Skeletal myoblast based delivery of angiogenic growth factors:a comparison between angiopoietin-1 and VEGF gene delivery for therapeutic angiogenesis in the heart

Objectives This study investigated the efficacy of human skeletal myoblasts (SkM) mediated either human vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (hVEGF165) or angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) on vascular development and myocardial regional perfusion. Methods A porcine heart model of chronic infarction was created in 28 female swine by coronary artery ligation. The animals were randomized into:(1) group-1, DMEM injected (n=6), (2) group-2, Ad-null transduced SkM transplanted (n=6), (3) group-3, Ad-hVEGF165 transduced SkM transplanted (n=8), and (4) group-4, Ad-Ang-1 transduced SkM (n=8). Three weeks later, 5 ml DMEM containing 3× 108 SkM carrying exogenous genes were intramyocardially injected into 20 sites in left ventricle in groups-2, -3 and -4. Animals in group-1 were injected 5 ml DMEM without cells. Animals were kept on 5 mg/kg cyclosporine per day for 6 weeks. Regional blood flow was measured using fluorescent microspheres. The heart was explanted at 2, 6 and 12 weeks after transplantation for histological studies. Results Histological examination showed survival of lac-z expressing myoblasts in host tissue. Capillary density based on Von Willebrand factor-Ⅷ (vWF-Ⅷ) at low power field (× 100) was 57.13+11.85 in group-3 at 6 weeks and declined to 32.1±5.21 at 12 weeks, while it was 39.9±10.26 at 6 weeks and increased to 45.14±6.54 at 12 weeks in group-4. The mature blood vessel index was highest in group4 at 6 and 12 weeks after transplantation. The regional blood flow in the center and peri-infarct area was significantly increased in animals of groups-3 and -4. Conclusions SkM carrying either hVEGF165 or Ang- 1 induced neovascularization with increased blood flow. Ang- 1 overexpression resulted in mature and stable blood vessel formation and may be a more potent arteriogenic inducer for neovascularization.(J Geriatr Cardiol 2006;3:152-60.)