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Updated: Jun 25, 2025
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Ultrasound-Guided Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte Implantation in Myocardial Infarcted Mice
Published on: March 30, 2022
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Using diffusion tensor imaging to depict myocardial changes after matured pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte
Moses P Cook1, Wahiba Dhahri2, Michael A Laflamme3
1Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
Summary
Mature stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes showed anisotropic structure and improved myocyte alignment post-transplantation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) effectively assessed structural impacts of these regenerative therapies in a cardiac injury model.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Novel strategies are crucial for myocardial repair after infarction.
- Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (PSC-CMs) offer a promising regenerative approach.
- Maturation of PSC-CMs may enhance their structural and functional integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the structural anisotropy and cell alignment of in vitro-matured PSC-CMs versus immature PSC-CMs.
- To evaluate the utility of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in assessing graft structure post-transplantation.
- To investigate the potential of mature PSC-CMs to restore myocardial tissue characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Guinea pigs with cryoinjury-induced cardiac injury received either PDMS-matured PSC-CMs or immature TCP-generated PSC-CMs.
- Vehicle (sham) and healthy control groups were included for comparison.
- Ex vivo 7T MRI with 3D diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to quantify fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and myocyte alignment (standard deviation of transverse angle, TA).
Main Results:
- Mature PDMS grafts exhibited anisotropic structure (FA) and diffusivity (MD) comparable to healthy control hearts.
- Immature TCP grafts showed significantly higher MD and lower FA than controls, indicating less organized structure.
- Myocyte alignment (TA) was significantly better in mature PDMS grafts and healthy controls compared to immature TCP grafts.
- Contrast-enhanced MRI correlated with histology, confirming its non-invasive localization of grafted cells within scar tissue.
Conclusions:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures indicated anisotropic structure and greater myocyte organization within mature PSC-CM grafts.
- Mature PSC-CM grafts demonstrated structural characteristics approaching those of healthy myocardium.
- Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is a valuable tool for assessing the structural outcomes of cardiac regenerative therapies.
