[Is adult cardiac myocyte still able to proliferate?].
Adult cardiac myocytes do not divide anymore. Mechanically overloaded hearts undergo hypertrophy and then fail. Cardiac hypertrophy is mainly caused by myocyte hypertrophy without myocyte proliferation, except during end-stage heart failure. By contrast, non muscular myocardial cells, such as the endothelial cells of the vessels, not only hypertrophy but are also able to proliferate. Recent works have suggested that these new cells are likely to be progenitor cells originating from bone marrow or vascular endothelium. These cells may form chimeras in the donor heart following heart transplantation. It is possible to mimic such an adaptative process by injecting progenitor cells either within the myocardium, or through the coronary circulation. Two type of cells have been utilised so far, namely bone marrow cells and myoblasts (or satellite cells) from skeletal muscles. The first clinical applications after myocardial infarction have been recently reported and showed the safety of the procedure and the possibility of improving myocardial function.
Inserm U.572, Hôpital Lariboisière, 41, boulevard de la Chapelle, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, France. Bernard.Swynghdauw@larib.inserm.fr
Bernard
B
Swynghedauw
D000367:Age Factors; D002455:Cell Division; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*