Characterization of Adult human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for effective myocardial repair

Abstract

Bone marrow stem cell therapy is a promising alternative treatment for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, current studies have reported variable outcomes with modest efficacies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells (CLCs) with stable cardiac-like characteristics via collagen V extracellular matrices and a non-toxic culture medium. Cell therapy improves cardiac function by restraining negative left ventricular remodeling. However, MSCs appeared to contribute passively to overall contractility by preventing further deterioration of cardiac function via paracrine mechanisms. In contrast, CLC-treated rats demonstrated superior systolic activities relative to control and MSC-treated rats. Consistently, donor-derived CLCs in collagen V-enriched myofibres but not collagen I-enriched infarct borders exhibited cross-striated fibers in vivo that were indistinguishable from host cardiomyocytes, while simultaneously promoting endogenous endothelial proliferation. Thus, CLCs may mediate cardiac relief via myogenic and non-myogenic mechanisms. Predifferentiating MSCs into CLCs before transplantation may be more effective for the treatment for CVD.