骨髓干细胞动员后归巢梗死心肌机制的研究

目的 探讨骨髓干细胞动员后归巢梗死心肌的可能机制。方法 结扎Wistar大鼠左冠状动脉制作急性心肌梗死(AMI)模型，用干细胞因子(SCF)动员骨髓干细胞，部分大鼠予激素干预治疗，另设AMI组为对照组。制模后24h杀死大鼠，取出心脏，免疫组化法了解归巢于梗死心肌的CD34细胞数量，心肌组织中炎症趋化因子基质细胞衍生因子(SDF-1)表达量以及HE染色观察心肌组织病理学改变。结果 应用SCF动员治疗后，AMI 动员组大鼠梗死灶内SDF-1表达量明显大于AMI组和AMI 激素 动员组，同时，AMI 动员组大鼠梗死灶内CD34^ 细胞数量也明显大于另两组。而AMI 激素 动员组的SDF-1表达量最少，其梗死灶内CD34^ 细胞数量也最少。AMI 动员组大鼠心肌梗死程度轻，可见CD34^ 的幼稚心肌细胞样细胞。结论 应用CCF动员AMI大鼠骨髓干细胞后，其向梗死灶归巢的能力增强，较多的CD34细胞迁移到梗死灶内，并向心肌细胞等分化。骨髓干细胞动员后．心肌梗死灶内SDF-1表达号上调是吸引骨髓干细胞归巢的可能机制之一。     

磁共振活体示踪经冠状动脉骨髓间充质干细胞移植:验证其与病理组织学结果的一致性

背景:目前动物实验及临床研究证明经冠状动脉移植骨髓间充质干细胞可改善心肌梗死后的心脏功能,但骨髓间充质干细胞经冠状动脉移植后能否到达心肌梗死部位仍存在争议.目的:磁共振活体示踪经冠状动脉注射的骨髓间充质干细胞能否到达心肌梗死部位.方法:全骨髓法分离培养猪骨髓间充质干细胞,超顺磁性氧化铁标记后胰酶消化,调整细胞浓度为10~(10)L~(-1).10只猪均建立心肌梗死模型,造模后1周通过OTW球囊导管经冠状动脉将标记好的骨髓间充质干细胞悬液定向移植至梗死区.普鲁士蓝染色评价细胞标记效率,采用快速梯度回波序列完成长轴位四腔心和二腔心扫描,在以长轴位四腔心和二腔心为定位相,垂直于室间隔获得左心室短轴位图像.结果与结论:超顺磁性氧化铁可安全有效标记骨髓间充质干细胞,经冠状动脉注射的骨髓间充质干细胞能到达心肌梗死区及交界区,磁共振能示踪到超顺磁性氧化铁标记的骨髓间充质干细胞,示踪结果与病理组织学检查一致,且磁共振示踪时间可长达5周.     

Effect of atorvastatin on microRNA 221 / 222 expression in endothelial progenitor cells obtained from patients with coronary artery disease

Background  Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in the maintenance of vascular integrity. Lipid lowering therapy (LLT) with statins may contribute to biologically relevant activities including the proliferation of endothelial cells. The physiological role of microRNA (miR)-221/222, a newly discovered class of small RNA, is closely linked to the proliferation of endothelial cells. We therefore investigated whether LLT with statins might affect miR-221/222 expression in EPCs obtained from patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Materials and methods  This study included 44 patients with stable CAD and 22 subjects without CAD (non-CAD). Patients with CAD were randomized to 12 months of LLT with atorvastatin (10 mg day⁻¹) or pravastatin (10 mg day⁻¹). EPCs were obtained from peripheral blood at baseline and after 12 months of statin therapy. Levels of miR-221/222 in EPCs were measured by real-time RT-PCR.
Results  Levels of miR-221/222 were significantly higher in the CAD group than in the non-CAD group ( P  < 0·01). Levels of miR-221/222 were weakly negatively correlated with EPC number in the CAD group. After 12 months of therapy, changes in lipid profiles were greater in the atorvastatin group than in the pravastatin group. LLT with atorvastatin markedly increased EPC numbers and decreased miR-221/222 levels (all P  < 0·05), whereas LLT with pravastatin did not change EPC numbers or miR-221/222 levels.
Conclusions  This study demonstrates that LLT with atorvastatin increases EPC numbers and decreases miR-221/222 levels in patients with CAD, possibly contributing to the beneficial effects of LLT with atorvastatin in this disorder.     

