Do neutrophils contribute to myocardial stunning?

Drugs mediating myocardial protection

The occurrence of myocardial ischaemia will result in either reversible or irreversible myocardial dysfunction. Even when revascularization is successful, some reperfusion injury may occur that transiently impairs myocardial function. Therefore, treatment should not only be directed towards prompt restoration of myocardial blood flow but measures should also be taken to prevent or alleviate the consequences of myocardial reperfusion injury. Over the years, various strategies have been developed. The present contribution reviews a number of these strategies focusing on pharmacological treatments that have been developed to address myocardial reperfusion injury.

Complement C5a receptor antagonist attenuates multiple organ injury in a model of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

OBJECTIVE

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is associated with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome, characterized by increased microvascular permeability and neutrophil sequestration, leading to multiorgan dysfunction. We examined the role of a novel complement factor 5a (C5aR) receptor antagonist, the cyclic peptide AcF-(OpdChaWR), in attenuation of pathologic complement activation and tissue injury in a model of AAA rupture.

METHODS

Anesthetized rats were randomized to sham (control) or shock and clamp (s+c) groups. Animals in the s+c group underwent 1 hour of hemorrhagic shock (mean arterial blood pressure < or =50 mm Hg), followed by 45 minutes of supramesenteric aortic clamping, then 2 hours of resuscitated reperfusion. Animals in the s+c group were randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of C5aR antagonist at 1 mg/kg or saline solution control at the end of hemorrhagic shock. Intestinal and pulmonary permeability to iodine 125-labeled albumin was measured as an indicator of microvascular permeability. Tissue myeloperoxidase activity, proinflammatory cytokine tissue necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) protein and mRNA, and C5aR mRNA levels were measured as indicators of neutrophil sequestration and inflammatory signaling, respectively.

RESULTS

Lung permeability index was significantly increased in the s+c group compared with the sham group (4.43 +/- 0.96 vs 1.30 +/- 0.17; P <.01), and prevented with treatment with C5aR antagonist (1.74 +/- 0.50; P <.03). Lung myeloperoxidase activity was significantly increased in the the s+c group compared with the sham group (2.41 +/- 0.34 U/mg vs 1.03 +/- 0.29 U/mg; P <.009), and significantly attenuated with treatment with C5aR antagonist (1.11 +/- 0.09 U/mg; P <.006). Lung TNF-alpha protein levels were significantly elevated in both s+c groups, whereas lung TNF-alpha mRNA expression was significantly downregulated in both s+c groups compared with the sham group. Intestinal permeability index was significantly increased in animals in the s+c groups during reperfusion, compared with sham (P <.001), which was attenuated in early reperfusion with treatment with C5a receptor antagonist. Data represent mean +/- SEM, group comparisons with analysis of variance and post hoc Scheffé test.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that a potent antagonist of C5a receptor protects the rat intestine and lung from neutrophil-associated injury in a model of AAA rupture. These data suggest that complement-mediated inflammation can be modulated at the C5a receptor level, independent of proinflammatory TNF-alpha production, and prevent acute local and remote organ injury.

Effect of repetitive episodes of exercise induced myocardial ischaemia on left ventricular function in patients with chronic stable angina: evidence for cumulative stunning or ischaemic preconditioning?

BACKGROUND

Myocardial stunning is known to occur following a single episode of effort angina in patients with coronary artery disease. The effect on left ventricular (LV) function of repeated episodes of ischaemia is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of repeated episodes of exercise induced ischaemia on LV function in patients with chronic stable angina.

METHODS

Patients with significant coronary artery disease and normal LV function underwent two episodes of symptom limited treadmill exercise separated by three different time intervals: either 30 minutes (group A, n = 14); 60 minutes (group B, n = 14); or 240 minutes (group C, n = 14). Quantitative stress echocardiography was performed at repeated intervals between the two exercises and for 240 minutes following the second test.

RESULTS

For all groups there was no difference between the degree of ischaemia judged by maximal ST depression during the two tests. All episodes of exercise induced ischaemia produced prolonged abnormalities of LV systolic and diastolic function despite rapid normalisation of haemodynamic and ECG changes. In group A (30 minutes) these abnormalities were less pronounced after the second test than after the first, while in group B (60 minutes) they were more severe and long lasting. In group C (240 minutes) the two tests produced similar abnormalities of LV function.

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged abnormalities of LV function occurred following exercise induced ischaemia with a time course consistent with myocardial stunning. The severity and degree of LV dysfunction caused by a further episode of ischaemia appear to be dependent on the time interval between ischaemic episodes.

Can myocardial stunning contribute to myocardial infarction during coronary artery bypass surgery?

Myocardial stunning commonly occurs after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Myocardial stunning can be cardioprotective under some conditions, but in other situations may actually contribute to myocardial infarction (MI). Vascular endothelial stunning may be one of the mechanisms by which myocardial stunning can cause MI. It has been found that 15 minutes of reversible ischemia is enough to cause elevations in vascular resistance and impairment of vasodilator responsiveness. However, no correlation between contractile dysfunction and microvascular stunning has been observed. Transduction defects (increased oxygen extraction and consumption despite normal regional oxygen blood flow and delivery) may be another mechanism by which stunning predisposes to MI, indicating uncoupling of substrate utilization from energy production. In addition, abnormalities in wall motion, oxygen free radical toxicity, hypotension, use of inotropic agents (leading to increased oxygen consumption, high heart rates, and arrhythmias) increase the risk of cellular necrosis. Following CPB, flow limitations due to diffuse atherosclerosis in some areas may result in poor contractility, and newly grafted areas have a high probability of becoming ischemic and stunned. These areas are likely to contribute to MI.