[Effects of marrow-derived cardiac stem cell transplantation after myocardial infarction in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic potential of marrow-derived cardiac stem cell (MCSC) transplantation after myocardial infarction (MI) in rats.


METHODS
MCSC were selected from the marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MMSC) of male SD rats by single-cell cloning culture. MI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligating in female SD rats. Equal volume PBS, MMSC and MCSC were transplanted at the border zone of the infarct one week after MI. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography at four weeks after cell transplantation. The hearts were removed and morphological changes of scar tissue were examined with HE staining and Masson trichrome staining, VEGFR-1(+) capillary vessels were labeled with immunohistochemical staining. Scar area and vessel density were measured by image analyzer. MCSC containing Y chromosome were examined using in situ fluorescent hybridization, and cardiomyocyte cTnT expression was also analyzed.


RESULTS
Cardiac transcription factor Nkx2.5 was expressed at low level in c-kit(+) MCSC. Four weeks after cell transplantation, left ventricular fractional shortening and ejection fraction were significantly higher while scar area was significantly lower in MCSC group compared to MMSC group and control group. cTnT was expressed in cells containing Y chromosome and these cells were connected with myocardium of recipient rats in the rats transplanted with MCSC. Vessel density around the infarcted tissue in MCSC group was similar as that in MMSC group and significantly higher than that in control group.


CONCLUSIONS
MSCS could effectually differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes at the border zone of the infarct, and MCSC transplantation post MI significantly improved cardiac functions and promoted angiogenesis.
Zhang
Gui-tao
GT
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Tan
Yu-zhen
YZ
Wang
Hai-jie
HJ
Ao
Hong
H
Guo
Hai-dong
HD
Huang
Guo-ying
GY
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation