Spliced stromal cell-derived factor-1α analog stimulates endothelial progenitor cell migration and improves cardiac function in a dose-dependent manner after myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α is a potent endogenous endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) chemokine and key angiogenic precursor. Recombinant SDF-1α has been demonstrated to improve neovasculogenesis and cardiac function after myocardial infarction (MI) but SDF-1α is a bulky protein with a short half-life. Small peptide analogs might provide translational advantages, including ease of synthesis, low manufacturing costs, and the potential to control delivery within tissues using engineered biomaterials. We hypothesized that a minimized peptide analog of SDF-1α, designed by splicing the N-terminus (activation and binding) and C-terminus (extracellular stabilization) with a truncated amino acid linker, would induce EPC migration and preserve ventricular function after MI.


METHODS
EPC migration was first determined in vitro using a Boyden chamber assay. For in vivo analysis, male rats (n = 48) underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. At infarction, the rats were randomized into 4 groups and received peri-infarct intramyocardial injections of saline, 3 μg/kg of SDF-1α, 3 μg/kg of spliced SDF analog, or 6 μg/kg spliced SDF analog. After 4 weeks, the rats underwent closed chest pressure volume conductance catheter analysis.


RESULTS
EPCs showed significantly increased migration when placed in both a recombinant SDF-1α and spliced SDF analog gradient. The rats treated with spliced SDF analog at MI demonstrated a significant dose-dependent improvement in end-diastolic pressure, stroke volume, ejection fraction, cardiac output, and stroke work compared with the control rats.


CONCLUSIONS
A spliced peptide analog of SDF-1α containing both the N- and C- termini of the native protein induced EPC migration, improved ventricular function after acute MI, and provided translational advantages compared with recombinant human SDF-1α.
Hiesinger
William
W
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Frederick
John R
JR
Atluri
Pavan
P
McCormick
Ryan C
RC
Marotta
Nicole
N
Muenzer
Jeffrey R
JR
Woo
Y Joseph
YJ
D000818:Animals; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015202:Protein Engineering; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D055647:Rats, Transgenic; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins