骨髓基质干细胞移植对扩张型心肌病心衰大鼠心功能改善作用机制的研究

通过对心肌胶原纤维、微血管生成、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及其受体表达的研究,探讨骨髓基质干细胞(BMSSCs)心肌内移植对扩张型心肌病心衰大鼠心功能的保护机制．应用阿霉素注射法建立扩张型心肌病心衰大鼠模型,成功建模后移植4', 6-二乙酰基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)标记的BMSSCs．分别于术后1、2、3、4周进行血流动力学检测,利用免疫组化、RT-PCR技术分析心肌胶原纤维、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)及其受体Flt-1、Flk-1表达的改变,以及微血管密度．结果显示,移植细胞于术后4周通过免疫荧光可检测到存活．于术后2周开始,移植组心功能较对照组改善,表现为移植组收缩压(LVSP)、左心室内压最大上升或下降速率(?dp/dt)较对照组显著升高,舒张压(LVDP)显著下降,P < 0.05．移植组心肌胶原纤维沉积减少,光密度值比较P < 0.05．移植组VEGF、Flt-1、Flk-1表达较同期对照组增加,并张且与其受体达峰时间不同步．4周时移植组微血管密度明显高于对照组．上述结果表明,BMSSCs移植后可通过上调受体内VEGF、Flt-1、Flk-1的表达,促进血管新生,减少胶原纤维沉积,从而改善受体心脏的功能．     

同种异体骨髓干细胞移植联合VEGF干预对心肌梗死后左室功能的影响

目的:探讨同种异体骨髓间质干细胞(BMSCs)移植联合血管内皮生长因子VEGF静脉注射对兔急性心肌梗死心功能的影响.方法:体外分离、纯化、培养兔BMSCs,以BrdU标记细胞.结扎冠状动脉建立急性心肌梗死模型后,随机将其分为4组(n=8),进行心肌内BMSCs移植和/或VEGF静脉注射,组Ⅰ:BMSCs移植+VEGF静脉注射;组Ⅱ:BMSCs移植;组Ⅲ:VEGF静脉注射:组Ⅳ:DMEM注射作为对照组.4周后行免疫组化和超声心动图检查.结果:组Ⅰ和组Ⅱ梗死及缺血心肌处可见大量BrdU标记的移植细胞,EF值组Ⅰ>组Ⅱ>组Ⅲ,组Ⅳ(均为P<0.01).结论:同种异体骨髓间质干细胞移植联合VEGF静脉注射能改善心功能,有利于心肌梗死后的康复.     

红景天对心肌梗死大鼠缺血心肌血管新生作用及对VEGF的影响

目的:探讨中药红景天对急性心肌梗死大鼠缺血心肌血管新生作用及其对血管内皮生长因子(EGF)蛋白和mRNA表达的影响.方法:52只SD大鼠随机分成单纯手术组、术后给药组、提前给药组、假手术组和正常对照组.采用开胸结扎冠状动脉左前降支的方法建立心肌梗死模型,4周后处死动物.Ⅷ因子免疫组化染色后对各组大鼠梗死边缘区微血管进行计数;免疫组化技术及Western blot技术检测各组缺血心肌VEGF蛋白质水平表达变化;逆转录多聚酶链反应(RT-PCR)法检测缺血心肌VEGF mR-NA表达变化.结果:术后给药组和提前给药组血管计数均较单纯手术组增多(P＜0.01),且提前给药组明显多于术后给药组(P＜0.01);术后给药组和提前给药组缺血心肌VEGF及其mRNA表达较单纯手术组增加(P＜0.01),提前给药组缺血心肌VEGF及其mRNA表达明显高于术后给药组(P＜0.01).结论:红景天能够促进心梗后大鼠缺血心肌血管新生,其作用机制可能与上调局部心肌VEGF及其mRNA表达有关.预给红景天可能增强对心梗大鼠的上述作用.     

