NGF Nanoparticles Enhance the Potency of Transplanted Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Myocardial Repair

In this study, we investigated whether human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUCMSC) fibrin patches loaded with nerve growth factor (NGF) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles could enhance the therapeutic potency of hUCMSCs for myocardial infarction (MI). In vitro, NGF significantly improved the proliferation of hUCMSCs and mitigated cytotoxicity and apoptosis under hypoxic injury. NGF also promoted the paracrine effects of hUCMSCs on angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte protection. The tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt) signaling pathways in hUCMSCs were involved in the NGF-induced protection. NGF PLGA nanoparticles continued to release NGF for at least one month and also exerted a protective effect on hUCMSCs, the same with free NGF. In vivo, we treated MI mice with nothing (MI group), a cell-free fibrin patch with blank PLGA nanoparticles (MI+OP group), a cell-free fibrin patch with NGF nanoparticles (MI+NGF group), and hUCMSC fibrin patches with blank PLGA nanoparticles (MI+MSC group) or NGF PLGA nanoparticles (MSC+NGF group). Among these groups, the MSC+NGF group exhibited the best cardiac contractile function, the smallest infarct size, and the thickest ventricular wall. The application of NGF PLGA nanoparticles significantly improved the retention of transplanted hUCMSCs, and enhanced their ability to reduce myocardial apoptosis and promote angiogenesis in the mouse heart after MI. These fin...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Source Type: research