Cardiac Nerve Growth Factor Overexpression Induces Bone Marrow–derived Progenitor Cells Mobilization and Homing to the Infarcted Heart

Reparative response by bone marrow (BM)-derived progenitor cells (PCs) to ischemia is a multistep process that comprises the detachment from the BM endosteal niche through activation of osteoclasts and proteolytic enzymes (such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)), mobilization to the circulation, and homing to the injured tissue. We previously showed that intramyocardial nerve growth factor gene transfer (NGF-GT) promotes cardiac repair following myocardial infarction (MI) in mice. Here, we investigate the impact of cardiac NGF-GT on postinfarction BM-derived PCs mobilization and homing at different time points after adenovirus-mediated NGF-GT in mice. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry newly illustrate the temporal profile of osteoclast and activation of MMP9, PCs expansion in the BM, and liberation/homing to the injured myocardium. NGF-GT amplified these responses and increased the BM levels of active osteoclasts and MMP9, which were not observed in MMP9-deficient mice. Taken together, our results suggest a novel role for NGF in BM-derived PCs mobilization/homing following MI.     

磁共振扩散张量成像定量分析猪心肌梗死早期离体心肌结构变化

目的 利用磁共振扩散张量成像(DT-MRI)研究急性心肌梗死(AMI)后离体心肌纤维束结构的改变。方法 制作实验用中华小型猪AMI模型并进行离体心脏DT-MRI。纤维束示踪技术(FT)显示梗死与正常心肌纤维结构,定量分析梗死与正常心肌ADC、 FA、心肌纤维束长度和数量。采用配对样本t检验及Wilcoxon检验进行统计学分析。结果 FT显示正常心肌纤维走行规则,排列整齐,梗死心肌纤维结构松散,纤维长短不一。与正常心机相比,梗死心肌ADC值增加,FA值减小,心肌纤维束长度缩短,纤维数目稍减少。结论 AMI后8 h即可在DT-MR图像上显示水分子扩散特性及心肌纤维结构的改变。     

造血调控相关的细胞因子与血管内皮祖细胞

血管内皮祖细胞是一类能循环、增殖并能直接分化为血管内皮细胞的前体细胞.研究血管内皮祖细胞对于了解成人生理性和病理性血管形成的过程有重要意义,而细胞因子尤其是造血调控相关的细胞因子作为体内的细胞刺激物质对血管内皮祖细胞也有重要作用.本文将对血管内皮祖细胞和一些造血调控相关的细胞因子（G-CSF、EPO、HAPO和IL-18）的关系及其可能的信号传导途径的研究进展作一综述.     

Simvastatin enhances endothelial differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in hypercholesterolemic patients and induces pro-angiogenic cytokine IL-8 secretion from monocytes

BACKGROUND: Statins are known to have pleiotropic effects. We examined the effect and mechanism of simvastatin therapy on EPC differentiation and pro-angiogenic cytokines in patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: Twenty-two hypercholesterolemia patients without any other modifiable cardiovascular risk factors or history of previous lipid-lowering therapy were given simvastatin 20 mg/day for 4 weeks. Blood were drawn pre- and post-therapy. The in vitro effects of simvastatin were studied in a separate set of experiments. RESULTS: Simvastatin treatment significantly increased the number of DiI-acLDL, UEA-1 lectin double-positive EPCs and facilitated its appearance. By FACS analysis of freshly isolated PBMNCs, KDR (+) cells increased after simvastatin treatment while there were no differences in CD34, AC133, and VE-cadherin. Also, serum concentration of IL-8 was markedly increased, while VEGF was only slightly increased. In vitro, PBMNCs co-cultured with simvastatin showed increased cluster formation at day 7, and simvastatin facilitated the appearance and networking of EPCs compared with vehicle. Simvastatin-co-cultured PBMNCs showed significantly increased KDR (+) cells, in contrast to CD34, CD31, and VE-Cadherin (+) cells. In response to simvastatin, IL-8 was mainly increased in monocyte culture supernatants while VEGF increased in smooth muscle cell culture supernatants. These cytokines were associated with increased EPC migratory function. The increase in IL-8 secretion from monocytes by statin treatment was associated with phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK3beta, which was reversed by constitutive activation of GSK-3beta. CONCLUSION: Simvastatin enhances endothelial differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with hypercholesterolemia and increases pro-angiogenic cytokine IL-8 secretion from monocytes. Our results may explain the pro-angiogenic effects associated with statin therapy and offer further evidence of statin pleiotropism.     

The long-term effect of autologous endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood implantation on infarcted myocardial contractile force

This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effect of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) implantation in acute myocardial infarction in Sprague-Dawley rats after ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Autologous EPCs from peripheral blood were purified and implanted into an acute myocardial infarct site. Specimens and muscle strip were harvested at 3 and 6 weeks, and at 6, 8 and 12 months for contractile force assessment and, by immunohistology, for expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and factor VIII. Expression of VEGF and bFGF, and microvessel counts and contractile force in the cell implantation group were significantly higher than in the control group up to 8 months after implantation. Beyond 8 months following implantation, however, no further improvement occurred. The EPCs showed an ability to improve contractile performance in infarcted myocardium by means of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, and the results seemed to persist long-term.     

Levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells are related to uremic toxins and vascular injury in hemodialysis patients

Summary.  Background : Patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases (CKD) exhibit cardiovascular diseases and profound endothelial dysfunction. CKD patients have reduced numbers of endothelial progenitor cells, but little is known about the factors influencing these numbers. Objectives : Among these factors, we hypothesized that uremic toxins and vascular injury affect endothelial progenitor cells. Patients/methods : Thirty-eight hemodialysis patients were investigated and compared with 21 healthy controls. CD34+CD133+ immature progenitors, CD34+KDR+ endothelial progenitors cells (EPC) and myeloid EPC (mEPC) were counted in peripheral blood. Levels of uremic toxins β₂-microglobulin, indole-3 acetic acid, indoxylsulfate, p-cresylsulfate and homocysteine were measured. Vascular injury was assessed in hemodialysis (HD) patients by measuring aortic pulse wave velocity and plasma levels of endothelial microparticles. In vitro experiments were performed to study the effect of uremic toxins on apoptosis of progenitor cells. Results and conclusions : CD34+CD133+ immature progenitor cell number was negatively correlated with the levels of uremic toxins β₂-microglobulin and indole-3 acetic acid. In vitro , indole-3 acetic acid induced apoptosis of CD133+ cells. These data indicate uremic toxins have a deleterious role on progenitor cells, early in the differentiation process. Moreover, mEPC number was positively correlated with markers of vascular injury–pulse wave velocity and endothelial microparticle levels. This suggests that vascular lesions could stimulate progenitor cell mobilization, even in a context of reduced EPC induced by CKD. In conclusion, uremic toxins and vascular injury appear to affect endothelial progenitor cell biology in CKD.     