骨内单次注射小剂量辛伐他汀对大鼠心梗后血管新生的影响

目的研究骨内局部单次注射小剂量辛伐他汀对大鼠心梗后血管新生和心功能的影响。方法Wistar大鼠随机分为假手术组、心肌梗死模型组和骨内注射辛伐他汀组(n=12)。冠状动脉左前降支结扎建立大鼠心肌梗死模型。24 h后实验组左胫骨内单次注射辛伐他汀0.5 mg,4周后分别通过小动物超声心动图评价左室功能,三苯基氯化四氮唑(TTC)染色计算心肌梗死面积,免疫荧光染色检测局部血管新生情况。结果超声心动图结果表明心肌梗死4周后左心室收缩功能明显下降,骨内注射辛伐他汀对大鼠心肌梗死后左心室功能未见明显改善;TTC染色发现骨内注射辛伐他汀组心肌梗死面积未见明显减少;免疫荧光染色显示,骨内注射辛伐他汀组心肌血管密度没有显著增加。结论大鼠心梗24 h后骨内单次注射小剂量辛伐他汀(0.5 mg),心肌梗死面积、血管新生及心脏功能无显著改善。     

间充质干细胞来源的外泌体治疗心肌梗死的研究进展

外泌体是一种小的单层膜结构的细胞外小囊泡,可在细胞间传递蛋白质、脂质、mRNA和miRNA等物质。间充质干细胞来源的外泌体可以作为无细胞系统减少心肌梗死后梗死面积、促进心肌再生并改善心功能,其作用机制可能与激活抗炎和促存活通路、调控细胞自噬和促进血管新生等有关。通过表面修饰或改造来源细胞以提高外泌体的靶向性或改变其内含物质值得深入研究。     

过表达bFGF促进大鼠急性缺血心肌的毛细血管生成

研究过表达人碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（basic fibroblast growth factor, bFGF）在大鼠急性心肌缺血模型中的表达及其对心肌血管 再生的影响. 将含人bFGF质粒pcDNA/b转染人脐带静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC） ,进行MTT检测. pcDNA/b转染人肾细胞293细胞系,进行G418稳定筛选, Western 印迹检测.建立大鼠急性心肌梗死模型,分别将生理盐水、空质粒 pcDNA3.1(+)和pcDNA/b分3点注射于梗死交界处心肌内4周后取材,做常规 HE 染色和Masson 染色,测量各组微血管数量和梗死面积. 经免疫组织化 学染色鉴定和电镜观察,过表达外源bFGF可以促进HUVEC（细胞）生长; pcDNA/b能在293细胞中高效表达外源bFGF基因. pcDNA/b注射组梗死交界处 可见大量新生血管,毛细血管总数明显大于对照组,梗死面积明显小于对 照组. pcDNA/b组在梗死交界区有bFGF阳性表达.电镜观察显示,在梗死交界 处心肌细胞间有毛细血管增生,分化成2个血管腔.本实验证明,过表达bFGF 具有促进大鼠急性缺血心肌的毛细血管生成的作用,为bFGF基因治疗缺血 性心肌病的研究提供实验基础.     

心肌细胞／胶原复合体移植心梗大鼠梗死周边区的电偶联网络变化

目的应用免疫组化技术和电生理技术记录心肌细胞／胶原复合体对心梗大鼠梗死周边区的有效不应期（ERP）及缝隙连接蛋白43（Cx43）改变,探讨梗死周边区的电偶联网络变化。方法将成年SD大鼠随机分组：假手术组、模型组、移植组。后2组制作心肌梗死动物模型,假手术组仅开胸,不结扎冠状动脉,移植组移植心肌细胞与胶原材料复合组织。结果①左室ERP变化：与假手术组相比,心梗组梗死周边区ERP显著延长（P〈0．01）;移植组梗死周边区ERP延长,但较心梗阻ERP缩短,差异无显著性（P〉0．01）。②Cx43免疫组化结果：移植组Cx43阳性蛋白表达高于心梗组。结论移植的心肌细胞／胶原复合体移植可改善大鼠心肌梗死周边区缝隙连接电偶联网络,进而调控心肌细胞／胶原复合体与宿主心肌同步收缩。     

