[Impact and related mechanisms of stromal cell-derived factor-1α on serum deprivation-induced cardiac stem cells apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact and related mechanisms of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) on serum deprivation-induced apoptosis of cardiac stem cells (CSCs). METHODS: CSCs were isolated from adult mouse heart tissue and cultured in vitro. Obtained cells were purified using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) with c-kit magnetic beads. C-kit(+)CSCs were divided into five groups: normal control group, serum deprivation group, serum deprivation+SDF-1α group, serum deprivation+SDF-1α+AMD3100 group, serum deprivation+SDF-1α+LY294002 group. Cell apoptosis was assessed using the DeadEnd Colorimetric TUNEL System and flow cytometry analyses with an Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. The viability of CSCs was assessed by CCK-8. The protein expression of Bcl-2 and phosphorylated Akt were detected by Western blot. The caspase-3 activity was determined using caspase-3 Colorimetric Assay Kit. RESULTS: After magnetic separation, more than 85% of cardiosphere derived cells were positive for c-kit expression. Compared with the normal control group, the apoptosis rate of serum deprivation group was significantly increased[(27.03 ± 0.80)% vs. (1.51 ± 0.54)%, P < 0.01], which could be significantly reduced by SDF-1α in a concentration dependent manner and peak effect was seen with 100 ng/ml SDF-1α[(10.67 ± 1.06)% vs. (27.03 ± 0.80)%, P < 0.01]. The expressions of p-Akt and Bcl-2 were significantly increased and the activity of caspase-3 was significantly decreased in serum deprivation+SDF-1α group compared to serum deprivation group (P < 0.01). Further more, the expression of p-Akt and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased and the activity of caspase-3 was increased in both serum deprivation+SDF-1α+AMD3100 group and serum deprivation+SDF-1α+LY294002 group compared to serum deprivation+SDF-1α group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SDF-1α reduces serum deprivation induced CSCs apoptosis via modulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Tetramethylprazine attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through modulation of autophagy.

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of tetramethylprazine (TMP) on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury and its underlying mechanisms. MI/R rat model and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) cardiomyocytes model were established. CK level and LDH activity were detected to evaluate MI/R and H/R injury. Cell viability was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell apoptosis were identified by flow cytometry and autophagy were detected by western blot. Treatment with TMP significantly reduced CK level and LDH activity and decreased myocardial infarct size in MI/R rats. TMP reduced autophagy dysfunction induced by MI/R. Moreover, TMP treatment decreased H/R-induced injury and attenuated autophagy dysfunction in cardiomyocytes. Inhibiting autophagic flux with chloroquine (CQ) decreased the cardioprotection exerted by TMP in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the effects of TMP on the modulation of autophagy were inhibited by LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor) in H/R cardiomyocytes. Our findings suggested TMP exerted cardioprotection against MI/R injury by decreasing Beclin-1 associated autophagy dysfunction through PI3K pathway.

Transplantation of bradykinin-preconditioned human endothelial progenitor cells improves cardiac function via enhanced Akt/eNOS phosphorylation and angiogenesis.

This study determines whether preconditioning (PC) of human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPCs) with bradykinin promotes infarcted myocardium repair via enhanced activation of B2 receptor (B2R)-dependent Akt/eNOS and increased angiogenesis. hEPCs with or without bradykinin preconditioning (BK-PC) were transplanted into a nude mouse model of acute myocardial infarction. Survival of transplanted cells was assessed using DiD-labeled hEPCs. Infarct size, cardiac function, and angiogenesis were measured 10 d after transplantation. Akt, eNOS, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions in cardiac tissues were detected by western blotting, and NO production was determined using an NO assay kit. The cell migration and tube formation in cultured hEPCs were determined using transwell chamber and matrigel tube formation assays, respectively. The VEGF levels in the cell supernatant were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. BK-PC-hEPCs improved cardiac function, decreased infarct size, and promoted neovascularization 10 d following transplantation. PC increased Akt and eNOS phosphorylation, VEGF expression, and NO production in the ischemic myocardium. The effects of BK-PC were abrogated by HOE140 (B2R antagonist) and LY294002 (Akt antagonist). PC increased hEPC migration, tube formation, and VEGF levels in vitro. Activation of B2R-dependent Akt/eNOS phosphorylation by BK-PC promotes hEPC neovascularization and improves cardiac function following transplantation.

Transplantation of bradykinin-preconditioned human endothelial progenitor cells improves cardiac function via enhanced Akt/eNOS phosphorylation and angiogenesis.

This study determines whether preconditioning (PC) of human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPCs) with bradykinin promotes infarcted myocardium repair via enhanced activation of B2 receptor (B2R)-dependent Akt/eNOS and increased angiogenesis. hEPCs with or without bradykinin preconditioning (BK-PC) were transplanted into a nude mouse model of acute myocardial infarction. Survival of transplanted cells was assessed using DiD-labeled hEPCs. Infarct size, cardiac function, and angiogenesis were measured 10 d after transplantation. Akt, eNOS, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions in cardiac tissues were detected by western blotting, and NO production was determined using an NO assay kit. The cell migration and tube formation in cultured hEPCs were determined using transwell chamber and matrigel tube formation assays, respectively. The VEGF levels in the cell supernatant were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. BK-PC-hEPCs improved cardiac function, decreased infarct size, and promoted neovascularization 10 d following transplantation. PC increased Akt and eNOS phosphorylation, VEGF expression, and NO production in the ischemic myocardium. The effects of BK-PC were abrogated by HOE140 (B2R antagonist) and LY294002 (Akt antagonist). PC increased hEPC migration, tube formation, and VEGF levels in vitro. Activation of B2R-dependent Akt/eNOS phosphorylation by BK-PC promotes hEPC neovascularization and improves cardiac function following transplantation.