title: The Effect of Intracoronary Stem Cell Injection on Markers of Leukocyte Activation in Acute Myocardial Infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beneficial effects of stem cell treatment during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been suggested, but the effects on inflammation are controversial. The neutrophil cell markers pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) are both reported to be elevated during AMI. We studied the effects of stem cell treatment in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) on PTX3 and MPO levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomized to intracoronary injection of bone marrow cells (mBMCs) (n = 50) or controls (n = 50). Blood samples were drawn 1 day before mBMC injection (baseline), after 1 day, 3 days, 2 - 3 weeks and 3 months. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-PCR were used for biochemical analysis. Myocardial necrosis was quantified by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and creatine kinase MB (CKMB) levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTX3 and MPO levels did not differ between the groups at any time points. Within the mBMC group, overall changes in both variables were observed (P < 0.01), with decreased levels from baseline throughout. Within the control group, similar patterns were observed. The relative reduction of PTX3 from baseline to day 1 was significantly less pronounced in the mBMC group compared to controls (P = 0.002), whereas no differences in relative changes from baseline were observed for MPO. Plasma and gene expression levels of PTX3 in leukocytes correlated significantly at all time points (r = 0.379 - 0.448, P < 0.01, all). MPO was significantly correlated to baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = -0.229, P = 0.025) and peak CKMB (r = 0.200, P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stem cell treatment had limited effect on plasma levels of PTX3 and MPO. The initially high PTX3 and MPO levels, the genetic regulation of PTX3 and the association between MPO and myocardial injury support the importance of neutrophil cell activation in STEMI.
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Heart Research, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ulleval, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ragnhild
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Helseth
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Heart Research, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ulleval, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Opstad
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Heart Research, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ulleval, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Svein
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solheim
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ketil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lunde
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Heart Research, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ulleval, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arnesen
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Heart Research, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ulleval, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingebjorg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Seljeflot
keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; Bone marrow stem cells; Myeloperoxidase; Neutrophil markers; Pentraxin 3; Stem cell treatment