Ultrasonic Microbubble Cavitation Deliver Gal-3 shRNA to Inhibit Myocardial Fibrosis after Myocardial Infarction

Wenqu Li; Qiaofeng Jin; Li Zhang; Shukun He; Yishu Song; Lingling Xu; Cheng Deng; Lufang Wang; Xiaojuan Qin; Mingxing Xie

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15030729

Pharmaceutics (Feb 2023)

Ultrasonic Microbubble Cavitation Deliver Gal-3 shRNA to Inhibit Myocardial Fibrosis after Myocardial Infarction

Wenqu Li,
Qiaofeng Jin,
Li Zhang,
Shukun He,
Yishu Song,
Lingling Xu,
Cheng Deng,
Lufang Wang,
Xiaojuan Qin,
Mingxing Xie

Affiliations

Wenqu Li: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Qiaofeng Jin: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Li Zhang: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Shukun He: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Yishu Song: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Lingling Xu: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Cheng Deng: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Lufang Wang: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Xiaojuan Qin: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China
Mingxing Xie: Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Ave., Wuhan 430022, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030729
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 3
p. 729

Abstract

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Galectin-3 (Gal-3) participates in myocardial fibrosis (MF) in a variety of ways. Inhibiting the expression of Gal-3 can effectively interfere with MF. This study aimed to explore the value of Gal-3 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection mediated by ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) in anti-myocardial fibrosis and its mechanism. A rat model of myocardial infarction (MI) was established and randomly divided into control and Gal-3 shRNA/cationic microbubbles + ultrasound (Gal-3 shRNA/CMBs + US) groups. Echocardiography measured the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) weekly, and the heart was harvested to analyze fibrosis, Gal-3, and collagen expression. LVEF in the Gal-3 shRNA/CMB + US group was improved compared with the control group. On day 21, the myocardial Gal-3 expression decreased in the Gal-3 shRNA/CMBs + US group. Furthermore, the proportion of the myocardial fibrosis area in the Gal-3 shRNA/CMBs + US group was 6.9 ± 0.41% lower than in the control group. After inhibition of Gal-3, there was a downregulation in collagen production (collagen I and III), and the ratio of Col I/Col III decreased. In conclusion, UTMD-mediated Gal-3 shRNA transfection can effectively silence the expression of Gal-3 in myocardial tissue, reduce myocardial fibrosis, and protect the cardiac ejection function.

Published in Pharmaceutics

ISSN: 1999-4923 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Pharmacy and materia medica
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmaceutics/

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