The role of natural IgM in myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury

Myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury represents a combination of factors, namely the intrinsic cellular response to ischemia and the extrinsic acute inflammatory response. Recent studies in mesenteric and skeletal muscle reperfusion models identified natural IgM as a major initiator of pathology through the activation of the complement system and inflammatory cells. To determine whether a similar mechanism is involved in myocardial tissues, mice bearing an altered natural IgM repertoire (Cr2−/−) were examined in a murine model of coronary artery ischemia. Notably, these mice were significantly protected based on the reduced infarct size, limited apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and decreased neutrophil infiltration. Protection was IgM-dependent as reconstitution of these mice with wild-type IgM restored myocardial reperfusion injury. These results support a model in which natural IgM initiates the acute inflammatory response in the myocardium following ischemia and reperfusion.