小鼠异基因骨髓移植γ线清髓性照射对骨髓内皮龛的损伤研究

本研究探索异基因骨髓移植清髓性γ线照射预处理对受鼠骨髓内皮的损伤程度。体外培养小鼠骨髓单个核细胞,经5-7天检测其表面标记、吞噬Dil-Ac-LDL和结合FITC-UEA-1鉴定,并行CFSE标记。分析正常组、清髓性照射组、内皮祖细胞（endothelial progenitor cells,EPC）移植组及照射联合EPC移植组小鼠外周血中白细胞变化、骨髓内皮的改变及CFSE标记EPC的骨髓内分布。结果发现,培养细胞鉴定证实为CD31＋CD133＋CD45low/-,且具有吞噬Dil-Ac-LDL和结合FITC-UEA-1能力。小鼠清髓照射后外周血白细胞迅速减少,与正常组相比,有显著差异（p〈0.05）。照射后3天,骨髓中大量出血,内皮细胞和基底膜间连接被损坏。清髓照射后输注CFSE标记EPC,18小时后小鼠骨髓中可见CFSE＋细胞,其细胞量是正常小鼠单纯EPC输注组的58倍（p〈0.05）。结论：移植清髓照射预处理引起严重骨髓内皮龛损伤,该损伤驱动外源性EPC的归巢。     

Functional disruption of alpha4 integrin mobilizes bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitors and augments ischemic neovascularization

The cell surface receptor alpha4 integrin plays a critical role in the homing, engraftment, and maintenance of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in the bone marrow (BM). Down-regulation or functional blockade of alpha4 integrin or its ligand vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 mobilizes long-term HPCs. We investigated the role of alpha4 integrin in the mobilization and homing of BM endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). EPCs with endothelial colony-forming activity in the BM are exclusively alpha4 integrin-expressing cells. In vivo, a single dose of anti-alpha4 integrin antibody resulted in increased circulating EPC counts for 3 d. In hindlimb ischemia and myocardial infarction, systemically administered anti-alpha4 integrin antibody increased recruitment and incorporation of BM EPCs in newly formed vasculature and improved functional blood flow recovery and tissue preservation. Interestingly, BM EPCs that had been preblocked with anti-alpha4 integrin ex vivo or collected from alpha4 integrin-deficient mice incorporated as well as control cells into the neovasculature in ischemic sites, suggesting that alpha4 integrin may be dispensable or play a redundant role in EPC homing to ischemic tissue. These data indicate that functional disruption of alpha4 integrin may represent a potential angiogenic therapy for ischemic disease by increasing the available circulating supply of EPCs.     

血红素氧合酶1修饰骨髓间充质干细胞多点注射梗死灶周围对梗死后心肌结构重塑的影响

背景：研究表明血红素氧合酶1的过表达有抗炎症反应的作用,将血红素氧合酶1修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞（HO-1-BMSCs）移植入梗死心脏周围是否可调节基质金属蛋白酶/组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂的比例而明显改善梗死心肌重构呢？目的：观察血红素氧合酶1修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞移植对心肌梗死后心肌胶原的调节及心肌重塑的逆转作用。方法：利用血红素氧合酶1腺病毒转染体外培养扩增的骨髓间充质干细胞。结扎大鼠左前降支动脉制造心肌梗死模型,1h后,分别将HO-1-BMSCs、BMSCs多点注射到大鼠心脏梗死区四周,对照组注射等量磷酸盐缓冲液。结果与结论：Adv-hHO-1转染BMSCs后获稳定表达;hHO-1-mRNA仅在HO-1-BMSCs移植组表达;与对照组相比,HO-1-BMSCs移植组基质金属蛋白酶2/9的表达显著减少（P〈0.05）,Null-BMSCs组基质金属蛋白酶2/9的表达虽然减少,但差异无显著性意义（P〉0.05）;与对照组相比,细胞移植组金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂2/3的表达显著增加,尤以HO-1-BMSCs组明显（P〈0.05）;但金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂1无明显变化（P〉0.05）。金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂2/基质金属蛋白酶2和金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂3/基质金属蛋白酶9的比例在细胞移植的心脏中明显上升。与对照组比较,细胞移植组心室中的胶原蛋白沉积减少,心室腔内径显著缩小。结果表明血红素氧合酶1修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞移植可使基质金属蛋白酶/组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂的比例正常化,并逆转心肌细胞外基质的重构。     

