Mesechymal stem cells transplantation can improve function in doxorubicin- induced heart failure of rats

Objective To investigate the survival of 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) induced MSCs in myocardium and their effects on global heart failure of rats induced by doxorubicin administration. Methods Wistar rat MSCs were cultured in vitro and the second passage MSCs were incubated together with 5-aza-CdR(0.3μmol/L) for two times. Then the induced MSCs labeled with bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) were transplanted into the myocardium of rats in the model of global heart failure induced by means of doxorubicin admistration. The rats receiving serum-free medium injection were used as controls. Four weeks after transplantation, the parameters of heart function, such as ejection fraction (EF), were examined by echocardiography and the survival of transplanted MSCs were observed by immunohistochemistry. Results Four weeks after transplantation, the EF value of MSCs transplantation group and DMEM transplantation group were (95.2±3.7)%(n=9), and (79.9±6.0)%(n=11), respectively (P 0.01). The heart function of MSCs transplantation group rats after transplantation was also improved (P 0.01, EF=(82.3±6.4)% before transplantation). Transplanted cells could be identified by BrdU (+) cells(in all 9 rats). Conclusion Four weeks after transplantation, 5-aza-CdR induced MSCs could survive in the doxorubicin-treated hearts and improve the function in global heart failure cardiomyopathy rats.