Effects of combined transplantation of recombinant human erythropoietin and skeletal muscle satellite cells on acute myocardial infarction in rabbits

Chen Ke-qi, Dong Shao-hong, Luo Lin-jie, Zhang Peng, Liang Xin-jian, Pang Xin-li, Li Jiang-hua

Department of Cardiology, Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, i.e. Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen   518020, Guangdong Province, China

Chen Ke-qi, Associate chief physician, Department of Cardiology, Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, i.e. Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen   518020, Guangdong Province, China

Correspondence to: Li Jiang-hua, Department of Cardiology, Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, i.e. Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen   518020, Guangdong Province, China
ljh034@126.com

Supported by: the Program of Science and Technology Bureau of Shenzhen City, No. 200602004*

Received:2007-11-23
Accepted:2008-06-16

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin has many physiological effect of non-hematological system, such as participating in normal development of mammal embryo, inhibiting inflammation, enhancing vessel growth, as well as inhibiting apoptosis, reducing infarcted area and accelerating functional recovery in injuries to many tissues and cells.
OBJECTIVE: To study whether recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) can cooperate with skeletal muscle satellite cells to cure acute myocardial infarction rabbit.
DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized control animal experiment was performed at the Central Laboratory of Shenzhen People’s Hospital from January to July 2006.
MATERIALS: Autologous transplantation: Fifty New Zealand male rabbits were randomly assigned into sham operation group, model control group, cell transplantation group, rhEPO group and combination group with 10 rabbits in each group. Allograft opposite sex transplantation: Ten New Zealand male rabbits of the same strain (donors) were used to prepare skeletal muscle satellite cells. An additional ten female rabbits (recipients) were allocated into five groups. rhEPO was purchased from Shenyang Sunshine Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
METHODS: Autologous transplantation: Rabbit models of acute myocardial infarction were established in the model control group, cell transplantation group, rhEPO group and combination group. 3 000 U/kg rhEPO was injected by muscle injection method when ligating coronary artery in the rhEPO group and combination group. 200 μL of DMEM supplemented with about 107 skeletal muscle satellite cells was infused into the infarcted areas in the cell transplantation group and combination group. Allograft opposite sex transplantation: Rabbit models of acute myocardial infarction were created in the cell transplantation group and combination group. Skeletal muscle satellite cells and rhEPO were infused according to the requirement of each group. The concentration and method were the same as above procedures. Polymerase chain reaction was used 5 days later.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Infarcted area was measured. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify blood transportation and desmin expression of myocardial tissues. Fluorescence was applied to examine skeletal muscle satellite cells. Polymerase chain reaction was used to proliferate the gene SRY.
RESULTS: At 4 weeks after transplantation, infarcted area significantly reduced in the cell transplantation group, rhEPO group and combination group, especially in the combination group, compared with the model control group (P < 0.05). The number of C34 positive cells was similar to above-mentioned results. The desmin was positively expressed in the myocardial tissues in the cell transplantation group and combination group, but negatively in the sham operation group, model control group and rhEPO group. DAPI-positive cells were more in the combination group than in the cell transplantation group. In allograft opposite sex transplantation, the width and brightness of SRY gene amplified band were significantly stronger in the combination group than in the cell transplantation group.
CONCLUSION: Combined transplantation of rhEPO and akeletal muscle satellite cells can shorten rabbit myocardial infarcted area, improve blood supply, and enhance the survival rate of skeletal muscle satellite cells after transplantation. rhEPO and akeletal muscle satellite cells have cooperation on treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

Chen KQ, Dong SH, Luo LJ, Zhang P, Liang XJ, Pang XL, Li JH.Effects of combined transplantation of recombinant human erythropoietin and skeletal muscle satellite cells on acute myocardial infarction in rabbits.Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu yu Linchuang Kangfu 2008;12(29):5639-5642 [www.zglckf.com/zglckf/ejournal/upfiles/08-29/29k-5639(ps).pdf]