Implantation of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac progenitor cells preserves function of infarcted murine hearts.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Stem cell transplantation holds great promise for the treatment of myocardial infarction injury. We recently described the embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) capable of differentiating into cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelium, and smooth muscle. In this study, we hypothesized that transplanted CPCs will preserve function of the infarcted heart by participating in both muscle replacement and neovascularization. Differentiated CPCs formed functional electromechanical junctions with cardiomyocytes in vitro and conducted action potentials over cm-scale distances. When transplanted into infarcted mouse hearts, CPCs engrafted long-term in the infarct zone and surrounding myocardium without causing teratomas or arrhythmias. The grafted cells differentiated into cross-striated cardiomyocytes forming gap junctions with the host cells, while also contributing to neovascularization. Serial echocardiography and pressure-volume catheterization demonstrated attenuated ventricular dilatation and preserved left ventricular fractional shortening, systolic and diastolic function. Our results demonstrate that CPCs can engraft, differentiate, and preserve the functional output of the infarcted heart.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Christoforou, N; Oskouei, BN; Esteso, P; Hill, CM; Zimmet, JM; Bian, W; Bursac, N; Leong, KW; Hare, JM; Gearhart, JD
Published Date
- July 2010
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 5 / 7
Start / End Page
- e11536 -
PubMed ID
- 20634944
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC2902505
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1932-6203
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1932-6203
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0011536
Language
- eng