Transplantation of salvianolic acid B pretreated mesenchymal stem cells improves cardiac function in rats with myocardial infarction through angiogenesis and paracrine mechanisms

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major health issue and the leading cause of disability and death in the world. Despite increasing lines of evidence suggesting the ability of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation to improve postinfarct cardiac function, the efficacy of this procedure remains hampered by a low survival and differentiation rate [1]. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been reported to attenuate the apoptosis of MSC [2], enhances angiogenesis and exerts beneficial cardioprotective effects [3].