Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), such as anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies are increasingly used in anti-cancer therapy. However, several cardiovascular adverse effects can occur with the use of ICIs, including new-onset heart failure.
Hypothesis: We hypothesized that prior myocardial ischemic injury could exacerbate cardiac dysfunction and inflammation caused by anti-PD-1 treatment. Moreover, we investigated whether abatacept, a T-cell co-stimulation blocker, can prevent ICI-induced cardiac effects.
Methods: To induce reversible cardiac ischemia, C57Bl/6J mice were treated with isoprenaline (ISOP group) or with PBS (CON group), followed by 16 weeks of recovery period. Following this, mice from both groups were divided into three further treatment groups: isotype control, anti-PD-1, or anti-PD-1 combined with abatacept, and were treated for two weeks, with three weekly intraperitoneal injections. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate cardiac function while myocardial inflammation was assessed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry and Western blot were used to investigate changes occurring in the thymus.
Results: Mice with normal heart function but with prior ischemic injury and anti-PD-1 treatment (ISOP + anti-PD-1) showed significantly decreased fractional shortening and cardiac index on echocardiography, while in animals with abatacept co-treatment (ISOP+anti-PD-1+abatacept) cardiac function was not altered. Increased immune cell infiltration was seen in the myocardium of the ISOP+anti-PD-1 treated group compared to CON animals, including T-cells and macrophages, with increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while co-treatment with abatacept ameliorated the inflammatory response. In the thymus, increased expression of PD-1 was found after abatacept co-treatment.
Conclusion: Prior myocardial ischemic injury was associated with cardiac dysfunction and inflammation after anti-PD-1 treatment, which was ameliorated by abatacept co-treatment. Patients with prior cardiac ischemic events may be at greater risk for developing ICI-induced cardiotoxicity, including new-onset HF.