Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 285: H483-H492, 2003.
First published April 10, 2003; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.01016.2002
0363-6135/03 $5.00
MCSF expression is induced in healing myocardial infarcts and may regulate monocyte and endothelial cell phenotype
Nikolaos G. Frangogiannis,1
Leonardo H. Mendoza,2
Guofeng Ren,1
Spyridon Akrivakis,1
Peggy L. Jackson,1
Lloyd H. Michael,1
C. Wayne Smith,2 and
Mark L. Entman1
1Section of Cardiovascular Sciences, Department
of Medicine, the Methodist Hospital and the DeBakey Heart Center, and
2Section of Leukocyte Biology, Department of
Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
Submitted 2 December 2002
; accepted in final form 7 April 2003
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ABSTRACT
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Myocardial infarction is associated with the rapid induction of mononuclear
cell chemoattractants that promote monocyte infiltration into the injured
area. Monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and macrophage proliferation
allow a long survival of monocytic cells, critical for effective healing of
the infarct. In a canine infarction-reperfusion model, newly recruited myeloid
leukocytes were markedly augmented during early reperfusion (572 h). By
7 days, the number of newly recruited myeloid cells was reduced, and the
majority of the inflammatory cells remaining in the infarct were mature
macrophages. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) is known to
facilitate monocyte survival, monocyte-to-macrophage conversion, and
macrophage proliferation. We demonstrated marked induction of MCSF mRNA in
ischemic segments persisting for at least 5 days after reperfusion. MCSF
expression was predominantly localized to mature macrophages infiltrating the
infarcted myocardium; the expression of the MCSF receptor, c-Fms, a protein
with tyrosine kinase activity, was found in these macrophages but was also
observed in a subset of microvessels within the infarct. Many infarct
macrophages expressed proliferating cell nuclear antigen, a marker of
proliferative activity. In vitro MCSF induced monocyte chemoattractant
protein-1 synthesis in canine venous endothelial cells. MCSF-induced
endothelial monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 upregulation was inhibited by
herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and by LY-294002, a
phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase inhibitor. We suggest that upregulation
of MCSF in the infarcted myocardium may have an active role in healing not
only through its effects on cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage, but also by
regulating endothelial cell chemokine expression.
inflammation; reperfusion; chemokine; growth factors; macrophage colony-stimulating factor
REPERFUSED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION is associated with an intense
inflammatory response (7,
21,
27) leading to healing and
scar formation (16).
Mononuclear cell chemoattractants are rapidly induced in the infarcted area
and mediate monocyte and lymphocyte recruitment
(4,
11,
23). Differentiation of
monocytes into macrophages is important for their survival, allowing them to
actively participate in the repair process through the production of cytokines
and growth factors. We hypothesized that monocytes in reperfused infarctions
undergo a maturation process, regulated by the local expression of macrophage
colony-stimulating factor (MCSF)
(8,
38), a hematopoietic growth
factor that induces survival, proliferation, differentiation, and activation
of mononuclear phagocytes (40,
41). Our experiments
demonstrated a marked induction of MCSF mRNA in the infarcted areas,
associated with evidence of macrophage proliferation in the healing infarct.
We present evidence suggesting direct effects of MCSF on endothelial cell
phenotype and activity, possibly mediated through c-Fms, resulting in
upregulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). We suggest that
local induction of MCSF in the healing infarct may create the milieu necessary
for monocyte survival, differentiation, and growth of monocytes, and directly
modulate endothelial cell phenotype to enhance monocyte chemotaxis and
angiogenesis.
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METHODS
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Ischemia-reperfusion protocols. All animal research protocols were
approved by the Baylor College of Medicine Animal Research Committee. Healthy
mongrel dogs (1525 kg) of either sex were surgically instrumented as
previously described (14,
28). Anesthesia was induced
intravenously with 10 mg/kg methohexital sodium (Brevital, Lilly;
Indianapolis, IN) and maintained with the inhalational anesthetic isoflurane
(Anaquest; Madison, WI). A midline thoracotomy provided access to the heart
and mediastinum. Subsequently, a hydraulically activated occluding device and
a Doppler flow probe were secured around the circumflex coronary artery just
proximal or just distal to the first branch. Indwelling catheters placed in
the right atrium, left atrium, and femoral artery allowed blood sampling and
pressure monitoring as needed. After surgery, the animals were allowed to
recover for 72 h before coronary occlusion. Ischemia-reperfusion protocols
were performed as previously described
(10,
11). Coronary artery occlusion
was achieved by inflating the coronary cuff occluder until mean flow in the
coronary vessel was zero as determined by the Doppler flow probe. After 1 h,
the cuff was deflated and the myocardium reperfused. Reperfusion intervals
ranged from 1 h to 7 days. Circumflex blood flow arterial blood pressure,
heart rate, and ECG (standard limb II) were recorded continuously. Analgesia
was accomplished with intravenously administered 0.10.2 mg/kg
pentazocine (Talwin; Winthrop Pharmaceuticals; New York, NY). After the
reperfusion periods, the hearts were stopped by the rapid intravenous infusion
of 30 meq KCl. The hearts were then removed from the chest for sectioning from
apex to base into four transverse rings
1 cm in thickness. The posterior
papillary muscle and the posterior free wall were identified. Tissue samples
were isolated from infarcted or normally perfused myocardium based on visual
inspection. Myocardial segments were fixed for histological analysis or
immediately frozen, homogenized, and processed for RNA extraction. Duplicate
adjacent samples were also processed for blood flow determinations using
radiolabeled microspheres as previously described
(28). The presence of a
myocardial infarct was based on light-microscopic examination of hematoxylin
and eosin-stained tissue sections by the findings of contraction bands,
"wavy fibers," interstitial edema, and neutrophil infiltration.
For experiments lasting 24 h or more after the start of the ischemic insult,
the presence of histological elements characteristic of myocyte necrosis and
fibrosis was added to the required criteria. Samples described as ischemic
were all from areas where blood flow was <25%. Samples of control tissues
were taken from the anterior septum and had normal blood flow during coronary
occlusion.
Tissues from endotoxin-stimulated dogs were used as positive controls for
MCSF Northern hybridization protocols. Briefly, the dogs were anesthetized
with 10 mg/kg iv Brevital and maintained with the inhalational anesthetic
isoflurane (Anaquest). Subsequently they were given 0.5 mg/kg of intravenous
Escherichia coli endotoxin (Sigma; St. Louis, MO) as previously
described (12). The animals
were hemodynamically monitored during the experiment and were euthanized 3 h
later. The liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lymph node, and lung were sectioned
and samples were used for RNA extraction.
Immunohistochemistry and histology. For histological study of
cardiac tissue, sections taken from endocardium to epicardium were fixed in
10% phosphate-buffered formalin or in 0.6% ZnCl in 0.1% Na acetate buffer
without formalin (3) and
embedded in paraffin. Sequential 3- to 5-µm sections were cut by microtomy.
Immunostaining was performed with the use of the rabbit, goat, or mouse
immunostain kit (Elite, Vector Laboratories; Burlingame, CA). Briefly,
sections were pretreated with a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide to inhibit
endogenous peroxidase activity and incubated with 2% horse serum to block
nonspecific protein binding. The sections were then incubated with the primary
antibody for 2 h at room temperature. After being rinsed with PBS, the slides
were incubated for 30 min with the secondary antibody. The slides were rinsed
with PBS and incubated for 30 min in ABC reagent. Peroxidase activity was
detected using diaminobenzidine (Vector Laboratories). Slides were
counterstained with eosin. The following primary antibodies were used for
immunohistochemistry: goat anti-human polyclonal antibody to MCSF (Santa Cruz
Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA), polyclonal antibody to c-Fms (Santa Cruz),
mouse monoclonal antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA; clone
PC10, Dako; Carpinteria, CA)
(13,
14), monoclonal macrophage 387
(Mac387) antibody (Dako) (15),
mouse anti-CD31 antibody (Dako)
(13) anti-human antibody to
collagen type III clone IV-4h12 (IGN Biomedicals; Aurora, OH) and monoclonal
anti-macrophage antibody PM-2K (Biogenesis; Kingston, NH)
(44). The Mac387 antibody
detects an epitope on the calcium-binding protein MRP14
(17), which is highly
expressed in monocytes and rapidly downregulated in mature macrophages
(19). It is known to
cross-react with canine species
(15). The monoclonal antibody
PM-2K identifies mature macrophages and has been previously used in canine
tissues (44). Appropriate
positive and negative controls were used for each antibody. Dual
immunohistochemistry was performed by combining peroxidase-based
immunostaining for PM-2K with alkaline phosphatase-based immunohistochemistry
for PCNA (33). In addition,
MCSF localization studies were performed using peroxidase-based staining for
MCSF and alkaline phosphatase based immunohistochemistry for PM-2K. The
alkaline phosphatase reaction was developed using the alkaline phosphatase
substrate kit I (Vector) (red) as the chromogen.
Quantitative histological analysis. Stained sections were
photographed with a Leaf MicroLumina digital camera mounted on a Zeiss
microscope. Multiple digital images were taken and stored for each sample.
Staining was analyzed by Zeiss image-analysis software. The density of
Mac387-positive, newly recruited leukocytes and of PM-2K, positive mature
macrophages in infarcted and control (noninfarcted areas) was expressed as
cells per square millimeter. Four animals for each reperfusion interval were
used for quantitation. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA,
followed by a Student-Newman-Keuls t-test corrected for multiple
comparisons. Significance was set at P < 0.05.
Molecular cloning. A specific canine cDNA clone for MCSF was
prepared by reverse transcription using RNA extracted from the spleen of a
lipopolysaccharide-stimulated animal. RT-PCR was performed using the following
primers: MCSF sense primer 5'-GACATGGCTGGGCTCCCTGCTG-3', and MCSF
antisense primer 5'-TCCATTATGTCTTGTACCAG-3'. The nucleotide
sequence of the primers was based on areas of the published sequence for its
human homologue that showed a high degree of interspecies conservation.
Reverse transcription protocols were performed with 5 µg of total RNA.
After first-strand synthesis, primed with the antisense primer, aliquots of
the reverse transcription reaction were amplified using 5 units of Taq DNA
polymerase (Promega, Madison, WI) for 30 cycles of 93°C for 1 min,
55°C for 2 min, and 72°C for 3 min. The resulting fragments were
purified, cloned in the PCR vector (Invitrogen; San Diego, CA), and
sequenced.
RNA isolation. RNA isolation from myocardial tissue segments was
performed using the acid guanidinium phenol chloroform procedure. RNA (20
µg) was electrophoresed in 1% agarose gels containing formaldehyde and then
transferred to a nylon membrane (Gene Screen Plus; New England Nuclear) by
standard procedures.
Northern hybridization. Membranes were hybridized in QuikHyb
(Stratagene; La Jolla, CA) at 68°C for 2 h with 1 x 106
dpm random hexamer 32P-labeled canine cDNA probes for MCSF, and
MCP-1 (23). Filters were
washed with 2x saline-sodium phosphate-EDTA (SSPE) buffer at 68°C
for 20 min, with 1x SSPE + 1% SDS at 68°C for 15 min twice and with
1x SSPE at 21°C for 15 min with constant shaking and exposed to
Hyperfilm (Amersham; Arlington Heights, IL). Quantitation of the Northern
hybridization results was performed using densitometry. Relative density was
normalized to the intensity of the 28S ribosomal RNA. Ischemic segments had
blood flow <25% of the flow in control segments from the same experiment.
Segments from four animals for each reperfusion interval were used for
quantitative analysis. Northern hybridization analysis and quantitation was
performed by an investigator blinded to the tissue conditions and the blood
flow determinations.
Endothelial cell isolation and stimulation. Endothelial cells were
obtained as previously described
(12). Jugular veins were
everted on glass rods and incubated in collagenase solution (Boehringer
Mannheim; Indianapolis, IN) for 20 min. Cells were collected by centrifugation
and suspended in DMEM containing 5% FCS, 5% bovine calf serum, 50% mg/ml
endothelial cell growth factor, 50 U/ml heparin, 1 mmol/l sodium pyruvate, and
antibiotics. Cells were seeded in Primaria flasks (Becton Dickinson; San Jose,
CA). After 24 days of incubation at 37°C in a CO2
incubator, areas of cells with cobblestone morphology were collected by
scraping, transferred to gelatin-coated flasks (0.1% Difco), and grown to
confluence. Endothelial cells were incubated with recombinant human MCSF
(R&D Systems; Minneapolis, MN) for 224 h. To investigate the
possible involvement of signaling kinases in MCSF-induced endothelial MCP-1
mRNA expression, we incubated canine endothelial cells with the tyrosine
kinase inhibitor herbimycin A, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase
inhibitor SB-203580, or with LY-294002 (all from Sigma), a specific
phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor, 30 min before
stimulation with MCSF. At the end of the experiment, endothelial cells were
used for mRNA extraction as previously described. Quantitation of the Northern
hybridization results was performed using densitometry. Relative density was
normalized to the intensity of the 28S ribosomal RNA.
Statistical analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using
ANOVA, followed by Student-Newman-Keuls t-test corrected for multiple
comparisons. Data were expressed as means ± SE. Statistical
significance level was set at 0.05.
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RESULTS
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Monocyte-macrophages accumulate in ischemic and reperfused
myocardium. We used a dual immunohistochemical technique recently
validated in our laboratory
(15) to identify newly
infiltrated myeloid cells and mature resident macrophages in canine infarcts.
Newly recruited leukocytes (neutrophils and monocytes) were stained with the
monoclonal antibody Mac387, which detects MRP14, a protein expressed in
myeloid cells, but rapidly downregulated during monocyte to macrophage
maturation (19). Mature
resident macrophages were identified with the monoclonal antibody PM-2K
(Fig. 1). Abundant
Mac387-positive, newly infiltrated leukocytes accumulated in the infarct after
572 h of reperfusion (1-h ischemia/5-h reperfusion ischemic: 737.3
± 151.4 cells/mm2 vs. control: 16.2 ± 4.2; P
< 0.01, n = 4) (Figs. 1,
B and E,
2A, and 2D)
however, leukocyte recruitment decreased significantly after 5 days
(P < 0.05) and 7 days (P < 0.01) of reperfusion
(Fig. 1C). In
contrast, macrophage density steadily increased, peaking after 57 days
of reperfusion (Fig.
1F and
2H). At this stage,
the inflammatory cellular infiltrate in the infarcted myocardium predominantly
contained differentiated mature macrophages and only rare newly recruited
Mac387-expressing cells were noted (Fig. 1,
C and D, and
2G). The macrophage
differentiation process was associated with collagen deposition in the healing
infarct and mature macrophages were found in areas exhibiting replacement
fibrosis (Fig. 2).

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Fig. 1. Dual immunohistochemical staining identifies newly recruited macrophage
Mac387-positive leukocytes (red) and monoclonal antibody PM-2K-positive mature
macrophages (black) in the canine myocardium. Mac387 recognizes an epitope to
the calcium binding protein MRP14, which is highly expressed in myeloid cells
but is rapidly downregulated during monocyte to macrophage maturation.
A: control myocardial areas show a resident macrophage population
(black), whereas Mac387-positive myeloid cells (monocytes and neutrophils) are
intravascular (red). B: canine infarct after 1 h of coronary
occlusion and 24 h of reperfusion demonstrates abundant newly recruited
leukocytes (red). C: after 7 days of reperfusion active recruitment
of inflammatory cells is decreased and the healing infarct is now filled with
mature macrophages. D: after 28 days of reperfusion the infarct is
less cellular, containing a significant number of macrophages, and rare newly
recruited cells. E: density of extravascular Mac387-positive
leukocytes in the infarcted canine myocardium. Recruitment of myeloid cells
was high after 572 h of reperfusion, but decreased significantly during
the healing phase (120168 h of reperfusion). F: in contrast,
the number of PM-2K-positive mature macrophages in infarcted areas increased
significantly after 72 h of reperfusion and remained elevated for at least 168
h of reperfusion. *P < 0.05 compared with control areas;
**P < 0.01 vs. noninfarcted areas from the same experiment
(n = 4 animals per reperfusion interval).
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Fig. 2. Monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation is associated with collagen
deposition in the healing infarct. Serial sections from canine infarcts after
24 h (AC), 72 h (DF), and 7
days (GI) of reperfusion were stained for Mac387
(A, D, and G) a marker for newly recruited leukocytes, for
PM-2K, a monoclonal antibody that identifies mature macrophages (B,
E, and H) and collagen type III (C, F, and I).
After 24 h of reperfusion (top) active leukocyte recruitment is noted
(A, arrows), without significant new collagen deposition
(C). After 72 h of reperfusion, many newly recruited Mac387-positive
leukocytes are found in the infarct (D). Note that many
PM-2K-positive mature macrophages (E) are found in an area of
collagen deposition (F, arrow), whereas PM-2K-expressing cells are
fewer in infarcted areas without replacement fibrosis. After 7 days of
reperfusion, newly recruited Mac387-positive cells are rare (G) and
the collagen-rich infarct (I) is filled with mature macrophages
(H).
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Cloning of canine MCSF. The partial clone for canine MCSF (243 bp)
demonstrated 89% homology with its human and 85% with its murine
homologue.
MCSF mRNA induction after experimental canine myocardial
infarction. Northern hybridization using tissues from
endotoxin-stimulated dogs (12)
demonstrated two distinct MCSF transcripts: a 4.5-kb transcript was common to
all tissues examined and a smaller 1.4-kb transcript was expressed
predominantly in the lymph node (Fig.
3A). Subsequently, we examined MCSF mRNA synthesis in the
ischemic and reperfused canine myocardium. We found significant upregulation
of MCSF mRNA in ischemic segments from experiments of coronary occlusion and
reperfusion (Fig. 3B).
Low levels of constitutive MCSF mRNA expression were found in control
segments. Infarcted segments exhibited increased MCSF mRNA levels after 5 h of
reperfusion (P < 0.01 vs. control segments from the same
experiment) (Fig. 3D).
MCSF expression remained elevated after 24120 h of reperfusion
(Fig. 3, C and
D). Only the 4.5-kb MCSF transcript was found in the
canine heart.

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Fig. 3. A: macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) mRNA expression in
tissues from an endotoxin-stimulated dog. Northern hybridization experiments
revealed two distinct MCSF transcripts: the 1.4-kb transcript was found
predominantly in the lymph node (LN), whereas the 4.5-kb transcript was
predominantly expressed in the spleen (S), lung (Lu), heart (H), and kidney
(K). Li, liver. B: MCSF mRNA upregulation in canine infarcts. The
4.5-kb MCSF transcript was significantly upregulated in ischemic segments (I)
after 1 h of ischemia and 5 h of reperfusion. Low levels of constitutive MCSF
mRNA expression were found in control (C) segments. C: time course
demonstrating MCSF mRNA synthesis in healing canine infarcts. MCSF mRNA was
induced in myocardial infarcts after 1 h of reperfusion, and its expression
remained elevated for at least 5 days of reperfusion. D: quantitative
analysis of MCSF mRNA expression in canine infarcts. Sustained upregulation of
MCSF mRNA synthesis was noted in infarcted segments after 5120 h of
reperfusion when compared with control segments from the same experiments.
*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001
compared with control segments. Ischemic segments had blood flow <25% of
control as determined by the method of radiolabeled microspheres and were
obtained from four different experiments of coronary ischemia-reperfusion for
each reperfusion interval (number of ischemic segments used for quantitative
analysis: 3 h, n = 5; 5 h, n = 8; 24 h, n = 5; 120
h, n = 6).
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MCSF immunoreactivity after myocardial infarction.
Immunohistochemical experiments localized MCSF immunoreactivity in
mononuclear-like cells infiltrating the ischemic myocardium
(Fig. 4). These cells first
appeared after 1 h of ischemia and 3 h of reperfusion and became more numerous
after 2472 h of reperfusion. Minimal MCSF protein expression was noted
in control myocardial segments. Dual immunohistochemical staining indicated
that MCSF immunoreactivity was predominantly localized in PM-2K-positive
macrophages infiltrating the healing infarct
(Fig. 4).

