RESUMO
BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSC) therapy on cardiac contractility and remodeling in the C57BL/6 mouse model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: 30 adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into 2 groups, namely, AMI+media (control, n=15) and AMI+ADSC (n=15). AMI was produced by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. After AMI induction, 1 x 10(6) ADSC or media were intramyocardially injected and the results compared. Echocardiographic and histological analyses of surviving mice (n=20) were conducted. Echocardiography was performed before cell implantation and 2 weeks after transplantation. RESULTS: LVEF and FS improved in the ADSC group compared to the control (P<0.01). LVEDD in the ADSC group decreased slightly from 4.65+/-0.63 mm to 4.14+/-0.53 mm compared to the control, but there was no statistical difference (P=0.072). LVESD decreased significantly in the ADSC group (P<0.05). A significant difference in scar formation and infarct size was observed between the ADSC and control group 2 weeks after AMI (P<0.05). ADSC were observed to migrate into injured sites and integrate into scar areas and increased vascular density in the infarct site compared to control group (P<0.05). Additionally, some transplanted ADSC expressed the endothelial marker. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography and histological analysis revealed that improvement in cardiac function and ventricular remodeling was better in the ADSC group than in the control. This suggests that ADSC is a good candidate for cell therapy in cardiovascular disease.
