Repeated and targeted transfer of angiogenic plasmids into the infarcted XXXX heart via ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction enhances cardiac repair.

@entity35 @entity583 @entity1188 @entity7418
AIMS: Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) uses ultrasound energy to selectively deliver genes into the myocardium using plasmids conjugated to microbubbles. We hypothesized that repeated delivery of stem cell-mobilizing genes could boost the ability of this therapy to enhance cardiac repair and ventricular function after a @entity583 . METHODS AND RESULTS: Beginning 7 days after coronary artery ligation, @entity7418 ( @entity7418 ) and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1a genes were administered to adult @entity35 using 1, 3, or 6 UTMD treatments (repeat 1, 3, and 6 groups) at 2-day intervals (control=6 treatments with empty plasmid). Cardiac function (echocardiography) and myocardial perfusion (myocardial contrast echocardiography) were assessed on Days -7, 0, and 24 relative to the first treatment. Histological and biochemical assessments were performed on Day 24. Multiple UTMD treatments were associated with an increased presence of myocardial @entity7418 and SDF-1a proteins and their receptors (vs. control and Repeat 1). All UTMD recipients exhibited increased vascular densities and smaller @entity1188 regions (vs. control), with the highest ventricular densities in response to multiple treatments. Myocardial perfusion and ventricular function at Day 24 also improved progressively (vs. control) with the number of UTMD treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted ultrasound delivery of @entity7418 and SDF-1a genes to the infarcted myocardium recruited progenitor cells and increased vascular density. Multiple UTMD treatments enhanced tissue repair, perfusion, and cardiac function. Repeated UTMD therapy may be applied to tailor the number of interventions required to optimize cardiac regeneration after an @entity1188 .
