Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the expression of FLK1, CD146 and microvessel density of angiogenesis at the first week of reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: 16 of mini-swines (20 to 30 Kg) were randomly assigned to the sham-operated group and the AMI group. Pathologic myocardial tissue was collected at day 7 following reperfusion and detected by dual immunochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Results: The infarcted area had higher FLK1 mRNA expression than the sham-operated area and the normal area (all P < 0.05), and the infarcted and marginal areas showed higher CD146 protein expression than the sham-operated area (all P < 0.05), but the microvessel density (CD31 positive expression of microvessels/HP) was not significantly different between the infarcted area and the sham-operated area (8.92 ± 3.05 vs 6.43 ± 1.54)(P > 0.05). Conclusion: FLK1 and CD146 expression significantly increase in the infarcted and marginal areas, and the microvessel density of angiogenesis in the infarcted area is similar to normal microvessel density of healthy heart tissue, suggesting that FLK1 and CD146 are possible associated with angiogenesis at day 7 following reperfused acute myocardial infarction.
Acknowledgments
We sincerely thank technicians Xiao-le Zhu, who provided us with RQ-PCR technique support, and Chong Xu, who provided us with Western blot technique support. We would also like to thank the staff in the Department of Experiment Surgery and the Department of Pathology (Fu Wai Hospital, Beijing, China) for providing us with relevant technique support. This work was supported by a grant from the National Important Basic Research Development of 973 project, People's Republic of China (number 2005CB523303).
Declaration of interest: None