Improved survival rate after myocardial infarction using an inducible cholesterol efflux (iCE) peptide: FAMP

BACKGROUND: There have been no previous reports that apolipoprotein (apo) A-I mimetic peptide improves survival rate after myocardial infarction (MI). METHOD AND RESULTS: Male C57Bl/6J mice were subjected to left coronary artery permanent ligation as a model of MI. We synthesized a novel 24-amino acid apoA-I mimetic peptide-type5 (FAMP5), which potently removes cholesterol via specific ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). FAMP5 was associated with a significantly improved survival rate by protecting against cardiac rupture compared to the control. mRNA levels for eNOS, Gata-4, CTGF and ANP were significantly increased in the hearts of the FAMP5-treated group, while that for MCP-1 decreased. CONCLUSION: This is the first report that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) therapy with FAMP5 improved the survival rate after MI.