Adenovirus-mediated stromal cell-derived- factor-1alpha gene transfer induces cardiac preservation after infarction via angiogenesis of CD133+ stem cells and anti-apoptosis.

In our study, we found cardiocytes expressed CXCR4, and the number of cardiocytes apoptosis with SDF-1 treatment decreased obviously through SDF-1 induced the up-regulation of phosphorylated Akt. On day 7 after myocardial infarction, marked expression of SDF-1alpha, and the number of CD133(+) cells was the highest in the AdV-SDF-1 injection hearts. On day 28 post-treatment, blood vessel density in the AdV. SDF-1 group was higher in infracted zones. Infarct size and collagen accumulation in the infracted area decreased significantly, thickness of LV wall, vessels and cardiocytes' density increased obviously in the AdV-SDF-1 group than in control or Adv-LacZ group, and hemodynamics showed the improvement of left ventricle heart function in the AdV.SDF-1 group. Therefore, SDF-1alpha could improve cardiac structure and function through the combined effects of angiogenesis and anti-apoptosis.