G-CSF动员外周血单个核细胞移植治疗大鼠缺血缺氧性脑病

目的:应用人外周血单个核细胞移植治疗新生大鼠缺血缺氧性脑病,探讨干细胞移植治疗神经系统损伤性疾病的有效性和安全性。方法:7 d龄SD大鼠随机分为3组(n=12),即正常组、手术组、细胞移植组;在征得同意的情况下利用粒细胞集落刺激因子(G-CSF)对捐献者的外周血进行动员,采用血细胞分离仪分离外周血单个核细胞,并进行鉴定及荧光标记;通过尾静脉注射的方法将标记细胞植入经免疫抑制剂处理的大鼠体内,利用HE染色法观察模型建立后大鼠大脑的损伤情况,利用荧光显微镜观察移植细胞在宿主体内的存活、迁移及分化情况,利用斜板实验明确细胞移植对宿主神经功能损伤情况的影响。结果:移植细胞可在宿主脑内存活,向损伤部位迁移,细胞移植可显著改善缺血缺氧引发的大脑功能损伤;细胞移植后,动物未现不良反应。结论:外周血单个核细胞移植治疗中枢系统损伤性疾病具有较高的安全性与有效性,有望成为一种临床治疗方案。     

心肌球源性细胞在心力衰竭中的应用

冠状动脉或其分支阻塞而引起心肌缺血可导致急性心肌梗死,梗死区域周围形成瘢痕组织后心脏收缩功能下降,心室发生病理性重塑,最终出现充血性心力衰竭。心肌球源性细胞（CDC）是来自心肌的干细胞,在体外可以分化为心肌细胞和血管内皮细胞。在体内可以触发自身心肌细胞增殖和通过旁分泌募集祖细胞。旁分泌介质不但拥有干细胞的作用,且没有细胞移植相关的并发症。临床实验证明了CDC可以促进心肌梗死后的心脏功能的恢复。长期疗效还有待大规模临床试验的验证。     

结扎大鼠左冠状动脉不同时间制备心肌梗死模型的比较

目的探索大鼠左冠状动脉前降支不同结扎处理后,对心肌形态学及心功能的影响,以建立适合移植干细胞再生修复心肌梗死研究的稳定、可靠和更合乎发病机制的动物模型。方法雄性SD大鼠70只,随机分为五组。即:结扎(15、30、456、0 min)再灌、结扎非再灌。于处理后1 d、1周2、周或4周动态观察心肌梗死变化,并于处理一月后测量动脉收缩压(ASP)、动脉舒张压(ADP),左室收缩压(LVSP),左室舒张末压(LVEDP)及左室压力上升及下降最大速度(±dp/dtmax)。结果引起明显的心肌梗死至少需要结扎30 min。结扎(456、0 min)再灌、结扎非再灌的心肌梗死明显,并观察到梗死区域心肌已绝大部分纤维化,且梗死面积变化较恒定。同时测定不同结扎时间心功能的变化发现,结扎(456、0 min)再灌或结扎非再灌各组ASP、DAP、LVSP、±dp/dtmax显著下降,LVEDP明显升高。并见不同结扎时间处理后,大鼠心功能的变化与心肌梗死后的梗死面积变化密切相关。结论建立了实验大鼠左冠状动脉前降支中上1/3处结扎45 min以上的大鼠心肌梗死模型。不仅合乎临床心肌梗死的发病机制,而且梗死部位、梗死区域面积稳定,适合于移植细胞再生修复心肌梗死的研究。     

Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells for therapeutic neovascularization

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which were first identified in adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs), play an important role in postnatal neovascularization. Tissue ischemia augments mobilization of EPCs from bone marrow into the circulation and enhances incorporation of EPCs at sites of neovascularization. Two methods to obtain EPCs from bone marrow, peripheral blood or cord blood MNCs have been evaluated for therapeutic neovascularization: (1) fresh isolation using anti-CD34, anti-KDR or anti-AC133 antibody, and (2) ex vivo expansion of total MNCs. In an immunodeficient mouse model of hindlimb ischemia, systemic transplantation of human ex vivo expanded EPCs improves limb survival through the enhancement of blood flow in the ischemic tissue. A similar strategy also leads to histological and functional preservation of ischemic myocardium of nude rats. Recently, a preclinical study of catheter-based, intramyocardial transplantation ofautologous EPCs in a swine model of chronic myocardial ischemia demonstrated the therapeutic potential of cell-based therapy, with attenuation of myocardial ischemia and improvement in left ventricular function. These favorable outcomes strongly suggest a therapeutic impact of EPC transplantation in clinical settings. Further basic research, with improved understanding of the mechanisms governing homing and incorporation of EPCs, will be still necessary to optimize the methodology of the cell therapy.     

The effect of autologous endothelial progenitor cell transplantation combined with extracorporeal shock-wave therapy on ischemic skin flaps in rats

BackgroundEndothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been used to revascularize ischemic tissues, but only limited effect can be achieved. Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) is a promising angiogenic strategy. We hypothesized that EPC transplantation combined with ESWT would greatly benefit the survival of ischemic skin flaps.MethodsSixty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 16 in each group): group 1 (serving as sham control), group 2 (treated with subcutaneous EPC implantation, 1.0 × 10⁶ cells), group 3 (treated with ESWT, 300 impulses at 0.10 mJ/mm²) and group 4 (treated with EPCs implantation combined with ESWT). Ischemic skin flaps were made on the backs of rats and treated accordingly. Blood flow of skin flaps was measured periodically after operation, and flap survival rates were compared. Tissue samples were harvested at 2 weeks postoperatively from each group.ResultsThe survival rate of skin flaps in group 4 was 87.5 ± 10.23%, which was statistically significantly higher than other groups. Histologic examination showed that the capillary density was higher in the dual-treatment group than in the two single-treatment groups. Compared with groups 2 and 3, blood perfusion increased significantly in group 4. A drastic increase of vWF+ cells was observed in the ischemic skin flaps on immunofluorescence staining in group 4. The expressions of chemotactic factors and angiogenic factors were higher in group 4.ConclusionsCombined treatment with EPCs and ESWT is superior to either EPCs or ESWT alone in improving the survival of ischemic skin flaps in rats.     

芪丹通脉片促进骨髓间充质干细胞向缺血心肌趋化迁移

目的:研究芪丹通脉片对骨髓间充质干细胞向缺血心肌趋化迁移的作用。方法:SD大鼠,随机分为单纯移植组,益气组,活血组。芪丹通脉片组,各组大鼠灌服中药14天后,采用冠状动脉左前降支结扎法建立心肌梗死模型。经尾静脉注入DIO标记的骨髓间充质干细胞,3天后取缺血部位的心肌,应用流式细胞仪分析计算出每克心肌所含有的DIO阳性细胞数;行冰冻切片,采用荧光显微镜观察DIO阳性细胞;4周后采用多导生理记录仪记录大鼠平均动脉压(MAP)、左心室收缩峰压(LVPSP)、左心室内压最大上升变化速率(+LVdp/dtmax)和最大下降速率(-LVdp/dtmax)。结果:芪丹通脉片组较益气组、活血组、单纯移植组,每克心肌所含有的DIO阳性细胞数增多,其差异有统计学意义;冰冻切片镜下观察,芪丹通脉片组阳性细胞数较益气组、活血组、单纯移植组增多,其差异有统计学意义;心功能检测示:芪丹通脉片组MAP、LVPSP、+LVdp/dtmax、-LVdp/dtmax较益气组、活血组、单纯移植组改善明显,差异有统计学意义。结论:芪丹通脉片具有促进骨髓间充质干细胞向缺血心肌趋化迁移的作用,益气与活血中药配伍应用优于单纯益气药或活血药。     

Cyclosporine increases ischemia-induced endothelial progenitor cell mobilization through manipulation of the CD26 system

Cyclosporin A (CsA) improves the success rate of transplantation. The CD26/dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV) system plays a critical role in mobilizing endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from bone marrow. This study investigated whether CsA manipulates CD26/DPP IV activity and increases EPC mobilization. C57BL/6 mice were divided into control and CsA-treated groups. Before and after hindlimb ischemia was induced, circulating EPC number and serum levels of different cytokines were measured. Compared with the controls, CsA treatment significantly increased the blood levels of stroma-derived factor-1alpha and stem cell factor after ischemic stress (P < 0.001). The CsA group displayed a significant increase in the number of circulating EPCs (sca-1+KDR+ and c-kit+CD31+ EPCs, both P < 0.05). In vivo, CsA caused a significant increase in the numbers of EPCs incorporated into the Matrigel and ischemic limbs (P < 0.05). In the peripheral blood, CsA significantly decreased CD26+ cell numbers and attenuated the plasma CD26/DPP IV activity (P < 0.001). Furthermore, short-term CsA treatment significantly improved the perfusion of ischemic limbs and decreased the spontaneous digital amputation rate. In summary, CsA manipulates the mobilization of EPCs into the circulation via the CD26/DPP IV system. Short-term CsA treatment has beneficial effects on angiogenesis of ischemic tissues.     

