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Co-treatment with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and curcumin improved angiogenesis in myocardium in a rat model of MI

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Abstract

Background

The cardioprotective properties of mesenchymal stem cells and the therapeutic potential of curcumin (CUR) have been explored. Combining these approaches may enhance stem cell effectiveness and expedite healing. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of co-treating bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with curcumin on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, in a rat model of myocardial ischemia (MI).

Methods and results

Sixty-five male rats were divided into four groups: G1 (healthy control), G2 (MI induced by isoproterenol hydrochloride), G3 (treated with BMSCs), and G4 (co-treated with curcumin and BMSCs). Blood and tissue samples were collected at specific time points (day 1, 7, 15 and 21) after MI induction. Serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), CK-MB and VEGF were measured. VEGF mRNA and protein expression were evaluated using RT-qPCR and Western blot techniques. Histopathological assessments were performed using H&E staining and CD31 immunofluorescence staining. VEGF expression significantly increased on days 7 and 15 in the CUR-BMSCs group, peaking on day 7. Western blot analysis confirmed elevated VEGF protein expression on days 7 and 15 post-MI. ELISA results demonstrated increased serum VEGF levels on days 7 and 15, reaching the highest level on day 7 in CUR-BMSCs-treated animals. Treated groups showed lower levels of LDH, AST, CK, CK-MB and cTnI compared to the untreated MI group. H&E staining revealed improved myocardial structure, increased formation of new capillaries, in both treatment groups compared to the MI group.

Conclusion

Combining curcumin with BMSCs promotes angiogenesis in the infarcted myocardium after 15 days of MI induction. These findings suggest the potential of this combined therapy approach for enhancing cardiac healing and recovery.

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Data availability

Supplementary data and materials associated with this research, only will be available on request and reasonable purpose.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran, for supporting this project.

Funding

The current research was funded by Urmia University of Medical Sciences.

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Author notes

  1. Hamed Shoorei and Neda Abedpour have equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

    Niki Mirfakhraie

  2. Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

    Hamed Shoorei

  3. Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Hamed Shoorei

  4. Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

    Neda Abedpour & Masoumeh Zirak Javanmard

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  1. Niki Mirfakhraie
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Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: MZJ HS. Performed the experiments: NM MZJ NA. Analyzed the data: MZJ NA. Wrote the manuscript: NM HS MZJ.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masoumeh Zirak Javanmard.

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This study was ethically approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee at Urmia University of Medical Sciences (IR.UMSU.REC.1396.384).

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Mirfakhraie, N., Shoorei, H., Abedpour, N. et al. Co-treatment with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and curcumin improved angiogenesis in myocardium in a rat model of MI. Mol Biol Rep 51, 261 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-09180-z

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