Identification and Validation of MTFP1 as a Mitochondrial Target Restoring Dynamics and ECM Remodeling in Acute Myocardial Infarction

TL;DR

This study identifies MTFP1 as a new mitochondrial biomarker and therapeutic target for acute myocardial infarction, showing it improves heart function and reduces damage.

Contribution

The novel contribution is the identification of MTFP1 as a mitochondria-related biomarker and its role in restoring cardiac function through mitochondrial and ECM pathways.

Findings

MTFP1 is significantly downregulated in acute myocardial infarction and hypoxia conditions.

AAV9-mediated MTFP1 overexpression improves cardiac function, reduces infarct size, and attenuates fibrosis and oxidative stress.

MTFP1 modulates mitochondrial fission and ECM remodeling via the p-DRP1/MMP9/TIMP1 axis.

Abstract

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is central to the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but mitochondria-related molecular biomarkers and mechanisms remain incompletely defined. This study aimed to identify mitochondria-associated biomarkers in AMI and elucidate their functional roles in mitochondrial dynamics, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and cardiac protection. Methods: Two GEO datasets (GSE19322, GSE71906) were analyzed to identify mitochondria-related differentially expressed genes (DE-MRGs) by intersecting DEGs with MitoCarta3.0 genes. Functional enrichment (GO/KEGG), LASSO regression, ROC curves, and nomogram modeling were employed to screen biomarkers. Immune infiltration profiling, GeneMANIA, GSEA, TF-mRNA and ceRNA network construction, and drug prediction analyses were performed. Expression validation was conducted via RT-qPCR, Western blot (WB), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in murine AMI models and hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes. Functional assays assessed cardiac performance (echocardiography), infarct size (TTC staining), fibrosis (Masson/Sirius red), oxidative stress (ROS), and ECM remodeling (MMP9/TIMP1 axis). Results: We identified 295 DE-MRGs, enriched in oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial metabolic pathways. Machine learning and validation analyses pinpointed MTFP1 and DNAJC28 as AMI biomarkers with strong diagnostic accuracy. In vivo and in vitro studies confirmed marked downregulation of MTFP1 post-AMI and under hypoxia. AAV9-mediated MTFP1 overexpression improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size, attenuated fibrosis, and decreased ROS levels. Mechanistically, MTFP1 upregulated phosphorylated DRP1 (Ser616) without altering total DRP1, balanced MMP9/TIMP1 activity, and suppressed fibrosis markers (COL1A1, α-SMA). Gelatin zymography indicated that MMP9 activation remained restrained despite elevated pro-MMP9, consistent with TIMP1-mediated regulation. Hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes showed similar antifibrotic and antioxidative responses following MTFP1 overexpression. Conclusions: Our study identified MTFP1 as a novel mitochondria-related biomarker and therapeutic modulator in AMI. MTFP1 exerts cardioprotective effects by restoring mitochondrial fission balance and ECM remodeling through the p-DRP1/MMP9/TIMP1 signaling axis, attenuating fibrosis and oxidative stress. These findings provide mechanistic insight into mitochondria-targeted cardioprotection and highlight MTFP1 as a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target for AMI.

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