Recent studies by O. Caspi and co-authors add new data to stem cell research findings
2008 JAN 14 -- According to a study from Haifa, Israel, "Objectives We evaluated the ability of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and their cardiomyocyte derivatives (hESCCMs) to engraft and improve myocardial performance in the rat chronic infarction model. Background Cell therapy is emerging as a novel therapy for myocardial repair but is hampered by the lack of sources for human cardiomyocytes." "Methods Immunosuppressed healthy and infarcted (7 to 10 days after coronary ligation) rat hearts were randomized to injection of undifferentiated hESCs, hESC-CMs, noncardiomyocyte hESC derivatives, or saline. Detailed histological analysis and sequential echocardiography were used to determine the structural and functional consequences of cell grafting. Results Transplantation of undifferentiated hESCs resulted in the formation of teratoma-like structures. This phenomenon was prevented by grafting of ex vivo pre-differentiated hESC-CMs. The grafted cardiomyocytes survived, proliferated, matured, aligned, and formed gap junctions with host cardiac tissue. Functionally, animals injected with saline or nonmyocyte hESC derivatives demonstrated significant left ventricular (LV) dilatation and functional deterioration, whereas grafting of hESC-CMs attenuated this remodeling process. Hence, post-injury baseline fractional shortening deteriorated by 50% (from 20 +/- 2% to 10 +/- 2%) and by 30% (20 +/- 2% to 14 +/- 2%) in the saline and nonmyocyte groups while improving by 22% (21 +/- 2% to 25 +/- 3%) in the hESC-CM group. Similarly, wall motion score index and LV diastolic dimensions were significantly lower in the hESC-CM animals. Conclusions Transplantation of hESC-CMs after extensive myocardial infarction in rats results in the formation of stable cardiomyocyte grafts, attenuation of the remodeling process, and functional benefit," wrote O. Caspi and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "These findings highlight the potential of hESCs for myocardial cell therapy strategies." Caspi and colleagues published their study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (Transplantation of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes improves myocardiol performance in infrcted rat hearts. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2007;50(19):1884-1893). For more information, contact A. Gepstein, Technion Israel Institute Technology, Faculty Medical, Sohnis Family Research Laboratory Cardiac Electrophysiology & Re, Rappaport Family Institute Research Med Science, POB 9649, IL-31096 Haifa, Israel. Publisher contact information for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology is: Elsevier Science Inc., 360 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA. Keywords: Israel, Haifa, Biotechnology, Biotherapy, Cardiography, Cardiology, Cardiomyocyte, Cell Therapy, Drug Development, Echocardiography, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Medical Device, Pharmaceuticals, Teratoma, Transplantation, Treatment, Urology. This article was prepared by Stem Cell Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Stem Cell Week via NewsRx.com.
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