The selective STING inhibitor H-151 preserves myocardial function and ameliorates cardiac fibrosis in murine myocardial infarction

Abstract

Background: During myocardial infarction (MI), the stimulation of the cGAS-STING-IRF3 pathway in infiltrated macrophages can induce the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and the fibrosis of cardiac fibroblasts, while H-151 is reported as a selective STING inhibitor. We intended to use H-151 to alleviate MI injury.

Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to induce MI, while H-151 (750 nmol) were used for treatment. Myocardial function was assessed through echocardiology and cardiac fibrosis was evaluated by Masson's Trichrome-staining. The stimulation of the STING pathway and the aggravation of inflammation was assessed by levels of protein and mRNA. BMDMs were stimulated by dsDNA extracted from the murine heart, while H-151 was used as treatment. After co-culturing adult cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts with supernatant of BMDMs, the apoptosis of adult cardiomyocytes and the fibrosis of cardiac fibroblasts was assessed.

Results: H-151 treatment showed significant function in preserving myocardial function and decreasing cardiac fibrosis 28 days after MI. H-151 treatment showed significant function in inhibiting the cGAS-STING-IRF3 pathway and inflammation, especially type I interferon response. H-151 could alleviate the type I interferon response in BMDMs elicited by cardiac dsDNA, and thus H-151 could attenuate the apoptosis of adult cardiomyocytes and fibrosis of cardiac fibroblasts after co-culturing them with the supernatant of BMDMs.

Conclusions: H-151, a selective inhibitor of the cGAS-STING-IRF3 pathway, can preserve myocardial function and alleviate cardiac fibrosis after MI by inhibiting the type I interferon response in infiltrated macrophages triggered by cardiac dsDNA which increase the apoptosis of adult cardiomyocytes and fibrosis of cardiac fibroblasts.

Keywords: H-151; Macrophages; Myocardial fibrosis; Myocardial infarction; STING.