| 초록 |
In the absence of repair mechanisms involving angiogenesis and cardiomyogenesis, loss of cardiomyocytes after myocardial injury is a primary causative factor in the progression toward heart failure. In a effort to reduce myocardial damage, we investigated the effects on infarcted myocardium of transplantation of genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that specifically expressed VEGF under hypoxic conditions. A VEGF expressing plasmid was introduced into MSCs (VEGF-MSCs), which were then used for the treatment of ischemic myocardial injury in rats. Intravascular administration of VEGF-MSCs resulted in a substantial attenuation of left ventricular remodeling after MI. The transplantation of HI-VEGF-MSCs could also improve cardial function after infarction. This study demonstrates that cell-based gene therapy using genetically engineered MSCs to express VEGF in response to hypoxic stress can be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. |
