MCT1 and MCT4 expression during myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury in the isolated rat heart

Myocardium ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury can be caused by imbalances in cellular metabolism. Lactate, transported by monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), has been implicated as a mechanism in this process. The present study was designed to investigate the expression and functional role of MCTs in rat hearts during ischemia and reperfusion.

Langendorff-perfused rat hearts were subjected to 20 minutes stabilization, 30 minutes of global ischemia and 60 minutes reperfusion. Hearts were collected serially for detecting expression changes in MCT1, MCT4 during myocardial I/R injury and lactate concentration was measured. Post-ischemic left ventricular function and infract size were determined at end-point, followed by the pretreatment of D-lactate, a competitive inhibitor of MCTs.

MCT4 was significantly increased following global ischemia and MCT1 expression was increased during the early stages of reperfusion in isolated rat hearts, while the expression of the ancillary protein CD147 was increased during I/R injury. We determined increases in AMPK phosphorylation status, which was significantly elevated following ischemia and early reperfusion. Blocking monocarboxylate transport by competitive inhibition with D-lactate caused decreased left ventricular performance and increased infarct size.

Increased MCT4 expression facilitates lactate extrusion during the ischemic period, while increased MCT1 may facilitate lactate transport into and out of cells simultaneously during early reperfusion, with increases in AMPK phosphorylation status during the myocardial I/R period. Lactate transport by MCTs has a profound protective effect during myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.