Novel Fibrillar and Non-Fibrillar Collagens Involved in Fibrotic Scar Formation after Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Following myocardial infarction (MI), adverse remodeling depends on the proper formation of fibrotic scars, composed of type I and III collagen. Our objective was to pinpoint the participation of previously unreported collagens in post-infarction cardiac fibrosis. Gene (qRT-PCR) and protein (immunohistochemistry followed by morphometric analysis) expression of fibrillar (types II and XI) and non-fibrillar (types VIII and XII) collagens were determined in RNA-sequencing data from 92 mice undergoing myocardial ischemia; mice submitted to permanent (non-reperfused MI, n = 8) or transient (reperfused MI, n = 8) coronary occlusion; and eight autopsies from chronic MI patients. In the RNA-sequencing analysis of mice undergoing myocardial ischemia, increased transcriptomic expression of collagen types II, VIII, XI, and XII was reported within the first week, a tendency that persisted 21 days afterwards. In reperfused and non-reperfused experimental MI models, their gene expression was heightened 21 days post-MI induction and positively correlated with infarct size. In chronic MI patients, immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated their presence in fibrotic scars. Functional analysis indicated that these subunits probably confer tensile strength and ensure the cohesion of interstitial components. Our data reveal that novel collagens are present in the infarcted myocardium. These data could lay the groundwork for unraveling post-MI fibrotic scar composition, which could ultimately influence patient survivorship.