The stem cell adjuvant with Exendin‐4 repairs the heart after myocardial infarction via STAT3 activation

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Jianfeng Liu¹  Haibin Wang²  Yan Wang²  Yujing Yin³  Zhiyan Du²  Zhiqiang Liu²  Junjie Yang¹  Shunying Hu¹  Changyong Wang² 

[1] Department of Cardiology, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China;Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Tissue Engineering Research Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China;Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China

关键词: Exendin‐4;    adipose‐derived stem cell;    myocardial infarction;    STAT3;    paracrine;   

DOI  :  10.1111/jcmm.12272

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

The poor survival of cells in ischaemic myocardium is a major obstacle for stem cell therapy. Exendin-4 holds the potential of cardioprotective effect based on its pleiotropic activity. This study investigated whether Exendin-4 in conjunction with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) could improve the stem cell survival and contribute to myocardial repairs after infarction. Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by the left anterior descending artery ligation in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. ADSCs carrying double-fusion reporter gene [firefly luciferase and monomeric red fluorescent protein (fluc-mRFP)] were quickly injected into border zone of MI in rats treated with or without Exendin-4. Exendin-4 enhanced the survival of transplanted ADSCs, as demonstrated by the longitudinal in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Moreover, ADSCs adjuvant with Exendin-4 decreased oxidative stress, apoptosis and fibrosis. They also improved myocardial viability and cardiac function and increased the differentiation rates of ADSCs into cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells in vivo. Then, ADSCs were exposed to hydrogen peroxide/serum deprivation (H₂O₂/SD) to mimic the ischaemic environment in vitro. Results showed that Exendin-4 decreased the apoptosis and enhanced the paracrine effect of ADSCs. In addition, Exendin-4 activated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) through the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. Furthermore, Exendin-4 increased the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, but decreased the pro-apoptotic protein Bax of ADSCs. In conclusion, Exendin-4 could improve the survival and therapeutic efficacy of transplanted ADSCs through STAT3 activation via the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. This study suggests the potential application of Exendin-4 for stem cell–based heart regeneration.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

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