A novel strategy of decoy transfection against nuclear factor-κB in myocardial preservation

Background. Nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) is critical for the transcription of multiple genes involved in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Therefore, we hypothesized that blocking NFκB would attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury after prolonged myocardial preservation, resulting in an improvement in cardiac function. Methods. Double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides with a specific affinity for NFκB (NFκB decoy group) or a scrambled decoy group were transfected into rat hearts using a hemagglutinating virus of Japan–liposome method. After 16 hours of preservation in Euro-Collins solution at 4°C, the cardiac grafts were heterotopically transplanted into recipient rats of the same strain. Results. Fluorescein isothiocyanate staining showed introduction of double-stranded oligonucleotides into the nuclei of endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes. After 1 hour of reperfusion the NFκB decoy group showed significantly higher degrees of recovery of left ventricular function as well as significantly lower levels of serum creatine phosphokinase, myocardial water content, tissue IL-8, and neutrophil infiltration than did the scrambled decoy group (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Gene transfection of the NFκB decoy attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury after prolonged heart preservation. As a result, this method appears to be a novel strategy for enhanced myocardial preservation.