Combined therapy with human cord blood cell transplantation and basic fibroblast growth factor delivery for treatment of myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Transplanting cord blood-derived cells has been shown to augment neovascularization in ischaemic tissue.


OBJECTIVE
To test whether sustained delivery of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) enhances the efficacy of angiogenic cord blood mononuclear cell (CBMNC) transplantation therapy in treating myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Three weeks after myocardial infarction, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomised to either injection of medium only (control), CBMNC transplantation, sustained bFGF delivery, or combined CBMNC transplantation and sustained bFGF delivery. Six weeks after treatment, tissue formation, neovascularization, and apoptotic activity in the infarct regions were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry. Left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging.


RESULTS
Combined bFGF delivery and CBMNC transplantation significantly enhanced neovascularization in the ischaemic myocardium, as compared with either therapy alone. The enhanced neovascularization was likely due to increased VEGF and bFGF expression. The combined therapy also exhibited a reduced infarct area and apoptosis in the ischaemic myocardium, as compared with either individual therapy. The combined therapy did not attenuate LV dilation or increase ejection fraction significantly over either individual therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that sustained bFGF delivery enhances the angiogenic efficacy of CBMNC transplantation in rat myocardial infarction models.
Cho
Seung-Woo
SW
Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Il-Kwon
IK
Bhang
Suk Ho
SH
Joung
Boyoung
B
Kim
Young Jin
YJ
Yoo
Kyung Jong
KJ
Yang
Yoon-Sun
YS
Choi
Cha Yong
CY
Kim
Byung-Soo
BS
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D023421:Models, Animal; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D009206:Myocardium; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors