Hai jie Wang
Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University, China
Biography
Hai-jie Wang is a Professor of Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology at Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University. He studied Clinical Medicine at Weifang Medical College, China. He completed his MD from Medical School of Shandong University, China in 1987 and PhD from Shinshu University School of Medicine, Japan in 1996. He studied Molecular Medicine at School of Medicine, Yale University from 2005 to 2006 as Visiting Professor. In 1999, he became a Professor of Shanghai Medical School of Fudan University. His research interests include “Differentiation and transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells”.
Abstract
Lymphatic vessels play a crucial role in draining excess fluid and transport macromolecular substances from extracellular spaces. Disfunction of lymphatic vessels may cause lymph edema and chronic inflammation, leading to fibrosis of the local tissue. This study investigated efficiency of transplantation of lymphatic endothelial progenitor cell (LEPCs) and sustained release of VEGF-C from self-assembling peptide (SAP) on promoting lymphangiogenesis after myocardial infarction (MI). CD34+VEGFR-3+ EPCs were isolated from rat bone marrow. Sustained release of VEGF-C from SAP nanofibers (SAPNs) was detected with ELISA. Compatibility of SAPNs with the cells was accessed with transmission electron microscopy and EB/AO staining. After rat MI models were established with ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery, SAP carrying the cells and VEGF-C was injected at the border of the infarcted region. At four week after transplantation, the survival and differentiation of the cells labeled with GFP were examined, and repair of the infarcted myocardium was evaluated. Under induction with VEGF-C, CD34+VEGFR-3+ EPCs could differentiate into lymphatic endothelial cells. The cells spread well along SAPNs. SAPNs protected the cells from apoptosis in the condition of hypoxia, and released VEGF-C sustainedly. After transplantation, cardiac function was improved significantly. The number of the survived cells increased, and some cells differentiated into lymphatic endothelial cells. Density of lymphatic vessels increased, and cardiac edema was reduced. Moreover, angiogenesis and myocardial regeneration were enhanced. These results suggest that SAPNs load LEPCs and release VEGF-C effectively. VEGF-C released from SAPNs induces differentiation of LEPCs towards lymphatic endothelial cells. Loading stem cells and releasing growth factor with SAPNs is a promised strategy for MI therapy.