title: Optimal Environmental Stiffness for Stem Cell Mediated Ischemic Myocardium Repair.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases related to myocardial infarction (MI) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality worldwide. The loss of cardiomyocytes during MI is a key factor in the impairment of cardiac-pump functions. Employing cell transplantation has shown great potential as a therapeutic approach in regenerating ischemic myocardium. Several studies have suggested that the therapeutic effects of stem cells vary based on the timing of cell administration. It has been clearly established that the myocardium post-infarction experiences a time-dependent stiffness change, and many studies have highlighted the importance of stiffness (elasticity) of microenvironment on modulating the fate and function of stem cells. Therefore, this chapter outlines our studies and other experiments designed to establish the optimal stiffness of microenvironment that maximizes benefits for maintaining cell survival, promoting phenotypic plasticity, and improving functional specification of the engrafted stem cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
authors.forename: Honghai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA. meifeng.xu@uc.edu.
authors.forename: Meifeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate
keywords: Hydrogel; Myocardial infarction; Stem cell therapy; Stiffness of microenvironment