Abstract 424: Effector T Cells Induce Cardiac Fibroblasts Transition to Myofibroblasts & Contribute to Pressure Overload Induced Cardiac Fibrosis

Background: Cardiac fibrogenesis is a major pathogenic factor that occurs in heart failure (HF) and results in contractile dysfunction and ventricular dilation. Recently, we showed that T cell deficient mice (TCRα -/- ) do not develop cardiac fibrosis (CF) and have preserved cardiac function in the thoracic aortic constriction (TAC) mouse model of pressure overload (PO). Specifically, CD4 + T cells are activated in the cardiac draining lymph nodes and infiltrate the LV, where the Th1 and Th17 effector T cell signature transcription factors are significantly upregulated as compared with control mice. However, the T cell subsets involved and the mechanisms by which they contribute to CF and pathogenesis of non-ischemic HF remains to be determined. Thus, we hypothesize that heart infiltrated effector T cells perpetuate the fibrotic response by regulating the differentiation and activation of extracellular matrix-producing cardiac myofibroblasts. Methods and Results: Naïve or effector T cells differentiated in vitro or isolated from mice undergoing TAC or Sham surgery were co-cultured with adult C57BL/6 cardiac fibroblasts (CFB). In contrast with naïve T cells, effector T cells and PO activated T cells strongly adhered to CFB and mediated fibroblast to myofibroblasts transition as depicted by immunofluorescence expression of SMAα. Effector T cell supernatants only slightly mediated this transition, indicating that effector T cells direct contact with CFB, rather than cytokine release is required to mediate CFB transformation. Adoptive transfer of effector, but not naïve T cells, into TCRα -/- recipient mice in the onset of TAC resulted in T cells infiltration into the left ventricle and increased CF. Conclusions: Our data indicate that CD4+ effector T cells directly interact with CFB to induce CF in response to PO induced CF. Future studies will determine the adhesion mechanisms regulating this crosstalk and evaluate the pro-fibrotic mechanisms induced and whether this is a T effector cell specific subset. These results will provide an attractive tool to counteract the inflammatory/fibrotic process as an alternative option for the treatment of CF in non- ischemic HF.