Intravenous xenogeneic transplantation of human adipose‐derived stem cells improves left ventricular function and microvascular integrity in swine myocardial infarction model

OBJECTIVES: The potential for beneficial effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) on myocardial perfusion and left ventricular dysfunction in myocardial ischemia (MI) has not been tested following intravenous delivery. METHODS: Surviving pigs following induction of MI were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 different groups: the placebo group (n = 7), the single bolus group (SB) (n = 7, 15 × 10(7) ASCs), or the divided dose group (DD) (n = 7, 5 × 10(7) ASCs/day for three consecutive days). Myocardial perfusion defect area and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were compared during the 28-day follow-up. Also, serial changes in the absolute number of circulating CD4(+) T and CD8(+) T cells were measured. RESULTS: The increases in ejection fraction were significantly greater in both the SB and the DD groups compared to the placebo group (5.4 ± 0.9%, 3.7 ± 0.7%, and -0.4 ± 0.6%, respectively), and the decrease in the perfusion defect area was significantly greater in the SB group than the placebo group (-36.3 ± 1.8 and -11.5 ± 2.8). CFR increased to a greater degree in the SB and the DD groups than in the placebo group (0.9 ± 0.2, 0.8 ± 0.1, and 0.2 ± 0.2, respectively). The circulating number of CD8(+) T cells was significantly greater in the SB and DD groups than the placebo group at day 7 (3,687 ± 317/µL, 3,454 ± 787/µL, and 1,928 ± 457/µL, respectively). The numbers of small vessels were significantly greater in the SB and the DD groups than the placebo group in the peri-infarct area. CONCLUSIONS: Both intravenous SB and DD delivery of ASCs are effective modalities for the treatment of MI in swine. Intravenous delivery of ASCs, with its immunomodulatory and angiogenic effects, is an attractive noninvasive approach for myocardial rescue.