miR-499 in Platelet-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Augments Inflammatory Cell Generation and Cardiac Remodeling After

Lee Ohayon-Steckel1,2, Xinyi Zhang3, Shagufta Haque1,2

  • 1Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute (L.O.-S., S.H., M.A.U., A.D., D.G.K., N.N., E.J., A.D., C.E.-D., B.W., P.D.), University of Pittsburgh, PA.

Circulation
|November 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) released after myocardial infarction (MI) drive emergency hematopoiesis, increasing inflammatory myeloid cells. Inhibiting pEVs offers a therapeutic strategy for reducing cardiac inflammation and remodeling post-MI.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Hematology
  • Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Emergency myelopoiesis by bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) worsens pathology in chronic diseases like myocardial infarction (MI).
  • Mechanisms triggering bone marrow myelopoiesis following distant organ injury, such as MI, are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) in mediating emergency myelopoiesis after MI.
  • To identify molecular mechanisms by which pEVs influence HSPC behavior and inflammatory cell generation.
  • To explore potential therapeutic targets for mitigating cardiac inflammation and remodeling post-MI.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of MI in mice via left descending coronary artery ligation.
  • Detection and quantification of circulating pEVs in mice and human MI patients using NanoSight, ImageStream, and flow cytometry.
  • Assessment of pEVs' effects on HSPC lineage commitment and inflammatory cell generation using parabiosis, flow cytometry, and adoptive transfer experiments.
  • RNA sequencing, luciferase assays, and gene overexpression studies to elucidate molecular pathways.

Main Results:

  • MI induces a significant increase in circulating pEVs, which promote HSPC proliferation and inflammatory myeloid cell generation in both mice and humans.
  • Cardiomyocyte-derived S100A8/9 alarmin complex stimulates pEV secretion; inhibiting platelet activation/exocytosis reduces pEV production and emergency hematopoiesis.
  • MI-derived pEVs are enriched with miR-499 and miR-184, which directly promote HSPC proliferation and myelopoiesis by downregulating lactoferrin/lactotransferrin.

Conclusions:

  • Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) are key mediators of emergency myelopoiesis and inflammatory cell generation following myocardial infarction (MI).
  • The miR-499/lactoferrin axis within pEVs plays a critical role in promoting myelopoiesis and cardiac remodeling post-MI.
  • Targeting pEVs and their cargo presents a promising therapeutic strategy to reduce cardiac inflammation and improve outcomes after MI.
Abstract