The role of complement C3 in the outcome of regional myocardial infarction

Abstract Coronary heart disease leading to myocardial ischemia is a major cause of failure. A hallmark failure fibrosis. Using murine model ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), we showed that, following IRI, in mice genetically deficient the central factor complement system, C3, necrosis was reduced compared with WT mice. Four weeks after ischemic period, C3 −/−mice had significantly less cardiac fibrosis and better function than controls. Overall, our results suggest that innate immune response through plays an important role necrotic cell death, which contributes underlies post-infarction