Magnetic targeting enhances retrograde cell retention in a rat model of myocardial infarction

• DOI: 10.1186/scrt360
• Publication Date: 2013-12-12T02:01:53Z
• Authors: Zheyong Huang; Yunli Shen; Aijun Sun; Gangyong Huang; Hongmin Zhu; Bingqing Huang; Jianfeng Xu; Yanan Song; Ning Pei; Jing Ma; Xiangdong Yang; Yunzeng Zou; Juying Qian; Junbo Ge
• Keywords: Male; 0303 health sciences; Ventricular Remodeling; Cell Survival; Research; Myocardium; Myocardial Infarction; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Ferric Compounds; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Rats; 3. Good health; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Disease Models, Animal; 03 medical and health sciences; Magnetic Fields; Echocardiography; Animals; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Cell Proliferation

Abstract Introduction Retrograde coronary venous infusion is a promising delivery method for cellular cardiomyoplasty. Poor cell retention is the major obstacle to the establishment of this method as the preferred route for cell delivery. Here, we explored whether magnetic targeting could enhance retrograde cell retention in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

Methods Rat mesenchymal stem cells were labeled with superparamagnetic oxide nanoparticles. The magnetic responsiveness of MSCs was observed while cells flowed through a tube that served as a model of blood vessels in a 0.6-Tesla magnetic field. In a Sprague–Dawley rat model of acute myocardial infarction, 1 × 106 magnetic mesenchymal stem cells were transjugularly injected into the left cardiac vein while a 0.6-Tesla magnet was placed above the heart. The cardiac retention of transplanted cells was assessed by using quantitative Y chromosome-specific polymerase chain reaction, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and optical imaging. Cardiac function was measured by using echocardiography, and histologic analyses of infarct morphology and angiogenesis were obtained.

Results The flowing iron oxide-labeled mesenchymal stem cells were effectively attracted to the area where the magnet was positioned. Twenty-four hours after cellular retrocoronary delivery, magnetic targeting significantly increased the cardiac retention of transplanted cells by 2.73- to 2.87-fold. Histologic analyses showed that more transplanted cells were distributed in the anterior wall of the left ventricle. The enhanced cell engraftment persisted for at least 3 weeks, at which time, left ventricular remodeling was attenuated, and cardiac function benefit was improved.

Conclusions These results suggest that magnetic targeting offers new perspectives for retrograde coronary venous delivery to enhance cell retention and subsequent functional benefit in heart diseases.