Modulation of collateral artery growth in a porcine hindlimb ligation model using MCP-1

Abstract

For an appropriate extrapolation to patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease, we tested the efficacy of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) treatment in a porcine hindlimb ligation model. In 40 minipigs, a femoral artery ligation was performed. Control animals were examined immediately after ligation ( n = 4) or after 2 wk of intra-arterial infusion of PBS ( n = 11). A second group of animals was evaluated after intra-arterial infusion of 2.0 μg/h of MCP-1 for 48 h (followed by 12 days of PBS; n = 13) or 2 wk continuously ( n = 12). In the terminal experiment after 2 wk, resting flow to the leg and peripheral arterial pressures were assessed without vasodilatation. Subsequently, vascular conductance was determined by using a pump-driven extracorporal circulation during maximal vasodilatation. The results showed that resting blood flow to the hindlimb was 53% of the normal after 2 wk of infusion of PBS, compared with 81% in both MCP-1 treatment groups ( P < 0.05). Collateral conductance was 645 ± 346 ml · min−1 · mmHg−1after 2 wk of infusion with PBS, compared with 1,070 ± 530 and 1,158 ± 535 ml · min−1 · mmHg−1after 48 h and 2 wk treatment with MCP-1, respectively ( P < 0.05). Modulation of the process of arteriogenesis is feasible in this large animal model via intra-arterial infusion of the Cys-Cys-chemokine MCP-1.