Abstract 14809: Macrophages Contribute to Diastolic Dysfunction in Systemic Sclerosis

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2023-11, Vol.148 (Suppl_1)
• Main Authors: Jones, Xaviar M, Ciullo, Alessandra, Mesquita, Thassio, Rogers, Russell, Ibrahim, Ahmed G, Cingolani, Eugenio, Marban, Eduardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/circ.148.suppl_1.14809

Abstract only Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by aberrant inflammation and internal organ fibrosis, resulting in irreversible scarring and organ failure. In patients with SSc, primary cardiac involvement heralds a poor prognosis, and accounts for one-third of SSc-related deaths. No effective treatments are available for this lethal disorder. However, preclinical investigations are hindered by the scarcity of animal models recapitulating human SSc-associated cardiac disease. Methods: 5-7-week-old C57BL/6J female wild type mice were injected with PBS (control) or 100 μL bleomycin subcutaneously every other day for 4 weeks. Endpoints include body weight, exercise capacity, echocardiography, and histologic quantification of fibrosis in heart (Masson’s trichrome staining). Results: At study endpoint, animals receiving bleomycin exhibited body weight loss (p