Neurotrophin-3 contributes to benefits of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiovascular progenitor cells against reperfused myocardial infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) resulting from coronary ischemia is a major cause of disability and death worldwide. Transplantation of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)‐derived cardiovascular progenitor cells (hCVPCs) promotes the healing of infarcted hearts by secreted factors. However, the hCVPC‐secreted proteins contributing to cardiac repair remain largely unidentified. In this study, we investigated protective effects of neurotrophin (NT)‐3 secreted from hCVPCs in hearts against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and explored the underlying mechanisms to determine the potential of using hCVPC products as a new therapeutic strategy. The implantation of hCVPCs into infarcted myocardium at the beginning of reperfusion following 1 hour of ischemia improved cardiac function and scar formation of mouse hearts. These beneficial effects were concomitant with reduced cardiomyocyte death and increased angiogenesis. Moreover, hCVPCs secreted a rich abundance of NT‐3. The cardioreparative effect of hCVPCs in the I/R hearts was mimicked by human recombinant NT‐3 (hNT‐3) but canceled by NT‐3 neutralizing antibody (NT‐3‐Ab). Furthermore, endogenous NT‐3 was detected in mouse adult cardiomyocytes and its level was enhanced in I/R hearts. Adenovirus‐mediated NT‐3 knockdown exacerbated myocardial I/R injury. Mechanistically, hNT‐3 and endogenous NT‐3 inhibited I/R‐induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through activating the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and reducing the Bim level, resulting in the cardioreparative effects of infarcted hearts together with their effects in the improvement of angiogenesis. These results demonstrate for the first time that NT‐3 is a cardioprotective factor secreted by hCVPCs and exists in adult cardiomyocytes that reduces I/R‐induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via the ERK‐Bim signaling pathway and promotes angiogenesis. As a cell product, NT‐3 may represent as a noncell approach for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury.