Cell therapy generates a favourable chemokine gradient for stem cell recruitment into the infarcted heart in rabbits
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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
Delayed Intramyocardial Delivery of Stem Cells after Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in a Murine Model
Published on: September 3, 2020
Bai-Chin Lee1, Hsiu-Ching Hsu, Wen-Yih I Tseng
1Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Insights
Bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) therapy enhances the stromal-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) gradient in myocardial infarction (MI) models. This promotes stem cell recruitment, improving cardiac function and reducing infarct size.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Regenerative Medicine
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Stem cell recruitment to the heart relies on a stromal-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) gradient.
- This gradient is diminished in chronic myocardial infarction (MI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) therapy on the SDF-1 gradient in post-MI rabbits.
Main Methods:
- Male New Zealand white rabbits underwent induced MI.
- Two months post-MI, rabbits received either saline or autologous BMSCs (2 x 10^6 cells).
- Cardiac function and SDF-1 gradients were assessed four weeks after treatment.
Main Results:
- BMSC treatment significantly increased SDF-1 gradients from bone marrow to blood and blood to myocardium compared to saline.
- Increased myocardial expression of CD34, CD117, and STRO-1 positive cells was observed post-BMSC therapy.
- BMSC therapy led to enhanced capillary density, improved cardiac function, and reduced infarct size.
Conclusions:
- BMSC-based cell therapy novelly generates an SDF-1 gradient towards the heart.
- This induced gradient facilitates stem cell homing to remodeled myocardium.
- The therapy ultimately supports improved cardiac function post-MI.
Aims:
Stem cell recruitment into the heart is determined by a concentration gradient of stromal-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) from bone marrow to peripheral blood and from blood to injured myocardium. However, this gradient is decreased in chronic myocardial infarction (MI). This study evaluated the effect of cell therapy using bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on an SDF-1 gradient in post-infarction rabbits.
Methods And Results:
Myocardial infarction was induced in male New Zealand white rabbits (2.5-3 kg) by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Two months later, the rabbits were randomized to either saline or BMSC (2 x 10(6) autologous BMSCs injected into the left ventricular cavity) treatment. Four weeks after therapy, the SDF-1 gradients from bone marrow to blood and from blood to myocardium increased in the BMSC group compared with the saline group. This was accompanied by an increase in cells positive for CD34, CD117, and STRO-1 in the myocardium, resulting in more capillary density, better cardiac function, and a decrease in infarct size.
Conclusion:
Generation of an SDF-1 gradient towards the heart is a novel effect of BMSC-based cell therapy. This effect facilitates stem cell recruitment into remodelled myocardium and supports improvement in cardiac function.
