Tracking chromatid segregation to identify human cardiac stem cells that regenerate extensively the infarcted myocardium.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

According to the immortal DNA strand hypothesis, dividing stem cells selectively segregate chromosomes carrying the old template DNA, opposing accumulation of mutations resulting from nonrepaired replication errors and attenuating telomere shortening.

Objective

Based on the premise of the immortal DNA strand hypothesis, we propose that stem cells retaining the old DNA would represent the most powerful cells for myocardial regeneration.

Methods and results

Division of human cardiac stem cells (hCSCs) by nonrandom and random segregation of chromatids was documented by clonal assay of bromodeoxyuridine-tagged hCSCs. Additionally, their growth properties were determined by a series of in vitro and in vivo studies. We report that a small class of hCSCs retain dur

SUBMITTER: Kajstura J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3482833 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature