Cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of human stem cell factor protects against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury

Abstract Background Cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of human membrane-associated stem cell factor (hSCF) improves cardiac function post-myocardial infarction. However, whether hSCF overexpression protects the heart from ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is unknown. We aimed to investigate the effects of cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of hSCF on cardiac injury after acute myocardial I/R and related cellular and molecular signaling mechanisms. Methods and results Wild-type (WT) and hSCF/tetracycline transactivator (tTA) transgenic mice (hSCF/tTA) were subjected to myocardial ischemia for 45 min followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Infarct size and myocardial apoptosis were decreased in hSCF/tTA compared to WT mice ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, these cardioprotective effects in the hSCF/tTA mice were abrogated by doxycycline, which turned off hSCF overexpression, and by a PI3 kinase inhibitor LY294002. Myocardial expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which are upstream activators of Akt signaling, was significantly increased in hSCF/tTA compared to WT mice after I/R ( P < 0.05), and was associated with higher number of c-kit+ cardiac stem cells (CSCs) ( P < 0.05). Inhibition of c-kit signaling by ACK2 treatment abolished these protective effects in hSCF/tTA mice. Conclusions Cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of hSCF protects the heart from I/R injury. The cardioprotective effects of hSCF overexpression are mediated by increased c-kit+ CSCs, enhanced growth factor expression and activation of Akt signaling pathway.