Role of Extracellular RNA and TLR3‐Trif Signaling in Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury

Abstract

Background Toll‐like receptor 3 ( TLR 3) was originally identified as the receptor for viral RNA and represents a major host antiviral defense mechanism. TLR 3 may also recognize extracellular RNA (ex RNA ) released from injured tissues under certain stress conditions. However, a role for ex RNA and TLR 3 in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemic injury has not been tested. This study examined the role of ex RNA and TLR 3 signaling in myocardial infarction (MI), apoptosis, inflammation, and cardiac dysfunction during ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods and Results Wild‐type ( WT ), TLR 3 −/− , Trif −/− , and interferon ( IFN ) α/β receptor‐1 deficient ( IFNAR 1 −/− ) mice were subjected to 45 minutes of coronary artery occlusion and 24 hours of reperfusion. Compared with WT , TLR 3 −/− or Trif −/− mice had smaller MI and better preserved cardiac function. Surprisingly, unlike TLR (2/4)‐MyD88 signaling, lack of TLR 3‐Trif signaling had no impact on myocardial cytokines or neutrophil recruitment after I/R, but myocardial apoptosis was significantly attenuated in Trif −/− mice. Deletion of the downstream IFNAR 1 had no effect on infarct size. Importantly, hypoxia and I/R led to release of RNA including micro RNA from injured cardiomyocytes and ischemic heart, respectively. Necrotic cardiomyocytes induced a robust and dose‐dependent cytokine response in cultured cardiomyocytes, which was markedly reduced by RNase but not DNase, and partially blocked in TLR 3‐deficient cardiomyocytes. In vivo, RNase administration reduced serum RNA level, attenuated myocardial cytokine production, leukocytes infiltration and apoptosis, and conferred cardiac protection against I/R injury. Conclusion TLR 3‐Trif signaling represents an injurious pathway during I/R. Extracellular RNA released during I/R may contribute to myocardial inflammation and infarction.