Salvage of Infarcted Myocardium by Angiogenic Action of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1382313
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T23:03:06Z
• Authors: Atsuko Yanagisawa...; Yasumi Uchida; Fumitaka Nakamura; Takanobu Tomaru; Hideaki Kido; Takeshi Kamijo; Tsuneaki Sugimoto; Kazuhiko Kaji; Masanori Utsuyama; Chieri Kurashima; Hideki Ito
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Heart Ventricles; Myocardial Infarction; Organ Size; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Vessels; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular; Capillaries; Arterioles; 03 medical and health sciences; Dogs; Animals; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Endothelium, Vascular; Cell Division

Coronary collateral vessels reduce damage to ischemic myocardium after coronary obstruction. Factors that stimulate collateral formation are expected to have ameliorating effects on myocardial infarction. In a canine experimental myocardial infarct model, intracoronary injection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) improved cardiac systolic function and reduced infarct size. Treatment with bFGF increased the number of arterioles and capillaries in the infarct. Thus, the angiogenic action of bFGF might lead to a reduction in infarct size. The application of bFGF might bring about a therapeutic modality for the salvage of infarcted myocardium.