Pressure overload induced cardiac remodeling is associated with a complex spectrum of pathophysiological mechanisms. As inflammatory cells, macrophages maintain a critical position in mechanical stress-induced myocardial remodeling.
HMGB1 is a highly conserved, ubiquitous
protein in various types of cells whose biological roles are closely dependent on subcellular sites. However, whether
HMGB1 expressed in macrophages performs the protective or pathological responses in cardiac remodeling is unknown. In this study, we generated the myeloid-specific
HMGB1 knockout mice and detected the effects of macrophage
HMGB1 in response to pathophysiological stress. Our data showed
HMGB1 in macrophages played a protective role against the pressure overload induced cardiac pathophysiology. The deletion of
HMGB1 in macrophages gains more differentiation of M1-type pro-inflammatory macrophage during the mechanical stress-induced myocardial remodeling, thereby aggravating the inflammatory response in whole heart, resulting in accelerated deterioration of cardiac function. Moreover, in vitro data also validated
HMGB1 got involved in the process of macrophage polarization. Macrophages without
HMGB1 are more inclined to differentiate into M1 during the stretch process. In summary, the present results indicated that loss of
HMGB1 in macrophages can exacerbate
heart failure through increased differentiation of pro-inflammatory macrophages and enhanced inflammatory response.