LOX-1 pathway affects the extent of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) was originally identified as a receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein predominantly expressed in endothelial cells. LOX-1 expression can be induced in cardiomyocytes and that activation of LOX-1 is involved in apoptosis. To investigate possible roles of LOX-1 in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, rats were subjected to coronary artery ligation for 1h followed by reperfusion for 2h. Immunohistochemistry revealed that expression of LOX-1 in cardiac myocytes was induced following ischemia-reperfusion but not ischemia alone. Administration of anti-LOX-1 monoclonal antibody resulted in a nearly 50% reduction in myocardial infarction size compared with that of normal IgG or saline (P<0.05). These findings suggest that activation of the LOX-1 pathway is involved in determining the extent of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and that inhibition of the LOX-1 pathway may provide a novel strategy for treatment of acute myocardial infarction in humans.