Angiogenesis without functional outcome after mononuclear stem cell transplant in a doxorubicin-induced dilated myocardiopathy murine model

• Published in: International journal of artificial organs Vol. 31; no. 5; p. 431
• Main Authors: Carvalho, K A T, Simeoni, R B, Guarita-Souza, L C, Francisco, J C, Abdelwahid, E, Myiague, N I, Chachques, J C, Rivetti, L A, Oliveira, L, Malvezzi, M, Olandoski, M, Gremski, W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2008
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Cardiomyopathies - chemically induced; Cardiomyopathies - therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stem Cell Transplantation; Transplantation, Autologous
• ISSN: 0391-3988; 1724-6040
• DOI: 10.1177/039139880803100509

Cell transplantation is considered a novel approach in the treatment of myocardiopathy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of autologous mononuclear stem cell therapy in doxorubicin-induced dilated myocardiopathy by conducting both functional and histopathologic analysis. Seventy male rats were doxorubicin injected intraperitoneally for 2 weeks. At 1 month, the animals that had demonstrated left ventricular ejection fractions less than 40% were randomly divided into a mononuclear stem cell group and controls. Mononuclear stem cells were isolated. All animals underwent echocardiographic study: baseline, pre-cell therapy, and at 1 month post-cell therapy, and analyzed by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Transplants were performed by subepicardial injections. Standard staining was performed. Twenty-three animals were randomly treated: mononuclear stem cell and control groups, with 11 rats completing the study. Cell viability was 85%. Mononuclear stem cells (n=5; 5x106 cells /300 microL medium) and control (n=6; 300 microL medium) were used. The resulting left ventricular ejection fraction in the cell therapy group was not significantly different compared with controls (p=0.54). New vessels were demonstrated in the subepicardial region. Autologous mononuclear stem cell therapy was not functionally effective in doxorubicin-induced dilated myocardiopathy in the animal model under study with the experimental conditions, despite occurrence of angiogenic activity.