The potential of statin and stromal cell-derived factor-1 to promote angiogenesis

Human umbilical cord blood-mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome in combination with atorvastatin enhances endothelial progenitor cells proliferation and migration

Background: Human umbilical cord blood-mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC)-derived secretome is known to be able to promote neovascularization and angiogenesis, so it is also thought to have a capability to modulate endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) functions. Atorvastatin is the cornerstone of coronary artery disease (CAD) treatment which can enhance EPCs proliferation and migration. This study aims to analyze the effect of the hUCB-MSC-derived secretome and its combination with atorvastatin toward EPCs proliferation and migration. Methods: EPCs were isolated from a CAD patient's peripheral blood. Cultured EPCs were divided into a control group and treatment group of 2.5 µM atorvastatin, hUCB-MSC-derived secretome (2%, 10%, and 20% concentration) and its combination. EPCs proliferation was evaluated using an MTT cell proliferation assay, and EPC migration was evaluated using a Transwell migration assay kit. Results: This research showed that hUCB-MSC-derived secretomes significantly increase EPC proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner. The high concentration of hUCB-MSC-derived secretome were shown to be superior to atorvastatin in inducing EPC proliferation and migration (p<0.001). A combination of the hUCB-MSC-derived secretome and atorvastatin shown to improve EPCs proliferation and migration compared to hUCB-MSC-derived secretome treatment or atorvastatin alone (p<0.001). Conclusions: This study concluded that the hUCB-MSC-derived secretome work synergistically with atorvastatin treatment in improving EPCs proliferation and migration.

Human umbilical cord blood-mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome in combination with atorvastatin enhances endothelial progenitor cells proliferation and migration

Background: Human umbilical cord blood-mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC)-derived secretome is known to be able to promote neovascularization and angiogenesis, so it is also thought to have a capability to modulate endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) functions. Atorvastatin is the cornerstone of coronary artery disease (CAD) treatment which can enhance EPCs proliferation and migration. This study aims to analyze the effect of the hUCB-MSC-derived secretome and its combination with atorvastatin toward EPCs proliferation and migration. Methods: EPCs were isolated from a CAD patient's peripheral blood. Cultured EPCs were divided into a control group and treatment group of 2.5 µM atorvastatin, hUCB-MSC-derived secretome (2%, 10%, and 20% concentration) and its combination. EPCs proliferation was evaluated using an MTT cell proliferation assay, and EPC migration was evaluated using a Transwell migration assay kit. Results: This research showed that hUCB-MSC-derived secretomes significantly increase EPC proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner. The high concentration of hUCB-MSC-derived secretome were shown to be superior to atorvastatin in inducing EPC proliferation and migration (p<0.001). A combination of the hUCB-MSC-derived secretome and atorvastatin shown to improve EPCs proliferation and migration compared to hUCB-MSC-derived secretome treatment or atorvastatin alone (p<0.001). Conclusions: This study concluded that the hUCB-MSC-derived secretome work synergistically with atorvastatin treatment in improving EPCs proliferation and migration.

Leptin signaling is required for augmented therapeutic properties of mesenchymal stem cells conferred by hypoxia preconditioning

Hypoxia preconditioning enhances the therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, the mechanism underlying hypoxia-induced augmentation of the protective effect of MSCs on myocardial infarction (MI) is poorly understood. We show that hypoxia-enhanced survival, mobility, and protection of cocultured cardiomyocytes were paralleled by increased expression of leptin and cell surface receptor CXCR4. The enhanced activities were abolished by either knockdown of leptin with a selective shRNA or by genetic deficiency of leptin or its receptor in MSCs derived, respectively, from ob/ob or db/db mice. To characterize the role of leptin in the regulation of MSC functions by hypoxia and its possible contribution to enhanced therapeutic efficacy, cell therapy using MSCs derived from wild-type, ob/ob, or db/db mice was implemented in mouse models of acute MI. Augmented protection by hypoxia pretreatment was only seen with MSCs from wild-type mice. Parameters that were differentially affected by hypoxia pretreatment included MSC engraftment, c-Kit(+) cell recruitment to the infarct, vascular density, infarct size, and long-term contractile function. These data show that leptin signaling is an early and essential step for the enhanced survival, chemotaxis, and therapeutic properties of MSCs conferred by preculture under hypoxia. Leptin may play a physiological role in priming MSCs resident in the bone marrow endosteum for optimal response to systemic signaling molecules and subsequent tissue repair.

Progesterone increases circulating endothelial progenitor cells and induces neural regeneration after traumatic brain injury in aged rats

Vascular remodeling plays a key role in neural regeneration in the injured brain. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a mediator of the vascular remodeling process. Previous studies have found that progesterone treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) decreases cerebral edema and cellular apoptosis and inhibits inflammation, which in concert promote neuroprotective effects in young adult rats. However, whether progesterone treatment regulates circulating EPC level and fosters vascular remodeling after TBI have not been investigated. In this study, we hypothesize that progesterone treatment following TBI increases circulating EPC levels and promotes vascular remodeling in the injured brain in aged rats. Male Wistar 20-month-old rats were subjected to a moderate unilateral parietal cortical contusion injury and were treated with or without progesterone (n=54/group). Progesterone was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 16mg/kg at 1 h post-TBI and was subsequently injected subcutaneously daily for 14 days. Neurological functional tests and immnunostaining were performed. Circulating EPCs were measured by flow cytometry. Progesterone treatment significantly improved neurological outcome after TBI measured by the modified neurological severity score, Morris Water Maze and the long term potentiation in the hippocampus as well as increased the circulating EPC levels compared to TBI controls (p<0.05). Progesterone treatment also significantly increased CD34 and CD31 positive cell number and vessel density in the injured brain compared to TBI controls (p<0.05). These data indicate that progesterone treatment of TBI improves multiple neurological functional outcomes, increases the circulating EPC level, and facilitates vascular remodeling in the injured brain after TBI in aged rats.