Statin administration does not improve the mobilization of very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in contrast to resveratrol treatment in a murine model of acute myocardial infarction.

We have found that short-term statin treatment plus stem cell transplantation in acutely infarcted hearts improves cardiac function because statins promote the efficacy of cellular cardiomyoplasty. Autologous Sca-1(+)Lin(-)CD45(-)(CXCR(+)) very small embryonic-like stem cell (VSEL) mobilization in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) correlates with the preservation of cardiac function. Whether short-term atorvastatin (Ator) can enhance the mobilization or recruitment of VSELs in AMI is still unclear. We divided mice into 4 groups: 1) sham; 2) AMI; 3) AMI+resveratrol (RSV) as a positive control; and 4) AMI+Ator. There was an increase in the circulating VSEL/full population of leukocytes (FPL) ratio 48 hours after AMI, and AMI+RSV increased it further. Ator administration did not increase the VSEL/FPL ratio. The cardiac stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and SDF-1alpha levels were in agreement with the results of VSEL mobilization. One week after AMI, more Sca-1(+)CXCR(+) cells were recruited to the myocardium of AMI+RSV mice but not AMI+Ator mice. Short-term Ator administration failed to upregulate cardiac SDF-1 and could not enhance the recruitment of VSELs early after AMI.