Abstract 4138606: Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling Establishes Trained Innate Immunity Through Interferon-Mediated Epigenetic Modifications Leading to Cardioprotection in a Stress-induced Cardiomyopathy Model

Introduction: The mechanisms responsible for establishing preconditioning-induced cardioprotection remain unknown. We have shown that a high dose of isoproterenol (ISO) induces cardioprotection against a second ISO dose in mice. The durability of protection and the lack of an innate immune response suggests trained immunity as a novel cardioprotective mechanism. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that cardioprotection is conferred through trained immunity, by interferon signaling downstream of necrotic cardiac material-mediated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation. Methods: Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with TLR agonists or diluent, and challenged with 300 mg/kg ISO 7 days later. Mice were assessed by 2-D echocardiography, serum cardiac troponin levels, flow cytometry immune cell counts, and Multiome (single nuclei RNA+ATAC) sequencing. Results: The TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced cardioprotection against ISO injury, with mice having enhanced survival (P=0.049) and no changes in cardiac troponin levels (P>0.99), cardiac neutrophil influx (P>0.99) or left ventricular motion (P=0.057) relative to baseline values before injury. Treating LPS-injected mice with β-glucan reversed the effects of LPS on immune cells and abolished cardioprotection. Multiome analysis of genes linked to chromatin peaks with increased accessibility in LPS+vehicle (protected) compared to LPS+β-glucan and diluent control (non-protected) hearts revealed the interferon pathway to be up-regulated across all major cell types. Modulation of interferon signaling with monoclonal antibodies against type 1+2 interferon receptors abolished cardioprotection in LPS-treated mice, whereas pre-treatment with recombinant type 1+2 interferons induced cardioprotection. Importantly, interferon-treated hearts shared similar chromatin accessibility features and enriched transcription factor motifs, including interferon-specific motifs, with LPS-protected hearts across cell types, particularly among non-cardiomyocytes. Conclusions: TLR4-induced interferon signaling is sufficient and in part necessary for cardioprotection against ISO injury. Moreover, our findings show that epigenetic modifications downstream of interferon signaling lead to cardioprotection consistent with trained innate immunity.