Treatment with recombinant placental growth factor (PlGF) enhances both angiogenesis and arteriogenesis and improves survival after myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Placental growth factor (PlGF), a homolog of vascular endothelial growth factor, is reported to stimulate angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in pathological conditions. It was recently demonstrated that PlGF is rapidly produced in myocardial tissue during acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, the effects of exogenous PlGF administration on the healing process after MI are not fully understood. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether PlGF treatment has therapeutic potential in MI.


RESULTS
Recombinant human PlGF (rhPlGF: 10 microg) was administered continuously for 3 days in a mouse model of acute MI. rhPlGF treatment significantly improved survival rate after MI and preserved cardiac function relative to control mice. The numbers of CD31-positive cells and alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive vessels in the infarct area were significantly increased in the rhPlGF group. Endothelial progenitor cells (Flk-1(+)Sca-1(+) cells) were mobilized by rhPlGF into the peripheral circulation. Furthermore, rhPlGF promoted the recruitment of GFP-labeled bone marrow cells to the infarct area, but only a few of those migrating cells differentiated into endothelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Exogenous PlGF plays an important role in healing processes by improving cardiac function and stimulating angiogenesis following MI. It can be considered as a new therapeutic molecule.
Takeda
Yukiji
Y
First Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
Uemura
Shiro
S
Iwama
Hajime
H
Imagawa
Kei-ichi
K
Nishida
Taku
T
Onoue
Kenji
K
Takemoto
Yasuhiro
Y
Soeda
Tsunenari
T
Okayama
Satoshi
S
Somekawa
Satoshi
S
Ishigami
Ken-ichi
K
Takaoka
Minoru
M
Kawata
Hiroyuki
H
Kubo
Atsushi
A
Horii
Manabu
M
Nakajima
Tamio
T
Saito
Yoshihiko
Y
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects
D000199:Actins; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D000950:Antigens, Ly; C074650:Ly6a protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C000608036:PGF protein, human; C000608037:Pgf protein, mouse; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2