Patient profile modulates cardiac c-kit(+) progenitor cell availability and amplification potential

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Biology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Human cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) expressing c-kit are crucial for cardiac repair.
• The influence of cardiovascular risk factors and medications on CPCs' ex vivo behavior is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how cardiovascular risk factors and medications affect CPC isolation efficiency, c-kit expression, and proliferative potential.
• To identify clinical variables and treatments that modulate CPCs' ex vivo characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Cells from human right atrial appendages (n=50) were cultured and analyzed for CPC percentage and c-kit expression (MFI) using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS).
• CPCs were isolated and cultured for 4 passages (P4) to assess enrichment.
• Multiple linear regression analysis with stepwise selection identified associations between 19 clinical variables and CPCs' number, MFI, and enrichment.

Main Results:

• At T0, CPC number correlated with beta-blocker treatment, and c-kit expression correlated with pulmonary hypertension (PH).
• At P4, CPC enrichment inversely correlated with smoking, atrial fibrillation (AF), and myocardial infarction history.
• At P4, CPC enrichment positively correlated with PH and statin use.

Conclusions:

• Patient clinical profiles and medications significantly modulate the isolation and amplification of cardiac progenitor cells ex vivo.
• Understanding these modulations is essential for optimizing the therapeutic application of CPCs in cardiac repair.
• Findings suggest potential strategies to enhance or limitations to consider when using cardiac-resident progenitor cells therapeutically.