CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER. (PRNewsFoto/Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center)
CINCINNATI, May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --A new study in Nature challenges research data that form the scientific basis of clinical trials in which heart attack patients are injected with stem cells to try and regenerate damaged heart tissue.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), report May 7 that cardiac stem cells used in ongoing clinical trials which express a protein marker called c-kit do not regenerate contractile heart muscle cells at high enough rates to justify their use for treatment.
Including collaboration from researchers at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles and the University of Minnesota's Lillehei Heart Institute, the study uncovers new evidence in what has become a contentious debate in the field of cardiac regeneration, according to Jeffery Molkentin, PhD, study principal investigator and a cardiovascular molecular biologist and HHMI investigator at the Cincinnati Children's Heart Institute.
"Our data suggest any potential benefit from injecting c-kit-positive cells into the hearts of patients is not because they generate new contractile cells called cardiomyocytes," Molkentin said. "Caution is warranted in further clinical testing of this method until the mechanisms in play here are better defined or we are able to dramatically enhance the potential of these cells to generate cardiomyocytes."
Numerous heart attack patients have already been treated with c-kit-positive stem cells that are removed from healthy regions of a damaged heart then processed in a laboratory, Molkentin explained. After processing, the cells are then injected into these patients' hearts. The experimental treatment is based largely on preclinical studies in rats and mice suggesting that c-kit-positive stem cells completely regenerate myocardial cells and heart muscle. Thousands of patients have also previously undergone a similar procedure for their hearts but with bone marrow stem cells.
Molkentin and his colleagues report those previous preclinical studies in rodents do not reflect what really occurs within the heart after injury, where internal regenerative capacity is almost non-existent. Molkentin also said that combined data from multiple clinical trials testing this type of treatment show most patients experienced a roughly 3-5 percent improvement in heart ejection fraction a measurement of how forcefully the heart pumps blood. Data in the current Nature study suggest this small benefit may come from the ability of c-kit-positive stem cells in heart to cause the growth of capillaries, which improves circulation within the organ, but not by generating new cardiomyocytes.
"What we show in our study is that c-kit-positive stem cells from the heart like to make endothelial cells that form capillaries. But in their natural environment in the heart, these c-kit positive cells do not like to make cardiomyocytes," Molkentin said. "They will produce cardiomyocytes, but at rates so low roughly one in every 3,000 cells it becomes meaningless."
The c-kit protein is expressed on the surface of progenitor cells originally identified in bone marrow. These c-kit expressing cells can generate multiple different cell types that are destined to help form specific organ tissues or other parts of the body. Given its presence in bone marrow, c-kit cells are also involved in the production of different types of immune system cells.
Researchers in the current study worked with two lines of genetically bred mice to see how efficiently c-kit-positive cardiac progenitor cells would regenerate cardiomyocytes in the hearts of the animals. The authors measured heart cell regeneration rates during the animals' embryonic development, during aging and after myocardial infarction (heart attack).
See the original post:
Study Urges Caution in Stem Cell Clinical Trials for Heart Attack Patients
- Wu stem cell medical center hospital introduction video.avi [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Bianca after stem cell treatment 1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Atillia before stem cell treatment 2.wmv [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- SCI_Celine_French_ifting_her_arms.wmv [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Atillia after stem cell treatment 1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2011]
- MSA_Dezmond_USA_before2.wmv [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2011]
- MSA_Dezmond_USA_after1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2011]
- Parkinson_Jane_Scotland_before1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Atillia after stem cell treatment 2.wmv [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2011]
- Stroke_Li_China_after1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2011]
- SCI_Cartaze_USA_after1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- SCI_Cartaze_USA_after3.wmv [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Bianca before stem cell treatment 3.wmv [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Parkinson_Michael_USA_before1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Gabor after stem cell treatment 3.1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 14th, 2011]
- Parkinson_Michael_USA_before3.wmv [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Bianca before stem cell treatment 2.wmv [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2011]
- Muscular dystrophy patient_Kleber_Brazil.wmv [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Bianca before stem cell treatment 1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- Parkinson_David_USA_before1.wmv [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- SCI_Obaidullah_Pakistan.wmv [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Bianca after stem cell treatment 3.wmv [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2011]
- Parkinson_Jane_Scotland_after2.wmv [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2011]
- Parkinson_Michael_USA_before2.wmv [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Multiple sclerosis_Evangelos_Australia_before1.wmv [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2011]
- The Board of Governors Heart Stem Cell Center - Cedars-Sinai Medical Center [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- OSU Medical Center Using Stem Cell Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia Patients [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Cancer Stem Cells: The Origin of Cancer [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2011]
- Human Embryonic stem cell research [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2011]
- HIV/AIDS: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Loren Leeds [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2011]
- Battling and Beating Cancer -- Stem Cell Transplantation Part 1 [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- My first day of apheresis at Duke Medical Center [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- Disease in a Dish: Using Stem Cells to Model Huntington's Disease and Spinal Muscular Atrophy [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- 2010 Stem Cell Transplant Reunion at University of Chicago [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2011]
- Reverse Aging - Anti-Aging - Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research Halted At Medical College [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2011]
- Stem cell centre in Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2011]
- Inside a Heart Stem Cell Clinical Trial - Cedars-Sinai Medical Center [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2011]
- Stem Cells and Cardiac Regeneration [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2011]
- HIV/AIDS: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - John Zaia [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- Stem Cells, The Making Of... [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Jeff Bronstein [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Life in the Balance: Perspectives on Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Jeanette Montufar - Parkinson's at Integra Medical Center [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Cures or 21st Century Snake Oil? Part 1 [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Heart cells grown from human embryonic stem cells [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Arthritis: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Mark Genovese [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Hadassah Medical Center Stem Cell Human Embryonic Stem Cells [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Anti-Aging - Stem Cell Treatment for the Family [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Dr Farjo BBC News 24 interview about new stem cell research and hair transplant surgery [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Cure or 21st Century Snake Oil? Part 3 [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Stem cell miracle by FOX TV on Mar 26 2009 [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Arthritis: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Bill Robinson [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Asthma Treated at Integra Medical Center with Stem cells [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Dr. Lucy Godley on Stem Cell Transplants [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Cerebral palsy patient Gabor after stem cell treatment 1.wmv [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- SCI_Saber_Egypt.wmv [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Stroke_Mohd_Saudi_Arabia.wmv [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- SCI_Hammod_Saudi_Arabia.wmv [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Parkinson_Penny_USA_brfore.wmv [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Marco Costa MD discusses how stem cells can repair a damaged heart [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment in Mexico - PlacidWay [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Stem Cell Treatment - Part 1 [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Stem Cell Treatment - Part 2 [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Multiple Sclerosis_Evangelos_Australia_after1.wmv - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Cures or 21st Century Snake Oil? Part 2 - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- SCI_Christian_Alberto_Alvarado_Arce_Guatemala.wmv - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Dr. Lucy Godley on Stem Cell Donations for Transplant - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Transforming stem cells into functioning organ tissue - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Medical Treatment by Stem Cells Myth or Reality? Episode 1 - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- New advances in the treatment of cancer through stem cell collection and storage for families. - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Alzheimer's Stem Cell Research Patient Advocate Spotlight: The Faces of Neurodegenerative Disease - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Harvesting stem cells from horse bone marrow at UT - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2011]
- Allison Sass Follow up after Stem Cell therapy - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- SCI_Celine_French_using_computer.wmv - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- Cardiovascular Therapies: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Yung-Wei Chi - Video [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]
- Noel Ordonez ALS treated at IMC stem cell therapy - Video [Last Updated On: December 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 5th, 2011]
- Brain Tumors: Advancing Stem Cell Therapies - 2011 CIRM Grantee Meeting - Video [Last Updated On: December 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 5th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Transplantation | Insights [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2011]