MSCs transplantation with application of G-CSF reduces apoptosis or increases VEGF in rabbit model of myocardial infarction

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation with application of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) would have beneficial effects on damaged heart in a rabbit model of myocardial infarction (MI). MI was created by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. After induction of MI, 40 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 8 groups: (1) MSCs injection at 3days after MI; (2) G-CSF injection at 3days after MI; (3) MSCs+G-CSF (20u/kg/day) injection at 3days after MI; (4) PBS injection at 3days after MI; (5) MSCs injection at 7days after MI; (6) G-CSF injection at 7days after MI; (7) MSCs+G-CSF(20u/kg/day) injection 7days after MI; and (8) PBS injection 7days after MI. TUNEL analysis showed that the apoptotic cells were distributed in the marginal area of MI. In both 3 and 7days after MI groups, there were less apoptotic cells in the MSCs and MSCs+G-CSF groups as compared with the PBS group (P<0.05). However, no decrease in apoptosis was observed in the G-CSF only group (P>0.05). Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that the expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor was higher in the MSCs, MSCs+G-CSF and G-CSF groups as compared with the PBS group. The present study demonstrated a beneficial effect of MSCs transplantation with application of G-CSF in the treatment of rabbit MI.