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Updated: Oct 12, 2025
LAD-Ligation: A Murine Model of Myocardial Infarction
Published on: October 14, 2009
Myocardial infarction coincides with increased NOX2 and Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine expression in the cerebral
Amber Korn1,2, Umit Baylan3,2, Suat Simsek4,5
1Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands a.korn@amsterdamumc.nl.
Background:
Myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with mental health disorders, in which neuroinflammation and cerebral microvascular dysfunction may play a role. Previously, we have shown that the proinflammatory factors Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) are increased in the human infarcted heart microvasculature. The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of CML and NOX2 in the cerebral microvasculature of patients with MI.
Methods:
Brain tissue was obtained at autopsy from 24 patients with MI and nine control patients. According to their infarct age, patients with MI were divided into three groups: 3-6 hours old (phase I), 6 hours-5 days old (phase II) and 5-14 days old (phase III). CML and NOX2 in the microvasculature were studied through immunohistochemical analysis.
Results:
We observed a 2.5-fold increase in cerebral microvascular CML in patients with phase II and phase III MI (phase II: 21.39±7.91, p=0.004; phase III: 24.21±10.37, p=0.0007) compared with non-MI controls (8.55±2.98). NOX2 was increased in microvessels in patients with phase II MI (p=0.002) and phase III MI (p=0.04) compared with controls. No correlation was found between CML and NOX2 (r=0.58, p=0.13).
Conclusions:
MI coincides with an increased presence of CML and NOX2 in the brain microvasculature. These data point to proinflammatory alterations in the brain microvasculature that may underlie MI-associated mental health disorders.
Insights
Myocardial infarction (MI) is linked to mental health issues. This study found increased levels of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) in the brain microvasculature of MI patients, suggesting neuroinflammation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Neuroscience
- Inflammation Studies
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with mental health disorders.
- Neuroinflammation and cerebral microvascular dysfunction may underlie these conditions.
- Proinflammatory factors Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) were previously found elevated in the infarcted heart microvasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and levels of CML and NOX2 in the cerebral microvasculature of patients who have experienced MI.
- To explore potential neuroinflammatory mechanisms linking MI to mental health disorders.
Main Methods:
- Brain tissue samples were obtained from 24 MI patients and 9 controls.
- MI patients were categorized into three groups based on infarct age (3-6 hours, 6 hours-5 days, 5-14 days).
- Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect CML and NOX2 in microvessels.
Main Results:
- A significant 2.5-fold increase in cerebral microvascular CML was observed in MI patients (phases II and III) compared to controls.
- NOX2 levels were also elevated in the microvasculature of MI patients (phases II and III).
- No significant correlation was found between CML and NOX2 levels (r=0.58, p=0.13).
Conclusions:
- Myocardial infarction is associated with increased CML and NOX2 in the brain microvasculature.
- These findings suggest proinflammatory alterations in cerebral microvasculature following MI.
- These alterations may contribute to the mental health disorders observed in MI patients.
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