Prevent Reconstruction of Ischemic Myocardium with Autologous Stem Cells Transfected by AKT Gene

Background: To test the hypothesis that AKT1-engineered Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are more resistant to apoptosis than MSCs and can enhance cardiac repair after transplantation into the ischemia swine heart. Methods: All ischemia swines were divided into four groups: the control group(A), the DMEM group(B), the MSCs group(C), and the AKT-transfected group(D). The MSCs were transfected with the AKT1 gene, after which autologous BrdU labeled stem cells was injected into LAD of the infarct heart by transcatheter in the group C and D. In the group B, DMEM was injected in the same distraction by the same approach. In group A, there is no other injection after occluding the LAD. Then 4 weeks later, the cardiac function and regional perfusion measurements were repeated by MRI and Echocardiography, and the histological characteristics of the hearts were also studied to assess MSCs engraftment. VEGF, TGF-β1, Connecxin-43, BrdU and VWF were tested . Results: The cardiac function was significantly improved after the cells implantation, and the implanted MSCs prevented the infarct region from thinning and expanding, improved contraction and increased perfusion in all groups relative to the control group. Moreover, the improvement was even markedly greater in Group D. Conclusion The MSCs engraftment in host myocardium might improve the cardiac function by attenuating the contractile dysfunction and pathologic thinning in this model of left ventricular wall infarction.