Open AccessRepetitive transplantation of different cell types sequentially improves heart function after infarction
Author(s) -
Alexander Schuh,
Sasse Alexander,
Konschalla Simone,
Kroh Andreas,
Merx Marc W.,
Weber Christian,
Liehn Elisa A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01477.x
Subject(s) - transplantation , cd31 , progenitor cell , cell therapy , medicine , staining , cell , myocardial infarction , cardiology , pathology , immunohistochemistry , stem cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Cell‐based therapy is considered a novel and potentially new strategy in regenerative medicine. But the efficacy of cell‐based therapy has been limited by the poor survival of the transplanted cells in an ischaemic environment. The goal of the present study is to present a possibility to increase survival of the transplanted cardiomyocytes, by increasing the vascularization of the infarcted area. First, we injected endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to augment the vascular density in infarcted areas and to improve the benefit of a subsequent Tx of foetal cardiomyocytes. Serial echocardiography indeed showed significant improvement of the left ventricular function after application of EPC and a significant additive improvement after Tx of foetal cardiomyocytes. In contrast, repetitive EPC transplantation as a control group did not show an additional improvement after the second transplantation. Histologically, cells could be readily detected after Tx by BrdU‐staining for EPC and by carboxy‐fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE)‐staining for foetal cardiomyocytes. Staining for CD31 revealed a significant increase in vessel density in the infarction area compared with medium controls, possibly contributing to the benefit of transplanted foetal cardiomyocytes. Notably, a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells was observed in cell‐transplanted hearts accompanied by an increase in proliferation, collagen content and neutrophil infiltration, suggesting an active remodelling concomitant with sustained inflammatory processes. In conclusion, repetitive Tx of different cell types after myocardial infarction in rat hearts significantly improved left ventricular function and could represent a feasible option to enhance the benefit of cell therapy.