title: Host cell-derived cardiomyocytes in sex-mismatch cardiac allografts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mesenchymal precursor cells are able to respond to tissue signals and differentiate into a phenotype characteristic of mature cells of that tissue. We sought to investigate whether adult human cardiomyocytes can be derived from recipient precursor cells in sex-mismatched cardiac allografts.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied four male patients who received hearts from female donors, and four female patients who received an allograft from a male donor. Four sex-matched transplant patients, two of each sex served as controls. Combined fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes specific for X- and Y-chromosomes and immunohistochemistry with alpha-actin was used to identify cardiac muscle cells 4 and 12 months after transplantation. Slides were examined with a fluorescence microscope to detect the presence of male cells with one X and one Y signal in the nucleus, and female cells containing two X signals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mature cardiomyocytes from the host (1-2%) were found in five endomyocardial biopsy specimens at 4 months, and in three specimens at 12 months. In addition, recipient cells negative for cytoplasmic alpha-actin were also identified (1-21% per slide). The number of infiltrating recipient cells was not associated with the degree of rejection of the sample or with the number of prior rejection episodes. Echocardiographic evaluation showed no improvement in cardiac performance in hearts from patients with more than 10% chimeric recipient cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data confirm the existence of mature cardiomyocytes derived from host cells, likely mesenchymal precursors, in the adult cardiac allograft in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Cardiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, C/San Antonio Ma Claret 167, 08025, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayes-Genis
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salido
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Solé Ristol
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Vicens
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brossa
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Campreciós
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Corominas
authors.forename: Ma Luísa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mariñoso
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baró
authors.forename: Ma Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Vela
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Padró
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayes de Luna
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cinca
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology; D008875:Middle Aged; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018183:Transplantation Chimera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D000199:Actins