Transplantation of Genetically Engineered Cardiac Fibroblasts Producing Recombinant Human Erythropoietin to Repair the Infarcted Myocardium - Genetic Engineering: Recent Developments in Applications - page 198

apoptotic cells (118 ± 6 versus 182 ± 12 versus 157 ± 10 cells per mm2 in saline
and non-transduced cell injections, p < 0.05; Figure 4C, b). These results suggest
that local rhEPO expression prevented cardiac cell apoptosis in vivo.
Figure 4. Four weeks after cell transplantation, rhEPO expression attenuates cardiac cell apoptosis in vivo. (A)
Representative photomicrographs of active caspase-3 staining (brown) in infarcted hearts (infarct border zone).
Arrows show nuclear active caspase-3 staining. (a) Human tonsil tissue (positive control); (b) saline injection;
(c) non-transduced cell injection; (d) rhEPO-transduced cell injection. (B) Representative photomicrographs
of TUNEL staining (brown) in infarcted hearts (infarct border zone). (a) Rat mammary gland tissue (positive
control); (b) saline injection; (c) non-transduced cell injection; (d) rhEPO-transduced cell injection. (C)
Quantitative analysis of apoptosis in infarcted hearts. (a) active caspase-3 staining; (b) TUNEL.
epo-transduced cell injection did not improve Lv
remodeling and Function
To examine potential cardioprotective effects of rhEPO-producing fibroblasts in
vivo, we used a rat model of AMI, which resulted in progressive LV remodeling
and dysfunction [19]. Overall, 45 rats were included in the final transplantation