Oxygen-dependent quenching of phosphorescence used to characterize improved myocardial oxygenation resulting from vasculogenic cytokine therapy

This study evaluates a therapy for infarct modulation and acute myocardial rescue and utilizes a novel technique to measure local myocardial oxygenation in vivo. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were targeted to the heart with peri-infarct intramyocardial injection of the potent EPC chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF). Myocardial oxygen pressure was assessed using a noninvasive, real-time optical technique for measuring oxygen pressures within microvasculature based on the oxygen-dependent quenching of the phosphorescence of Oxyphor G3. Myocardial infarction was induced in male Wistar rats (n = 15) through left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. At the time of infarction, animals were randomized into two groups: saline control (n = 8) and treatment with SDF (n = 7). After 48 h, the animals underwent repeat thoracotomy and 20 μl of the phosphor Oxyphor G3 was injected into three areas (peri-infarct myocardium, myocardial scar, and remote left hindlimb muscle). Measurements of the oxygen distribution within the tissue were then made in vivo by applying the end of a light guide to the beating heart. Compared with controls, animals in the SDF group exhibited a significantly decreased percentage of hypoxic (defined as oxygen pressure ≤ 15.0 Torr) peri-infarct myocardium (9.7 ± 6.7% vs. 21.8 ± 11.9%, P = 0.017). The peak oxygen pressures in the peri-infarct region of the animals in the SDF group were significantly higher than the saline controls (39.5 ± 36.7 vs. 9.2 ± 8.6 Torr, P = 0.02). This strategy for targeting EPCs to vulnerable peri-infarct myocardium via the potent chemokine SDF-1α significantly decreased the degree of hypoxia in peri-infarct myocardium as measured in vivo by phosphorescence quenching. This effect could potentially mitigate the vicious cycle of myocyte death, myocardial fibrosis, progressive ventricular dilatation, and eventual heart failure seen after acute myocardial infarction.     

Treatment of chronical myocardial ischemia by adenovirus-mediated hepatocyte growth factor gene transfer in minipigs

Growth factor gene transfer-induced therapeutic angiogenesis has become a novel approach for the treatment of myocardial ischemia. In order to provide a basis for the clinical application of an adeno- virus with hepatocyte growth factor gene (Ad-HGF) in the treatment of myocardial ischemia, we estab- lished a minipig model of chronically ischemic myocardium in which an Ameroid constrictor was placed around the left circumflex branch of the coronary artery (LCX). A total of 18 minipigs were ran- domly divided into 3 groups: a surgery control group, a model group and an Ad-HGF treatment group implanted with Ameroid constrictor. Ad-HGF or the control agent was injected directly into the ischemic myocardium, and an improvement in heart function and blood supply were evaluated. The results showed that myocardial perfusion remarkably improved in the Ad-HGF group compared with that in both the control and model groups. Four weeks after the treatment, the density of newly formed blood vessels was higher and the number of collateral blood vessels was greater in the Ad-HGF group than in the model group. The area of myocardial ischemia reduced evidently and the left ventricular ejection fraction improved significantly in the Ad-HGF group. These results suggest that HGF gene therapy may become a novel approach in the treatment of chronically ischemic myocardium.     

