Effect of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation and differentiation in infracted myocardium on infarction-induced heart failure in rats

AIM To investigate the survival and differentiation of 5-aza2′-deoxycytidine(5-aza-CdR) induced mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) in infracted myocardium and their effect on infarction-induced heart failure in rats.METHODS Two-passaged rat MSCs,induced twice by 5-aza-CdR(0.3 μmol/L) and labeled by bromodeoxyuridine,were transplanted into the ventricular scar tissues of rats in the model of infarction-induced heart failure.The rats receiving serum-free medium(DMEM) injection were used as controls.One month after transplantation,the parameters of heart function,such as ejection fraction(LVEF),were examined by echocardiography and the survival and differentiation of the transplanted MSCs were observed by double-lable immunohistochemistry and electronic microscope.RESULTS One month after transplantation,the EF value of MSCs group[LVEF=(83±8)%,n=13] increased significantly compared to that of DMEM group[LVEF=(47±12)%,n=12,P0.01] and improved compared to that before transplantation[LVEF=(64±10)%,n=13,P0.01].The transplanted cells survived in myocardial scar and differentiated into cardiomyocytes with positive TroponinT and Connexin 43.Muscle silks formed in donor MSCs and the MSCs connected with native cardiomyocytes compactly like intercalated disks.CONCLUSION One month after transplantation,5-aza-CdR induced MSCs can survive in the infracted scar of rats and possess some characters of cardiomyocytes.The 5-aza-CdR induced MSCs improve the heart function of infarction-induced heart failure in rats.