Cardioprotective effect of G-CSF administration after coronary reperfusion in swine AMI model

Abstract

[Purpose] Recent studies have suggested that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) may accelerate angiogenesis or cardio-myogenesis. No previous studies, however, have used large animal models to investigete how clinical doses of G-CSF affect cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). [Methods] Diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery of domestic swine was balloon-occluded for 1-hour and then reperfused. The G-CSF group received a subcutaneous injection of G-CSF at a dose of 5.0/µg/kg/day for 6 days after MI. Left ventriculography was performed 4 weeks after Ml. The number of vessels in the infarcted area were calculated using sections stained by anti-α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions for collagen I, collagen III, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were also examined. [Results] The G-CSF group showed a significantly higher ejection fraction and lower end-diastolic volume in left ventriculography. The numbers of α-SMA- and vWF-positive vessels in the G-CSF group were significantly larger. The expression of collagen III mRNA was significantly lower in the G-CSF group in the infarct and border areas. The expression of TGF-β mRNA was significantly lower in the G-CSF group in the border area. [Conclusions] The administration of clinical doses of G-CSF improved cardiac function after reperfusion in AMI. G-CSF confers its effects by accelerating angio-genesis and modifying the wound-healing process.