Modulation of autophagy as the target of mesenchymal stem cells-derived conditioned medium in rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Human amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells-derived conditioned medium (hAM-MSCs-CM) has positive effects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury. However, it needs further investigations how hAM-MSCs-CM leads to the cell survival under MI/R via modulation of autophagy. The purpose of this study is investigating the effects of hAM-MSCs-CM in a rat model of MI/R injury by focusing on the role of autophagy as one of its possible mechanisms. Male Wistar rats (44 rats, 175–200 g) were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, MI/R, culture media-receiving and conditioned medium-receiving. MI/R was induced by 30 min of left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. After 15 min reperfusion, culture media or hAM-MSCs-CM (150 μl) were injected intramyocardially. At the end of the experiment, CK-MB, autophagy markers, phosphorylated and total forms of mTOR and ULK1, cardiac function and fibrosis were measured. hAM-MSCs-CM significantly decreased CK-MB levels (P < 0.0001), and also the mRNA levels of Beclin1 (P < 0.0001), LC3 (P = 0.012) and p62 (P = 0.003). In addition, hAM-MSCs-CM significantly reduced Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I and p62 protein levels (P < 0.0001), and increased p-mTOR/mTOR (P = 0.022) and p-ULK1/ULK1 (P < 0.0001) expressions. Moreover, hAM-MSCs-CM improved cardiac function and decreased fibrosis (P < 0.0001). This study showed cardioprotective effects of hAM-MSCs-CM against MI/R injury through modulation of autophagy via mTOR/ULK1 pathway. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that hAM-MSCs-CM can be offered as an attractive candidate for attenuation of MI/R injury in future, but needs further investigations.