Adcy9 Gene Inactivation Improves Cardiac Function After Myocardial Infarction in Mice

Polymorphisms in the adenylate cyclase 9 (ADCY9) gene influence the benefits of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) modulator dalcetrapib on cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndrome. We hypothesized that Adcy9 inactivation could improve cardiac function and remodelling following myocardial infarction (MI) in absence of CETP activity.

Wild-type (WT) and Adcy9-inactivated (Adcy9^Gt/Gt) male mice, transgenic or not for human CETP (tgCETP^+/-), were subjected to MI by permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation and studied for 4 weeks. Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed by echocardiography at baseline, 1, and 4 weeks after MI. At sacrifice, blood, spleen and bone marrow cells were collected for flow cytometry analysis, and hearts were harvested for histologic analyses.

All mice developed LV hypertrophy, dilation, and systolic dysfunction, but Adcy9^Gt/Gt mice exhibited reduced pathologic LV remodelling and better LV function compared with WT mice. There were no differences between tgCETP^+/- and Adcy9^Gt/Gt tgCETP^+/- mice, which both exhibited intermediate responses. Histologic analyses showed smaller cardiomyocyte size, reduced infarct size, and preserved myocardial capillary density in the infarct border zone in Adcy9^Gt/Gt vs WT mice. Count of bone marrow T cells and B cells were significantly increased in Adcy9^Gt/Gt mice compared with the other genotypes.

Adcy9 inactivation reduced infarct size, pathologic remodelling, and cardiac dysfunction. These changes were accompanied by preserved myocardial capillary density and increased adaptive immune response. Most of the benefits of Adcy9 inactivation were only observed in the absence of CETP.