Abstract 336: MiR-126 Modified Endothelial Progenitor Cells Transplantation Contributes to Angiogenesis after Brain Focal Ischemia in SHR Rats

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) leads to better outcomes in experimental stroke, while improve the EPCs survival rate in ischemia area is still a challenge. MiR-126 modulates vascular development and angiogenesis. Here we overexpressed miR-126 in transplanted EPCs, to investigate the function of gene modified EPCs in angiogenesis after brain ischemia. Methods: Adult male SHR rats underwent permanent suture middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). One week after middle cerebral artery occlusion, the animals received tail vein injection of miR-126 modified EPCs as treatment or EPCs as control and were monitored for 5 weeks. Brain water content, infarct volume, neurological score, neurogenesis and angiogenesis were examined. Results: Neurological score was greatly improved and brain atrophy was greatly reduced in miR-126 modified EPCs-treated SHR rats compared with the control rats 5 weeks after MCAO (P<0.05). The number of bromodeoxyuridine+/CD31+ microvessels are significantly increased. EPCs migration and proliferation were promoted after miR-126 modified in vitro. Conclusions: Our results showed that miR-126 modified EPCs therapyreduced ischemic brain injury, along with increased angiogenesis and neurogenesis in SHR rats, suggesting miR-126 significantly improved EPCs function in angiogenesis after MCAO. Gene modified EPCs represents a promising avenue for ischemic stroke stem cell therapy.