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Studies of Transplantation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Transfected by VEGF Gene into Ischemic Myocardium
Views: | Article Submitted On: 09-01-2010 | Share This: |
Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major disease that seriously threatens human health.IHD is characterized by inadequate blood flow and tissue oxygen supply that is typically theconsquence of decreased patency of atherosclerotic vessels. The infarctic zone graduallyreplaced by scar tissue which have much influence on the systolic and diastolic function ofthe heart. The myocardial remodeling often cause congestive heart failure. Traditionally,patients with IHD requiring a revascularizing procedure have had undergo either medicinetreatment or percutaneous transluminal ballon angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass surgery.Despite the fact that advances in modern medical, surgical and interventional treatment ofthe disease have produced significantly improved results, the efficacy of all these methods islimited in patients with diffuse distal coronary artery disease. The method of alleviatemyocardial remodeling by implanted cells and transfected special angiogenic growth factorgenes to enhance the angiogenesis may present a new approach to the treatment of ischemicheart disease. Up to now, VEGF and FGF have been the most studied factors in the field oftherapeutic angiogenesis. In our study, we evaluated the effect of EPCs transfected byAd.VEGF165 transplantated into ischemic myocardium on angiogenesis and myocardialfunction, as an alternative to angiogenic gene or protein therapy. Firstly, we constructed areplication-deficient adenovirus vector coding for the gene of VEGF165, and induce rat bonemarrow endothelial progenitor cells. Then we transfected EPCs with Ad.VEGF165 in vitroand tested the efficiency of transfection and protein expression. The proliferation anddifferentiation effect of Ad.VEGF165 on EPCs were certified. Finally, we transplanted theEPCs transfected by Ad.VEGF165 into rat ischemic myocardium and find the survival of thetransplanted cells and the ability to increase the growth of neovascularization in ischemiczone which enhance local blood perfusion and subsequently improve myocardial function. - 5 -