BackgroundAtaxia‐telangiectasia results from mutations in ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM) gene. We recently reported that ATM deficiency attenuates left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and dilatation 7 days after myocardial infarction (MI) with increased apoptosis and fibrosis. Here we investigated the role of ATM in the induction of inflammatory response, and activation of survival signaling molecules in the heart acute post‐MI.Methods and ResultsLV structure, function, inflammatory response, and biochemical parameters were measured in wild‐type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout (hKO) mice 1 and 3 days post‐MI. ATM deficiency had no effect on infarct size. MI‐induced decline in heart function, as measured by changes in percent fractional shortening, ejection fraction and LV end systolic and diastolic volumes, was lower in hKO‐MI versus WT‐MI (n=10 to 12). The number of neutrophils and macrophages was significantly lower in the infarct LV region of hKO versus WT 1 day post‐MI. Fibrosis and expression of α‐smooth muscle actin (myofibroblast marker) were higher in hKO‐MI, while active TGF‐β1 levels were higher in the WT‐MI 3 days post‐MI. Myocyte cross‐sectional area was higher in hKO‐sham with no difference between the two MI groups. MMP‐9 protein levels were similarly increased in the infarct LV region of both MI groups. Apoptosis was significantly higher in the infarct LV region of hKO at both time points. Akt activation was lower, while Bax expression was higher in hKO‐MI infarct.ConclusionATM deficiency results in decreased dilative remodeling and delays inflammatory response acute post‐MI. However, it associates with increased fibrosis and apoptosis.

Coronary and peripheral artery diseases lead to ischemia, initiating processes that promote neovascularization to restore blood flow and preserve tissue function. We demonstrated previously that osteopontin (OPN), a matricellular cytokine, is critical to ischemia-induced neovascularization. Unlike rodents, humans express 3 OPN isoforms (a, b, and c); however, the roles of these isoforms in neovascularization and cell migration remain undefined. To assess how human OPN isoforms affect neovascularization, OPN -/- mice underwent hind limb ischemia surgery. At the time of surgery, 1.5x10 6 lentivirus particles expressing human OPNa, OPNb or OPNc were delivered by intramuscular injection. While OPNa improved limb perfusion 30.4%±0.8 in OPN -/- mice, OPNc improved perfusion by 70.9%±6.3 (d14; p<0.001 vs. LVGFP), as measured by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Importantly, both OPNa and OPNc isoforms significantly rescued neovascularization better than OPNb (n=6, p<0.05). Isoform effects on vascular volume, density, connectivity and diameter were further assessed using Micro-CT angiograms. OPNa and OPNc rescued limb function compared to control and OPNb treated animals (61.1%±8.2; 76.2%±9.7; p<0.05), as assessed by voluntary running wheel use. To verify the differences in neovascularization were due to divergent effects on receptor binding and/or signaling and not variations in isoform expression, we confirmed similar OPN isoform expression levels by ELISA (n=6, p=ns) and immunofluorescence. OPN isoforms a and c both increased macrophage infiltration 2.5 fold, as assessed by mRNA (d7; p<0.05) and histology, leading to increases in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) infiltration (d7; p<0.05). Several pro-arteriogenic factors were also significantly increased at the mRNA level. Finally, we confirmed in vitro that OPNa and OPNc significantly increased VSMC migration compared to OPN b and control (49.8%±3.1; 75.2%±6.3; p<0.05). In conclusion, human OPN isoforms may exhert divergent effects on neovascularization through varried effects on macrophage and VSMC recruitment. Human OPN isoforms may represent potential new therapeutic targets to promote neovascularization and preserve function in patients with peripheral artery disease.