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Fig. 4. MCSF immunoreactivity in healing myocardial infarcts is predominantly
localized in macrophages. Dual immunohistochemistry combining peroxidase-based
MCSF staining (brown) and alkaline phosphatase based immunostaining for PM-2K
(red). Note MCSF expression in macrophages (arrows) after 72 h (A)
and 7 days (B) of reperfusion.
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Proliferating macrophages in infarcted myocardium. Dual
immunohistochemistry combining peroxidase-based staining for PM-2K and
alkaline-phosphatase immunohistochemistry for PCNA demonstrated a significant
number of proliferating macrophages in the healing heart
(Fig. 5). Few proliferating
macrophages were found after 24 h of reperfusion but their number increased
significantly after 7296 h. The majority of proliferating cells in
healing infarcts were not macrophages; according to our previous experiments
most of these cells are myofibroblasts and endothelial cells
(14).

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Fig. 5. Macrophage proliferation in the healing infarct (1-h ischemia/120-h
reperfusion). Dual immunohistochemical staining combining peroxidase-based
immunoreactivity for PM-2K (black) and alkaline phosphatase staining for
proliferating cell nuclear antigen (red), a nuclear protein expressed by
proliferating cells, demonstrates the presence of proliferating macrophages in
healing infarcts (arrows). The majority of proliferating cells in the infarct
are not macrophages; according to previous studies, many of these cells are
fibroblasts and endothelial cells.
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MCSF induces MCP-1 expression in isolated canine jugular vein
endothelial cells: role for tyrosine kinase and PI3-kinase. Incubation
with human recombinant MCSF induced dose-dependent MCP-1 mRNA synthesis in
canine jugular vein endothelial cells (Fig.
6). MCSF-induced MCP-1 mRNA expression increased after 2 h of
incubation, peaked after 46 h, and significantly decreased after 24 h
of incubation (Fig.
6D). Incubation with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor
herbimycin A (Fig. 7) and with
the PI3-kinase inhibitor LY-294002 significantly decreased MCSF-induced MCP-1
mRNA expression. In contrast, incubation with the p38 mitogen-activated
protein kinase inhibitor SB-203580 had no effect on endothelial MCP-1
synthesis.

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Fig. 6. MCSF induces a transient MCP-1 mRNA expression in canine jugular vein
endothelial cells. A: incubation with recombinant human MCSF for 6 h
induces a dose-dependent endothelial expression of MCP-1. B: time
course showing that MCP-1 mRNA expression is induced after 26 h of
incubation and decreases significantly after 24 h. C: quantitative
analysis of MCP-1 mRNA levels demonstrates a dose-dependent endothelial MCP-1
induction. D: quantitative analysis of the time course of MCP-1
expression in canine jugular vein endothelial cells stimulated with 500 ng/ml
recombinant MCSF. MCP-1 expression is markedly elevated after 26 h but
decreases significantly after 24 h. ***P < 0.001.
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Fig. 7. A: MCSF-induced endothelial MCP-1 expression is significantly
inhibited by herbimycin A (H), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and by the
phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor LY-294002 (LY). In
contrast, incubation with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB-203580 (SB) had no effect
on endothelial MCP-1 synthesis. B: quantitative analysis of the
findings demonstrates that herbimycin A (***P < 0.001) and
LY-294002 (**P < 0.01) but not SB-203580 (pNS) inhibit
MCSF-induced endothelial MCP-1 mRNA synthesis (MCSF concentration: 500 ng/ml,
incubation interval: 6 h). pNS, P value not significant; M, MCSF.
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Expression of the MCSF receptor c-Fms in endothelial cells and
macrophages in healing infarct. Immunohistochemical staining of control
myocardial sections demonstrated c-Fms expression in canine cardiac
macrophages. The infarcted myocardium exhibited intense staining for c-Fms
predominantly localized in macrophages
(Fig. 8) and a subset of
microvascular CD31-positive endothelial cells. c-Fms-expressing microvessels
were noted only in the ischemic myocardial areas after 24168 h of
reperfusion (Fig. 8, C and
D).

