Injury inflicted onto the myocardium causes healthy heart tissues to be replaced by a fibrous scar. The formation of the scar tissue prevents the heart from contracting accurately, which inevitably leads to loss of ventricular function.
Scientists have discovered that the implantation of specific bone marrow derived stem cells can assist in the regeneration of myocardial tissue, which would allow victims of heart attacks to regain cardiovascular function. Bone marrow-derived stem cells have plasticity properties, which could allow them to alter their genetic phenotype in response to cues from a target organ, that is, the heart.
Following transplantation into damaged heart tissue, researchers found that grafted side population cells (specific stem cells which can be derived from bone marrow) differentiate into cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells in the infarct region of the heart. These bone marrow cells are readily available, and can be extracted from the patients own body, and proliferate with ease in vitro. This reduces the need of a bone marrow donor.
The treatment of traumatized cardiomyocytes in acute myocardial infarction patients via stem cell therapy holds great promise for those patients who currently lack an alternative therapeutic option. However, while the promise of regenerating damaged heart tissue in myocardial infarction patients is compelling, it is of the utmost importance that these myocardial repair mechanisms be subjected to thoroughly controlled trials, to increase the chances of achieving the ambitious goal of myocardial regeneration.
Blog Post by Jack Bennett
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References
IM, B., & J, L. (2006, April). Myocardial regeneration by adult stem cells. The Israel Medical Association Journal: IMAJ, 8(4), 283-287.
MJ, H., MJ, C., AM, P., SS, K., M, E., JJ, D., et al. (2009, January 31). Donor-derived mesenchymal stem cells remain present and functional in the transplanted human heart. American Journal Of Transplantation: Official Journal Of The American Society Of Transplantation And The American Society Of Transplant Surgeons, 9(1), 222-230.
F, M., O, P., M, J., A, O., S, N., R, S., et al. (2005, November 25). Restoration of cardiac progenitor cells after myocardial infarction by self-proliferation and selective homing of bone marrow-derived stem cells. Circulation Research,97(11), 1090-1092.