Enhanced cardiac production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 and its attenuation associated with pravastatin treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Previous experimental studies have demonstrated that MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) contribute to LV (left ventricular) remodelling. We hypothesized that cardiac MMPs are activated in patients with AMI (acute myocardial infarction) and, if so, MMP production may be attenuated by statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors) through their cardiovascular protective actions. We studied 30 patients, ten control patients with stable angina pectoris and 20 patients with AMI, in whom LV catheterization at the chronic stage was performed 22+/-12 days (value is mean+/-S.D.) after the onset of AMI. Blood samples were collected from the CS (coronary sinus) and a peripheral artery. In patients with AMI, the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the CS than the peripheral artery (MMP-2, 853+/-199 compared with 716+/-127 ng/ml; MMP-9, 165+/-129 compared with 98+/-82 ng/ml), whereas no significant differences were observed in the patients with angina pectoris. The CS-arterial concentration gradients of MMP-2 and MMP-9 correlated positively with BNP (brain natriuretic peptide) levels (MMP-2, R=0.68, P<0.01; MMP-9, R=0.59, P<0.05) and LV end-diastolic volume index (MMP-2, R=0.70, P<0.01; MMP-9, R=0.70, P<0.01). When patients with AMI treated with 10 mg of pravastatin or without (n=10 in each group) were compared, this statin therapy significantly (P<0.05) decreased the CS-arterial concentration gradients of MMP-2 (69+/-43 compared with 213+/-185 ng/ml) and MMP-9 (14+/-27 compared with 119+/-84 ng/ml). In conclusion, the enhanced production of cardiac MMP-2 and MMP-9 is associated with LV enlargement and elevated BNP levels in patients with AMI. A pleiotropic effect of statins appears to be associated with the modulation of cardiac MMP activation, which may be potentially beneficial in the attenuation of post-infarction LV remodelling.     

beta-Carotene stimulates chemotaxis of human endothelial progenitor cells.

Angiogenesis is a crucial process in tissue remodeling during growth, both in the embryo and the adult. In our study we concentrated on the direct effect of beta-carotene on human umbilical cord originating from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). beta-Carotene uptake by EPCs was measured using a HPLC method. The determination of cell surface antigens was performed by flow cytometry. The effect on cell proliferation was estimated by measuring bromo-deoxyuridine incorporation. The influence on the formation of a tubular-like structure was investigated in a 3D assay in matrigel. Quantitative gene expression was estimated using real-time PCR. We demonstrated that beta-carotene in the physiological range of concentrations found in human blood is a potent activator of EPC chemotaxis, which is accompanied by a change in the expression of genes mediating cell adhesion and homing, but does not activate the final markers of endothelial differentiation. This study points to the prochemotactic and homing activity of beta-carotene in undifferentiated endothelial cell progenitors for the first time, which may suggest a potential role of this carotenoid in progenitor cell therapy aimed at angiogenesis and tissue repair.     

Elevation of matrix metalloproteinases and interleukin-6 in the culprit coronary artery of myocardial infarction

Background Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the instability of vulnerable plaque associated with the induction of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined the regional changes of cytokines, MMPs and adhesion molecules in patients with AMI to elucidate how these factors are involved in the onset of AMI. Materials and methods One hundred and twenty‐two patients with AMI were included. Blood was aspirated from the culprit coronary artery with a thrombectomy catheter, and was also sampled from peripheral veins during the coronary intervention. Control samples were obtained from the peripheral blood of age‐matched patients. Results The serum levels of IL‐6 (P < 0·05), tumour necrosis factor‐α (P < 0·005), MMP‐1 (P < 0·001), MMP‐13 (P < 0·001), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (P < 0·005), and soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule‐1 (P < 0·05) in peripheral blood were significantly higher in the AMI group than in the controls. Aspirated serum contained significantly higher levels of IL‐6 (P < 0·001), MMP‐1 (P < 0·001), and MMP‐13 (P < 0·05) compared to the peripheral blood of AMI. Serum IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in the aspirated than in the peripheral blood in the patients hospitalized within 6 h and 6–12 h, but were similar in the aspirated and peripheral blood of the patients hospitalized 12–24 h after the onset of AMI. There were no differences between the aspirated serum and peripheral blood in the levels of interleukin‐1β and MMP‐2. Conclusions The levels of MMP‐1, MMP‐13 and IL‐6 were higher in the culprit coronary artery than in the peripheral blood. These factors appear to be involved in the early stage of AMI.     

Targeted deletion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 attenuates left ventricular enlargement and collagen accumulation after experimental myocardial infarction

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is prominently overexpressed after myocardial infarction (MI). We tested the hypothesis that mice with targeted deletion of MMP9 have less left ventricular (LV) dilation after experimental MI than do sibling wild-type (WT) mice. Animals that survived ligation of the left coronary artery underwent echocardiographic studies after MI; all analyses were performed without knowledge of mouse genotype. By day 8, MMP9 knockout (KO) mice had significantly smaller increases in end-diastolic and end-systolic ventricular dimensions at both midpapillary and apical levels, compared with infarcted WT mice; these differences persisted at 15 days after MI. MMP-9 KO mice had less collagen accumulation in the infarcted area than did WT mice, and they showed enhanced expression of MMP-2, MMP-13, and TIMP-1 and a reduced number of macrophages. We conclude that targeted deletion of the MMP9 gene attenuates LV dilation after experimental MI in mice. The decrease in collagen accumulation and the enhanced expression of other MMPs suggest that MMP-9 plays a prominent role in extracellular matrix remodeling after MI.     

Gasdermin D inhibition confers antineutrophil-mediated cardioprotection in acute myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) induces blood leukocytosis, which correlates inversely with patient survival. The molecular mechanisms leading to leukocytosis in the infarcted heart remain poorly understood. Using an AMI mouse model, we identified gasdermin D (GSDMD) in activated leukocytes early in AMI. We demonstrated that GSDMD is required for enhanced early mobilization of neutrophils to the infarcted heart. Loss of GSDMD resulted in attenuated IL-1β release from neutrophils and subsequent decreased neutrophils and monocytes in the infarcted heart. Knockout of GSDMD in mice significantly reduced infarct size, improved cardiac function, and increased post-AMI survival. Through a series of bone marrow transplantation studies and leukocyte depletion experiments, we further clarified that excessive bone marrow–derived and GSDMD-dependent early neutrophil production and mobilization (24 hours after AMI) contributed to the detrimental immunopathology after AMI. Pharmacological inhibition of GSDMD also conferred cardioprotection after AMI through a reduction in scar size and enhancement of heart function. Our study provides mechanistic insights into molecular regulation of neutrophil generation and mobilization after AMI, and supports GSDMD as a new target for improved ventricular remodeling and reduced heart failure after AMI.     

Efficiency of von Willebrand factor-mediated targeting of interleukin-8 into Weibel–Palade bodies

Summary.  Background:  After de novo synthesis in endothelial cells, the chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) is targeted to endothelial cell-specific storage vesicles, the Weibel–Palade bodies (WPBs), where it colocalizes with von Willebrand factor (VWF). Objective:  In this study we investigated a putative regulator function for VWF in the recruitment of IL-8 to WPBs. Methods:  We performed a quantitative analysis of the entry of IL-8 into the storage system of the endothelium using pulse-chase analysis and subcellular fractionation studies. Results:  Using pulse-chase analysis of IL-1β-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, we found that a small part of de novo synthesized IL-8 was retained in endothelial cells after 4 h. In density gradients of endothelial cell homogenates nearly equimolar amounts of VWF and IL-8 were present in subcellular fractions that contained WPBs. Furthermore, we found that IL-8 binds to immobilized VWF under the slightly acidic conditions thought to prevail in the lumen of the late secretory pathway. Conclusions:  These observations indicate that the sorting efficiency of IL-8 into the regulated secretory pathway of the endothelium is tightly controlled by the entry of VWF into WPBs.