Int Immunopharmacol. 2026 Jan 20;172:116206. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116206. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Myocarditis is a leading cause of heart failure in young individuals and may progress to dilated cardiomyopathy due to inflammation-driven cardiac fibrosis. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are key contributors to this process, mediating both IL-17A-driven inflammatory responses and TGF-β-induced fibrotic remodeling. However, effective therapies that concurrently target these dual pathological pathways in CFs are lacking.
METHODS: We evaluated the neddylation inhibitor MLN4924 in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM). A fibroblast-targeted biomimetic nanoparticle (FMlipo@MLN4924) was engineered and its delivery efficiency and therapeutic effects were assessed in vitro and in vivo.
RESULTS: Systemic MLN4924 treatment significantly alleviated myocardial inflammation, reduced cardiac fibrosis by approximately 50% and preserved cardiac function in EAM mice. Mechanistically, MLN4924 dually suppressed IL-17A-induced chemokine production and TGF-β-driven fibrotic activation in CFs. The FMlipo@MLN4924 system demonstrated more than a 2.5-fold increase in cardiac accumulation compared to non-targeted liposomes. This targeted delivery resulted in superior therapeutic efficacy, achieving enhanced suppression of immune infiltration and fibrotic remodeling with no observable toxicity.
CONCLUSION: MLN4924 exerts dual anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in autoimmune myocarditis by regulating IL-17A and TGF-β pathways in CFs. Fibroblast-membrane camouflaging enhances MLN4924 delivery and performance, presenting a promising precision medicine strategy for immune-mediated cardiac injury with clear translational potential.
PMID:41570745 | DOI:10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116206