CLEC4E deletion in cardiac resident cells reduces infarct size and improves cardiac remodeling following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury
- 1Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- 2Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- 3Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Abstract
The c-type lectin receptor CLEC4E plays a critical role in innate immune responses to ischemic tissue damage, and is expressed on infiltrating immune cells and tissue resident cells. We investigated whether inhibition of CLEC4E signaling in resident cells or infiltrating immune cells, mediates cardioprotection in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and explored associated molecular pathways. Methods: We generated chimeric mice via sublethal total body irradiation followed by adoptive transfer of WT C57Bl6/J bone marrow cells (BMCs) in CLEC4E−/− mice and CLEC4E−/− BMCs in WT mice (n = 86). Four weeks after BMC transfer, we induced I/R injury by 30 min LAD occlusion. Myocardial necrosis was measured using troponin I (TnI) at 90 min; infarct size and LV remodeling were assessed by gadolinium-enhanced MRI at 24 h and 28 d. Hearts and bones were harvested at 28 d for immunohistochemistry, Olink-based myocardial proteomic analysis, and genotyping. Results: BMC analysis confirmed successful CLEC4E chimerism after transfer of CLEC4E−/− vs. WT progenitors. TnI levels and infarct size at 24 h were similar in both groups, but at 28 d, CLEC4E−/− mice with WT BMCs (n = 26) showed better LV function (LVEF 62% vs. 47%, p < 0.05) and smaller infarcts (6.9% vs. 19.8% LVmass, p < 0.01) than WT with CLEC4E−/− BMCs (n = 22). Proteomic analysis revealed enhanced pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic protein expression in WT with CLEC4E−/− BMCs. Conclusion: Deletion of CLEC4E in non–bone marrow–derived cardiac resident cells confers cardioprotection post-I/R. Targeting CLEC4E signaling and its downstream effectors in cardiac tissue may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for I/R injury.
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BibTeX
@article{algoet2026clec4e,
title = {{CLEC4E deletion in cardiac resident cells reduces infarct size and improves cardiac remodeling following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury}},
author = {Michiel Algoet and Ming Wu and Hilde Gillijns and Matic Pusovnik and Ellen Caluwe and Kasia Blazejczyk and Willy Gsell and Lotte Geerkens and Senne De Groote and Tatiana Kuznetsova and Uwe Himmelreich and Wouter Oosterlinck and Stefan Janssens},
journal = {Experimental Biology and Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/ebm.2026.11196},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/ebm.2026.11196},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - CLEC4E deletion in cardiac resident cells reduces infarct size and improves cardiac remodeling following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury
AU - Michiel Algoet
AU - Ming Wu
AU - Hilde Gillijns
AU - Matic Pusovnik
AU - Ellen Caluwe
AU - Kasia Blazejczyk
AU - Willy Gsell
AU - Lotte Geerkens
AU - Senne De Groote
AU - Tatiana Kuznetsova
AU - Uwe Himmelreich
AU - Wouter Oosterlinck
AU - Stefan Janssens
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Experimental Biology and Medicine
DO - 10.3389/ebm.2026.11196
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/ebm.2026.11196
AB - The c-type lectin receptor CLEC4E plays a critical role in innate immune responses to ischemic tissue damage, and is expressed on infiltrating immune cells and tissue resident cells. We investigated whether inhibition of CLEC4E signaling in resident cells or infiltrating immune cells, mediates cardioprotection in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and explored associated molecular pathways. Methods: We generated chimeric mice via sublethal total body irradiation followed by adoptive transfer of WT C57Bl6/J bone marrow cells (BMCs) in CLEC4E−/− mice and CLEC4E−/− BMCs in WT mice (n = 86). Four weeks after BMC transfer, we induced I/R injury by 30 min LAD occlusion. Myocardial necrosis was measured using troponin I (TnI) at 90 min; infarct size and LV remodeling were assessed by gadolinium-enhanced MRI at 24 h and 28 d. Hearts and bones were harvested at 28 d for immunohistochemistry, Olink-based myocardial proteomic analysis, and genotyping. Results: BMC analysis confirmed successful CLEC4E chimerism after transfer of CLEC4E−/− vs. WT progenitors. TnI levels and infarct size at 24 h were similar in both groups, but at 28 d, CLEC4E−/− mice with WT BMCs (n = 26) showed better LV function (LVEF 62% vs. 47%, p < 0.05) and smaller infarcts (6.9% vs. 19.8% LVmass, p < 0.01) than WT with CLEC4E−/− BMCs (n = 22). Proteomic analysis revealed enhanced pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic protein expression in WT with CLEC4E−/− BMCs. Conclusion: Deletion of CLEC4E in non–bone marrow–derived cardiac resident cells confers cardioprotection post-I/R. Targeting CLEC4E signaling and its downstream effectors in cardiac tissue may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for I/R injury.
SN - 1535-3699
SN - 1535-3702
ER -