Abstract 17169: Computationally-Engineered Analog of Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1α Preserves the Mechanical Properties of Infarcted Myocardium Under Planar Biaxial Tension

Introduction: Adverse remodeling of the left ventricle (LV) after myocardial infarction (MI) results in abnormal tissue biomechanics and impaired cardiac function, ultimately leading to heart failure. We hypothesized that intramyocardial delivery of engineered stromal cell-derived factor 1α analog (ESA), our previously-developed supra-efficient pro-angiogenic chemokine, preserves biaxial LV mechanical properties after MI. Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=46) underwent sham surgery (n=15) or permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (n=31). Rats sustaining MI were randomized for intramyocardial injections of either saline (100 μL, n=15) or ESA (6 μg/kg, n=16), delivered at standardized peri-infarct sites. After 4 weeks, echocardiography was performed, and the hearts were explanted. Biaxial tensile testing of the anterior LV wall was performed using a strain-controlled biaxial load frame (Fig. 1A), producing up to physiologic circumferential and longitudinal strains (ε=20%, each). The modulus was determined along each axis, and maximum shear stress was calculated as a composite metric of the tissue’s response to physiologic strains. Data are expressed as mean±SEM. Results: At 4 weeks post-MI, ESA-treated hearts had smaller end-diastolic LV internal dimension (6.89±0.27 cm vs 7.69±0.22 cm, p=0.03) and improved ejection fraction (63.7±2.9% vs 49.4±4.4%, p=0.01) compared to saline-injected controls. Hearts treated with ESA exhibited lower moduli than saline controls in both the circumferential (269.4±33.2 kPa vs 431.5±55.6 kPa, p=0.02) and longitudinal axes (182.4±25.0 kPa vs 332.3±51.2 kPa, p=0.02, Fig. 1B). The maximum shear stress for ESA-treated hearts was significantly reduced compared to that for saline controls (5.8±0.8 kPa vs 9.0±1.2 kPa, p=0.03) and was similar to that for sham controls (Fig. 1C). Conclusion: Intramyocardial ESA injection mitigates post-MI tissue stiffening and preserves biaxial LV mechanical properties.