Abstract

Cardiac rupture and ventricular remodeling are recognized as the severe complications and major risk factors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aims to evaluate the regulatory roles of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 3 (IRAK3) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in cardiac rupture and ventricular remodeling. Microarray analysis was performed to screen AMI-related differentially expressed genes and IRAK3 was identified. The models of AMI were established in male C57BL/6 mice to investigate the functional role of IRAK3. Afterwards, lentivirus recombinant plasmid si-IRAK3 was constructed for IRAK3 silencing. Next, cardiac function parameters were measured in response to IRAK3 silencing. The regulatory effects that IRAK3 had on myocardial infarct size and the content of myocardial interstitial collagen were analyzed. The regulation of IRAK3 silencing on the NF-κB signaling pathway was further assayed. The obtained results indicated that highly expressed IRAK3 and activated NF-κB signaling pathway were observed in myocardial tissues of mouse models of AMI, accompanied by increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2). Notably, IRAK3 gene silencing inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, IRAK3 gene silencing led to the decreased thickness of infarct area and collagen content of myocardial interstitium, alleviated diastolic, and systolic dysfunctions, as well as, facilitated cardiac functions in mice with AMI, corresponding to decreased expression of MMP-2/9 expression and increased expression of TIMP-2. Taken together, silencing of IRAK3 inactivates the NF-κB signaling pathway, and thereby impeding the cardiac rupture and ventricular remodeling, which eventually prevents AMI progression.