Figure 7.

Decreasing the antioxidant capacity of MDSCs decreases the ability of MDSCs to improve cardiac function after an induced myocardial infarction. After myocardial infarctions were induced, functional analysis was performed at 6 wk using echocardiography. (A) Representative echocardiograph images of one of the MDSC groups are shown to demonstrate functional measurements. Two-dimensional echocardiograph images of the left ventricle at diastole and systole used to calculate FAC are shown. The myocardium is outlined to demonstrate the change in area during contraction between diastole and systole. The widest diameter of the ventricle during diastole in the two-dimensional echocardiograph image, as indicated by the dashed line, was followed for a period of time over consecutive heartbeats as shown in the M-mode tracing. EDD and ESD were measured to calculate FS. (B) Infarcted hearts injected with MDSCs, MDSCs treated with DEM, and PBS all have similar values of EDA indicating these groups have comparable left ventricular cavity size after infarction. (C) Hearts injected with MDSCs have a significantly increased FS compared with MDSCs treated with DEM and the PBS control, indicating improved cardiac function. Infarcted hearts injected with MDSCs treated with DEM and PBS have comparable FS, indicating similar cardiac function after infarction. (D) Hearts injected with MDSCs have a significantly increased FAC compared with MDSCs treated with DEM and the PBS control indicating improved contractile function. Both groups of MDSCs have an increased FAC over the PBS control. (B–D) MDSCs+DEM, n = 8; MDSCs, n = 7; PBS control, n = 8. ANOVA; *p ≤ 0.05; mean values ± SEM.