Transplantation of parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells ameliorates cardiac dysfunction and remodelling after myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Parthenogenetic embryonic stem cells (pESCs) derived from artificially activated oocytes without fertilization presumably raise minimal ethical concerns and may serve as attractive candidates for regenerative medicine. Here we investigated whether pESCs could repair myocardial infarction (MI), in comparison to embryonic stem cells (ESCs).


RESULTS
A total of 89 mice that survived coronary artery ligation randomly received an intramyocardial injection of undifferentiated pESCs, ESCs, or saline. Sham-operated mice (n = 21) that received no treatment served as control animals. After 7 days, transplantation of pESCs increased expression of pro-angiogenic factors and reduced leucocyte infiltration. By 14 and 30 days post-MI, similar to treatment with ESCs, treatment with pESCs efficiently prevented cardiac remodelling and enhanced angiogenesis, in contrast to saline-treated hearts. Improved heart contractile function was also notable 30 days following transplantation of pESCs. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that tissues regenerated from pESCs in the infarcted myocardium were positive for markers of cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. Unlike ESC-treated mice, which exhibited a high incidence of teratoma (6 of 34), the pESC-treated mice showed no teratomas (0 of 30) 30 days following transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Transplantation of pESCs could attenuate cardiac dysfunction and adverse ventricular remodelling post-MI, suggesting that pESCs may provide promising therapeutic sources for MI in females.
State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials,  Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR 300071,  China.
Yi
Y
Liu
Xiaoying
X
Ye
Lina
L
Mao
Zhaokang
Z
Cheng
Xinpeng
X
Yao
Xiaohua
X
Jia
Duo
D
Mao
Lailiang
L
Ou
Zongjin
Z
Li
Yongzhe
Y
Che
Na
N
Liu
Gustav
G
Steinhoff
Lin
L
Liu
Deling
D
Kong
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010312:Parthenogenesis; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
D003094:Collagen