Exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor promotes cardiac stem cell-mediated myocardial regeneration after miniswine acute myocardial infarction

Objective To investigate the effects of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on myocardial regeneration after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods AMI models were established by ligating the mid-third of left anterior descending artery, thereafter, miniswines were randomly divided into control (none treatment, n = 6) and bFGF groups (n = 6). For the bFGF group, bFGF (100 mu g) was injected with a sterile microinjection at five sites within the ischemic region. 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine (250 mg) was administrated intravenously twice a week after the operation, to label cells undergoing DNA replication. The expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 alpha) and CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), cardiac stem cell-mediated myocardial regeneration, myocardial apoptosis, histological and immunohistochemical analyses, and cardiac function were evaluated at different time points. Results Four weeks after bFGF therapy, it showed an increased vessel density and myocardial perfusion (P < 0.001), upregulative expression of SDF-1 alpha and CXCR4 (P < 0.001), increased c-kit and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine-positive cells (P < 0.001), enhanced myocardial viability (P < 0.001), and improved left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.007), compared with the control. Conclusion Exogenous bFGF was shown to have increased angiogenesis and myocardial perfusion, promoted myocardial regeneration by activating the SDF-1 alpha/CXCR4 axis, and thereby improved the cardiac function, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for AMI. Coron Artery Dis 22:279-285 (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.