Title : Plasmapheresis as a potential novel therapy to prevent cardiac fibrosis
Abstract:
When a myocardial infarction (MI) takes place, a process of cardiac remodelling follows. This is necessary to resolve the reduced or blocked flow of blood into the stressed or dying cardiac tissue. This includes the formation of scar tissue and deposition of extracellular matrix in the area, aka cardiac fibrosis. The functional cardiomyocytes are replaced by collagen, resulting in less contractile tissue and chronically reduced cardiac output for the patient. Despite this, if the fibrotic process does not proceed to a sufficient extent, there is a risk of rupture and death. Consequently, this process is naturally tuned to take place in excess. Attempts at chemically blocking it have produced mixed results, as a limited amount is still necessary to occur. Consequently, current protocols for therapy after myocardial infarction are typically lacking in tackling the fibrotic process that follows the initial damage.In a collaborative effort, we are trying to apply a plasmapheresis approach to this situation. Plasmapheresis is a technique that draws blood from the patient, extracts the plasma and returns the cellular component mixed with saline. This therapy is already approved and used for some blood-based diseases but is yet to be explored in the field of cardiovascular diseases. We have observed that the disappearance of the plasma proteins has an important reduction in several pathological processes dependent on body-wide inflammation, such as ageing. We believe that cardiac fibrosis, also dependent in various inflammatory signals, may also benefit from this approach.Because we are removing the excessive inflammatory compounds that reach plasma and not add a blocker, the necessary component of cardiac fibrosis is still allowed to occur. However, the same removal reduces the overall inflammation so that the excess may be avoided.As such, in this poster we present the premise of our ongoing collaborative project between the University of the Philippines Diliman and the University of California Berkeley on the amelioration of cardiac fibrosis after MI in a mouse model of MI. This approach has just become possible with the technology of plasmapheresis in small rodents developed by Dr. Conboy’s group.
Audience Take Away Notes
- The new paradigm of how general inflammatory processes plays an important role in many pathological processes, including cardiac remodeling.
- The potential of plasmapheresis as a clinical tool.
- The problem and importance of addressing cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction.