骨髓间充质干细胞和内皮祖细胞移植促进血流重建的比较

目的:比较骨髓间充质细胞(Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells,BM/MSC)和骨髓源内皮祖细胞(Bone Marrow Endothelialprogenitor cells,BM/EPC)移植促进血流重建的效果,为进一步优化骨髓干细胞移植治疗肢体缺血提供理论基础。方法:获取Lewis大鼠骨髓单个核细胞,在体外培养分化为MSC和EPC。采用Lewis大鼠建立单侧后肢缺血模型。在模型建立后3天,将0.8mlD-Hanks液注入大鼠缺血侧后肢,为对照组(n=6);将8×106个骨髓MSC植入大鼠缺血侧后肢,为MSC组(n=6);将体外培养的8×106个EPC植入大鼠缺血侧后肢,为EPC组(n=6)。细胞移植后3周行缺血大鼠后肢动脉造影,检测缺血侧后肢侧支血管数;获取缺血侧后肢腓肠肌,分别行CD31和α-SMA免疫组化染色,计算毛细血管密度和小动脉密度。结果:MSC组与EPC组侧支血管数无显著性差异,二者均高于对照组;EPC组毛细血管密度明显高于MSC组,二者均高于对照组;MSC组与EPC组小动脉密度无显著性差异,二者均高于对照组。结论:骨髓间充质干细胞移植和内皮祖细胞移植均能够明显促进血流重建,而且骨髓间充质干细胞在治疗肢体缺血性疾病中的优势应该受到重视。     

Silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles labeled endothelial progenitor cells alleviate ischemic myocardial injury and improve long-term cardiac function with magnetic field guidance in rats with myocardial infarction

Low retention of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the infarct area has been suggested to be responsible for the poor clinical efficacy of EPC therapy for myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed to evaluate whether magnetized EPCs guided through an external magnetic field could augment the aggregation of EPCs in an ischemia area, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy. EPCs from male rats were isolated and labeled with silica-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to form magnetized EPCs. Then, the proliferation, migration, vascularization, and cytophenotypic markers of magnetized EPCs were analyzed. Afterward, the magnetized EPCs (1 × 10⁶) were transplanted into a female rat model of MI via the tail vein at 7 days after MI with or without the guidance of an external magnet above the infarct area. Cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis, and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were observed at 4 weeks after treatment. In addition, EPC retention and the angiogenesis of ischemic myocardium were evaluated. Labeling with magnetic nanoparticles exhibited minimal influence to the biological functions of EPCs. The transplantation of magnetized EPCs guided by an external magnet significantly improved the cardiac function, decreased infarction size, and reduced myocardial apoptosis in MI rats. Moreover, enhanced aggregations of magnetized EPCs in the infarcted border zone were observed in rats with external magnet-guided transplantation, accompanied by the significantly increased density of microvessels and upregulated the expression of proangiogenic factors, when compared with non-external-magnet-guided rats. The magnetic field-guided transplantation of magnetized EPCs was associated with the enhanced aggregation of EPCs in the infarcted border zone, thereby improving the therapeutic efficacy of MI.     

内皮祖细胞移植加速鼠颈动脉内皮修复预防再狭窄的研究

目的：以安慰机组作对照,观察EPCs自体移植防治再狭窄的疗效以及该作用与血管再内皮化是否相关。方法：共30只雄性SD大鼠纳入实验,随机均分为假手术组、安慰剂组和EPCs移植组。造模前3周时取血3毫升,M199培养基培养传代,行EPCs鉴定,移植组在球囊损伤后即予尾静脉注射1×10^6个EPCs自体移植。4周后观察再狭窄和再内皮化程度。结果：与安慰剂组相比,EPCs自体移植组再内皮化程度提高,再狭窄程度减轻;EPCs移植组内膜／中膜比值与再内皮化率呈线性负相关。结论：EPCs体外扩增自体移植可预防再狭窄;其机制与加速再内皮化有关。     

Human umbilical cord blood cells improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction

Human umbilical cord blood (UCB) contains an abundance of immature stem/progenitor cells and has been clinically used as an alternative to bone marrow transplantation. In addition, cord blood can be obtained non-invasively, in contrast to invasive bone marrow aspiration. We investigated the potential of human UCB CD34(+) cells to improve cardiac function following myocardial infarction. Myocardial infarction was induced in Wistar rats by ligation of the left coronary artery. Either 2x10(5) human UCB CD34(+) cells or equivalent cell-free medium was injected into the injured myocardium of the rats following induction of myocardial infarction. CD34(+) cell transplantation significantly improved ventricular function as compared to the control group. Immunofluorescence staining for human CD34, CD45, and PECAM-1 revealed surviving cells in the myocardium. Our findings suggest that transplanted human cells survived and improved cardiac function following myocardial infarction. These results may show the usefulness of UCB CD34(+) cells for myocardial infarction.