Cardiovasc Imaging Asia.  2018 Jul;2(3):142-149. 10.22468/cvia.2018.00010.

Effects of Endothelial Progenitor Cells Used for Autograft Transplantation in Acute Myocardial Infarction Pig Model

• Wen D
• Xu J
• Huan Y
• Wei M
• Zheng M

• KMID: 2524875
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22468/cvia.2018.00010

Abstract

Objective
Use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore the effects of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticle-labeled endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) pig model.
Materials and Methods
After the AMI pig models were established, SPIO-labeled EPCs were transplanted. Cardiac functions were evaluated by serial echocardiography immediately after transplantation and at 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-weeks post-transplantation. 3T whole-body MRI examination (Siemens Magnetom Triotim) was also performed using different sequences to assess the most ideal procedure for high-quality imaging. The fate of the EPCs after transplantation was investigated by histological analysis.
Results
Fifteen out of 27 pigs with AMI survived. After transplantation, SPIO-labeled EPCs were visualized on MRI scans as persistent, hypo-intense regions. At 4 weeks post-transplantation, the myocardial infarct size in Groups B1 and B2 was significantly decreased, and the ventricular posterior wall thickness at diastole and the ejection fraction were both improved compared to the control group. Furthermore, left ventricular fractional shortening had improved significantly (p<0.050). Also, histology of SPIO-labeled EPC grafts showed that the myocardial infarct size decreased with time.
Conclusion
EPC therapy not only improved cardiac functions but also resulted in significantly decreased myocardial infarct size in an AMI pig model.

Keyword

Endothelial progenitor cells; Transplantation; Myocardial infarction; Superparamagnetic iron oxide; Magnetic resonance imaging