Circulating Mitochondrial DNA Aggravates Post-Ischemic Functional and Metabolic Recovery in an Isolated Rat Heart Model of Donation After Circulatory Death.
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
42196340
Abstract
During donation after circulatory death (DCD), circulating levels of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs) may increase, thereby exposing donor hearts to mtDAMPs prior to procurement and during machine perfusion. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a pro-inflammatory mtDAMP that may stimulate several intracellular cascades including that of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). We administered mtDNA or ODN2088 (TLR9 antagonist) to hearts at reperfusion onset using an isolated rat heart model of DCD transplantation to investigate their effects. Four experimental groups were compared: (1) no ischemia; (2) ischemia; (3) ischemia + mtDNA; (4) ischemia + ODN2088. During reperfusion, cardiac power in ischemic hearts was significantly reduced compared to non-ischemic hearts (p < 0.01), and was further decreased with mtDNA (p < 0.05), but remained unchanged with ODN2088. Reduced ventricular recovery in mtDNA-treated hearts likely resulted from lower recovery of oxidative metabolism, demonstrated by reduced oxygen efficiency (p < 0.05) and a strong tendency for increased cytochrome c release (p < 0.06),indicating mitochondrial dysfunction and disruption, respectively. ODN2088 phosphorylated IκBα (NF-κB inhibitor alpha) and appeared to decrease cardiomyocyte death compared to ischemic hearts. Given the detrimental effects of circulating mtDNA on cardiac functional and metabolic recovery, circulating mtDAMPs, and particularly mtDNA, are of clinical relevance as potential therapeutic targets for optimizing graft quality and post-transplant outcomes.
Date Issued
2026-05-14
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Subjects
donation after circulatory death
•
heart transplantation
•
ischemia–reperfusion injury
•
mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns
Language(s)
en
Journal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publisher
MDPI
ISSN
1422-0067
1661-6596
Access(Rights)
open.access