Human platelet mitochondria improve the mitochondrial and cardiac function of donor heart

Mitochondria transplantation emerges as an effective therapeutic strategy for ischemic-related diseases but the roles in the donor hearts for transplant remain unidentified. Here, we investigated whether the preservation of the donor heart with human platelet-derived mitochondria (pl-MT) could improve mitochondrial and cardiac function. Incubation with pl-MT resulted in the internalization of pl-MT and the enhancement of ATP production in primary cardiomyocytes. In addition, incubation of rat hearts with pl-MT ex vivo for 9 h clearly demonstrated pl-MT transfusion into the myocardium. Mitochondria isolated from the hearts incubated with pl-MT showed increased mitochondrial membrane potential and greater ATP synthase activity and citrate synthase activity. Importantly, the production of reactive oxygen species from cardiac mitochondria was not different with and without pl-MT incubation. Functionally, the heartbeat and the volume of coronary circulation perfusate were significantly increased in the Langendorff perfusion system and the viability of cardiomyocytes was increased from pl-MT hearts.Taken together, these results suggest that incubation with Pl-MT improves mitochondrial activity and maintains the cardiac function of rat hearts with prolonged preservation time. The study provides the proof of principle for pl-MT application as an enhancer of the donor heart.