Comparison of the effects of intramyocardial and intravenous injections of human mesenchymal stem cells on cardiac regeneration after heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Existing studies have demonstrated that intravenous and intramyocardial-administrated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) lead to tissue repair after cardiac disorders. We compared the efficiency of both administration methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat model of isoproterenol-induced heart failure (ISO-HF) was established to compare the effects of intravenous and intramyocardial-administrated MSCs on cardiac fibrosis and function. The animals were randomly assigned into six groups: i) control or normal, ii) ISO-HF (HF) iii) ISO-HF rats treated with intramyocardial administration of culture medium (HF+IM/CM), iv) ISO-HF rats treated with intravenous administration of culture medium ( HF+IV/CM), v) ISO-HF rats treated with intravenous administration of MSCs (HF+IV/MSCs), vi) ISO-HF rats treated with intramyocardial administration of MSCs ( HF+IM/MSCs). Cultured MSCs and culture medium were administrated at 4 weeks after final injection of ISO. Heart function, identification of MSCs, osteogenic differentiation, adipogenic differentiation, cardiac fibrosis and tissue damage were evaluated by echocardiography, flow-cytometery, von Kossa, oil red O, Masson's trichrome and H & E staining, respectively. RESULTS: Both intravenous and intramyocardial MSCs therapy significantly improved heart function and reduced cardiac fibrosis and tissue damage (P<0.05), whereas the cultured medium had no beneficial effects. CONCLUSION: In sum, our results confirm the validity of both administration methods in recovery of HF, but more future research is required.

Soy isoflavone genistein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive impairments in the rat via exerting anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.

Systemic inflammation during infectious disorders usually accompanies chronic complications including cognitive dysfunction. Neuroinflammation and cognitive deficit are also observed in some debilitating neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Genistein is a soy isoflavone with multiple beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and protective properties. In this research study, the effect of genistein in prevention of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive dysfunction was investigated. LPS was given i.p. (500 µg/kg/day) and genistein was orally given (10, 50, or 100 mg/kg) for one week. Findings showed that genistein could dose-dependently attenuate spatial recognition, discrimination, and memory deficits. Additionally, genistein treatment of LPS-challenged group lowered hippocampal level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase and glutathione (GSH) level. Furthermore, genistein ameliorated hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in LPS-challenged rats. Furthermore, genistein administration to LPS-injected group lowered hippocampal level of interleukin 6 (IL-6), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and increased hippocampal level of antioxidant element nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). In conclusion, genistein alleviated LPS-induced cognitive dysfunctions and neural inflammation attenuation of oxidative stress and AChE activity and appropriate modulation of Nrf2/NF-κB/IL-6/TNFα/COX2/iNOS/TLR4/GFAP.