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Fig. 8. Expression of the MCSF receptor c-Fms in healing myocardial infarcts.
Serial section staining for c-Fms (A) and the macrophage marker PM-2K
(B) in an experiment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (1 h of
ischemia/72 h of reperfusion) demonstrating, as expected, that macrophages in
the healing infarct (arrows) express c-Fms. Serial section staining for c-Fms
(C) and the endothelial cell marker CD31 (D) showed that a
subset of microvascular endothelial cells (arrows) exhibit c-Fms
immunoreactivity.
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DISCUSSION
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Substantial evidence suggests that reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium
exerts a positive effect on healing in both animal models
(6,
30) and clinical
investigations (22). The
beneficial effect of reperfusion in cardiac repair may be related at least in
part to the enhanced infiltration of the reperfused myocardium with
mononuclear cells, capable of producing cytokines and growth factors,
promoting healing. Mononuclear cell chemoattractants, such as C5a,
transforming growth factor (TGF)-
1, and MCP-1 are released in
the infarcted myocardium (23),
mediating mononuclear cell infiltration in the healing heart
(11). We suggest that
effective cardiac repair may depend on the creation of a microenvironment
capable of supporting survival, maturation, and differentiation of monocytes
into macrophages in the infarcted heart. We hypothesized that
colony-stimulating factors such as MCSF
(39,
40), important in monocyte to
macrophage maturation, may be induced after myocardial ischemia, mediating
survival, proliferation, phenotypic changes, and differentiation of
infiltrating mononuclear cells.
Reperfused myocardial infarction is associated with a rapid accumulation of
inflammatory leukocytes in the injured area. Intense active infiltration with
myeloid Mac387-positive cells is noted for 3 days after reperfusion, but
decreases significantly after 57 days. At this stage, the healing
infarct exhibits a high number of mature macrophages, many of which
demonstrate evidence of proliferative activity
(Fig. 5). MCSF expression in
the infarct may promote maturation and proliferation of monocytic cells
(2,
40) creating an environment
that favors macrophage growth. MCSF is a potent chemoattractant for
mononuclear phagocytes (41).
However, its primary role is to regulate the survival
(2,
40), proliferation
(1), and differentiation
(1) of mononuclear phagocytes.
Among its earliest effects on binding to mononuclear phagocyte cells are
changes to the cell membrane itself, including ruffling and the formation of
filopodia, vesicles, and vacuoles
(5). Soon after, metabolic
changes are observed, including increases in glucose uptake
(18) and protein synthesis
with a concomitant decrease in protein degradation. Furthermore, in vivo
experiments demonstrated that intravenous infusion of MCSF in rodents
(20) and primates
(31) induces a marked increase
in peripheral blood monocytes and tissue macrophages supporting its role as a
critical regulator of the mononuclear phagocyte system.
Macrophages are capable of producing a wide variety of inflammatory
mediators and growth factors and are important in regulating wound healing
(25,
43). However, the potential
role of MCSF in healing wounds has not been adequately investigated. MCSF
expression was detected in wound fluid with the use of a sponge matrix model
(9). In addition, MCSF-treated
dermal ulcers showed accelerated healing and elevated TGF-
1
mRNA expression, suggesting local macrophage activation and growth
(24). We present the first
demonstration of MCSF mRNA and protein induction in healing myocardial
infarcts accompanied by evidence of macrophage proliferation. MCSF mRNA
upregulation was first noted in the ischemic and reperfused myocardium after 1
h of reperfusion and its expression remained elevated for at least 5 days of
reperfusion (Fig. 2C).
Monocyte macrophages were the main source of MCSF after myocardial ischemia
raising the possibility for an autocrine mechanism responsible for macrophage
growth and activation. Macrophage-derived MCSF may allow for autonomous
survival and growth of macrophages without endangering systemic homeostasis.
The early stages of infarction are associated with upregulation of monocyte
chemoattractants and marked leukocyte recruitment
(Fig. 1). At this stage, local
MCSF expression may be crucial for monocyte survival and differentiation
creating a microenvironment capable of sustaining macrophage growth.
