Functionally competent cardiac stem cells can be isolated from endomyocardial biopsies of patients with advanced cardiomyopathies.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Two categories of cardiac stem cells (CSCs) with predominantly myogenic (mCSC) and vasculogenic (vCSC) properties have been characterized in the human heart. However, it is unknown whether functionally competent CSCs of both classes are present in the myocardium of patients affected by end-stage cardiac failure, and whether these cells can be harvested from relatively small myocardial samples.

Objective

To establish whether a clinically relevant number of mCSCs and vCSCs can be isolated and expanded from endomyocardial biopsies of patients undergoing cardiac transplantation or left ventricular assist device implantation.

Methods and results

Endomyocardial biopsies were collected with a bioptome from the right side of the septum of explanted hearts or the api

SUBMITTER: D'Amario D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3074470 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature