Expression of FLK1 and CD146 at day 7 following reperfused acute myocardial infarction

ObjectivesTo investigate the expression of FLK1, CD146 and microvessel density of angiogenesis at the first week of reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods16 of mini-swines (20 to 30 Kg) were randomly assigned to the sham-operated group and the AMI group. Pathologic myocardial tissue was collected at day 7 following reperfusion and detected by dual immunochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot.ResultsThe infarcted area had higher FLK1 mRNA expression than the sham-operated area and the normal area (all P < 0.05), and the infarcted and marginal areas showed higher CD146 protein expression than the sham-operated area (all P < 0.05), but the microvessel density (CD31 positive expression of microvessels/HP) was not significantly different between the infarcted area and the sham-operated area (8.92 ± 3.05 vs 6.43 ± 1.54)(P > 0.05).ConclusionFLK1 and CD146 expression significantly increase in the infarcted and marginal areas, and the microvessel density of angiogenesis in the infarcted area is similar to normal microvessel density of healthy heart tissue, suggesting that FLK1 and CD146 are possible associated with angiogenesis at day 7 following reperfused acute myocardial infarction.