A NOVEL TNF-a INDUCED SECRETOME THERAPY FOR MYOCARDIAL PROTECTION AND REPAIR

Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) have been suggested to play a crucial role in promoting the healing process in ischemic hearts post myocardial infarction (MI). However, poor viability and retention of transplanted cells in the harsh microenvironment remains as an obstacle. The paracrine hypothesis suggests that BM-MSCs secrete paracrine factors that work together to manipulate the microenvironment to trigger angiogenesis and anti-apoptotic properties at the infarct site. Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine present in ischemic cardiac regions, but the specific roles it plays in cardioprotection remains unknown. The current study aims to understand the regulatory and cardioprotective effects of TNF-α on rat BM-MSCs (rBM-MSC) which may, initiate and sustain the process of cardiac repair post MI.