A kinetic study of SDF-1, VEGF and MCP-1 blood and tissue levels after aortic transplantation in mice

Vascular rejection is characterized by intimal proliferation and perivascular inflammation. We hypothesize that recipient stem cell therapy could prevent or ameliorate the development of the obliterative lesion. We studied the kinetic expression of three cytokines (SDF-1, MCP-1, VEGF) implicated in mobilization, homing and differentiation of progenitor cells during vascular aggression. An aortic allograft mouse model was used (BALBc donor–C57BL6/j recipient). Ten mice were sacrificed at Day 0, D1, D3, D6, D9, D12, and D20. Cytokine rates were measured in blood and in graft tissue by an ELISA technique. Results showed that in the allograft, SDF-1 and VEGF tissue levels were significantly increased at D12 as compared to the isograft (SDF-1: 22.16 ng/mg vs. 5.69 ng/mg, t = 3.38; VEGF: 28.3 pg/mg vs. 9.3 pg/mg, t = 3.06). In allografted and isografted groups, MCP-1 tissue levels were higher at D0 as compared to the other time points, without any difference between the two groups. These results prompt us to consider cell therapy at D0 and D12 in this mouse model of aortic graft.