The ephrin A1-EphA2 system promotes cardiac stem cell migration after infarction.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Understanding the mechanisms that regulate trafficking of human cardiac stem cells (hCSCs) may lead to development of new therapeutic approaches for the failing heart.

Objective

We tested whether the motility of hCSCs in immunosuppressed infarcted animals is controlled by the guidance system that involves the interaction of Eph receptors with ephrin ligands.

Methods and results

Within the cardiac niches, cardiomyocytes expressed preferentially the ephrin A1 ligand, whereas hCSCs possessed the EphA2 receptor. Treatment of hCSCs with ephrin A1 resulted in the rapid internalization of the ephrin A1-EphA2 complex, posttranslational modifications of Src kinases, and morphological changes consistent with the acquisition of a motile cell phenotype. Ephrin A1 enhanc

SUBMITTER: Goichberg P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3102645 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature