Inhibition of let-7 augments the recruitment of epicardial cells and improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction

Heart failure due to myocardial infarction is a major cause of mortality. The microRNA (miR) family let-7 is expressed during embryonic development and is up-regulated in differentiated cells. The aim of this study was to study the role of let-7 after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We designed an antimiR to inhibit the highest expressed members of the let-7 family, let-7 a, b and c. Administration at day 0 and day 2 after AMI resulted in sustained knockdown of let-7 after 28 days. Let-7 inhibition prevented deterioration of cardiac functions compared to control treatment which was especially due to improvements in the infarcted, apical cardiac segments. We observed higher contents of fibrosis in the border zone as well as increased numbers of cells positive for TCF21, which is also expressed in epicardial cells. Markers were augmented after let-7 inhibition and let-7 blocked EMT in epicardial cells in vitro. Lineage tracing in TCF21iCre/+:R26RtdT mice showed abundant tomato positive cells in the infarct and border zone. In conclusion, let-7 inhibition resulted in functional benefits due to an increase in recruitment of epicardial cells and EMT.