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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Ultrasound-Guided Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Implantation in Myocardial Infarcted Mice
Published on: March 30, 2022
No effect of stem cell mobilization with GM-CSF on infarct size and left ventricular function in experimental acute
John Terrovitis1, Christos Charitos, Paraskevi Dolou
1University of Athens, School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, "Alexandra" Hospital, Makedonias 24, 10433, Athens, Greece.
Insights
Granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) did not reduce infarct size or improve heart function after myocardial infarction in pigs. Further research is needed for effective stem cell therapies in clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can lead to significant left ventricular damage.
- Mobilizing bone marrow pluripotent stem cells is a potential therapeutic strategy.
- Granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is investigated for its stem cell mobilization properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of GM-CSF in reducing infarct size and improving left ventricular function post-AMI.
- To evaluate a clinically applicable protocol for stem cell mobilization.
Main Methods:
- Pigs underwent induced AMI via coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion.
- Animals were randomized to receive placebo or subcutaneous GM-CSF (20 microg/kg/day for 3 weeks).
- Infarct size and left ventricular function (echocardiography) were assessed at 5 and 28 days post-MI.
Main Results:
- GM-CSF administration significantly increased white blood cell counts.
- No significant difference in infarct size was observed between GM-CSF and placebo groups (7.8% vs 7.5%).
- Echocardiographic measurements showed no significant improvement in left ventricular function in the GM-CSF group.
Conclusions:
- Subcutaneous GM-CSF administration in the early post-AMI period did not reduce infarct size or improve cardiac function.
- Current protocols for GM-CSF stem cell mobilization lack efficacy for AMI treatment.
- Development of novel protocols for stem cell mobilization and targeted delivery is required for clinical application.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effect of bone marrow pluripotent stem cell mobilization with granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GMCSF) on infarct size and left ventricular function, in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, with a protocol easily applicable in clinical practice.
Methods:
Ten pigs underwent left thoracotomy and left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion for 1 h, followed by reperfusion. After 50 min of arterial occlusion, the animals were randomly divided between treatment with placebo (Group 1) and subcutaneous GM-CSF (Group 2). The thoracotomy was closed and the animals recovered. In Group 2, GM-CSF, 20 microg/kg, was administered daily, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks. Echocardiograms were obtained at 5 and 28 days after acute myocardial infarction. At 30 days, infarct size, expressed as a percentage of the whole left ventricular mass, was measured.
Results:
The white blood cell count increased from 13000 +/- 3338/ microl to 28700 +/- 4916/ microl (p = 0.001) in the GM-CSF-treated group. Infarct size was 7.8 +/- 6.1% in Group 1 vs 7.5 +/- 7.7% in Group 2 (ns). Similarly, no significant difference was observed between the 2 study groups in any of the echocardiographic measurements made at 28 days.
Conclusions:
Subcutaneous GMCSF administered during the early post acute myocardial infarction period neither decreased infarct size nor improved left ventricular function. Other protocols for mobilization of stem cells and their concentration in the injured area should be developed to combine efficacy and clinical applicability.
