Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2935264 | International Journal of Cardiology | 2007 | 6 Pages |
BackgroundStem cell therapy has been shown to attenuate the reduction of left ventricular function following myocardial infarction. Most studies have utilized either a direct injection or intra-coronary infusion of cells, but cytokine mobilization of stem cells in the murine model of acute myocardial infarction has been reported to induce similar improvement in cardiac function.MethodsAn antero-apical infarction was induced in swine by balloon occlusion, followed by the daily administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) or placebo for 5 days. We used left ventricular angiograms and 2D echocardiograms to assess global function, and 3D echocardiograms to assess regional function prior to infarction, immediately following infarction, and at 8 weeks. Histologic evaluation was performed after sacrifice at 8 weeks.ResultsThere was no significant difference in early or late post-infarction left ventricular ejection fraction or in myocardial histology between the two groups. Following G-CSF therapy, however, 3D echocardiography demonstrated that the regional ejection fractions of the infarcted segments showed a 50.3% improvement in the G-CSF pigs compared to a 7.4% deterioration in the untreated pigs (p = 0.005).ConclusionsGlobal left ventricular ejection fraction remained unchanged, and there is no histologic evidence for infarct attenuation following G-CSF infusion in the porcine infarct–reperfusion model. There was recovery of regional function in the infarcted segment in the G-CSF pigs. These data suggest that bone marrow mobilization in larger species has limited potential as a therapy designed to replace infarcted myocardium or to improve overall cardiac function, although further studies are needed to examine regional effect in the infarct area.