Exosomes isolated from human cardiosphere-derived cells attenuate pressure overload-induced right ventricular
Gregory J Bittle1, David Morales1, Nicholas Pietris2
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.
The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
|October 13, 2020
Summary
Human cardiosphere-derived exosome preparations improved right ventricular function in a porcine model of heart disease. These cell-free treatments offer a promising alternative to cell transplantation for myocardial injury.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Cardiosphere-derived cell (CDC) transplantation shows promise for right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
- Live cell therapy faces challenges due to complex handling protocols.
- Exosomes, cell-derived nanovesicles, offer a cardioprotective effect comparable to whole cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of human CDC-derived exosome preparations in a juvenile porcine model of acute pressure-induced RV dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Twenty juvenile pigs underwent pulmonary arterial banding to induce RV dysfunction.
- Animals received intramyocardial injections of control or CDC-derived exosome preparations (XO-1, XO-2, XO-3).
- Monitoring included echocardiography and histopathologic analysis over 28 days.
Main Results:
- Exosome administration (XO-1, XO-2) improved RV fractional area change by postoperative day 28 compared to controls.
- Histologic analysis revealed decreased cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in exosome-treated groups.
- No significant clinical concerns were noted in the surviving animals.
Conclusions:
- Human CDC-derived exosomes significantly preserved RV systolic function under acute pressure overload.
- Acellular exosome preparations may offer advantages over whole cell transplantation.
- Exosomes represent a novel therapeutic strategy for clinical myocardial injury.
