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Updated: May 7, 2026
Histological Quantification of Chronic Myocardial Infarct in Rats
Published on: December 11, 2016
The small molecule Wnt signaling modulator ICG-001 improves contractile function in chronically infarcted rat
Tomoyo Sasaki1, Hyosook Hwang, Cu Nguyen
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Abstract:
The adult mammalian heart has limited capability for self-repair after myocardial infarction. Therefore, therapeutic strategies that improve post-infarct cardiac function are critically needed. The small molecule ICG-001 modulates Wnt signaling and increased the expression of genes beneficial for cardiac regeneration in epicardial cells. Lineage tracing experiments, demonstrated the importance of β-catenin/p300 mediated transcription for epicardial progenitor contribution to the myocardium. Female rats given ICG-001 for 10 days post-occlusion significantly improved ejection fraction by 8.4%, compared to controls (P<0.05). Taken together, Wnt modulation via β-catenin/CBP inhibition offers a promising therapeutic strategy towards restoration of myocardial tissues and an enhancement of cardiac functions following infarction.
