Endogenous G-CSF and CD34 + cell mobilization after acute myocardial infarction Antonio Maria Leone a, * ,1 , Sergio Rutella b,1 , Giuseppina Bonanno c , Anna Maria Contemi b,c , Daniela G. de Ritis b , Maria Benedetta Giannico a , Antonio G. Rebuzzi a , Giuseppe Leone b , Filippo Crea a a Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy b Department of Hematology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy c Department of Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy Received 16 May 2005; received in revised form 12 June 2005; accepted 18 June 2005 Available online 26 July 2005 Abstract Background: Several reports showed an increase of CD34 + stem/progenitor cell count early after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), suggesting a contribution of bone marrow cells in myocardial regeneration after the acute event. Nevertheless, at present plasma mediators of CD34 + cell mobilization from bone marrow to peripheral blood in patients with AMI are poorly understood. Aim of our study was to establish the impact of different well-known mobilizing cytokines on spontaneous stem cell mobilization in patients with different ischemic heart syndromes, such as the AMI and the chronic stable angina (CSA), compared to healthy controls. Methods: In 16 patients with AMI, 18 with CSA and 22 healthy blood donors the concentration of CD34 + cells, and mobilizing cyokines (G- CSF, SCF, VEGF, SDF1-alpha) were assessed. Results: The peak number of circulating CD34 + cells in AMI patients (8.58 T 2.08 cells/Al) was higher than that observed in patients with CSA (3.41 T 0.56 cells/Al, p = 0.0061) or in healthy controls (2.18 T 0.35 cells/Al, p < 0.001). However endogenous G-CSF was significantly higher in the serum of patients with AMI compared to CSA patients and to controls and in CSA patients compared to controls. Interestingly, as regards VEGF, while this cytokine was increased in AMI with respect to control and CSA group, the latter showed a significantly lower concentration with respect to controls. Finally SDF-1 alpha was higher in AMI patients with respect to controls. CD34 + cells were significantly correlated to G-CSF (directly) and to SCF (inversely) in patients with AMI. Conclusion: In the present study, we have demonstrated for the first time that the spontaneous mobilization of CD34 + cells into the peripheral blood of patients with AMI is significantly correlated to endogenous G-CSF. Considering recent data suggesting a potential favourable effect of circulating CD34 + cells on left ventricular function, the present evidence of a correlation between endogenous G-CSF and CD34 + cell levels supports the pharmacological administration of G-CSF as a non-invasive option for regeneration of myocardial tissue after AMI. D 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; G-CSF; CD34 + cells 1. Introduction The CD34 antigen is considered the common antigen for haematopoietic stem/progenitor and endothelial progenitor cells. Several reports showed an increase of CD34 + cell count early after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) [1], potentially suggesting a contribution of bone marrow cells 0167-5273/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.06.043 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 6 30154178, +39 347 8659327; fax: +39 6 3055535. E-mail address: antoniomarialeone@libero.it (A.M. Leone). 1 The first two authors equally contributed to the present work. International Journal of Cardiology 111 (2006) 202 – 208 www.elsevier.com/locate/ijcard