This study sought to assess of the mobilization of nonhematopoietic very small embryonic-like
stem cells (VSELs) in acute myocardial infarction (MI).
Acute MI induces mobilization of bone marrow stem cells. Recently, a rare population
of VSELs, expressing markers of embryonic pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), was identified
in adult murine bone marrow and human umbilical cord blood.
Thirty-one patients with acute MI and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled. Blood was
sampled on admission, after 24 h, and 5 days later. Erythrocytes were lysed and lin(-)CD45(-)
VSELs were isolated using a live cell sorting system (FACSAria, Beckton Dickinson,
San Jose, California).
In healthy subjects the median number of circulating VSELs was very low (median 0.8
[range 0 to 1.3]) cells/microl. In acute MI, VSELs were mobilized early (median 2.7
[range 0.2 to 3.9] cells/microl; p < 0.001) and remained elevated after 24 h and 5
days (median 4.7 [range 0.2 to 6.4] cells/microl; p < 0.003, and median 2.6 [range
0.3 to 3.6] cells/microl; p < 0.03, respectively). The mobilization of VSEL was significantly
reduced in patients older than 50 years and with diabetes in comparison with younger
and nondiabetic patients. Circulating VSELs were small (7 to 8 microm) and enriched
in the messenger ribonucleic acid of PSC markers (Oct-4, Nanog), cardiac lineage (GATA-4,
Nkx2.5/Csx, MEF2C), and endothelial (VE-cadherin) markers. The presence of PSC markers
(Oct-4, SSEA-4) and the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in circulating VSELs was confirmed
at the protein level by immunofluorescent staining and ImageStream system (Amnis Corporation,
Seattle, Washington) analysis.
Acute MI induced mobilization of VSELs expressing pluripotent markers, early cardiac
and endothelial markers, and chemokine receptor CXCR4.