Macrophages may be important in regulating fibroblast proliferation and
extracellular matrix deposition in the healing infarct through expression of
fibrogenic growth factors and production of metalloproteinases and their
inhibitors. The localization of mature macrophages in areas of collagen
deposition (Fig. 2) suggests
that monocyte to macrophage differentiation may play an important role in
healing and scar formation.
The exact role of MCSF in regulating monocyte to macrophage differentiation
remains unclear. Osteopetrotic mice lack functional MCSF and have few tissue
macrophages (42). However,
transgenic osteopetrotic mice that overexpress human bcl-2 in monocytes to
inhibit their apoptotic death, show significant tissue macrophage
replenishment (24) suggesting
that monocytes may be capable of differentiating into macrophages in the
absence of functional MCSF, and MCSF may simply serve as a factor that
augments monocyte survival.
Although the role of MCSF in regulating monocyte/macrophage phenotype and
activity has been extensively investigated, little information is available on
its potential effects on other cell types involved in wound healing and
cardiac repair. Shyy and co-workers
(37) demonstrated that
recombinant human MCSF induces MCP-1 mRNA synthesis in human umbilical vein
endothelial cells and increases monocyte adhesion to endothelial monolayers.
In addition, MCSF induces expression of the C-X-C chemokine
interferon-
-inducible protein 10, a mononuclear cell chemoattractant,
in canine jugular vein endothelial cells
(12). Our experiments
(Fig. 6) demonstrated that MCSF
induced a transient MCP-1 upregulation in canine jugular vein endothelial
cells, which peaked after 46 h of stimulation and decreased to baseline
levels after 24 h. The effects of MCSF on cells of the monocyte/macrophage
lineage are mediated by the MCSF receptor, encoded by the c-Fms protooncogene,
a protein with tyrosine kinase activity
(34,
36). However, the mechanisms
of MCSF signaling on endothelial cells have not been investigated. We found
that endothelial MCSF-induced MCP-1 mRNA synthesis is markedly inhibited by
herbimycin A, a specific inhibitor of tyrosine kinase and LY-294002, a
PI3-kinase inhibitor. The involvement of a tyrosine kinase pathway is
consistent with an MCSF/c-Fms interaction in the venular endothelium and may
suggest the expression of c-Fms in vascular endothelial cells. Recently,
Minehata et al. (29)
demonstrated that endothelial cell precursors express the MCSF receptor and
suggested that MCSF may stimulate differentiation of endothelial cell
precursors. Primitive bone marrow cells infiltrate and transdifferentiate in
the healing infarct forming vascular structures and myocytes
(32). MCSF expression may
provide an important differentiation signal for immature hematopoietic cells
accumulating in the ischemic area.
MCSF is a critical regulator of monocyte to macrophage differentiation and
proliferation. Its local upregulation in healing infarcts may create a
microenvironment necessary for macrophage growth. Macrophages are major
contributors to healing through their production of critical cytokines and
growth factors. However, MCSF may also promote cardiac repair by modulating
endothelial cell phenotype, enhancing production of mononuclear cell
chemoattractants such as MCP-1. MCP-1 induction in the microvascular
endothelium will not only amplify monocyte chemotaxis
(26), but may also have direct
angiogenic effects in the infarcted heart
(35). The effects of MCSF
stimulation on the vascular endothelium suggest that its activity is not
limited to cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage and support its role as an
important mediator in wound healing.
 |
DISCLOSURES
|
|---|
This work was supported by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grant
HL-42550, a grant from the American Heart Association (Texas affiliate), the
DeBakey Heart Center, the Curtis Hankamer Research Fund, and the Methodist
Hospital Foundation.
 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
|
|---|
The authors thank Lisa Thurmon, Alida Evans, and Stephanie Butcher for
outstanding technical assistance and Concepcion Mata and Sharon Malinowski for
expert secretarial assistance in preparing the manuscript.
 |
FOOTNOTES
|
|---|
Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: N. G. Frangogiannis,
Section of Cardiovascular Sciences, One Baylor Plaza, M/S F-602, Houston, TX
77030 (E-mail:
ngf{at}bcm.tmc.edu).
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the
payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked
``advertisement'' in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to
indicate this fact.
 |
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