The potential importance of Stromal Derived Factor-1 in the protection and repair of myocardium following simulated ischaemia-reperfusion injury

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Following a heart attack, the restoration of blood flow to injured heart muscle can itself inflict injury, known as Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI). Remote Ischaemic Conditioning (RIC) describes the phenomenon whereby the brief occlusion and restoration of blood flow to body tissues remote from the heart can protect heart muscle from IRI. However, despite promising results from experimental studies, the mechanism of action remains elusive. Recent attention has turned to a small protein called Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1 (SDF-1), which is thought to have a dual function. Firstly, SDF-1 is thought to activate a protective mechanism that has previously been implicated in RIC, namely the Reperfusion Injury Salvage Kinase (RISK) pathway. Secondly, it is thought to play a role in attracting stem cells to the site of injury. It is therefore feasible that SDF-1 both protects heart muscle from IRI and helps repair it after injury, thus reducing heart failure. The key goals of my research are to demonstrate whether heart muscle can be protected from IRI in the presence of SDF-1 in animal models, and to ascertain the benefit of SDF-1 in preventing heart failure.