal-3 KO with MI. After 7 days, echocardiography was performed in anesthetized animals followed by euthanasia. The hearts were stained with Masson Trichrome and Picrosirius red to measure the MI size (%) and fibrosis (%) respectively. We also quantified F4/80+ macrophages in the MI area by flow cytometry and the expression of cytokine IL-6. Left ventricular diameters were significantly increased in C57 animals with MI as compared with Sham and animals Gal-3 KO with MI were even more dilated than C57 with MI (p