Estradiol-treated mesenchymal stem cells improve myocardial recovery after ischemia.
BACKGROUND
Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment modality for injured cardiac tissue. A novel mechanism for this cardioprotection may include paracrine actions. Our lab has recently shown that gender differences exist in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) paracrine function. Estrogen is implicated in the cardioprotection found in females. It remains unknown whether 17beta-estradiol (E2) affects MSC paracrine function and whether E2-treated MSCs may better protect injured cardiac tissue. We hypothesize that E2-exposed MSCs infused into hearts prior to ischemia may demonstrate increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production and greater protection of myocardial function compared to untreated MSCs.


METHODS
Untreated and E2-treated MSCs were isolated, cultured, and plated and supernatants were harvested for VEGF assay (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rat hearts (n = 13) were isolated and perfused via Langendorff model and subjected to 15 min equilibration, 25 min warm global ischemia, and 40 min reperfusion. Hearts were randomly assigned to perfusate vehicle, untreated male MSC, or E2-treated male MSC. Transcoronary delivery of 1 million MSCs was performed immediately prior to ischemia in experimental hearts.


RESULTS
E2-treated MSCs provoked significantly more VEGF production than untreated MSCs (933.2 +/- 64.9 versus 595.8 +/- 10.7 pg/mL). Postischemic recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was significantly greater in hearts infused with E2-treated MSCs (66.9 +/- 3.3%) than untreated MSCs (48.7 +/- 3.7%) and vehicle (28.9 +/- 4.6%) at end reperfusion. There was also greater recovery of the end diastolic pressure with E2-treated MSCs than untreated MSCs and vehicle.


CONCLUSIONS
Preischemic infusion of MSCs protects myocardial function and viability. E2-treated MSCs may enhance this paracrine protection, which suggests that ex vivo modification of MSCs may improve therapeutic outcome.
Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Graham S
GS
Erwin
Paul R
PR
Crisostomo
Yue
Y
Wang
Meijing
M
Wang
Troy A
TA
Markel
Mike
M
Guzman
Ian C
IC
Sando
Rahul
R
Sharma
Daniel R
DR
Meldrum
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004958:Estradiol