Open AccessDoxorubicin Cardiotoxicity and Cardiac Function Improvement After Stem Cell Therapy Diagnosed by Strain Echocardiography
Author(s) -
Marcelo Moizinho Oliveira,
Marcos Barrouin Melo,
Juliana Lott Carvalho,
Isabela M Melo,
Mário Sérgio Lima de Lavor,
Dawidson Assis Gomes,
Alfredo M. Góes,
Marília Martins Melo
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of cancer science and therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1948-5956
DOI - 10.4172/1948-5956.1000184
Subject(s) - cardiotoxicity , doxorubicin , medicine , stem cell , cardiac function curve , heart failure , pharmacology , cardiology , chemotherapy , biology , genetics
Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents; however, it causes dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Evaluation of left ventricular function relies on measurements based on M-mode echocardiography. A new technique based on quantification of myocardial motion and deformation, strain echocardiography, has been showed promising profile for early detection of cardiac dysfunction. Different therapy strategies, such as flavonoid plant extracts and stem cells, have been investigated to improve heart function in toxic cardiomyopathy. This work aimed to assess early cardiac function improvement after treatments with either flavonoid extract from Camellia sinensis or mesenchymal stem cells in Dox cardiotoxicity using strain echocardiography. Twenty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups. They received water (control, Dox, Dox + stem cells) or 100 mg/kg C. sinensis extract (Dox + C. sinensis ) via gavage, daily, for four weeks. Animals also received saline (control) or 5 mg/kg doxorubicin (Dox, Dox + C. sinensis , Dox + stem cells) via intraperitoneal injection, weekly, for four weeks. Stem cells were injected (3 × 10 6 cells) through tail vein prior the beginning of the experiment (Dox + stem cells). Animals were evaluated by hematological, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and histopathological examinations. Dox cardiotoxicity was only diagnosed with strain echocardiography, detecting a decrease in ventricular function. C. sinensis extract did not prevent ventricular dysfunction induced by Dox. However, strain echocardiography examination revealed that Dox cardiotoxicity was significantly suppressed in rats treated with stem cells. In conclusion, strain echocardiography was able to detect precocity signs of heart failure and stem cell therapy showed cardioprotection effect against Dox cardiotoxicity.