Cardiac stem cells, even in elderly and sick patients, could generate new heart muscle and vessel tissue and be used to treat heart failure.

Researchers surgically removed tissue from the muscular wall of the heart’s chambers in 21 patients. They then isolated and multiplied the cardiac stem cells ( CSCs ) found there. Most of the patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy; eleven also had diabetes. The average age of patients was about 65.

Among the 12 female and 9 male patients, researchers obtained 20 percent more cardiac stem cells from the hearts of the women than the men. Age or diabetes status didn’t affect the number of cells harvested.

Women have a longer life span than men, and even with heart failure their hearts generally show more resilience.

The researchers also examined stem cells’ biological properties that would influence their therapeutic value. They found that cells had long telomeres on their chromosomal ends indicating that expanded cardiac stem cells retained a significant growth reserve, although less so in older or diabetic patients.

Researchers also studied activation of a cell surface marker, insulin growth factor receptor 1 ( IGF-1R ), which recognizes stem cells that are most likely to thrive and have the potential to produce new cardiac tissue.

Cardiac stem cells are distributed throughout the cardiac muscle, but the atrial and apical regions of the heart contain niches, where the cells are protected from the physical stress of the heartbeat.

The heart’s CSC reserve is present regardless of patient differences in ethnicity, background, diet and other factors.

Source: American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions, 2010

XagenaMedicine2010


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