Activin receptor-like kinase 4 haplodeficiency alleviates the cardiac inflammation and pacing-induced ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction

Background: Inflammation process is an important determinant for subsequent changes in cardiac function and remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Recent studies have implicated that ALK4 haplodeficiency improves cardiac function after MI. However, it remains unknown if the beneficial effects are partly attributed to ALK4 haplodeficiency-induced modulation on inflammatory response in the inflammatory phase of MI. In this research, we aimed to explore the mechanism of ALK4 haplodeficiency in the inflammatory stage of MI. Methods: ALK4, CD16, and CD14 were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from MI patients and healthy volunteers. ALK4 haplodeficiency (ALK4(+/-)) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were randomly divided into the sham group and the MI group. Inflammation cytokines and chemokines were measured. Echocardiography and intracardiac electrophysiological recordings were performed on the 3(rd) day and the 7(th) day after MI operation. ALK4 expression and inflammation cytokines were also detected in LPS- or IL-4-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) from the ALK4(+/-) mice and WT littermates. Results: ALK4 gene expression in circulating monocytes of MI patients was higher than that in those of healthy volunteers. Cardiac inflammation and vulnerability of ventricular arrhythmia after acute myocardial injury are significantly alleviated in ALK4(+/-) mice as compared to WT littermates. On the 3(rd) day post-MI, the level of M1 macrophages were decreased in ALK4(+/-) mice as compared to WT littermates, while the level of M2 macrophages were increased on the 7(th) day post-MI. BMDM isolated from ALK4(+/-) mice displayed reduced secretion of pro-inflammation cytokines after stimulation by LPS in hypoxic condition and increased secretion of anti-inflammation cytokines after stimulation by IL-4. As a result, the haplodeficiency of ALK4 might be responsible for reduced inflammation response in the post-MI stage. Conclusions: ALK4 haplodeficiency reduces cardiac inflammation, improves cardiac function, and finally reduces the vulnerability of ventricular arrhythmia in the inflammatory stage after MI.