Abstract 16121: Recombinant Human Placental Growth Factor 2 is a Safe and Effective Therapy for Ischemic Cardiomyopathy in Atherosclerotic Mice

Aim: Angiogenic growth factor therapy carries a risk of stimulating atherosclerotic plaque growth. We evaluated whether systemic infusion of recombinant human placental growth factor (rhPlGF) 2 improves myocardial neovascularization, left ventricular (LV) function and adverse remodeling in a murine model of advanced atherosclerosis and chronic myocardial infarction (MI) without increasing atherosclerotic plaque size and plaque vulnerability. Methods: ApoE-/- mice were fed a high cholesterol diet and MI was induced 4 weeks (w) later using 60 min LAD occlusion followed by reperfusion. After 8 w, we assessed LV function using echocardiography and randomized mice to receive rhPlGF2 (450μg/kg/day, n=20) or PBS (n=20) via osmotic minipumps for 28 days. Echocardiography and histological analyses were performed at 12 and 20 w. Results: Infusion of rhPlGF2 increased PlGF plasma levels for 3 w up to ~1600-fold without adverse side effects, or changes in total cholesterol and high sensitive CRP levels. In rhPlGF2-tr...