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Despite progress in cardiovascular research, a cure for peripheral vascular disease has not been found. We compared the vascularization and tissue regeneration potential of murine and human undifferentiated multipotent adult progenitor cells (mMAPC-U and hMAPC-U), murine MAPC-derived vascular progenitors (mMAPC-VP), and unselected murine BM cells (mBMCs) in mice with moderate limb ischemia, reminiscent of intermittent claudication in human patients. mMAPC-U durably restored blood flow and muscle function and stimulated muscle regeneration, by direct and trophic contribution to vascular and skeletal muscle growth. This was in contrast to mBMCs and mMAPC-VP, which did not affect muscle regeneration and provided only limited and transient improvement. Moreover, mBMCs participated in a sustained inflammatory response in the lower limb, associated with progressive deterioration in muscle function. Importantly, mMAPC-U and hMAPC-U also remedied vascular and muscular deficiency in severe limb ischemia, representative of critical limb ischemia in humans. Thus, unlike BMCs or vascular-committed progenitors, undifferentiated multipotent adult progenitor cells offer the potential to durably repair ischemic damage in peripheral vascular disease patients.

Objective: Exposure of beta-cells to inflammatory cytokines leads to apoptotic cell death through the activation of gene networks under the control of specific transcription factors, such as interferon-gamma-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1. We previously demonstrated that beta-cells lacking STAT-1 are resistant to cytokine-induced cell death in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of STAT-1 elimination on immune-mediated beta-cell destruction in vivo., Research Design and Methods: Multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) was given to C57BL/6 mice after syngeneic STAT-1(-/-) or wild-type islet transplantation. STAT-1(-/-) and wild-type islets were also transplanted in alloxan-diabetic BALB/c and spontaneously diabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Additionally, mice were treated with interleukin (IL)-1 blockade (IL-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1ra]) and low-dose T-cell suppression (cyclosporine A [CsA])., Results: When exposed to multiple low-dose STZ in an immune-competent host, STAT-1(-/-) islets were more resistant to destruction than wild-type islets (28 vs. 100% diabetes incidence, P < or = 0.05). STAT-1 deletion also protected allogeneic islet grafts against primary nonfunction in autoimmune NOD mice (0 vs. 17% using wild-type islets). However, no difference in survival time was observed. Additionally, treating recipients with IL-1ra and CsA prolonged graft survival in chemically diabetic BALB/c mice, whereas no difference was seen between STAT-1(-/-) and C57BL/6 grafts., Conclusions: These data indicate that STAT-1 is a key player in immune-mediated early beta-cell dysfunction and death. When considering the many effector mechanisms contributing to beta-cell death following islet transplantation, multiple combined interventions will be needed for prolongation of beta-cell survival in the autoimmune context of type 1 diabetes.

Progressive contractile dysfunction of viable myocardium that surrounds a large infarct leads to heart failure following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Experimental evidence indicates that cellular transplantation may improve the left ventricular (LV) contractile performance, even though the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Here, we compared the effect of transplantation of murine multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), a population of adult bone marrow-derived cells that differentiate into cells of mesodermal, endodermal and ectodermal origin, with murine bone marrow cells (BMCs) or fibroblasts on post-infarct cardiac function by peri-infarct injection after coronary artery ligation in mice. We demonstrate that, in contrast to the other cell populations, transplantation of MAPCs significantly improved LV contractile function for at least 8 weeks post-transplantation and, although BMCs reduced infarct size, the decrease in scar size was substantially greater in MAPC-treated hearts. As neither MAPCs nor BMCs were present beyond 1 week, the beneficial effect was not due to differentiation and direct contribution of MAPCs to the vascular or cardiomyocyte compartment. Significantly more inflammatory cells were present in MAPC- than BMC-treated hearts at 1 week, which was accompanied by increased vascularity 8 weeks post-transplantation. We hypothesize that MAPCs indirectly contributed to these effects, by secreting inflammatory [monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP)-1], and vascular growth factors [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, and transforming growth factor (TGF)beta(1)), and others, resulting in increased angiogenensis and cardioprotection., (2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd)