Background:
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improve the cardiac function and remodeling in patients with ischemic heart disease. However, their presence in the circulating peripheral blood and post-transplantation has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the effects of intravenous transplantation of mobilized autologous peripheral blood on the number of MSCs in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Methods:
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF, 5.0 μg/kg/day) was given subcutaneously once a day for five days to 7 patients (4 women and 3 men, aged 54-69 years) with ischemic heart disease. Leukapheresis procedure was started on the day 5 of G-CSF using the Spectra Optia cell separator. Circulating and intravenous transplantation of autologous MSCs after leukapheresis were analyzed by flow cytometry. MSCs were identified on the basis of dual positive cells (CD73
+
/CD105
+
or CD90
+
/CD73
+
or CD90
+
/CD105
+
) and detected as MSCs if a cluster of at least 10 cells could be found.
Results:
MSCs in the circulating peripheral blood and after transplantation were detected in 2 (28%) and 6 (85%) patients, respectively. The frequency of intravenous peripheral blood MSCs increased significantly after transplantation (from 32.57 ± 22.76 x10
-4
% to 58.57 ± 28.49 x 10
-4
% , p<0.001). Moreover, there were significant rise in the total white blood cells count (from 10.25 ± 4.86 x 10
3
/μl to 35.81 ± 7.07 x 10
3
/μl, p<0.001) and the levels of CD34
+
cells (from 1.17 ± 0.93 cells/μL to 138.30 ± 11.26 cells/μL, p<0.001) after the infusion.
Conclusions:
The results show that intravenous transplantation of mobilized autologous peripheral blood increases the number of MSCs in patients with ischemic heart disease. Leukapheresis product of peripheral blood MSCs could therefore be a potential source for autologous transplantation in ischemic heart disease.
Bone Marrow Derived Pluripotent Stem Cells in Ischemic Heart Disease: Bridging the Gap Between Basic Research and Clinical Applications