Genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing CCR1 increases cell viability, migration, engraftment, and capillary density in the injured myocardium.
BACKGROUND
Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation has been shown to promote cardiac repair in acute myocardial injury in vivo, its overall restorative capacity appears to be restricted mainly because of poor cell viability and low engraftment in the ischemic myocardium. Specific chemokines are upregulated in the infarcted myocardium. However the expression levels of the corresponding chemokine receptors (eg, CCR1, CXCR2) in MSCs are very low. We hypothesized that this discordance may account for the poor MSC engraftment and survival.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether overexpression of CCR1 or CXCR2 chemokine receptors in MSCs augments their cell survival, migration and engraftment after injection in the infarcted myocardium.


RESULTS
Overexpression of CCR1, but not CXCR2, dramatically increased chemokine-induced murine MSC migration and protected MSC from apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, when MSCs were injected intramyocardially one hour after coronary artery ligation, CCR1-MSCs accumulated in the infarcted myocardium at significantly higher levels than control-MSCs or CXCR2-MSCs 3 days postmyocardial infarction (MI). CCR1-MSC-injected hearts exhibited a significant reduction in infarct size, reduced cardiomyocytes apoptosis and increased capillary density in injured myocardium 3 days after MI. Furthermore, intramyocardial injection of CCR1-MSCs prevented cardiac remodeling and restored cardiac function 4 weeks after MI.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo salutary effects of genetic modification of stem cells. Specifically, overexpression of chemokine receptor enhances the migration, survival and engraftment of MSCs, and may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the injured myocardium.
Huang
Jing
J
Duke University Medical Center & Health System, DUMC 3701, Durham, NC 27701, USA.
Zhang
Zhiping
Z
Guo
Jian
J
Ni
Aiguo
A
Deb
Arjun
A
Zhang
Lunan
L
Mirotsou
Maria
M
Pratt
Richard E
RE
Dzau
Victor J
VJ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D034622:RNA Interference; D054389:Receptors, CCR1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012038:Regeneration; D013997:Time Factors; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
C515301:Ccr1 protein, mouse; D054389:Receptors, CCR1; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D003094:Collagen