Exosomes derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord blood for cardioprotection after myocardial infarction
Authors: Zhongchao Wang
Baoxia Zhang
Longmei Liu
Huiyu Xu
Bao Li
Journal: Journal of cellular biochemistry (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell; exosome; myocardial infarction; umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell.
Affiliations: Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China., Department of Cardiology, Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China., Department of Cardiovascular laboratory, Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China., Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.

Abstract:  Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential for improving cardiac function following myocardial infarction (MI). This study was performed to explore the cardioprotection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs), and umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCBMSCs) for myocardium in rats after MI. MI models were established in rats, which were injected with PBS, BMMSCs, ADMSCs, and UCMSCs. Cardiac function was detected by ultrasonic cardiogram. TTC staining, TUNEL staining, and immunohistochemistry were adopted to determine infarction area, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and microvascular density (MVD), respectively. Exosomes were derived from BMMSCs, ADMSCs, and UCBMSCs, and identified by morphological observation and CD63 expression detection. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were isolated and cultured with hypoxia, subjected to PBS and exosomes derived from BMMSCs, ADMSCs, and UCMSCs. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to determine NRCM apoptosis and the levels of angiogenesis-related markers (VEGF, bFGF, and HGF). According to ultrasonic cardiogram, BMMSCs, ADMSCs, and UCMSCs facilitated the cardiac function of MI rats. Furthermore, three kinds of MSCs inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, infarction area, and increased MVD. NRCMs treated with exosomes derived from BMMSCs, ADMSCs, and UCMSCs reduced the NRCM apoptosis and promoted angiogenesis by increasing levels of VEGF, bFGF, and HGF. Notably, exosomes from ADMSCs had the most significant effect. On the basis of the results obtained from this study, exosomes derived from BMMSCs, ADMSCs, and UCBMSCs inhibited the cardiomyocyte apoptosis and promoted angiogenesis, thereby improving cardiac function and protecting myocardium. Notably, exosomes from ADMSCs stimulated most of the cardioprotection factors. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 In Figure 1C and D, there are two cases where micrographs have been duplicated and presented as something else (BMMSC vs ADMSC). In Figure 3B, the Western immunoblot for CD63 shows straight and clear bands. In all the blots I have performed with anti-CD63, the bands have a smeared appearance (independent of cell type). Are the authors sure they are looking at CD63?  , 
 #1  Normal and  Sham from Fig 2B appear to be enlargements from a single image.  , 
 Figs 4B, 4C, 4G. Shown here with increased contrast to facilitate comparison. Numerous pairs of panels overlap... Sometimes after horizontal flips or 180-deg rotations.  The partial overlap between the first two panels of 4G is especially puzzling.  Brought to my attention by a colleague. ,