Mobilization of mesenchymal stem cells by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in rats with acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Intravenous delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a noninvasive strategy for myocardial repair after acute myocardial infarction (MI), is limited by the low percentage of MSCs migration to the heart. The purpose of this study was to test whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) would enhance the colonization of intravenously infused MSCs in damaged heart in a rat model of acute MI.


METHODS
After induction of anterior MI, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to receive: (1) saline (n=9); (2) MSCs (n=15); and (3) MSCs plus G-CSF (50 microg/kg/day for 5 consecutive days, n=13).


RESULTS
Flow cytometry revealed that G-CSF slightly increased surface CXCR4 expression on MSCs in vitro. After completion of G-CSF administration, MSCs showed a significantly lower colonization in bone marrow and a trend toward higher localization in the infarcted myocardium. At 3 months, vessel density in the infarct region of heart was significantly increased in MSCs group and trended to increase in MSCs+G-CSF group. However, echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters, including left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic diameters, ejection fraction, and +/-dP/dtmax, were not statistically different. Morphological analysis showed that infarct size and collagen content were similar in the three groups. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the combined therapy accelerated endothelial recovery of the blood vessels in the ischemic myocardium. However, myocardial regeneration resulting from MSCs differentiation was not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
G-CSF enhanced the migration of systemically delivered MSCs from bone marrow to infarcted heart. However, the beneficial effect of this kind of migration is limited, as cardiac function did not improve.
Cheng
Zhaokang
Z
Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials of Education of Ministry, College of Life Science, Nankai University, and Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Pingjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300071, China.
Liu
Xiaolei
X
Ou
Lailiang
L
Zhou
Xin
X
Liu
Yi
Y
Jia
Xiaohua
X
Zhang
Jin
J
Li
Yuming
Y
Kong
Deling
D
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism
D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003094:Collagen