Abstract
Increased inflammation after myocardial ischemia contributes to abnormal cardiomyocyte electrical coupling, leading to inhomogeneities in ventricular conduction and retarded conduction velocity. It is highly desirable to selectively recruit the stem cells but block the inflammation. In this work, we reported a SDF-1α-encapsulated Puerarin (PUE) hydrogel (SDF-1α@PUE) that is capable of enhancing endogenous stem cell homing and simultaneously polarizing the recruited monocyte/macrophages into a repairing phenotype. These macrophages influenced the preservation of Cx43 protein content in heart which modulate intercellular coupling and improved cardiomyocyte electrical conduction. Furthermore, by taking advantage of the improved “soil”, the recruited stem cells mediated an improved cardiac function by preventing deterioration, promoting neovascular architecture, and reducing infarct size. Our findings demonstrated a promising therapeutic platform for MI which not only facilitates heart regeneration but also reduces the risk of cardiac arrhythmias.
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