Open AccessCollagen regulates the ability of endothelial progenitor cells to protect hypoxic myocardium through a mechanism involving miR‐377/VE‐PTP axis
Author(s) -
Rosca AnaMaria,
Mitroi Daniel Nicolae,
Cismasiu Valeriu,
Badea Rodica,
NeculaPetrareanu Georgiana,
Preda Mihai Bogdan,
Niculite Cristina,
Tutuianu Raluca,
Szedlacsek Stefan,
Burlacu Alexandrina
Publication year - 2018
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/jcmm.13712
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , stem cell , angiogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , regeneration (biology) , transplantation , progenitor , hypoxia (environmental) , endothelial progenitor cell , endothelial stem cell , myocardial infarction , regenerative medicine , cancer research , medicine , immunology , biology , chemistry , in vitro , genetics , organic chemistry , oxygen
The possibility to employ stem/progenitor cells in the cardiovascular remodelling after myocardial infarction is one of the main queries of regenerative medicine. To investigate whether endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) participate in the restoration of hypoxia‐affected myocardium, we used a co‐culture model that allowed the intimate interaction between EPCs and myocardial slices, mimicking stem cell transplantation into the ischaemic heart. On this model, we showed that EPCs engrafted to some extent and only transiently survived into the host tissue, yet produced visible protective effects, in terms of angiogenesis and protection against apoptosis and identified miR‐377‐VE‐PTP axis as being involved in the protective effects of EPCs in hypoxic myocardium. We also showed that collagen, the main component of the myocardial scar, was important for these protective effects by preserving VE‐PTP levels, which were otherwise diminished by miR‐377. By this, a good face of the scar is revealed, which was so far perceived as having only detrimental impact on the exogenously delivered stem/progenitor cells by affecting not only the engraftment, but also the general protective effects of stem cells.