Asprosin improves the survival of mesenchymal stromal cells in myocardial infarction by inhibiting apoptosis via the activated ERK1/2-SOD2 pathway

Aims: Several adipokines have been proven to improve the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) when used to treat ischemic heart disease. Asprosin (ASP) is a newly-discovered adipokine. ASP might also predict the severity of coronary pathology. We investigated the role of ASP on MSCs and the effects of ASP-pretreated MSCs on myocardial infarction (MI).

Main methods: MSCs were labelled with a lentivirus carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP). For in vivo study, after pretreatment with vehicle or ASP, MSCs were injected into infarcted hearts. Cardiac function and fibrosis were then evaluated 4 weeks after the induction of MI and survival of MSCs evaluated after 1 week. MSCs proliferation and migration were investigated after ASP treatment in vitro. MSCs Apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was assessed using flow cytometry.

Key findings: Compared to vehicle-pretreated MSCs, ASP-pretreated MSCs significantly improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and inhibited myocardial fibrosis 4 weeks after MI. ASP pretreatment may have promoted homing of transplanted MSCs. In vitro results showed that ASP had no significant effect on MSC proliferation and migration, but protected these cells from H₂O₂-induced Apoptosis. Among 21 molecules associated with antioxidation and cell death, the antioxidant Enzyme SOD2 was significantly upregulated by ASP. Furthermore, ASP treatment inhibited H₂O₂-induced ROS generation and Apoptosis via the activated ERK1/2-SOD2 pathway.

Significance: This is the first evidence that ASP can regulate MSCs function and enhance MSCs therapy for ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ASP protects MSCs from oxidative stress-induced Apoptosis via the ERK1/2-SOD2 pathway.