Post-infarct treatment with an erythropoietin-gelatin hydrogel drug delivery system for cardiac repair

AIMS: We investigated the effect of an erythropoietin (EPO)-gelatin hydrogel drug delivery system (DDS) applied to the heart on myocardial infarct (MI) size, left ventricular (LV) remodelling and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experiments were performed in a rabbit model of MI. The infarct size was reduced, and LV remodelling and function were improved 14 days and 2 months after MI but not at 2 days after MI in the EPO-DDS group. The number of cluster of differentiation 31(CD31)-positive microvessels and the expression of erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R), phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (p-GSK-3beta), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (p-ERK), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-Stat3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) were significantly increased in the myocardium of the EPO-DDS group. CONCLUSION: Post-MI treatment with an EPO-DDS improves LV remodelling and function by activating prosurvival signalling, antifibrosis, and angiogenesis without causing any side effect.