title: SCF increases cardiac stem cell migration through PI3K/AKT and MMP‑2/‑9 signaling.
abstract: The transplantation of cardiac stem cells (CSCs) is thought to be responsible for improving the performance of injured heart induced by myocardial infarction (MI). However, the mechanisms involved in the migration of activated CSCs post‑MI remain to be clarified. In this study, CSCs were isolated from rat hearts and a cellular migration assay was performed using a 24‑well Transwell system. Stem cell factor (SCF) induced CSC migration in a concentration‑dependent manner, which could be blocked with an SCF antibody as well as a PI3K/AKT inhibitor, LY294002. Moreover, SCF induced the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑2 and MMP‑9 in a concentration‑ and time‑dependent manner, as measured by quantitative RT‑PCR, western blot analysis and gelatin zymography. Results of western blot analysis revealed phosphorylated AKT was markedly increased in SCF‑treated CSCs and that inhibition of SCF/c‑Kit signaling or phospho‑AKT activity significantly attenuated the SCF‑induced expression of MMP‑2 and MMP‑9. Thus, our results showed that SCF partially mediated CSC migration via the activation of PI3K/AKT/MMP‑2/‑9 signaling.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute of Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524023, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524023, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mengsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute of Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Youling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute of Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yueqiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute of Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shaoli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute of Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tianfa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute of Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shaojiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002867:Chromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002867:Chromones; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D009025:Morpholines; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; C085911:2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one