Six-month angiographic study of immediate autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell implantation on acute anterior wall myocardial infarction using a mini-pig model

Abstract

This study investigated six-month angiographic results of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) transplantation immediately following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a mini-pig model. AMI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligation. Twenty-four mini-pigs were equally divided into group 1 [AMI plus saline injection in infarcted area (IA)], group 2 (AMI plus BMMNC transplantation into non-IA), group 3 (AMI plus BMMNC implantation into IA), and group 4 (sham control). One-week cultured BMMNCs (3.0 × 107) were immediately transplanted following AMI induction. Angiographic studies over 6 months demonstrated that mitral regurgitation (MR) was lower in groups 3 and 4 than in groups 1 and 2 (all P < 0.01). Wall motion scores and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were higher in groups 3 and 4 than in groups 1 and 2 (all P < 0.05). Collateral circulation was higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.01). The wall thickness of the IA was higher, whereas the heart weight was lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (all P < 0.01). Immediate autologous BMMNC transplantation into IA is superior to saline-treated only or BMMNC transplantation into non-IA following AMI for reducing MR and improving LVEF.