TY - JOUR
T1 - Sonic Hedgehog gene delivery to the rodent heart promotes angiogenesis via iNOS/netrin-1/PKC pathway
AU - Ahmed, Rafeeq P.H.
AU - Haider, Khawaja Husnain
AU - Shujia, Jiang
AU - Afzal, Muhammad Rizwan
AU - Ashraf, Muhammad
PY - 2010/1/5
Y1 - 2010/1/5
N2 - Background: We hypothesized that genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) transgene, a morphogen during embryonic development and embryonic and adult stem cell growth, improved their survival and angiogenic potential in the ischemic heart via iNOS/netrin/PKC pathway. Methods/Principal Findings: MSCs from young Fisher-344 rat bone marrow were purified and transfected with pCMV Shh plasmid (ShhMSCs). Immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and Western blotting showed higher expression of Shh in ShhMSCs which also led to increased expression of angiogenic and pro-survival growth factors in ShhMSCs. Significantly improved migration and tube formation was seen in ShhMSCs as compared to empty vector transfected MSCs (EmpMSCs). Significant upregulation of netrin-1 and iNOS was observed in ShhMSCs in PI3K independent but PKC dependent manner. For in vivo studies, acute myocardial infarction model was developed in Fisher-344 rats. The animals were grouped to receive 70 μl basal DMEM without cells (group-1) or containing 1×106 EmpMSCs (group-2) and ShhMSCs (group-3). Group-4 received recombinant netrin-1 protein injection into the infarcted heart. FISH and sry-quantification revealed improved survival of ShhMSCs post engraftment. Histological studies combined with fluorescent microspheres showed increased density of functionally competent blood vessels in group-3 and group-4. Echocardiography showed significantly preserved heart function indices post engraftment with ShhMSCs in group-3 animals. Conclusions/ Significance: Reprogramming of stem cells with Shh maximizes their survival and angiogenic potential in the heart via iNOS/netrin-1/PKC signaling.
AB - Background: We hypothesized that genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) transgene, a morphogen during embryonic development and embryonic and adult stem cell growth, improved their survival and angiogenic potential in the ischemic heart via iNOS/netrin/PKC pathway. Methods/Principal Findings: MSCs from young Fisher-344 rat bone marrow were purified and transfected with pCMV Shh plasmid (ShhMSCs). Immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and Western blotting showed higher expression of Shh in ShhMSCs which also led to increased expression of angiogenic and pro-survival growth factors in ShhMSCs. Significantly improved migration and tube formation was seen in ShhMSCs as compared to empty vector transfected MSCs (EmpMSCs). Significant upregulation of netrin-1 and iNOS was observed in ShhMSCs in PI3K independent but PKC dependent manner. For in vivo studies, acute myocardial infarction model was developed in Fisher-344 rats. The animals were grouped to receive 70 μl basal DMEM without cells (group-1) or containing 1×106 EmpMSCs (group-2) and ShhMSCs (group-3). Group-4 received recombinant netrin-1 protein injection into the infarcted heart. FISH and sry-quantification revealed improved survival of ShhMSCs post engraftment. Histological studies combined with fluorescent microspheres showed increased density of functionally competent blood vessels in group-3 and group-4. Echocardiography showed significantly preserved heart function indices post engraftment with ShhMSCs in group-3 animals. Conclusions/ Significance: Reprogramming of stem cells with Shh maximizes their survival and angiogenic potential in the heart via iNOS/netrin-1/PKC signaling.
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0008576
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0008576
M3 - Article
C2 - 20052412
AN - SCOPUS:77649161196
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 5
JO - PloS one
JF - PloS one
IS - 1
M1 - e8576
ER -